H1N1 Virus: A serious national outbreak of the swine flu would “devastate” business. At least one Memphis business is finding almost no takers for their swine flu vaccine; similar story from WMC and Eyewitness News. This WREG story finds a vaccine shortage? For kids under 10, it’s recommended they get a double dose.

DeSoto County: The City of Hernando has been designated a Preserve America Community. The Fall Festival in Horn Lake kicks off today!

West Tennessee: The Dyer County Health Department now has a limited amount of the H1N1 vaccine. The money to fund Phase II of Downtown Dyersburg’s revitalisation plan has arrived. (stories via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Karbala, Iraq: Nabil Al-Anbari, chairman of the city’s Chamber of Commerce is visiting Memphis to generate developer interest and seek investors for public projects.

Collierville: Re-enactors come to town next weekend when they will commemorate the Battle of Collierville. (Battle of Collierville website.) Groups wanting to hold special public fundraising events will now face a $250 fee. (via the Collierville Independent)

Arkansas: The State’s first $100,000 winner of the new State lottery was arrested for soliciting a prostitute; a much longer story on Eyewitness News.

Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes: They will be holding their 6th Annual Fall Festival in Bartlett tomorrow! TBCH website. (via the Bartlett Express)

Delta Air Lines: The airline is being sued for allegedly hacking the email account of a “passenger rights” activist to derail pending Federal legislation.

Business: The “Dow 10,000″ was good for Memphis’ publicly traded companies too. An analyst’s downgrade sent shares of Valero Energy falling.

A professional interview with Thomas W. Coupe, a staff attorney at Juvenile Court, from the Daily News.

People in business, from the CA.

Medtronic: A study on their Infuse bone graft product was released that showed safety and effectiveness rates.

Corporate Counsel: Memphis firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz made their 2009 honor list of “Who Represents Corporate America”.

Oakland: The principal of Oakland Elementary, Stephanie Kelley, is facing charges for not reporting a sexual assault on school grounds involving two eight-year olds. More from WMC and the Commercial Appeal. This may not be the first unreported incident there.

Survey Says: Consumers are expected to cut holiday spending this year. US retail sales fell in September. Airline traffic is expected to decline into next year.

Zombie Night: Range USA is offering you the chance to shoot at zombies this Halloween weekend.

MLG&W: Hoped-for Federal stimulus money will be used to install “Smart Grid” meters in tens of thousands of locations around Memphis. More from Eyewitness News. The board of directors meeting is today and several 2010 budgets will be considered.

Tennessee: A Middle Tenneessee State University poll shows, among other things, opposition to most gun carry laws just passed and a lot of ambivalence on othe issues; more on Eyewitness News. A related poll on Tennesseans’ attitudes on national issues. A look at the hoped-for effects of the State’s new building code on energy usage in homes; more from WMC.

Millington: Shelby County officials toured Millington Central High School to see the extent of the deterioration and how urgent repairs are.

Minister Louis Farrakhan: The Nation of Islam leader is in town this weekend to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Million Man March and more events.
 
 

Public Action Law Society: This group is being revived by a U of M law professor and others to encourage students to get active in pro bono service.

Postal Service: Four Memphis facilities are still on the list for closure. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Politics: Up to 75 felons may have voted illegally in Sullivan County. (NE corner of TN) Election Administrator Jason Booher says it may be 100.

After their loss in the State Senate District 62 race yesterday, Democrats are still hoping to take back the Legislature. Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney also shares his thoughts on the Republican victory. The Commercial Appeal reports on that election, where Pat Marsh beat Ty Cobb.

At a between-sessions work hearing, members of the State House held a skeptical hearing on the use of red-light traffic cameras.

National Association of Women Judges: Their 31st annual conference, being held downtown, will have a keynote speech to from former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Rain, Rain, Go Away: The weeks of constant rain we’ve had recently can trigger some mood disorders.

Memphis City Schools: The Tennessee Court of Appeals heard the school funding appeal Wednesday. A ruling is months away.

Arlington BBQ FallFest: This Memphis Barbecue Network-sanctioned event is this Friday and Saturday.
 

Willie Herenton: Claudine Marsh, the mother of his youngest son, has requested the former mayor be questioned under oath and open his finances to review.

Real Estate: A slight uptick in condo sales Downtown. Foreclosures are still pervasive in Q3. Colliers Wilkinson Snowden will take over management and possible sales of The Shops at Rock Creek, Cordova Station South and The Shoppes at Misty Meadows.

Mississippi: Interested in cheap cigarettes? The State Auditor is auctioning seized, contraband cigarettes later this month. President Barack Obama’s visit to tour recovery from Hurricane Katrina won’t include coastal Mississippi.

Public Relations Society of America: Their Memphis chapter handed out awards to local PR agencies Wednesday. Walker + Associates took the Vox Grandis prize.

Previously Posted: Thom Williams, currently charged with embezzling almost $9 million from Verso Paper, is also charged in another case involving writing bad checks from Barloworld Truck Center.

University of Memphis: More on the anti-Semitic vandalisation of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house. October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Smoking tobacco via a hookah is a new college trend, but it’s still dangerous. The Faculty Senate votes to join the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics. (via the Daily Helmsman)

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: A fortuitous confluence of events?

Sassy Molassy: “Small group teaching” or “divide and conquer through shame”?

Persian Pit Bull: Bad news on the new house.

Notes from Memphis: Several Downtown events this weekend and Michelle’s got the infor.

moremittenz: Rainy weather brings out the Sultry Chicken and its poetry….

Left Wing Cracker: He votes for Mayor and discusses the Republican win in the State Senate 62 race. Thoughts on Planned Parenthood v. the Catholic Diocese.

Just a Girl in the World: Strange tales of sorority alumnae parties.

Nude Steve’s Memphis Blog: Sometimes, one picture really is worth a thousand words.

artbutcher: Three years ago, Tuesday.

Student: Revisted: Not sure what’s going on here, but it’s fun to read.

The Gates of Memphis: Thoughts on walled cities.

THE INTERSECTION OF MADNESS AND REALITY: Parents, teach your kids well, like these parents are doing.

Haaaaave You Read My Blog? Cree’s lists of best and worst new television shows and the Top Ten shows.

Friends for Our Riverfront: They are sponsoring a discussion about the history of the Riverfront cobblestones and what could be done with them.

Egotistical Whining: Thoughts on a Memphis Flyer article comparing Detroit and Memphis and talking white flight.

Boy in the ‘Hood: Patrick still sleeps a lot but Walt is beginning to read.

I’ll be the one in heels: The hardest-fought blog post ever.

Commercial Appeal: Don’t award Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash his cash bonus until he produces positive results. Even if you support a candidate we didn’t endorse, who by the way has a huge lead we’ve been promoting, please vote!

Brad Watkins: The issues he raises should have been examined weeks ago and not mentioned the day of the election. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Because I Said So: Talking to your kids about the election and candidates. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Bigger Than Your Head: Answers to some frequently asked questions.

55-40 Memphis: Who got his mayoral vote and his thoughts on the candidates.