Consolidation: A new group, co-headed by Cordovan Brian Stephens, Rebuild Government, is hoping to foster non-partisan discussion of the issue to take to the Metro Charter Commission later next year. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Jobs, Not Jails: The local opposition to the police/government effort to remove the homeless and panhandlers from Downtown has organised itself. A protest is planned for today. More from WREG’s Mike Matthews.

H1N1 Virus: States are now reporting swine flu is waning.

Memphis Animal Shelter: More on the adoptable dog that was euthanised and the City’s reaction.
 

The MED: Local congregations of many faiths are asking their members to write to local officials and ask them to keep sufficient funding for the regional trauma hospital to stay open.

Aerotropolis: With funding approved and a new design unveiled, work on revamping Plough Boulevard will begin shortly. The new ATC tower at Memphis International Airport was topped with a flag and a Christmas tree.

Business: Memphis-based Aerospace Products International was selected to be distributor for Aeronautical Systems Engineering products. GE Aviation will expand its Batesville plant, adding 350 jobs; the Commercial Appeal has more. More on the GTx layoffs. Nike is planning a returns center that will employ up to 450. FedEx and UPS are gearing up for the final holiday shipping rush.

From the Commercial Appeal, What to Do and People in Business.

DeSoto County: DeSoto Sheriff Bill Rasco, and the Southaven Police, will not be reimbursed for extra security provided to the Mid-South Fair. Police presence has been beefed up in County schools. Horn Lake has rescheduled its Christmas parade for this Saturday evening. The owner of the strip mall in Southaven damaged by a Friday fire will move some tenants around and then quickly rebuild. Southaven may begin charging an annual fee for “bandit signs”.

Tennessee: Ever wonder how judges are judged? It’s the Court of the Judiciary and its proceedings are secret, unlike your trial. November tax collections were just below projections; the press release. More on revenues from the Business Journal, the Daily News. But, unemployment claims for November trended downward! (PDF document) State-owned vehicles in all governmental departments but one have failed to meet government mandates for reducing petroleum dependency.

TVA: They will reduce residential rates by an average $1 to $3 per month beginning next year.

Fayette County: The County School Board has, at a specially-called Monday meeting, reaffirmed its termination of former superintendent Myles Wilson. More from Eyewitness News.

Christmas & the Holiday Season: An anonymous donor dropped a valuable gold coin into a Salvation Army kettle in Clarksville. (via MWTN Today.com) More than 20 barbers gave free haircuts at Lester Elementary. Mental health advice for the holidays.

Memphis Schools: A student riding a MATA bus to school has his $200 cell phone stolen. City schools are studying closing and merging some elementary schools.

Memphis City Council: At today’s meeting, they are scheduled to approve Mayor A C Wharton’s pick for CAO, George Little. The meeting agenda, courtesy of the Daily News. They will also be briefed on the school funding lawsuit and potential options for making the $57 million payment.

Memphis Child Advocacy Center: Talking to kids about sexual abuse.

Politics: US Rep. Marsha Blackburn has appointed Anthony Hulen as her new chief of staff. The last Democratic challenger has dropped out of the race for the US 3rd District. (Republican Zach Wamp is giving it up to run for Governor.)

The Tennessean’s Chas Sisk takes a hard look at the Democratic gubernatorial field. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Gibbons is calling Bill Haslam to “end the secrecy”; more in the Flyer. Local gubernatorial candidates Gibbons and Jim Kyle talk about their education reform plans.

Mississippi: Federal legislators have mananged to bring $150 million to the State in the latest Federal spending bill; more from WREG. After reports of problems at the Tunica County Humane Society, volunteers are flocking to help. Bad weather ruined crops and tight credit is also hurting N. MS farmers.

Germantown: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a new fire station, even though it will cost substantially more than projected.

Media: How do newspapers and television news find their experts for comment? A libel case brought against the Commercial Appeal by an athlete, Kevin Millen, that an Appeals Court denied, is also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Employment: The Federal government’s extension of the COBRA insurance subsidy is due to expire soon.

Memphis Police Department: Bidding for the contract to sell and service one piece ankle bracelets for repeat offenders on probation is due to end this week. The Daily News looks at the program.

Downtown: As the U of M’s Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law nears its opening date, finding sufficient parking is the subject of planning and finding the money to pay.

ArtsMemphis: They won a $40,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, to “develop its audience”.

Collierville: A proposed “water conservation surcharge” is proving more complicated than expected and so has has been delayed a year.

Survey Says: A Mid-South survey finds job security trumps better pay for local workers.

West Tennessee: The uplifting tale of the wayward vine inside the Dyersburg Union Mission. A report from the end-of-year meeting of the Dyersburg Municipal-Regional Planning Commission. (stories via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Arkansas: For the first time, the West Memphis Police Department has an assigned US Marshall to help with cross-jurisdiction fugitives. Nearly 29% of Arkansans are considered “obese”. The new Hewlett-Packard plant in Conway is opening. The State Lottery is proving more lucrative than expected.

Weeden Arts Watch: Congratulations, John and Lyle.

Whitebread on Patrol: A Bill Dance fishing show blooper reel. It’s like a real-life SuperDave Osborne. “I thought I had it in reverse!”

Xspectre8: He’s considering trying out for a reality show. He’s discouraged by an inauspicious start.

Commercial Appeal: Welcom back, First United Methodist Church. Residents shouldn’t wait for the City to get around to revitalising their neighborhoods.

A Right Perspective: Enjoy your family feasts and get-togethers for the memories they’ll generate. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Cathryn Stout: True love takes real work and devotion. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Notes from Memphis: She’s got a list of Downtown businesses online if you still need a Christmas gift. A kind-of-sad holiday-themed picture of Downtown.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: Beautiful holiday cards and the Post Office’s cold realities.

Not High Maintenance, Just High Mileage: The Master’s project is in, and a list of some favorite running accessories.

Urf! Devon Hollahan went missing in Germany last month and you can help the family learn what happened to him.

The Suggs: Hadley is seven months old now and crawling around. She looks like a happy infant.

Rock-n-Romp: The next show of the kids’n'grownups rock “concerts” is in January.

Mediaverse: Thoughts on the new digital-only supplement to the Commercial Appeal.

Left Wing Cracker: US Rep. Bart Gordon’s retirement announcement has shocked and frightened Steve. And calls for the TN Democrats to go left.

Lean Left: Judy Garland sings Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Also, tgirsch is soliciting recommendations for a smart phone.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: Your quote for the day.

a field guide to urban memphis: She recommends a pretty diverse reading list.

AlphaPatriot: Have you heard about the Obamavilles?

artbutcher: Of chicken wings and college art.

Bring me penguin dust: The cost of pet ownership includes mass destruction. And then something like this happens and you suddenly don’t care any more.

Cliff Heegel, PhD: Ten general physical skills you should be aware of.

Doug Johnson at Work: He loves them Buicks.

The Conservative Zone: Thoughts on facts, “Truth” and the health care reform debate.