MLG&W: Rising costs for pensions and retiree benefits may mean a sharp rise in water rates for customers after 2010.

Mid-South Food Bank: Several factors are hitting the food bank hard: the recession is increasing need and decreasing donations. Also criminals are now stealing food!

Red Light Cameras: The first of the City’s controversial traffic cameras goes up next week. Stop! More from WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Flyer’s Best of Memphis: Their annual reader survey yielded the following list of winners. The celebration party. Blogger Paul Ryburn has a report on the party, with pictures. And the Downtown Memphis Blogger has a few pictures, too. Fertile Ground also published a write-up.

City of Memphis: More on politically- and family-connected temporary workers receiving up to $20/hour from the City. CAO Jack Sammons explains what’s going on. The Lowery administration is looking atreplacing Affiliated Computer Services as the City’s IT provider, if there are cost savings.

H1N1 Virus: Local hospitals and clinics say they need more nurses ASAP! County Commissioner Dr George Flinn and local rapper Sir Vince have teamed up for a public service swine flu song. The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department will be holding more public informational forums about swine flu. The Centers for Disease Control is recommending a pneumonia vaccine on top of the swine flu vaccine, as lethal cases tend to involve both strains. A false email being circulated around the city is causing many to pass up getting their flu shotsl.

Talking of disease transmission, the wet weather in the Mid-South the past month means mosquitoes are out in force.

Crime: Thousands of hit and run accidents remain unsolved in the Memphis area. Fighting crime by cleaning up properties? The mayoral candidates think it’s a viable campaign issue.

Memphis City Schools: Four charter schools run by the MCS are in trouble with Federal officials for not having separate governing boards controlling them.

Politics: Common Cause of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit to compel the Secretary of State, Tre Hargett, to follow the Voter Confidence Act of 2008, mandating new, paper trail, voting machines by 2010.

Downtown: The Flyer presents the three alternative designs proposed for Mud Island. The Great Recession is hitting downtown restaurants hard.

Collierville: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed on a second vote a new site design review process described as “business friendly”.

Tennessee: A Fort Campbell soldier has been charged with trying to sell four grenades and an ATW rocket launcher; more from WMC and the CA. The State’s website, www.capitol.tn.gov, won an award for “online democracy” as the best legislative website in the country. Budget cuts may force the closure of the Family Support Program for families of people with disabilities and handicaps.

University of Memphis: Yesterday was Discover Your Major Day for students who have yet to declare. After winning approval from colleges and universities, a new two-tier system for 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities went to the Governor. (stories via the Daily Helmsman) A team of interior design students have been charged with creating “green” interior spaces for the Triad Centre III, the first gold-certified LEED office building in the city.

City Council: They are informally holding off action until the interim mayor is replaced with the short-term mayor.

NEW & UPDATED! Single Source School Funding: County Commissioner Mike Ritz has released his single-source funding proposal, ahead of the October 7 vote on the subject. Here’s the proposal itself (DOC format) and a summary of funding levels and the property tax changes required (DOC format). The Daily News discusses his proposal.

Commissioner Mike Carpenter’s counter-proposal’s press release and the proposal itself. (DOC document)

Mirimichi: The Justin Timberlake owned golf course is looking to build a Callaway performance center, for improving golfers’ swing.

Shelby County Schools: They are considering allowing City school students to transfer to the County system in certain circumstances.

Job Fair: The Commercial Appeal writes a report on the slim pickings at the WMC job fair at Oak Court Mall. Some tips for making the most of your opportunity at a job fair.

DeSoto County: All students will be offered the swine flu vaccine; more from Eyewitness News, WREG, Commercial Appeal. The Southaven Fire Department is hosting a Fire and Life Safety Day next Saturday. Despite a broken foot, Eric Church will still headline the Hernando Music & Heritage Festival.

West Memphis 3: The mother of one of the victims now believes they are innocent, at their hearing this week. More from WMC.

Pink Palace Crafts Fair: Running now through Sunday.

Memphis Heritage: They are seeking volunteers this Saturday to move item in preparation for an auction.

Business: JHS Holdings of Nashville has purchased 4 Amerigo restaurants and a Char restaurant. Carlisle Tire & Wheel intends to open a manufacturing and distribution facility in Jackson, TN. The GM of Hollywood Casinos, John R. Osborne, is leaving.

People in business, from the Business Journal; related story in the Daily News. And people in business from the CA.

Mississippi: The State’s tax revenues are already running 10% below forecasts.

Temple of Deliverance COGIC: Last Saturday was the culmination of a three-day ceremony as the church burned its mortgage.

Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence: They have passed the $200 million mark in grants secured since their founding.

3rd Annual Forgotten Souls Festival: Helping to feed and clothe the homeless at The House of Mtenzi on October 18.

Financial: Regions Bank is limiting or removing overdraft fees on many accounts; similar report from the CA. First Tennessee Bank is selling its FTN Equity Capital Markets Corporation, as a refocing move.

Survey Says: Memphis ranked Number Four on a list of cities rebounding in their housing markets values. Memphis August home sales were off from July. The Memphis Area Association of Realtors notes that area home sales slowed dramatically, but home prices inched up; more in the Commercial Appeal.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: Local Democratic and Republican Party leaders will debate health care reform this Tuesday. A reminder that UT is a part of Memphis, too.

Radio Sweethearts: Playing the odds and banking on timing in dodging the swine flu.

Commercial Appeal: Applauding the educational partnership between the University of Memphis and Southwest Tennessee Community College. Curtailing the majority’s rights to help annoy and drive off an unpleasant minority is the way to go.

Geoff Calkins: He notices that people can be inaccurate when they gossip. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Dr Scott Morris: Twelve ways Memphis can improve its health today, without health care reform. (via the Tri-State Defender)

John Branston: Thoughts on plans by the City and County to pay a bounty for collecting abandoned tires. And, thoughts on the Ninth Congressional District race, and its history. (via the Flyer)

Steven Mulroy: The County Commissioner believes the courts made a mistake in striking down a second division for Juvenile Court. (via the Flyer)

The Flyer: Congratulating County Commisisoner Mike Carpenter for his efforts to find a solution to school funding. (via the Flyer)

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Your picture and quote of the day.

sharp stick in the eye: A recipe with hilarious commentary and honest pictures for Shrimp with Tomatos and Olives and Couscous.

Smart City Memphis: Three great men, an appreciation and lessons we can learn.

a field guide to urban memphis: What she loves about Memphis is “the people who live here”.

55-40 Memphis: This “Obama as a gangster” motif seems so obvious you wonder why it’s not used by comedians more….

Doug Johnson at Work: Thoughts on major American brands that stumbled and fell.

Divers and Sundry: A very long and inclusive list of horror movies, with links to reviews, to spice up your Halloweening.

dminmem: A short test on whether you should stay or go in your job.

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: They had a good candidate turnout for the launch of the ISSUES FIRST campaign. Good on them.

Brain Release Valve: At first I thought this was a description of a new conspriacy thriller movie or graphic novel, but apparently this weird story is real.

Blue Collar Republican: A report from the 40 Days For Life protest.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: She’s been nominated for an award and she has a list of things she has to do to earn it. Help her out!

The Gates of Memphis: Learning some lessons from Deloach Street.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: He’s been sick a lot lately and it’s taking a mental toll on him. (NSFW picture and language/imagery alert.)