Fairgrounds: A big push to get “Tiger Drive” opened and usable by the start of the 2010-2011 football season.

DeSoto County: Three-quarters of students showed up for a Saturday make-up day. State revenue figures show that DeSotans are buying cheaper liquors.

Second Amendment: More gun permits than ever in Shelby County, lower crime rates and a University of Memphis professor claims no correlation, much less causation.

New Direction Christian Church: Need your daily devotional on your own schedule? There’s an app for that now!

Tire Redemption Program: Bounty seekers were lined up well before dawn to get their money. More from Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Scams: The State Attorney General is warning citizens of a “fake check” scam.

Lifeblood: They are trying to persuade more African-Americans to donate than is presently the case.

FedEx: Both Tennessee senators — Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker — are blocking a pro-union bill in Congress.

Business: Cupcake Cutie Bakery is opening in Bartlett. Luminetx has reached a distribution agreement for its VeinViewer product.

This year’s March Madness will cost businesses $1.8 billion in “unproductive wages”.

A profile of Apperson Crump as they get used to their new “eco-offices”, from the CA.

The Small Business Advocate says you can still beat Wal-Mart on quality of service. Better Business says the Better Business Bureau is a consumer’s godsend.

From the CA, Done Deals, Coffee Break, People in Business and What to Do.

Airlines: Pinnacle Airlines two subsidiaries both had lower passengers counts in February and 2009.

University of Memphis: The new University Center opened on Monday. Official website here.
 

Consolidation: The nine-month time limit on the Metro Charter Commission is adding a challenge to creating a new government from scratch.

Arkansas: The school districts of Weiner and Delight will merge with other, neighboring, districts.

Millington: Businessman James Brinley pled guilty to embezzlement charges involving $3.5 million over 10 years. More in the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis International Airport: Memphis-based Flintco has contracted Manufacturers Industrial Group Construction Services to provide steel and other fabricated metals for the new parking and transportation facility. Also, six construction permits have been issued.

Survey Says: The average price of gasoline in the state is now $2.64/gallon. The Conference Board Employment Trends Index rose again for the sixth straight month.

NEW! Main Street Journal: Senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan interviews County Commission candidate Chris Thomas in the first of an ongoing series on various County candidates.

The Regional Medical Center: Memphis Mayor A C Wharton is making the case for funding to the people in AR and MS directly. He also spoke in Hernando to elected and business leaders about more cross-state-line collaborations; more in the Commercial Appeal.

General Session Court: Clerk Otis Jackson Jr is now under fire for a $3 million error he was slow to fix.

Memphis City Council: They will discuss the “jump start” at the Fairgrounds. Also, the panhandling and alcohol sales restrictions ordinances are up for a vote. The agenda is here. Despite repeated voter referenda, the residency requirement will come before another Council vote.

Oakland: Early voting begins tomorrow in the new election for mayor.

Mississippi: State lawmakers are trying to reconcile bills to stiffen penalties and rules for stopping for busses; more from WREG. The Secretary of State has approved a voter referendum on requiring voter ID at polling stations to be on the Fall ballot; more in the Commercial Appeal.

Sanitation Workers: An arbitrator has decided the City was right to expect workers to collect trash even in cold weather.

Foreclosure: Memphis and Shelby County lawmakers are pushing for legislation in Nashville to set up a foreclosure mediation program for the area.

Politics: More on the proposed tax on complimentary hotel breakfasts by the Legislature. The Senate is considering changing the rules to limit the power of professional boards in determining who gets nominated to various regulatory boards. A bill to add to the duties of County Election Commissioners is drawing Democratic heat. Monday night in the State Senate was notable for being non-controversial.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam talks health care; more in the Daily News. And he also talks “jobs, jobs, jobs”. Republican Zach Wamp, even though he is a US Congressman, talks up his outsider status. Republicans Zach Wamp and Ron Ramsey are targeting the same party voting base.

Eighth District Republican Congressional candidate Stephen Fincher is touting his win in the Carroll County Republican Party Reagan Day Dinner straw poll. Democrat Luther Mercer II says he wants to strengthen education. The Third Congressional District now has a Democrat in the race — Brenda Short.

The Department of Corrections announced that future State executions will be held at 10PM.

Senator Bob Corker says the 2006 Ford “Call Me” ad hurt him when he got to the Senate.

Real Estate: Despite the short month and the cold, home sales were up significantly after January’s steep drop.

Downtown: The Center City Revenue Finance Corporation will meet today.

Tennessee: Environmentalists are decrying raids on funds established to buy private lands for State conservation efforts. Our State parks generate $1.5 billion in economic activity. Tight budgets are restricting the ability of State prosecutors to recruit new lawyers.

at home she feels like a tourist: Yuppie mating rituals.

Brain Release Valve: Second — and more positive — thoughts on the Drake Equation.

Doug Johnson at Work: Another blogger who disagrees with the Commercial Appeal’s review of the Eric Clapton show.

I Love Memphis: The new t-shirts are in; the new t-shirts are in! A review of lunch at Interim.

I’ll be the one in heels: Thoughts on Sandra Bullock and The Blind Side and Germantown Housewives.

Just A Girl in the World: Blogging about your relationship when the other half reads your blog.

A. C. Kleinheider: Just because it is unlikely to win any major office in Tennessee this coming election cycle, doesn’t mean the Tennessee Democratic Party should give up. (via the Nashville City Paper)

Commercial Appeal: We should work harder to put a criminal’s past behind us and help them find new jobs. Nespotism is wrong.

A Right Perspective: Grateful thanks for Dr James Dobson as he retires from Focus on the Family. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chick Chat: A presentation and luncheon, Our First Ladies: Trials and Triumphs is coming to Memphis next week. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Lang Wiseman: Random Thoughts: Is he the only one who doesn’t care about the Oscars?

MemphisConnect: Coming this weekend: The Rising.

North Mississippi Commenter: The Gin in Oxford burned down over the weekend.

The Chubby Vegetarian: Another rave review of Au Fond.

The Intersection of Madness and Reality: It’s a borrowed post, but well worth a read: What do you see when you look at this picture?

theology & geometry: Stomach upset leads to a wacky and very random post. She provides a description of her ideal guy for a reader.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: Thoughts on Oscar gowns.

The Chockley Blogs: Stage fright: like mother, like son. And he can’t quite master circular thinking.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Life in the rural reaches involves pests like opossums, and this is a rather gruesome tale of the end of one. Possums look like this.

Running With Dice: A quick but entertaining recap of their Hawai’i vacation.

Persian Pit Bull: More Oscar red carpet blogging and her four favorite dresses.

Mediaverse: After a very brief stint with RebuildGovernment, Zach McMillan is returning to the Commercial Appeal.

Bigger Than Your Head: His travelogue from Asti, Italy, begins; later that afternoon.

La Vie Quotidienne: Warm weekend weather meant toddler Sylvie went around the yard … and the neighborhood.