Memphis Animal Shelter: While Mayor A C Wharton was able to fire shelter Director Earnest Alexander, three other top employees have been on paid suspension during the investigation into problems there.

Shelby County: The County Head Start program received $1.6 million for fighting infant mortality. Wal-Mart is teaming up with the Health Department to offer free H1N1 flu vaccines; a list of participating stores. A look at various programs and initiatives to fight unhealthy lifestyles.

County Commissioner Deidre Malone is the first county mayoral candidate to file a qualifying petition; more in the Commercial Appeal.

MCS Funding: The Memphis City Council is preparing to make cuts to find the money to pay the Memphis Schools system.

Memphis Fire Department: Eyewitness News uncovers a double standard in obtaining certifications for firefighters.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton: WREG’s Mike Matthews interviews the mayor on criticisms of his management style, especially at the Animal Shelter.

Navy Corpsman Xin Qi: The Commercial Appeal has a little bit more on the Cordovan’s death in Afghanistan over the weekend.

Harold Ford Jr: Ford continues to criticise senior NY Senator Charles Schumer and calls junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand a “parakeet”.

Ford penned an editorial for the New York Times, laying out his ideas for Democratic change. And criticism of it from The Atlantic, Think Progress, New York magazine, Matt Yglesias. Paul Krugman condemns the editorial’s “cluelessness”. Is he perhaps setting up a run as an independent? Ta-Nahesi Coates thinks Ford will “run into a brick wall” in New York. And Stephen Colbert savages Ford on The Colbert Report. (Advance to the first commercial break at 9:13.)

The 2004 Nashville Scene profile on Ford that was considered, for several years, the definitive look at the man. And from 2002, a Salon.com article on Ford’s aborted challenge of Rep. Nancy Pelosi for the House Speaker’s job. Nashville PostPolitics’ A. C. Kleinheider calls him a “political nihilist”.

Real Estate: Residential construction contracts were up in December, versus one year ago. But, national existing home sales fell to a 40 year low. The Daily News profiles developer John Bogdasarian.

Business: Sitel has trimmed over 400 employees, although more than half were seasonal workers; more in the Business Journal, WREG and the Commecial Appeal. Medtronic is buying Italian firm Invatec, maker of stents and vein-opening balloons. Surface Dynamics will build a $5 million facility in Bartlett, thanks to a PILOT.

Examining the sale of Luminetx to Christie Digital Systems USA.

What to Do and Business Briefs, in the CA.

Delta Air Lines: They are spending $1 billion to upgrade their aircraft.

Smith & Nephew: They have closed the deal on the former Harrah’s HQ building on Goodlett Farms Road.

American Advertising Federation: The local chapter will host a luncheon on Thursday with James Edward Datri, their national president, as keynote speaker.

Mississippi: A report from Iraq and the MS Army National Guard unit posted there. The Clarksdale Animal Shelter was raided over the weekend and will likely be permanently closed; its director, Cathy Phelps, has resigned. More from WMC and again, WREG.

The effects of the State budget cuts, announced last week by Governor Haley Barbour, on North Mississippi, from the DeSoto Times Tribune. College tuitions will rise next year; more in the Commercial Appeal. The State House is attempting to restore one-quarter of the cuts in the budget. The House will not relax the State’s divorce laws.

Survey Says: Law firm Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz is ranked the top paying firm by Fortune magazine; the Commercial Appeal has more.

Methodist University Hospital: Their innovative “cooling therapy” for heart patients will be extended to their other local facilities.

NEW! Main Street Journal: Looking for an outstanding Jewish education for your children? You should seriously consider The Margolin Hebrew Academy. Website here and Rabbi Gil Perl’s blog is here.

Regional Medical Center Funding: The Shelby County Commission voted to give them $10 million. Which will keep The MED funded until June 30. They will again ask the State to help with funding. More from WREG and the Commercial Appeal. Next stop: The Memphis City Council.

County Commissioner Mike Carpenter, who posts live reports of Commission discussions on Twitter, will be on the Drake and Zeke radio show this morning, at 7AM to discuss funding. Website here, with “Listen Live” option.

City/County Summit: US Rep. Steve Cohen held and touted a closed-door meeting with Mayors A C Wharton and Joe Ford to discuss roads, The MED, jobs and money issues in general. More from WMC.

Earthquakes: Scientists at the University of Memphis’ Center for Earthquake & Research Institute disagree with a new study saying the New Madrid Fault Zone is quieting down.

Memphis City Schools: The application process for student/school transfers opened Monday. More from WREG and the Commercial Appeal. The Daily News’ Bill Dries previews today’s City Council meeting and how the Council will go about paying MCS.

Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons: He met with US Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss juvenile crime and delinquency prevention.
 

Metro Charter Commission: They will begin work as task forces supplemented by citizens.

Politics: RedState’s Matthew Hurt handicaps the US 6th District race to replace Bart Gordon. And Ken Whitehouse scans the gubernatorial race for the Nashville CityPaper. How disheartened are the state’s Democrats?

Environmentalists laid out their legislative agenda for the new session; more from the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Almost 400 bills have been filed so far, on a variety of subjects. A bill to shield police records during an investigation is likely to die. Lawmakers will revisit the Silver Alert program for senior citizens. Lawmakers to tackle budget issues.

State Senator Brian Kelsey talks ethics.

BlueCross/BlueShield: Much more on the theft of 1.6 million files on 57 hard drives. Half-a-million customers may be at risk; the company is offering them credit monitoring. No signs of identity theft yet.

Tea Party Nation: Another sponsor, the National Precinct Alliance, has withdrawn support from the upcoming convention “amid growing controversy”.

St Jude Children’s Hospital: They are teaming up with Washington University School of Medicine to sequence the genomes of hundreds of children with pediatric cancer. More from Fox13, the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

MLG&W: Former employee Terrica Brownpleaded guilty to a theft of services charge; she will get probation and must make restitution. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Desoto County: A MS Department of Transportation meeting on light rail and public busses as alternative transportation only drew a dozen interested people. Republican State Senator Alan Nunnelle kicked off his campaign against Democrat and current 1st District Rep. Travis Childers in Southaven.

Science and Trust: The Daily News talks with local scientists and researchers about the repercussions of Climategate and other science scandals on their work.

Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility: They publicly censured to Memphis attorneys — Paul Forrest Craig and Lenal Anderson.

Arkansas: More on the retirement of US First District Congressman Marion Berry. New construction at the Plum Point Energy Station in Osceola is the source of “mysterious loud booms” being heard.

Ripley: The Daily News travels to the seat of Lauderdale County to examine its efforts to keep alive in the face of many problems.

Previously Posted: More on the state’s frighteningly high rate of bacterial infection among the sick already in hospitals.

short + rose: Make your own peanut butter chocolate cups and rice pudding.

The Conservative Zone: Air America finally goes away.

The Adventures of Pete Big Bear: A very Memphis weekend indeed!

One Half Amazing! Bob’s blog is growing and changing to suit you better!

Tennessee Conservative: Mick reviews N. T. Wright’s The Challenge of Jesus.

Commercial Appeal: Noting St Jude’s cancer genome research. They urge the Memphis City Council to continue funding MCS without trouble.

Chick Chat: Looking closely at women’s issues in The Vagina Monologues. (via the Commercial Appeal)

A Right Perspective: Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts should be a wake-up call for Democrats. (via the Commercial Appeal)

moremittenz: When people from very different social scenes collide.

Memphis Matters: A handful of short vignettes on why people fall for Memphis.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: Your odd but useful advice for the day: Videotape yourself swimming.

LeftWing Cracker: “It’s election season again.” Seems like it never ends.

Just A Girl in the World: Three-day weekends, Irish guys, brunch and intoxicating colognes, and the return of Mr Risky Business. Then, it’s Saturday 2, with more Irish men, much drinking and yes, Mr Risky Business is back.

55-40 Memphis: Your deep thought for the day.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Gun safety should always yield to common sense and responsibility.

The Suggs: It’s OK, y’all go ahead and brag.

Bigger Than Your Head: The wine of the week.

Blue Collar Republicans: Catching Republican 8th District candidate Steve Fincher in a tight spot.

Born-Again Hippies: Thoughts on President Obama, new Senator Scott Brown and the people of Massachusetts.

Bring me penguin dust: As the wedding date nears, she considers what to do with her name. Exercising with your pets … involuntarily.

Dining With Monkeys: A friendly review of Central BBQ from Team Oster.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Shelby Angel is all recovered and healthy now and wants a forever home. “Cardinal directions” means “north, south, east or west”; some have trouble with that.

Haaaaave You Read My Blog? If you are using any of the passwords on this list then you need to change it ASAP!

I Love Memphis: She visits Gus’s Fried Chicken and the Jun Lee Trading Company.

I’ll be the one in heels: Fashion advice if you’re going to Blissdom; and, the Super Bowl edition of her advice. Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side was nothing special.

Jen-sized: Her blog got hacked hard and she has some advice for ya.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: A pair of quizzes with a point attached.