City of Memphis: Nespotism and payroll abuse run rampant in the General Services Division. Also, continued investigation of About Town Tire & Auto. A study of recidivism in Memphis finds that previous offenders end up re-arrested or in jail around 80% of the time. A Daily News profile of CAO George Little.

The Regional Medical Center: Consultants FTI Cambio have released their final report of recommendations and accomplishments . More from Eyewitness News. You can download the report here. (PDF document)

Dr Reginald Coopwood, the new CEO, talks about his first week on the job.

Second Amendment: The number of people with carry permits in Shelby County is already up 16 percent this year.

Tire Redemption Program: A reminder that the Shelby County tire bounty returns today … as long as the money lasts.

Beale Street: Performa Entertainment, in a struggle with the City over payments, says business is picking up.
 
 
 
 

Lincoln Day Dinner: Republican National chairman Michael Steele was the keynote speaker at Saturday’s fundraising gala. More reports from Eyewitness News, the Flyer and the Commercial Appeal.

Local Media: The Nielsen sweeps results for local news. Comments from Mediaverse.

Mississippi: The State Senate sent to the governor a bill that allows counties to set their own strip club laws but let the “ads on school busses” bill die. Police in Tupelo will flash the pictures of fugitives on digital billboards around the county. Lawmakers are considering a “career track” for high school students who know they won’t attend college.

From the Commercial Appeal, Mississippi Outdoors — the hunting, fishing and wildlife news.

Memphis Police Department: A ten year old promotion discrimination lawsuit may finally be nearing an end. More on the related, resolved, promotions lawsuit that ended with an order to promote 28 officers.

Politics: Many State legislators who promised not to take the increase in the per diem rate, did. State Senator Ophelia Ford has introduced a bill to make $20 million available for Downtown maintenance. If last year was the Legislature’s “year of the gun” is 2010 the “year of the fetus”? A look at some non-controversial and apparently necessary bills. In the endless search for more tax revenues, lawmakers are considering taxing hotel/motel complimentary breakfasts.

US Congressman John Tanner (Eighth District) is leaving wiggle room for a potential switch of his “no” vote against health care reform. And retiring Fifth District Congressman Bart Gordon is also signaling a willingness to change his original vote. A look, from the Jackson Sun’s Nicolas Beadle, at the Republican primary fight in the Eighth District.

New York gays and lesbians take credit for stopping the Senate candidacy of Harold Ford Jr. Ford’s outsider insurgency campaign failed because he’s a consummate insider.

What is the effect of the tea party movement on Tennessee politics? More from the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The Commercial Appeal argues that the State does have an income tax.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam went door-to-door campaigning in Shelby County Saturday. Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons has officially filed as a candidate for governor.

National Civil Rights Museum: A report from Fox13’s Les Smith on the on the Soul Soldiers exhibit on the Vietnam era.
 
 

University of Memphis: Some students joined the National Day of Action to protest budget cuts and tuition hikes at State schools. Lawmakers may raise the definition of “full time student” to 14 credit hours.

United Way of the Mid-South: A look at how they achieved their challenging fundraising bar this year.

Financial: Memphis-based Sovereign Wealth Management is opening a branch office in Nashville. There’s a big disconnect between the needs of small business owners and major banks’ perceptions, when it comes to loans.

School Menus: The school menus for Memphis City schools and Shelby County schools.

Shelby County: County government has outlined ways it will help locally owned small businesses. General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson Jr billed the taxpayers for $3500 in holiday parties. Crime in the far edges of the County is on the rise.

Memphis City Schools: Increasingly, religious and neighborhood charter school applications are being superceded by charter school professionals. But, finding a place to build or renovate is a problem.
The Tennessean finds that access to AP programs is related to the affluence of the school’s students.

Bartlett: Parents are tired of demanding more equitable distribution of students in that area’s high schools.

Idle Smart: This program from the University of Tennessee will provide rebates to truckers up to $4000 for purchase of special engine idling equipment.

St Francis Hospital — Memphis: Their Clinical Laboratory has won national accreditation.

Consolidation: The Daily News talks with the former mayor of Indianapolis, Stephen Goldsmith, about efficiencies in consolidation.

Zippin Pippin: Green Bay is paying a mere $10,000 for the local historical landmark. More in the Flyer.

Blues Foundation: Praise for executive director Jay Sieleman and the board for repositioning the foundation for diversification and expansion of its mission.

Tennessee: Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed Rhynette Hurd to replace D’Army Bailey as Shelby County Circuit Court; more in the Daily News. The Knoxville News-Sentinel looks at the proposed cuts to TennCare. More on the Tennessee Downtowns program.

Collierville: The town’s new water storage tank is built with unconventional methods.

Business: America’s small businesses want to know where their stimulus is as they cut costs. Memphis has been selected for the US Small Business Association’s “Emerging 200″ program. Afterfailing to secure capital, Bidtopia’s investors have sold their interest.

From the Commercial Appeal, People in Business for Saturday and Sunday; What to Do for Saturday and Sunday.

A business profile of Financial Federal Savings Bank and a business profile of Berclair Television, both from the Daily News.

Also from the CA, the Small Business Advocate .

FedEx: The company is fighting in the very halls of Congress to block a major labor-organising bill coming to a vote this week.

Real Estate: The foreclosure rate for Memphis rose in January.

Memphis Regional Intermodal Terminal: A Memphis News package on the Norfolk Southern Railyard in Fayette County. A lengthy piece on the questions and concerns and the funding search for the yard. The views of the supporters, talking about the economic benefits. Contamination of local water supplies is nearly certain?

Memphis Zoo: If you own an iPhone, they have an app that features schedules, chats and shows.

Survey Says: A website named WalletPop names Capleville the safest neighborhood in Memphis.

Children’s Museum of Memphis: A look at the new exhibit: “Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World!”

DeSoto County: County is pushing State legislators to remove lucrative tax break for low-income apartment owners. Memphis mayor A C Wharton will be the keynote speaker at the Hernando Chamber of Commerce luncheon today. Students at Overpark Elementary raised $10,000 for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The trees of the Hernando Courthouse Square have gained local arboretum status.

Goodwill: No surprise, when the economy is down, sales are up for them.

Prince Mongo: Robert “Prince Mongo” Hodges’ home and yard redecoration statements are angering his neighbors in Volusia County, Florida.

Persian Pit Bull: A group review of Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q with a lot of taste-tempting pictures.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: A shout out to South Philly — the local restaurant, that is. A reminder that the City Council is discussing the new panhandling and single-beer sales ordinances this Tuesday. Lots more Downtown stuff.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Your weekend cigar blogging. Good news on the health front.

Scribblescrawl: Some very cool pipecleaner art photos.

Pretty in Pink Megan: From a former crewlade drinker, an open letter to J. Crew. Some observations on Oscar gowns.

SlyBrand: A tour of downtown through the eyes of a happy father.

Tom Guleff: Joe Citizens: Is Rebuild Government a consolidation front group?

MemphisShelbyInform: The true cost of a lack of public transparency.

Midtown Stomp: An evening of fine meats, fine wines and a lot of fun.

Mediaverse: How will changes at E. W. Scripps affect their local newspaper?

Jen-sized: She’s got some user-friendliness suggestions for the public library’s website.

The Author of Y’all’s Destruction: Your cat poem for the day!

Memphis Outsider: Looking for someone to date through a subtractive process of mathematics. (Though his methodology is flawed.) A beautiful Saturday, documented in pictures.

Fertile Ground: The first meeting of the Talented Amateurs, which hopefully won’t be the last.

dminmem: A “superlative” Friday than includes excellent meals at Las Tortugas and Interim, travel to Germantown and cookbooks!

Blue Collar Republican: A long post on what the tea party movement is and where it comes from (historically speaking).

Bigger Than Your Head: Remember the silent wine auction where he accidentally spent $245 for three bottles. Here’s an update. Also, be sure to keep tabs on his blog this week: He’s travelling to Italy!

artbutcher: More on the SIVADS of MARCH Festival, with a call for art.

at home she feels like a tourist: She explains the concept of overbroadness as it relates to various Downtown ordinances meant to curb certain behaviors. Recommended reading.

Andrew Earles: If you’re a knowledgeable fan of early death metal, then he’s got a contest for you!

a field guide to urban memphis: She has a contrary view to the CA’s review of the Daltrey/Clapton show.

16 Balls in the Air: The music of everyday life. Em gives her married life a performance review.

Commercial Appeal: America can quietly walk away from Iraq. TVA customers who won’t practice conservation and energy thriftiness can expect to pay for it. An overview of the tangled financial decisions that have helped get The MED into some of its present troubles.

Otis L. Sanford: Memories of a Southland Mall and a Memphis tha tused to be. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: He picks one story about how important The MED is. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Tom Pease: A plea to large Memphis businesses to help out small-business Memphis. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphis News: The Norfolk Soutern railyard will have big effects on Fayette County, but no one is sure what they’ll be.