Center City Development Corporation: They are considering ending their forgivable loans program this Summer.

Memphis City Schools: Replacing classroom chairs with rubber balls. Will the Summer Reading Program be cut this year?

Memphis Animal Shelter: Months after Mayor A C Wharton removed employees, some are still being paid. Also, some animal control workers are not showing up in court for animal abuse/cruelty cases.

Shelby County Politics: A report from the Daily News on the Luttrell / Ford debate. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker has a two-part report: part one and part two. And quotes on consolidation from each. The final, certified results from the May 4 primaries, from WREG.

Memphis in May BBQ Fest: The weather is looking iffy, but that isn’t stopping the contestants! Crews are setting up and Wednesday was invitation only. This week is both great for business and a real headache for tent vendors.

Non-Profits: Fundraising firm Saad & Shaw has relocated from California to set up shop here.

Public Relations Society of America: Author Katie Delahay Paine spoke to their quartery luncheon about using data from social media to enhance your business.

Business: Cargo theft is a real, but little talked-about, problem in Memphis. SCG International provides tactical anti-terror training … in Holly Springs. Wal-Mart will donate $2 billion over five years to the nation’s food banks.

Today’s Events, from the Daily News. And People in Business and What to Do, from the Commercial Appeal.

TNInvestco: Lt Gov and Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey will oppose expansion of the program unless more transparency safeguards are instituted.

Mississippi: Legislators are freezing their travel expenses. Could Oxford restaurants get Sunday alcohol sales? A look at the economic boom that’s occuring in Tupelo.

Flooding: President Barack Obama has rejected the State’s request for more flood relief funds. Governor Phil Bredesen has up to $17 million he can access for flooding relief. If you’re looking for a job, Middle TN needs workers for flood cleanup. Low income families needing flood or food assistance can now apply. State offices closed on Thursday. Various agencies are recruiting cleanup workers from local homeless agencies.

United Methodist congregations in West TN and KY are organising relief teams. Downtown’s First Church is organising “flood buckets” of disaster help.

Financial: Highland Capital Management will handle the $430 million bond offering for the Music City Center convention center in Nashville. The president of the St Louis/Federal Reserve Bank, James Bullard, spoke to TN bankers on the independence of the Fed; more from the State press release.

Survey Says: The number of mass layoff events in Q1 dropped dramatically over one year ago. Memphis’ economic strength fell compared to one year ago; more on the region’s activity. Also, trucking activity was down for the region in April. The Daily Beast ranks Tennesse as the most corrupt state in the nation! Gasoline prices are expected to go down this Summer; more from the Commercial Appeal.

DeSoto County: Officials have no shortage of sites for state-funded repairs. Former Horn Lake trooper Michael McField will receive back wages and damages for his wrongful termination over comments he made, but will not be reinstated.

Arkansas: WREG profiles Crittenden County judge William Rainey. Cotton production in the state fell by one-third in 2009. The race for Crittenden County Sheriff is expected to be tight.

Land Use Control Board: They are meeting today.

Main Street Journal: Jonathan Devin tries to wrap his head around the gender-swapped production of Julius Caesar from the Tennessee Shakespeare Company.

Memphis City Council: More on the reappointment of some City Division chiefs. They are considering proposals that would raise your solid waste fees. A bit more on the sinking Beale Street Landing.

Panhandling: County Commissioner Steve Mulroy got a faceful of a panhandler yesterday. The panhandler, Michael Rudd, later apologised.

The Wharton Administration: More on the effort to remove the “have you been convicted of a felony?” box from City job applications.

Elvis! The owners of Sun Studios are suing the merchandisers of Million Dollar Quartet materials, but not the Broadway play itself.

Cohen v. Herenton: Willie Herenton has pulled out of a WREG debate, claiming two of the moderators are unduly biased against him. WREG’s report here. More from WMC and the Commercial Appeal.

West Tennessee: The City of Dyersburg will hold a town hall meeting along with representatives of FEMA and TEMA, tonight to discuss flooding concerns.

Politics: State tax revenue collections finally beat projections for April! That’s the first time this fiscal year. More from the Daily News, Fox13. State press release. The Commercial Appeal has more.

Having gotten Republicans to present their State budget plan, Democrats now assume the defensive with their budget plan, which dips into the “rainy day” reserves. More on the budget battle and the governor’s budget from the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Commercial Appeal. House Speaker Kent Williams blames the “political ambitions” of various State Senators for delays; more details from the Commercial Appeal. Lt Gov Ron Ramsey responds.

Governor Phil Bredesen will wait a while before deciding to veto (or not) the “gun carry in restaurants” bill. A House subcommittee has killed the “English-only drivers license” bill; also in the Commercial Appeal. The bill to ban “international drivers licenses” is headed to the governor.

US Representative Marsha Blackburn was scheduled to testify to a House subcommittee on Memphis’ high infant mortality rate yesterday. And Representative Steve Cohen introduced “toilet parity” legislation. TN is considering anti-illegal immigration legislation like Arizona’s.

In the Eighth Congressional District race, more back and forth between Republican candidates Stephen Fincher and Dr Ron Kirkland over a one-on-one debate. Independent candidate Donn Janes objects to that debate.

Forest Hill Funeral Home: Closing arguments in the trial of Mark Singer, accused of moving the stolen funds.

Cut! Print! Local film production people say Memphis is losing out on movie productions because we don’t offer enough financial incentives.

Governor’s Race: Republican candidate Bill Haslam will be in Memphis today, meeting with Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons. Democrat Mike McWherter appeared on Nashville TV (recognise that reporter?) to talk floods and President Obama and also spoke to the Rotary Club in Memphis; more on McWherter from the Commercial Appeal. Republican Zach Wamp wants to make Memphis a “job creation engine”; more from the CA Eye on Politics blog. Wamp also sat down with the editorial board of the Jackson Sun. Republican Ron Ramsey has unveiled his “Give ‘em the boot” logo and Democrats have already made fun of it.

Metro Charter Commission: They are meeting today. Types of services will be discussed.

Real Estate: More than a quarter of all area home sellers have dropped their asking prices.

Tennessee: Lettuce tainted with E. coli bacteria has turned up in the state. A pro-business group, Tennessee Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy, went to Washington to lobby for legislation for “clean energy”.

Fogelman Family Foundation: They made a $2 million gift to the Fogelman College of Business and Economics to establish a Chair of Excellence.

I Love Memphis: Memphis’ only hostel, The Pilgrim House. Fifteen dollars a night!

I’ll be the one in heels: A review of The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.

Brain Release Valve: “Echoes make it louder.” Read this post to understand what he’s talking about.

16 Balls in the Air: Ten things to avoid when grocery shopping.

Commercial Appeal: Support for “ban the box” except for certain jobs and as long as background checks are still done. Optimistic support for the Summer Reading Program, though no solutions.

Because I Said So: How he’s becoming a housewife. Day one: cooking. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Barry Chase: Marking the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She expounds on anti-immigrant legislation. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Knoxville News Sentinel: Republicans need to let the governor raise taxes and bring in new fees for his budget.

Jackson Sun: President Obama need to practice the civility he preaches.

theology & geometry: Preparing for Mom’s (internet) visit.

The Chockley Blogs: Connor is going to grow up to be an interesting adult.

Student: Revisited: She likes to pick up people’s discarded shopping lists.

Smart City Memphis: They seem to think homelessness in Memphis can be “solved”.

Quite Swimmingly: She’s been disconnected from the social web and seems to be enjoying it.

Lang Wiseman: Random Thoughts: Your quote for the day. But isn’t this just moral nagging disguised in good intentions?

Mediaverse: He chastises reporters and journalists who won’t report when celebrities come to Memphis.

MemphisConnect: The last-ever performance of Big Star is this Saturday at the Levitt Shell. Tell them how Memphis lives in you and you could win tickets to see Memphis. A giant photo-report from last weekend’s Greek Fest.

Pretty in Pink Megan: With Summer nearly here, some sun essentials for you.

North Mississippi Commentor: A different way to squeeze lemons or limes that’s supposedly superior. What say you?

Norococo: The gang goes to Jerry’s Sno Cones and you can watch.