School Menus: Memphis City schools here and Shelby County schools here.

FedEx Forum: The Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority is seeking to issue $160 million in new bonds to restructure the $200 million previous debt on the facility. The economy is blamed.

Memphis City Schools: An inventory of properties owned shows many gaps and strange arrangements, and unclear relationships with other agencies. The system is also losing hundreds of thousands in leasing agreements; more from Fox13. It may be Summer vacation, but the MCS still has lots of programs for kids!

Comments from Arne Duncan, the Obama administration’s Secretary of Education, regarding million available for charter schools, spur charter school supporters in Tennessee. And, the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, a charter school, graduates its first class — all of them.

Real Estate: For commercial real estate, nowhere to go but up. Trying to rehabilitate the image of realtors. Bellbrook Industrial Park is now at 82% capacity.

Second Amendment: Promise of political action by the Tennessee Firearms Association prompts fear of reprisals by Nashville police chief, Ronal Serpas.

New Life Missionary Baptist Church: This South Memphis congregation is kicking off their Summer Jam series of concerts, intended to give kids somewhere safe and positive to go during the summer.

Politics: More on the newly-Republican majority on the State Election Commission. Governor Phil Bredesen’s veto of the “gun carry in restaurants” bill is mobilising both sides of the issue. Two Democratic candidates for governor support Governor Bredesen’s veto of the bill. Still more local reaction to the “gun carry in restaurants” bill.

Home Buying: The Department of Housing and Urban Development want to remind first time home buyers they can apply their $8000 bonus to their new-home, FHA-insured, downpayments; more in the Daily News, the Commercial Appeal. Foreclosures in the suburbs are a different matter and a lot smaller in number.

Mississippi: The State Legislature adjourned Friday without a budget.

Commercial Appeal: The daily has spun off its television channel guide and is now charging for it.

Memphis International Airport: The Federal Aviation Administration is giving the airport almost $18 million for various projects.

MSARC: A nurse practitioner, Alan Hopkins, who tried to volunteer there was turned away because he’s not a Shelby County resident.

DeSoto County: A report on the Olive Branch Kennel Show. From the Commercial Appeal, a look at Tuesday’s various alderman races and the mayoral races. The Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce is moving to a new building, across the street. Last week’s wind storms are causing some to call for greater disaster preparedness. The City of Southaven and two City police officers are asking a State court to dismiss a lawsuit claiming racial discrimination against minorities.

Mississippi Outdoors, on hunting, fishing and wildlife, from the CA.

Crime: State Insurance Commissioner is warning people to be careful of health insurance scams.

On the Block: We ask local leaders about important issues of the day. This week: Do politicians from West Tennessee start with a location advantage or a location disadvantage in state-wide races?

Memphis City Council: They are only $6 million into needed $57 million in cuts. The City of Memphis is beginning to lean more on volunteers, like Memphis City Beautiful, to keep city clean. More on the budget wrangling.

Germantown: They now have the state’s first senior center with a licensed bar.

Beale Street: From the Memphis News, everyone wants to change the operation of the entertainment district, it’s just that none agree on the change. Murky and questionable might best describe the beginnings of Beale Street. Curtis Givens, who had troubles with his previous club in Beale, is now seeking to take over Pat O’Brien’s and turn it into a similar club.

Cotton Museum: They are beginning an ambitious redesign of exhibits and presentations to open this Fall.

Public Library: This Friday and Saturday is the 35th annual book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Business: The Kroger Co. is investing more than $1 million in its West Memphis store, and adding a fuel center. The Elzemeyer Talent Agency has opened a second office, in Nashville. Tenet Healthcare has started a tender offer to buy back up to $1 billion in senior notes. Biodiesel plants, once promising lots of jobs and “green” are now sputtering.

Factory jobs have fallen by a quarter in the past decade. A brief look at competition and opportunity in the CA.

A business profile of Deana Sanford, of Maids of Honor cleaning service, from the Daily News. Another business profile of Mascot Central, which provides Rockey the Redbird among others, in the CA.

People in Business, from the CA, for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The Small Business Advocate, from the CA, points out that, even in a recession companies are still buying goods, right?

Arkansas: Governor Mike Beebe thinks nanotechnology research at the University of Arkansas will help boost the state’s economy.

Tennessee: Even though 500 jobs will be lost in State mental health agencies, the governor doesn’t expect treatment to suffer. He’s also asking the Legislature to pass his budget quickly.

Shelby Farms Park Conservancy: The Commercial Appeal profiles deputy director Laura Adams and her work to keep the Farm whole and not shattered.

Germantown Performing Arts Centre: More on their new season, beginning in September.

Survey Says: Good news rolling in! According to Wells Fargo analysts, the worst of the recession is over and we may see GDP growth of up to 3% for the rest of the year. And the National Restaurant Association’s restaurant index was up for the fourth straight month in April. Also, the rate of shrinkage in the GDP was less in the Q1/2009 than in Q4/2008! More on that from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. Even with the economy, most parents are saving the same or more for their kids’ college fund.

Buck’s Blog: He and his family built a birdhouse and you can vote for it.

16 Balls in the Air: Cool moms and haircuts for brothers. Also, black eyes. The “baintrain” heads to the creek.

Commontaries: A brief report on Thaddeus Matthews vs KoKo B. Ware! And, Thaddeus has the pictures.

The Conservative Zone: Mark went to a Warhammer 40K tournament and, well … it didn’t go well at all.

That’s My B: His and hers reviews of the new Star Trek movie!

Otis L. Sanford: Random thoughts on Memphis, and Republicans. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: In order to survive, newspapers must “conjure up good feelings from years gone by”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Ed Garrison: Bike lanes are an important part of a “green city” like Memphis could become. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: The Community Legal Center provides legal help to those who can’t otherwise afford it. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: No advance description on this one, OK? Just read it.

The Ominous Comma: Another positive Star Trek review.

Bigger Than Your Head: Cheese toast with merlot? Squid and chardonnay? What’s going on over there?

Commercial Appeal: Arguing to move the Beale Street Music Festival to the Sunset Symphony’s weekend slot. Blaming the “one and done” policy of basketball players for the Derrick Rose / Memphis Tigers problem. Guns and bars are a dangerous mix, but college and alcohol is something to discuss. Caution and discussion called for in Overton Square remodelling. The County Commission should approve the anti-gay discrimination ordinance today, just to keep the discussion going.

Jerome Wright: A look at the renewed push for lowering the legal drinking age back to 18. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Laura Dial: The executive director of MADD thinks that a bad idea. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Johnnie B. Watson: And the former superintendent of the Memphis City schools agrees. (via the Commercial Appeal)

BEEB: Summer is here; it’s pool party time!

Eskapadez: Memphis is about to lose another person, but it’s OK.

Fertile Ground: Finding the appropriate place for pervasive game technology.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Is waving while running a Southern thing?

I’ll be the one in heels: Destin is her Eden.

LeftWing Cracker: CIVIL RIGHTS IS CIVIL RIGHTS, PERIOD.