Funding The MED: Will a proposed state-wide hospital bed tax help to solve the funding problem?

Memphis City Council: Topic One at today’s meeting will be the proposed alcohol sales and panhandling ordinances. On one side, the Center City Commission seeking to ban single-can sales of alcohol and on the other hand, beer distributors.

A slightly related story on the Center City Commission’s efforts to revive Downtown business.

Traffic: Complaints by South Memphis business owners finally bring arrests for street/drag racing; more from Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal. The Memphis Police Department’s statement on the arrests. Appling Road and I-40 is a dangerous intersection, reports Fox13.

The Wharton Administration: More on the Around Town Tire & Trucking overbilling report from the City.

Shelby County Elections: The Daily News profiles last-minute addition to the County mayor’s race, Genmeral Session Court Clerk Otis Jackson. More from Fox13.

DeSoto County: Soldiers with a Hernando Army National Guard unit — Company A 2/198th Combined Arms Battalion — are on their way home. Many Circuit Court records will no longer be free online, as a privacy measure. (stories via the (via the DeSoto Times Tribune) More on the call to eliminate the old church pews in the new municipal court building, from Eyewitness News and WMC. The third annual Hernando Farmers Market opens on May 1, with longer hours and more vendors.

Business: Local chain Exline’s Pizza is opening its newest store, in Germantown. A subsidiary of Memometal Technologies S.A. will build new orthopedic products here in Memphis. Liquor sales are up, but sales of more expensive spirits are down. The Mo’ Money Taxes tax return chain was months behind on its business taxes.

The Small Business Administration has had to set up a waiting list for 7(a) loans, fee reductions and incentives.

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

Black Business Association: Over the weekend, they announced the winners of the 24th annual Black Entrepreneurship Networking Needs You awards. In a related story, the recession is hitting older African-Americans especially hard. And, ethnic businesses find they must diversify and broaden their customer base to stay afloat.

Real Estate: The Memphis commercial real estate market had a higher vacancy rate for the both the 4Q and 20009 periods. Churches are not immune from foreclosure problems.

Germantown: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed the new storm water fee, which will provide a break for churches and businesses.

Survey Says: Memphis ranks number 351 in America’s wealthiest areas.

Arkansas: Despite their best intentions, pork projects are creeping into State budget plans anyway. One lawmaker proposes to dramatically shrink the size and pay of the lieutenant governor’s office.

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

Crime: Now cell phone cameras can be used to help forge checks.

Shelby County Commission: They voted unanimously on the more restrictive adult / strip club business zoning ordinance. They also voted to extend the contract of the company providing medical care for the City and County jails.

Property Taxes: Do not forget! Property taxes are due on February 28.

Blight: Environmental Court judge Larry Potter has shuttered Wooddale Condominiums and demanded the owners appear in his court; more from WMC and the Commercial Appeal.

John Ford: More on his transfer to a Memphis prison while he testifies at the trial of Dr John Morgan, from the Daily News. More from WREG.

Collierville: The City approved a contract for comprehensive alert, warning and notification systems for the city.

Politics: Weekend political news roundups from the Nashville Scene and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Advocacy group League of Conservation Voters have ranked our US Congressional representatives.

The Attorney General has ruled that “reasonable restrictions” on red light traffic cameras can be legislated.

Lawmakers are balking at raising the income limit for home heating help.

Nashville: The City unveiled a comprehensive and multi-faceted plan to cut the city’s poverty rate in half over the next ten years.

Financial: The 2009 Middle Market Banking and Small Business Banking Excellence Awards honored several Memphis-area banks.

Tennessee: A major component of the State’s new education reforms, the Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee, is not even in place yet. Security officers with the TN Safety Department will get diversity training.

National Hardwood Lumber Association: They are holding open enrollment for their 2010 Leadership, Management and Development Program.

Mississippi: Casino revenues were up in January. Trent Lott is a lobbyist for FedEx. Today is the vote on the Ole Miss campus for a new mascot; more from WMC. A Federal lawsuit seeks to ban paddling in all public schools in the state; more in the Commercial Appeal. Litigation against Toyota has cost Robert Carter, the City Attorney of New Albany his job; related Toyota story and another. Governor Haley Barbour has not yet had a veto overturned!

Memphis Restaurant Association: They named Tsunami owner and chef Ben Smith their Restauranteur of the Year.

Secret Agent Mom: The good news is that she doesn’t have Crohn’s Disease….

One Half Amazing! The third annual 48Hour Launch, formerly the StartUp Weekend, is coming next weekend.

North Mississippi Commenter: Thoughts and quotes on wacky UAH professor and mass murderer, Dr Amy Bishop.

MemphisConnect: The culinary safari journeys to darkest Germantown and their fabled Commissary. Why Memphis isn’t a miserable place to live.

La Vie Quotidienne: A birthday party for three-and-unders.

Cathryn Stout: Will today’s vote on a new mascot for Ole Miss finally resolve the issue? (via the Commercial Appeal)

A Right Perspective: If a school system gives your kids a laptop to use, does that entitle them to read the student’s journal or spy on their families via webcam? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: They encourage Mayor Wharton to review all City contracts for waste and abuse. Concerns about parking … around the Liberty Bowl?

I’ll be the one in heels: A trip to a middle-school pageant ignites her inner pageant mom.

Haaaaaave You Read My Blog? Vote in the poll for the best actor/actress of “our” generation.

Buck Daddy’s Blog: A debate with MommaDJane over whether plus-size people should be required to buy additional seating on airplane flights.

Brain Release Valve: Good bye, space shuttle. An update on his Project 365 pictures.

The Memphis Liberal: Comparing the websites of the pro- and anti-consolidation forces.

Xspectre8: He’s changed his carry gun; find out why. And, how to get Chinese hackers to attack your website!

Born-Again Hippies: Thoughts on health care reform from someone who has almost gone without for 12 years.

The Gadfly: Thoughts on Tiger Woods and the media that simultaneously protected and exploited him. (via the Flyer)

John Branston: Transparency — from political groups, newspapers and even internet commenters. (via the Flyer)