Memphis’ Next Mayor: Charles Carpenter will refocus police department on community-based policing. The Fox13 Good Morning Memphis interview with Carpenter. A C Wharton has posted his 33-point platform on his campaign website. Now Carpenter is challenging Wharton to a one-on-one debate. And, Carpenter’s the only candidate to have publicly taken a drug test; Eyewitness News was also there. John Willingham also talked with Fox13 about his run. A war of words is heating up between Wanda Halbert (a City Council member) and Police Director Larry Godwin over police conduct.

What are the qualifications and disbarments to becoming Mayor of Memphis? Good question, says WREG’s Mike Matthews.

Memphis Grizzlies: Allen Iverson says “yes” to the Memphis Grizzlies. “God Chose Memphis,” he says.

H1N1 Virus: Health providers across the spectrum are lining up for the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available. Doctors are working overtime. Calls are flooding into the local hotline. In North Mississippi, swine flu is displacing regular flu strains in reported cases. Parents say the Memphis City Schools aren’t giving them enough information and some students say schools don’t have soap and paper towels! Some schools are reporting a rise in student absences.

Tennessee: Chancellor of the State Board of Regents Charles Manning will stay on another year but more than 500 employees will take a buyout offer.

UPDATED! Politics: Mark White has announced his run for the State House District 83 seat, in the Republican primary.

Shelby County Republican Party Chairman Lang Wiseman on why State Rep. Brian Kelsey will resign his seat. The Fox13 Insiders discuss the Election Commission’s purging of the voter rolls.

Did you know that citizens in a county can petition to have their “local option sales tax” lowered? Hardin County is doing it right now.

The new state sovreignty law’s study commission has been constituted. Don’t know what this is? Read on. (via the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle)

Second Amendment: The next Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on September 22 will include a public forum on opting out of the State’s gun carry in parks law.

Salvation Army: They are restarting the Angel Tree program, in cooperation with Toys for Tots and Catholic Charities, but with some limiting changes

DeSoto County: The Board of Supervisors approved the new County budget and there’s no raise for employees. City officials in Olive Branch meet today to discuss their budget. DeSoto County schools stand to lose $6 million in the new budget cuts recently announed.

University of Memphis: Professor Larry Moore, whose claim of racism in staff, graduate assistant and faculty hiring caused a stir, has now filed a $551 million lawsuit alleging administrative “libel, slander, professional disparagement and fraud”. More from Eyewitness News. This is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month for the school. The number of students enrolled in online degree classes nearly doubled this year. (via the Daily Helmsman)

Memphis Bar Foundation: Yolanda Wesley Ingram has been nominated to the board of directors. They are the charitable arm of the Memphis Bar Association.

Arkansas: Plans are being discussed for a gambling addiction program funded by unclaimed lottery prize monies. The chief auditor for the State Highway Commission will perform the same function for the Lottery Commission.

Southwest Tennessee Community College: They estimate a 13% enrollment increase for the Fall semester.

Shelby County: County Mayor A C Wharton will unveil the Sustainable Shelby Implementation Plan today, which hopes to set the county on a strong “smart/green growth” path.

Shelby County Commission: Salary cuts for top County executives survive a vote and funds are budgeted for the H1N1 virus-fighting effort. The Health Department supports the proposal to expand auto emissions testing into the unincorporated county. The Commission and the City Council are working together on a strict tire-dumping ordinance.

MLG&W: A look at how Twitter helped the utility in the days after the June storms this year, from the Commercial Appeal.

The Lowery Administration: More on Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery’s termination of City-employed lawyer Ricky Wilkins. Ricky Wilkins accuses Lowery of a “bold-faced lie”; more from WMC, Eyewitness News, Fox13. And City Attorney Elbert Jefferson buys time by calling in sick the rest of the week.

Beale Street: The termination of attorney Ricky Wilkins by the City, as he was representing them in this lawsuit, muddies the waters considerably.

Land Use Control Board: Jay Kumar goes before them today to get final approval of his Lamar Avenue Vista Inn & Suites project.

Consolidation: There will be a public forum on the issue tonight at the Memphis Area Homebuilders Association.

National Baptist Convention: After the failed injunction by former president Rev. Henry Lyons, the election of a new NBC president will go forward today.

Downtown: Some The Nettleton condos will be auctioned at no-minimum, no-reserve sale this Saturday.

Good Morning Memphis: Some advice on estate planning. The Children’s Museum has an exhibit on train safety.

Business: The new Federal Reserve Beige Book says our Eighth District is in “moderating decline”; more from the Commercial Appeal. New, proposed, United Steelworkers contract would leave the Union City Goodyear plant as only “unprotected” plant of eight. The vote is underway this week. (via NWTN Today) All three High Point Coffee shops are now closed.

Elvis Presley Enterprises: In cooperation with VISA there are now official Elvis-themed credit/affinity cards.

Financial: The AARP ranked First Horizon bank second out of fifty banks in terms of senior employees. Mortgage loan numbers rose steeply last week.

Previously Posted: EmergeMemphis got a $500,000 grant to expand their offices.

Wolf River Conservancy Greenway 5K Run: The greentrail benefit run, family walk/run and after party are scheduled for October 4. Original card front and back. (PDF documents.)

The ninth annual Mid-South Maze, a cornfield maze at the Agricenter, is also a tribute to the Wolf River Conservancy.

Rotary Run for Parks and Greenways: The Rotary Club is hosting a 5K run and a fun run on September 26 to benefit the upcoming Greenline walking / running trail. Downloadable registration form is here.

Survey Says: Consumer credit levels continue to drop. But the number of suspicious insurance claims rose, says the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Fewer CEOs are departing their jobs last month.

One Half Amazing! Social Camp Memphis is coming up next Saturday. Sign up now! Maximise your Facebook exposure by posting on Tuesdays?

Pretty in Pink Megan: As a thank you to all her readers (and she has a lot!), she’s giving away neat stuff! New dress excitement.

Reginald Milton’s A Fresh Look: Plugs for A C Wharton and Leadership Memphis.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: A hopeful prediction for tonight’s Titans game.

Long Tall Animals: It’s taking a while to share their Western adventure, but the stories and the pictures make it worth your time.

ForkBombr: Thoughts on the difference between news reporting and blogging.

From the Rainbows: A photo-filled report from the Labor Day weekend.

From the Southern Table: You can find the genuine Sonoran hot dog right here in Memphis at Cuauh’s Hot Dog-o & Taco.

Haaaaave You Read My Blog? Comparing the NFL and “Average Joe” power rankings.

16 Balls in the Air: Was it worth the $600? And a Labor Day photo-post.

I’ll be the one in heels: Another mother’s milestone not only passed, but documented forever.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: A church that gives money to its members? His boys make another movie!

Commontaries: Thoughts on mayoral candidate Charles Carpenter. It wasn’t fair to Bristol and it isn’t fair to Malia.

Brain Release Valve: Your WTH? moment for the day, as a roomful of costumed sci-fi convention-goers recreate the dance from the Michael Jackson song, Thriller. Must be seen to be believed.

Blue Collar Republican: Toughts on mayoral candidate Jerry Lawler.

BEEB: This is work? On the other hand, she talks about the horror-show that is becoming a paid, published writer and its sweet, sweet reward.

Commercial Appeal: Can County Commission Democrats be trusted “Nah.”? Even if its expensive, the City must continue the Beale Street / Performa Entertainment lawsuit for what it will tell us.

Because I Said So: Memphis is “fabulous” in September. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Pet Scoop: Picking up the story of rescued dog Shelby Angel from blogger Damie Roberts of MAKE IT HAPPEN. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: Opponents of President Obama’s speech to schools don’t have “common courtesy”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Divers and Sundry: Links to reviews she’s written of horror and animated SF movies. Remembering the last known Tasmanian tiger.

Fore Left! Tying President Obama, Van Jones and Bill Ayers to the Memphis City Schools’ “no flunk” policy. Wow.