Center City Commission: Advocates for the homeless and beer wholesalers are fighting proposed new laws for the Downtown district.

Commercial Appeal: That Thursday / Thanksgiving edition, packed with all the coupons and store flyers for Black Friday, will cost the same as a Sunday paper this year.

Memphis Union Mission: They will host Thanksgiving meals for the homeless and needy both today (three sessions!) and Thanksgiving.

Shelby County Commission: A report on actions taken at this week’s meeting. The Commission will interview potential candidates for Interim Mayor Joe Ford’s former seat on December 2.

Howell Marketing Strategies: With Valeo Design & Marketing they are presenting a five part series of seminars on social media and how to use it effectively.

Politics: Now Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey is saying there will not be a special session next month for the Legislature. More in the Tennessean and here.

A study done by WBIR (Knoxville) claims the State’s US Representatives are paying their staffs more than 5 years ago.

Good Morning Memphis: Some of the common injuries of Thanksgiving. A Better Memphis is hosting their black-tie Harvest Ball this Saturday. If you have the time and the spirit, the Memphis Thanksgiving Dinner for the Hungry and the Homeless is from 10AM to 1PM and could use some help! If you are travelling this holiday, here are some travel tips. It’s coming up on time for end-of-year planning for your investments. More on the fight over the Zippin Pippin. Marriage advice! A talk with MCS Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash about the schools.

West Tennessee: The land for the solar farm initiative in Haywood County has been chosen and now the lease agreement must be drafted. The Dyersburg Mall is extending their hours for the holiday season. Notes from the most recent meeting of the Dyersburg City Board. (two stories via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals: At their December 3 meeting, Dexter Muller, senior vice-president of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, will speak on “Memphis: Key Link in the Global Supply Chain”.

Bartlett: No more budget cuts are planned but Mayor Keith McDonald is still warning department heads to keep an eye on spending.

Harold Ford Jr: NEW! Strong rumor out of New York that Ford may run for the junior US Senate seat recently taken by fellow Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. Sorry, Ninth District Tennessee! His new book, More Davids Than Goliaths, is available for pre-order. It’s part auto-biography — including lessons learned from his family — and part exploration of his future.

Survey Says: A US Department of Agriculture agency report on “food insecurity” found TN ranked 40th. Reporting on the “unemployed, underemployed, part-time and discouraged worker” rate, which is 17.5%.

Oakland: The chancellor hearing the Scott Ferguson mayoral election challenge has refused to dismiss the suit. A resolution to ban gun carry in public parks that was on the Board agenda was removed before the meeting.

Oakland: Scott Ferguson, who lost the last mayoral election, believes he can show 29 faulty votes and overturn the results. He goes back to court on December 9.

DeSoto County: Clarksdale Police Chief Gregory Hoskins was found guilty of three counts of disorderly conduct and one of resisting arrest in a Southaven incident; more from WREG. Southaven’s Central Park is getting prepared for Southern Lights. The County School Board has codified some teacher/student behaviors, to prevent more problems; more from Fox13. Olive Branch police are beefing up their presence for the holiday shopping season; the Fire Department got a $25,000 grant for their new training site. Under the State’s new accountability system, the County schools were rated “High-Performing”. Beware of counterfeit money in Horn Lake; more from WREG.

Thanksgiving & the Holiday Season: A schedule of holiday closings. Also, MATA will run a Saturday schedule on Friday. Did you know Uncle Sam’s slice of your Thanksgiving turkey comes to 41%? Don’t forget that the TN Highway Patrol will be out in force from 6PM today until Sunday evening. Local merchants are all hoping for a busy holiday shopping season. Tips on protecting yourself while shopping.

Memphis City Schools: The first notices went out to the parents of repeatedly truant students; they can be charged with misdemeanors. Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash calls the State Department of Education school system grades “voodoo psychometrics” and lashes out over City’s failing grades; he asks for clarification of the grading system. The Board of Education approved more than a dozen legislative bill requests for the next session of the General Assembly, including parenting classes. The system’s “Trust Pays” program — like Crimestoppers for the schools — is moving into elementary schools. The administration says they will use the Gates Foundation grant to change teacher recruiting tactics.

Shelby County Election Commission: WREG talks with Election Commissioner Bill Giannini about removing 3700 dead voters from the rolls.

Memphis Police Department: Another bad rating for Memphis on crime and once again, Police Director Larry Godwin explaings why it’s neither fair nor accurate.
 

AmericaCare Health Properties: The Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency has given them permission to move their rehab center and a long-term hospital in East Memphis.

Business: 3Q income for Fred’s was off 18%; ad campaign failed. Majestic Star Casino, the parent company of Fitz Casino, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; more in the Daily News. Medtronic posted very strong numbers for their 2Q, and is projecting more for their rest of their year; Commercial Appeal. ACE Hardware will open a new store in the Quince Station Center.

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

Delta Air Lines: In the Zagat’s 2009 Airline Survey, they only did middling.

BlueCross BlueShield: They will provide free credit monitoring service after 57 hard drives with customer information are stolen.

Mississippi: H1N1 nasal vaccines are now available for free from County health departments.

University of Memphis: A report from the College of Engineering’s open house. Members of the Overton Park Social Club performed on campus last night. Protesters met Wade Rathke, once of ACORN, when he spoke on campus this week. (via the Daily Helmsman) The Commercial Appeal also reports on Rathke’s talk.

St Jude Children’s Hospital: John and Andra Tully donated one million dollars to celebrate their daughter’s second birthday!

Financial: One quarter of Memphis mortgages are “under water”. And one-third of Tennessee banks are now unprofitable. Magna Bank is seeing better numbers this quarter.

Exchange Club Family Center: The Memphis Bar Foundation gave an $8000 grant to them for their Supervised Visitation Services.

Tennessee: Governor Phil Bredesen has requested Federal farm assistance / disaster aid for 16 counties, including Shelby. The University of Tennessee won a $1.8 million grant to improve teacher training in math and science. So far this year, traffic fatalities are down in the state.

Salvation Army: The Commerical Appeal has more on the new Kroc Center, due to begin work next year.

Collierville: More on the doubling of holiday bonuses for City employees.

Commercial Appeal: They side with and accept the explanation from Superintendent Cash for poor school grades from the State report. Fighting legislative efforts to reform the State’s gun carry laws.

TN Conservative: Mick Wright posts some videos from Wade Rathke’s appearance at the U of M earlier this week.

Just A Girl in The World: Adventures in Memphis speed dating.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: The 5th Annual Turpin Turkey Trot — a Thanksgiving tradition.

Meredith Jubilee and Madeline Jane: Grandma’s birthday party.

Oval Soul Journey: Scanners and self-portraiture. Waisted.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Thanksgiving openings and closings for Downtown. More Downtown news.

Persian Pit Bull: Jello shots and the UT game in Oxford.

Pretty in Pink Megan: In which she shares the make-up contents of her purse.

Moonpies and Cherry Slurpies: Elek will make a great model or TV presenter one day.

Joy’s Life and Times: She sneaks away for a lunchtime run at Shelby Farms.

a field guide to urban memphis: Where is her Hallmark card?

AlphaPatriot: The “Hope is Fading Fast” t-shirt.

Blue Collar Republican: He hates poor people? A report from Wade Rathke’s appearance.

Bring me penguin dust: Happy birthday, and news about the engagement.

Buck Daddy’s Blog: Bad news on the job front. He’s going to be part of a Black Friday project where bloggers post their shopping experiences live! Thoughts on holiday traditions and in-laws.

Doug Johnson at Work: Thoughts on Memphis and crime.

Friends for Our Riverfront: Your Thanksgiving “Awwwww…” picture of the day.

From the Rainbows: They need suggestions on where to eat out on Thanksgiving. “The greatest luxury in life is having only one crisis at a time.”

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Her birthday present to herself.

Jesus is Hot: A moving morning with My Morning Jacket’s Evil Urges.