Memphis City Council: Weather permitting, they will meet today. Agenda is here, via the Daily News. One issue that might come up is revising the land use ordinances to allow more urban gardening. Another is an elder assisted-living facility that had neighbors concerned.

More on the State/Federal lawsuit over waste-water discharge into local waters; the Commercial Appea has more.

Downtown: The Center City Revenue Finance Corporation hopes to change State law to allow using PILOT rents paid as part of infrastructure money.

Rebuild Government: Tom Guleff, candidate for Shelby County mayor, is asking Rebuild Government executive director Brian Stephens to step down from his position on the Shelby County Election Commission while he’s involved with the “new government for Shelby County” group. Guleff also heads a “no consolidation” group (Facebook page) and website. Rebuild Government website here.

Memphis Fire Department: Is Fire chief Alvin Benson covering up misdoings in his department?

Tennessee: Two years after passage of the Illegal Alien Employment Act, there are few prosecutions or convictions. Is Islamville a terrorist training camp in rural Tennessee or a peaceful retreat? Nashville has a new partnership with Vanderbilt University whereby master’s degree students can have some tuition waived by teaching in low-performing city schools. University of Tennessee economists predict it will take two years for the state’s economy to fully recover; more in the Commercial Appeal. The Department of Children’s Services assures the State government it is addressing problems in child sexual abuse among its staffers.

TVA: They are increasing their fuel cost adjustment credit which means slightly lower utility bills.

Business: Web shopping-savings site Groupon has entered the Memphis market. Discover Financial Services is closing their Memphis office. Diamond International has completed their new sales and repair facility on Brooks Road. The Memphis Discover Card processing center will close. UPS plans to furlough 300 pilots.

INVEST Tennessee Equity Conference: The inaugural conference, to be held in May, will present TN-based public companies to Wall Street and investment professionals.

Food Stamps Fraud: WREG has a special report on abuse of EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards for cash, alcohol and drugs.

Real Estate: Home sales deflated in January, after a promising December.

Willie Herenton: From the Politico, a report on the “racially infused” race for the Ninth Congressional District. The Daily News’ Bill Dries casts a critical eye on Herenton’s record as mayor.

Survey Says: Gas prices dropped 10 cents/gallon nationally so far this year, but only 4 cents locally.

Real Estate: Parkway Properties reported losses for the 4Q and FY 2009.

NEW: Main Street Journal January 2010 Issue: Editor and publisher Jonathan Lindberg looks at the game-changing nature of Sheriff Mark Luttrell’s mayoral run.

Timely in light of Monday’s State budget presentation, senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan looks at the perfect storm of real crisis that could be forming in our State’s higher education funding.

Charter Schools: A report from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA finds charter schools become segregated and socio-economically stratified from the public schools systems around them. In Memphis, seven proposed charter schools appealed their denied applications and all lost.

Hospital Tax: The TN Hospital Association’s board has approved a resolution for a one-year tax on non-government hospital revenues to help shore up TennCare. More from WMC.

Zippin Pippin: The City of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is preparing to bargain over the purchase. More from Fox13, Eyewitness News, WMC.

Red Light Traffic Cameras: The TN House will vote today on a bill to put a moratorium state-wide on new cameras until a study is done on their efficacy.

Arkansas: Governor Mike Beebe says government offices will be closed today. Employees at the Davis Life Care Center will get back overtime pay.

Food Pantries: All the local agencies and churches that feed the poor and homeless are reporting a growth in need in the city.

Politics: Both the State House and Senate have Overridden Governor Phil Bredesen’s veto of a bill banning restaurant calorie counts; the Commercial Appeal also reports. More on TN’s version of the “Cornhusker Anti-Kickback” bill.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is giving “On The Radar” support to Jack Bailey in his race against Fourth District incumbent Lincoln Davis. Also, Republicans around the South are jumping enthusiastically into primary races.

The “cat and mouse political battle” between Bill Haslam and Zach Wamp for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

US Rep. Marsha Blackburn is a co-sponsor of a bill to privatise Medicare and Social Security.

Mississippi: Angela McGlowan is the third Republican canidate to enter the First Congressional District race. The State House passed a bill to outlaw the use of nitrous oxide in motor vehicles. School districts aren’t waiting for the State to figure out budget cuts/restorations.

Tea Party Convention Wrap-up: While in Nashville, Sarah Palin made a side trip to the home of “Scooter” Clippard. The New York Times covers the fractiousness of the tea party movement. An interview with Michael Johns, founder of the National Tea Party, about the movement’s direction. A report on the undertones of Palin’s speech from The Daily Beast.

Harold Ford Jr: The NY Daily News reports on Ford as a young college man and his developing political skills. Ford says part of the reason he moved to New York was fear of negative reactions to his interracial marriage.

Agriculture: After a lousy 2009, cotton growers expect a better 2010. Black farmers will meet in Memphis to get the Federal government to approve a $1.15 billion discrimination settlement.

That’s My B: Two years ago, an amazing journey began. And they celebrate with a dinner at Paulette’s.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: The final days of Paul Newman, the cat and she announces an open-ended blog break. Also, she’s really sick.

Smart City Memphis: Thoughts on the lowest common denominator, status quo politics of Willie Herenton. Lessons learned in the wake of the Harold Beuhler controversy.

Commercial Appeal: Praising the World Overcomers Church for getting economically involved in the Hickory Hill area. Criticising Rebuild Government for its lack of transparency regarding funding.

A Right Perspective: She was profoundly affected by Ronald Reagan’s message. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Rex Noseworthy: Bill Gibbons better get some momentum soon in his race for the governorship. (via the Nashville City Paper)

A. C. Kleinheider: The line between journalist and propagandist continues to blur on Tennessee’s Capitol Plaza. (via the Nashville City Paper)

Shaun Fossett: Real life encounters with food stamp fraud.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Lots of random Downtown news and pics from a Super Bowl party.

North Mississippi Commenter: His daughter has a film in the Oxford Film Festival. Wanna see it online? Also, thoughts on some of the other films being shown.

a field guide to urban memphis: Some ideas on handling panhandlers. And, a harrowing Downtown incident from her past.

Thoroughly Modern Medusa: An update on Harlow, lessons learned and Poopgate 2010.

Weeden Arts Watch: After his previous brainstorm on the Sears Crosstown building, he turns his attention to what he’d do with One Commerce Square. Again, a must read.

Bigger Than Your Head: Even with the snow, we must know the wine of the week.

Bring me penguin dust: A poetic nature does not an office drudge make.

artbutcher: Reports from the Oxford Film Festival, Day one and Day two.

MemphisConnect V-Day — Vagina Monologues Day — is coming up.

Memphis Cobblestones: Memphis needs a real Master Plan for the riverfront.

Blue Collar Republican: Thoughts on Willie Herenton and black/white. Also, a discussion of abortion, property rights and personhood.

Left Wing Cracker: Why Willie Herenton is going to win and why he hates it, from co-blogger Jon. And Steve responds in the negative.

Lean Left: Thoughts on where the tea party movement was during the Bush years.

Lang Wiseman: Random Thoughts: The world belongs to those who hustle. If you’re around him, don’t make these grammatical errors.

Just A Girl in the World: Getting ready for V-Day. The downside of public gyms: ganky people.

patio worship: It’s Super Bowl Sunday, so let’s knit!

Cliff Heegel PhD: He recommendsFinding Your Own North Star.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Don’t neglect the swimming part of triathlon training.

I’ll be the one in heels: A Super Bowl partytwenty-six years in the making.

Joy’s Life and Times: Running in Shelby Farms is endlessly enjoyable.