No Property Tax Hike? Using a mix of budget cuts and reserve fund spending, the City Council believes it can come up with the MCS settlement money and not raise property taxes, too. The Commercial Appeal calls it a “balk”. More from Fox13, WMC, WREG, Eyewitness News and WREG. Plus, late reports from Tuesday’s City Council meeting from WMC, Eyewitness News and WREG.

Joe Saino: The Memphis Watchdog: In a special to the Main Street Journal, Joe offers some suggestions of things to cut in the City budget before we go raising property taxes to cover the MCS settlement payment.

Downtown: The Center City Commission has approved redirecting PILOT fees to alley improvements, among other actions.

Second Amendment: A proposal being put forward for the next legislature would be to allow gun carry by carry permit holders in restaurants serving liquor. Beer service only, though, no carry.

Planned Parenthood: The TN Health Services and Development Agency approved their certificate of need for their new location on Madison Avenue, near Memphis Catholic High School. No word yet on an appeal by the Memphis Catholic Diocese.

Strip Club Lawsuit: A lawsuit filed in 2007 and then dismissed, concerning comments made by County Commissioner Mike Ritz, has had the dismissal upheld.

Juvenile Court: Former court clerk Shep Wilbun held a fundraiser in his campaign to be re-elected. The story also has other news on early campaign candidates for other offices.
 

Mississippi: One in three families can’t pay their bills. More on the new drivers license renewal kiosks, which make renewals faster. The Graduation Task Force, trying to improve college performance, has made recommendations. The utility company serving the upscale Wellsgate neighborhood in Oxford is asking customers to not use Charmin toilet tissue, as it doesn’t dissolve well.

Memphis International Airport: The contract to build the new ground transportation center is expected to be awarded to The Flintco Companies, which is building the new air traffic control tower.

Medtronic: Their Foundation is offering grants for CPR and defibrillator training to local schools.

Business: State Commissioner of Revenue Regan Farr says 6000 businesses have avoided paying State taxes! AT&T and Bellsouth are being sued for $1 billion in overtime pay. Barnes & Noble is closing its Winchester Road store. Nucor expects to break even in its 4Q reporting.

A professional interview on hospitality industry practice with Ted C. Raynor, of Burch, Porter & Johnson, from the Daily News.

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

MLG&W: Among the items to be discussed at today’s board meeting are contracts for armored car services and and janitorial services. Also, residents who are a part of the Cooper Young Development Corporation and Evergreen Historic Neighborhood Association will compete to see which neighborhood can lower its utility usage the most, in a contest called “The Smallest User”.

Previously Posted: More on the “topping off” of the Barbaro Alley Flats building site; and a story from the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis Area Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: This partnership between the Memphis Music Foundation, ArtsMemphis, Memphis Area Legal Services will offer legal assistance to area musicians and artists.

Christmas & the Holiday Season: Tips and advice on keeping your holidays “green”. The TN Highway Patrol is stepping up enforcement against drunk/drugged drivers. The Nelson home in Halls has more than one-half million lights! Santa’s Village in Martin draws 13,000 and almost $48,000 in food/toy donations. Mystery man pays the postage on a Christmas package to Australia. Students at Hernando Middle School composed two lists for students in need and another “wish list” and rallied the community to help them. WREG has a slideshow of the Memphis Zoo Lights holiday display.

First Works: A program aimed at the poorest residents north of the downtown, which brings in churches and agencies.

The MED: A group of pastors are coming together to rally community support to keep The MED open.

West Tennessee: A list of Christmas and New Year’s closings for Dyersburg. (via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Memphis City Schools: The system staged a big pep rally to celebrate the awarding of the Gates Foundation grant, and to motivate teachers and administrators.

Dutch Treat Luncheon: The monthly meeting of Memphis’ oldest non-partisan political forum will be this Saturday at noon at Jason’s Deli on Poplar. Website here. Featured speakers this month are State Representatives Jim Coley (Bartlett - District 97) and Mike Kernell (Memphis - District 93).

DeSoto County: It’s legal to buy fireworks in Olive Branch now (and they’ll go on sale soon) but you still can’t use ‘em there. Problems in the Memphis shelter have made the County’s animal shelters a more popular option now. Five County schools have been noted for excellence by Mississippi State University. Southaven has tabled its “bandit sign” ordinance for public review. Southaven will cut its budget by $250,000 to match revenue shortfall. Racist grafitti is found in Horn Lake High but is washed away before police are called, though students and parent involved were warned.

Politics: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Kyle received an endorsement from the Iron Workers of the Tennessee Valley. Now that he’s not running for re-election, what will US Rep. Bart Gordon do with $1.3 million? And one of the Republicans who is running for Gordon’s 6th District seat, Jim Tracy, it turns out has voted in Democratic primaries in the past.

Governor Phil Bredesen calls the Obama adminstration the “most liberal of my lifetime”. The Knoxville News-Sentinel notes that even if they vote against spending bills, state Republicans still bring the money to their districts. US Rep. Marsha Blackburn says next year’s election will be all about jobs.

The Shelby County legislative delegation met last night and discussed funding The MED and budget woes in general. And Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas is the first candidate for 2010 elections to file.

Memphis Area Association of Realtors: Regina Hubbard has been named Realtor of the Year.

Tennessee: Using Federal stimulus funds, the State will hire people to fight unemployment in Lauderdale County; more in the Commercial Appeal. The Nashville public transit system has an $860,000 surplus, due to rate hikes and reduced routes.

Orpheum Theatre: The 2009 season appears to have been pretty good and they expect a winning 2010 season, too.

Financial: The Merchants & Farmers Bank bought back over three dozen lots in the Hampton Groves developments.

Industrial Development Board: PILOTs were approved for Nike, ServiceMaster and Smith & Nephew. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Survey Says: In the MarketWatch 2009 ranking of Best Cities for Business, Memphis came in 30th of 100! The AAA Auto Club South estimates a 3% increase in holiday travel this year. New home construction for November rose nearly 9%.

Smart City Memphis: Introducing the 3/50 Project and other “buying local” ideas. The Memphis Annexation Map, which is a very interesting history of the city. People, not infrastructure?

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: She got tremendous response to her Kids and Guns post, and the dreaded doctor’s visit went spectacularly well.

The Conservative Zone: Mark warns you about the “smart grid” technology that MLG&W wants to bring to Memphis.

The Horn of Plenty: A recipe for sausage balls.

The Ominous Comma: It’s episode three of Mind Over Memphis, the series from the “psychiatric pestilence”, Dr Harold Toboggans. This time: the Tennessee SuperLab Show.

Tom Guleff: Joe Citizens: Is the pursuit of consolidation the Holy Grail or fool’s gold?

John Branston: He surveys the current state of confusion over possible Herenton indictments. (via the Flyer)

Commercial Appeal: Praising community spirit to get things done for neighborhoods. In budget work for State legislatures next year “a clear goal of approving tight budgets with as little pain to citizens as possible” is called for.

Essays for Nobody: Thoughts on the demise of newspapers and greedy investing.

From the Rainbows: After many months of carefully documented work, they near the end of readying the house for sale. And, a more random post on various family news.

I Love Memphis: Alright! One of Memphis’ pioneering bloggers, Rachel Hurley, has joined up as a guest blogger on Memphis music.

I’ll be the one in heels: A very lengthy list of her favorite Christmas songs.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: A nice random “checking in” post.

Memphis Cobblestones: The “bombshell” news about the Beale Street Landing, and some disturbing background on it.

Memphis Connect: Help the Neighborhood Christian Center collect 2500 toys for needy kids this Christmas. Duncan Williams has a guest post on the Gates Foundation grant.

Because I Said So: Dealing with Daddy’s absence the 21st century way. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Benjamin L. Hooks: The FCC should make a priority of getting broadband internet service into underprivileged communities. (via the Commercial Appeal)