Downtown: Skatelife Memphis built a half-pipe at the Greenlaw Community Center, with the help of a Nike grant. The Center City Commission is expected to choose an executive search firm at today’s meeting.

Miserable: The reaction to the Forbes magazine ranking continues as Fox13 shows all of Memphis’ positive number ones.

Memphis v. Nashville: A new Nashville pilot program called Limitless Libraries will allow the public library to share resources with three high schools. Nashville received $42.6 million for its public transit projects, like regional rail, rapid transit and greenways.

Memphis City Council: The Daily News’ Bill Dries on the Council effort to undo a previous voter referendum.

Just Busted: The local “who’s been busted” broadsheet is wildly popular in Memphis, and may be producing results.

University of Memphis: The campus chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America learned a lot trying to get students to fill out the 2010 Census.

Shelby County Schools: The first on-site health clinic for teachers and other employees opened in Arlington. Officials have decided they will not require make-up days for the snow earlier this year.

Politics: Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam will not reveal his family’s Pilot Oil income or fortune. He’s also defending his “red umbrella” ads from the claims of fact-checkers. Haslam lays out his “Ten Guiding Principles for Conservative Fiscal Leadership”. Republican candidates Haslam and Ron Ramsey says they will not raise taxes before reviewing spending. Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey criticises Haslam.

Stephen Fincher, a Republican candidate in the Eighth Congressional District, says he’ll reject or return any salary raises during his term of office. Fincher is receiving attention nationally as a “model Republican candidate”. Democratic 8th District candidate Roy Herron is coming to Millington on Saturday.

Gregory Gleaves has been chosen as the new executive director of the TN Republican Party.

A bill to ban all open containers in cars makes it out of a House subcommittee. The Senate has approved the “motorcycle lemon” law, as was the bill to raise the limits for families to receive home heating assistance; more in the Commercial Appeal.

United Way of the Mid-South: They surpassed this year’s fundraising goal and set a new record in total donations!

Women of Excellence: The Tri-State Defender is accepting nominations for the 2010 awards.

Tennessee: More than 600 family farms are also offering some form of tourist entertainment, as a way to stay afloat. Trustee with the University of Tennessee system are considering raising tuition for some courses.

Black Business Association: The Tri-State Defender reports from last Saturday’s awards program, and the keynote address by Don Hutson.

Collierville: Officials are considering changes to their plan for US Highway 72, including medians and landscaping.

Harold Ford Jr: Is New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg beginning to drift away from Ford? Are Ford’s political contortions a result of the American party system? He spoke at the University of Rochester about civic engagement, student leadership and volunteering.

Survey Says: The state ranks eleventh in the nation for sexually transmitted diseases. Shelby County just ranks in the top ten for Personal and Family Economic Well-Being according to a report from a State commission, though we aren’t in the parallel top ten for momentum. Despite all the news about the local housing market problems, apartment rents still managed to rise by 1% in the past six months!

DeSoto County: Officials and concerned citizens are marking Severe Weather Awareness Week with preparedness. Kari and Shawn Carey of Horn Lake are hoping to open a maternity home for expectant mothers, as an alternative to abortion. (stories via the DeSoto Times Tribune) Hernando is trying to figure out why traffic ticket revenues are down this year. More on the subscription charge for some County criminal and court records.

NEW: Main Street Journal: Shelby County School Board President David Pickler warns of The Washington Agenda for Shelby County Schools.
 

Shelby County Races: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker surveys the pre-withdrawal date list of candidates. He then makes a tour of campaign kickoffs, meet’n'greets and fundraisers on the Democratic side. James Bolden and Elton Hyman withdrew from the sheriff’s race. Sheriff’s candidate Reginald French has opened his campaign this week.

Memphis City Schools: More than two dozen parents appeared in court in the second round of truant parent cases. Further reports from WMC, WREG.

Memphis Police Department: The MPD signed with The Learning Channel for a series on female police officers. Dozen of potential recruits are complaining about lost or misplaced applications.

Pink Palace: Their Family of Museums is re-opening the Mallory-Neely and Magevny Houses later this year, with the help of $300,000 in City money.
 
 
 

Baptist Memorial Healthcare: They are reportedly negotiating to buy out their current lease and move to a new facility in Oxford, to be built.

Beale Street: An audit commissioned by John Elkington and Performa Entertainment says there is no missing money to account for. More from WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Mississippi: First Lady Michelle Obama will visit the state next week. The Marshall/Benton Area Job Fair is March 4. More on the effort to make Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar the new Ole Miss mascot.

From the DeSoto Times Tribune, a report on Governor Haley Barbour’s veto of the $79 million budget cut restoration bill. That veto was upheld by the Senate; more from the Commercial Appeal. Midwives are upset with a bill that would ban home births; the CA.

Memphis International Airport: The Commercial Appeal appears really eager to have you happily embrace the new explosives swab when you travel by air. Also, the latest J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating of the airport shows a sharp drop.

Business: The Flyer has a cover story looking at several businesses that are succeeding in a recession. Cleveland, TN, Goodyear Tire & Rubber COO Richard Kramer has been promoted to chief executive officer. SecurityPoint, which provided security guards to local Kroger stores, has closed down.

A business profile of public relations consultants Doug Carpenter & Associates, from the Daily News.

From the CA, People in Business and What to Do.

FedEx: They are teaming up with the American Red Cross for a national disaster preparedness.

Industrial Development Board: They approved changes to Technicolor’s PILOT, as new jobs are expected.

West Tennessee: The investigation of the catastrophic fire at the Covington community playground is continuing. The Jackson Sun has the latest candidate list for the May primary elections in Madison County.

Morgan Keegan: They recently received two industry honors.

Memphis World Trade Club: After sixty-three years, they’ve hired their first paid employee — new executive director Mariah McStay Lee — in time for their Memphis Multi Modal Conference, set for May.

The Regional Medical Center: As FTI Cambio winds down its consultancy, new executive director Dr Reginald Coopwood prepares to take the reins. FTI Cambio says The MED could save nearly $40 million with the changes they’ve implemented already.

West Memphis Three: The wife of convicted Damien Echols, Lorri Davis, gives a rare interview to WREG.

Arkansas: Governor Mike Beebe and the Legislature are arguing over which fund to raid to make up a revenue shortfall. Legislators are preparing to end the fiscal session. Jim Keet is very likely to run for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Dr Benjamin Hooks: Internet access will be crucial to African-American advancement in the 21st century. (via the Tri-State Defender)

George E. Hardin: African-Canadians helped enrich the Winter Olympic spirit. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Jackson Baker: He cites historical precedents to wonder if the case against Dr Robert Morgan, which John Ford is supposedly testifying in, will blow up in prosecutors’ faces? (via the Flyer)

John Branston: A celebration of Rheta Grimsley Johnson and her new memoir. (via the Flyer)

Commercial Appeal: Fires have been deadly in Memphis this winter; be safe. Wondering why Mississippi can’t magically pull school funds out of the citizens.

What’s Going On Back There: Two boys negotiate their way into a conversation. From helping the poor to God’s omnipresence to Star Wars, just like that.

The Chockley Blogs: Learning about celebrity death thanks to Michael Jackson.

Speak to Power: They ask if the Ninth Congressional District was really designed to be anAfrican-American district.

Smart City Memphis: Seriously, I’m fed up with hearing about this “miserable city” ranking. Just stop it. Snow, suburbanites and walking around.

Scribblescrawl: Women being silly.

polar donkey: He brings the maps and a bevy of statistics to expose the black and white underbelly of all the Downtown hype.

La Vie Quotidienne: Life and eating are about enjoyment, so enjoy!

MAKE IT HAPPEN: A remembrance of her life-long friend, Chad.

I’ll be the one in heels: Crazy Dan’s excellent life adventure.

Essays for Nobody: Geoff Calkin’s column on the police woman who was stabbed sucks.

Egotistical Whining: Thoughts after reading Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.

Barefoot in Memphis: This sounds like a fun weekend road trip.

artbutcher: How to get 1000 new visitors to your website with two simple words.

55-40 Memphis: After just a few days, his effort to stay positive is already faltering.

Mediaverse: Ole Miss did a study on the Commercial Appeal’s True Crime series and Richard brings the unsparing analysis.

Midtown Stomp: Restaurant Iris is having a wine dinner featuring Titus Vineyards.

Moments in Time: Baby Natalie doesn’t quite have the whole secret thing worked out yet.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: She’s serious — ask her anything.