Shelby County Commission: Two candidates have now declared for the interim County mayor selection process. You can read their applications: George Flinn and Anthony Tate. (PDF documents) More from the Eye on City Hall. Fox13’s Good Morning Memphis interviews George Flinn; more on Flinn from WMC.

Interim Shelby County Mayor Joyce Avery has indicated she’s available as a fallback candidate. And former Collierville mayor Linda Kerley has added her name to the list.

The New Wharton Administration: New appointees in the Wharton administration are already earning more than their predecessors; more from Eyewitness News and the Commercial Appeal. Don’t hold Mayor Wharton responsible for crime: it’s a century old problem! Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery is back on the City Council.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center: Dr William C. Cushman, chief of preventive medicine, won a $15 million grant to study the relationship between systolic blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Red Light Traffic Cameras: Beginning this Saturday, the grace period for fines for running these lights will end and fines will have to be paid.

Memphis Animal Shelter: It was photographs of starving and mistreated dogs that led to the search warrant and investigation of the shelter. More from WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis Police Department: Thanks to its recent success, they failed to qualify for $50 million in Federal funds; more from the Commerical Appeal. The MPD is also disagreeing with the Memphis City Schools on the new uniforms for the MCS police force.

Politics: Governor Phil Bredesen is warning State departments to expect 6% budget cuts next year. He says Federal stimulus funds have “concealed” the true problem. The State’s per diem expenses for legislators rose to $185 last month. More on the use of the State’s gun carry permit database by opponents of its public access for political uses.

Mississippi: Heavy rains are taking a big financial toll on cotton yields this year. The state’s casino industry is taking lots of precautions to protect against the flu this year. The state’s pecan crop is looking good.

Arkansas: The State has so far spent only one-third of the Federal stimulus funds allocated to it. A push last week to get flu shots means almost 170,000 doses were given. State tax revenues were nearly $18 million below forecast last month.

Stanford Financial Group: The receiver in charge of the case is warning former investors to not expect much back.

West Tennessee: The Dyer County Health Department is now offering free flu vaccines to certain groups. The Memphis Food Bank, the Salvation Army and the local Rotary Club are teaming up to offer food distribution programs to the poor of Dyer County. (via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Survey Says: Americans will overwhelmingly use cash this Christmas season. US manufacturing seems to be on an upswing. The non-profit sector is cutting bonuses and freezing hiring. Seventy percent of Tennesseans filed their income taxes on line this year.

Arlington: The City approved work on US 70 and Airline Road intersection to ease traffic congestion.

Real Estate: The Memphis Area Association of Realtors reports September home sales were very slightly up over August. The Market of Riverdale Bend sold after foreclosure for nearly $5 million.

DeSoto County: Olive Branch has now approved the sale of fireworks! The Regional Utility Authority’s name on the Greenways trail sparked controversy. Also, the RUA accepted a bid for construction of the Johnson Creek Interceptor. The Hernando Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted an increase in the sewer water rate. The City of Walls is considering regulating tractor-trailers, especially their parking.

Memphis City Schools: The State issued their report cards for school systems. Memphis City Schools dropped sharply; Shelby County Schools did well. State website here. More reports from WMC, Eyewitness News, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

An assistant principal at Wooddale Middle School, Willie Lee Tobias, has been charged for not reporting a sex crime on school grounds.

FedEx Forum: More on the uncollected seat fees that may have cost the City and County hundreds of thousands of dollars from Fox13 and WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis City Council: The amended scrap metal ordinance was passed yesterday. Scrap metal related theft has dropped about 85% in that time. More in the Commercial Appeal. The also illegal tire dumping ordinance also passed; more from WREG and the CA. The Council certified the election of new City Mayor A C Wharton.

Collierville: A big summit meeting with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Pembrooke Neighborhood Association to discuss a variety of issues and concerns, but mostly flash flooding problems.

Midtown: The facade of Anderton’s Restaurant, owned by Crye-Leike Realty has been demolished rather suddenly. (More pictures here. WMC has video.) A detailed story that never mentions Memphis Heritage from the Commercial Appeal. Another farmers market is opening, this one on Union Avenue.

Germantown: Tonight’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting will look at storm water utility funds.

MLG&W: Customers can now sign up for mobile alerts of bill due dates or impending cut-offs.

Business: A ruling by the State Attorney General says that “sole proprietors” of some businesses will be required to carry workmen’s compensation insurance. Site Selection magazine ranks the state fifth for its business climate! More from the Business Journal. Buckeye Technologies’ income this quarter was due to alternative fuel mixture credits. A healthy jump in 3Q net income for Pinnacle Airlines; more in the Commercial Appeal. Recycle Solutions has opened a feed-grain commodities division, Bluff City Commodoties. Accredo Health Group saw record Q3 revenues of $2.4 billion; the CA.

People in Business, from the Daily News and from the Commercial Appeal. Also, What To Do.

FedEx: William J. Logue has been appointed president of FedEx Freight; more in the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. The parent company is opening a new sorting facility in Flint, MI; more in the Daily News.

The Pyramid: The City Economic Development Director Robert Lipscomb says the City has secured several million Federal dollars to pay for upkeep on the facility as the Bass Pro Shops deal chugs along. He also explained some of the delay.

University of Memphis: The Student Government Association will vote Thursday to request the administration include a student member on the committee that determines how technology fees are dispensed. On our sexual health report card, the U of M’s C+ grade actually makes us number one in TN. (all stories via the Daily Helmsman) The FedEx Institute of Technology is beginning to work their backlog of talent and discoveries to make them profitable.

Tennessee: The TN Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab is proposing to start charging local police and sheriff departments for testing.

Crime: From Eyewitness News, the ZIP codes with the highest burglary rates.

Germantown Parkway: There are four major trouble spots for accidents.

Blue Collar Republican: The Memphis Tea Party, the other Memphis Tea Party and taking claim.

16 Balls in the Air: Let the kids fall where they may.

Bring me penguin dust: She has a morning encounter she wasn’t prepared for.

Cwabs! It’s a changes in jobs, but not really!

diary of a southern domestic diva: She’s back with a short update on her life recently and the boy situation.

Downtow Memphis Blog: A recommendation for Valle’s Italian Rebel restaurant.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: A chance decision turns her day into a major animal rescue operation.

Just A Girl in the World: She’s in the nesting process, settling into her new apartment.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: Is Ludacris leading edge or an outlier?

moremittenz: Curious about scones? Now you can try some for yourself.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Paul reports on Little Rock’s downtown bum scene. Paul’s been blacklisting people?

Scribblescrawl: She’s dealing with unemployment by staying busy. Also, a surprise wedding and yet more Halloween pictures!

The Suggs: A baby lady bug for Halloween.

The Chubby Vegetarian: Cold weather is near and this mushroom and barley soup is simple and filling.

String of Theories: The can’t say enough good things about Brandon Dill’s wedding photography and they share a whole lot of pictures to show why.

Commercial Appeal: Criticising the Republicans for doing what the newspaper also did. Private developers must reveal their plans for Raleigh Springs Mall.

Rev Gary R. Gunderson and Dr Scott Morris Pray for The MED, its ER and those in charge of its fate. (via the Commercial Appeal)

SlyBrand: He lets you behind the scenes on designing graphic logos.

The Shelby Watchdog: He has a list of the fifty top tax delinquents in Shelby County, from five different categories.

sharp stick in the eye: Thoughts on umbrellas. Also, Halloween costumes and baking cupcakes.

Persian Pit Bull: Pumpkin carving with friends. Monday Night Fantasy Football.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Halloween costumes for dogs, and some people pics, too. She’s cleaned out her closets and is having an online yard sale.