City of Memphis: Public pools will require identification. After problems in previous years, safety is Job One this year.

Downtown: Incoming Center City Commission president Paul Morris has signed a two-year contract. The Daily News looks into the rise and fall of the Midtown Poplar and Cleveland Target.

Memphis City Council: Members are expressing concerns about the potential name for a new public housing replacement: Triangle Noir.

Memphis City Schools: A change in timing and the STARS program suddenly turned around teacher hiring. The administration is “aghast” at former system bus company First Student, which is now suing for losing their contract. And MCS bus driver Kenneth Williams has a different problem — mistaken identity.

Shelby County Sheriff: Now that partisan rancor has cooled, the actual election of a new sheriff is a much calmer affair.

Local Media: Radio talk show host and blogger Thaddeus Matthews is leasing out WPLX-AM 1180, which will change to a hybrid blues/gospel/talk format featuring his show weekdays. Matthews’ announcement.

Agriculture: A group of black farmers is seeking to intervene in the settlement payment of the Pigford II case.

Arkansas: Early voting begins today for party run-offs. The Public Service Commission approved a rate hike for Entergy; more from Fox13. At a campaign event for Sen. Blanche Lincoln, former president Bill Clinton had to dodge questions about Rep. Joe Sestak.

Graceland: An investment group led by the creator of American Idol wants to buy into CKX, which owns Elvis Presley Enterprises. More from Fox13.

Tennessee: The State Department of Environment and Conservation has issued warnings about the water quality in the Cypress Creek dq in Memphis. Experts expect tourism in the state to be down this year. Lawmakers and education officials are trying to work out the guidelines for teacher evaluations.

Preservation: More on CVS’ plan for Union and Cooper. And more reports from the Daily News.

Real Estate: A look at Speak Creative, developers of SiteWrench IDX, which helps agents with a powerful online presence.

R. J. Reynolds Tobacco: A dvision of the company, Conwood Company, will open a new $133 million smokeless tobacco facility here in 2012. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Business: The Commercial Appeal helps to promote the South Main district downtown. The planning that went into the new Memphis Radiological and Memphis Vascular Center offices in Germantown. A nodding women isn’t necessarily agreeing with your promotion. McKesson Corporation will open a $115 million pharmaceutical distribution center in DeSoto County. Regional airline TennesseeSkies is considering expanding its Jackson workforce. PSC Metals, a scrap metal processor in downtown Nashville, may get their own legislation paying for a move and clearing their old property for sale. How to check your credit report for free … for real.

A business profile of iMagDent, 3D dental imaging technologists, from the Commercial Appeal. And the Crossroads Restuarant in Olive Branch.

From the Commercial Appeal, People in Business for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday; What to Do in Business for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday; Coming This Week. Also, Today’s Events in the Daily News.

DeSoto County: US Rep. Travis Childers is touting an amendment to Federal spending that will end the cycle of hiring and layoff that plagues some Defense contractors. Today is primary voting day across the state; more in the DeSoto Times Tribune, WREG, Eyewitness News. A look at the Hernando Farmers Market. It’s the season for water bill adjustments in Olive Branch. The new Twin Lakes wastewater plant is now up for bids. County unemployment continues to fall to 8.4%.

Lambuth University: New investors will not change the non-profit status of the school.

MAIN STREET JOURNAL Online: Long-time contributing Finances & Economics writer Chuck Bates, host of News & Views on the Information Radio Network, has his column, On The Money, available on the website. Read it here.

West Memphis Shootings: A look at the “ministry” of Jerry Kane, sovereign citizen and home-loan repudiation teacher.

Unemployment: Report late last week that unemployment rate in the County has fallen slightly to 10.3%.

Sanitation Workers: The founder of the Memphis chapter of the AFSCME, Joseph Trotter, predicts it is in fatal decline. More on the disastrous sanitation town hall meeting.

Shelby County Government: The head of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness, Bob Nations, is embroiled in legal maneuvering over questions about his son’s company, ESi Companies, being a contractor for office equipment. His office is also preparing for possible hurricane evacuees later this year.

Hispanic Memphis: More on Operation Community Sheild, the ICE sweep that netted 26 arrests. La Prensa Latina’s earlier stories here. VIDA PR & Marketing Group helps connect businesses to the Hispanic community. The Commercial Appeal reports on narco-corridas (songs about drug gangsters) and its place in Hispanic (especially Mexican) culture and here in Memphis.

Shelby County Schools: Chief of Operations Rich Holden is retiring.

Mississippi: The towns of Byhalia and Fulton will vote on new hotel and motel taxes. Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman speaks on the need for voting reform. The one accessory you’ll always need on the state’s lakes. US Senator Thad Cochran is making sure FEMA and the US Army Corps of Engineers are more carefully drawing flood maps next time. Not only are people being counted this year, but the State is polling non-profit groups as well.

Leadership Memphis: They are recruiting for their FastTrack Fall 2010 program to develop community leaders.

Politics: A Senate committee voted to defund and eventually close the Office of of Children’s Care Coordination. Associated Press story here.And a bonus for teachers is a new compromise.

The “guns in restaurants” veto-override bill was approved by the Senate, 22-10. More on red light traffic camera restrictions.

Gubernatorial campaign politics are leaking into budget talks. The $341 million in Federal “contingency funds” that lawmakers were counting on is likely not going to happen. The debate is devolving into “the heartless v. the spendthrifts”. More budget reporting from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Governor’s Race: Reports from the campaign trail by Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Republican Bill Haslam sits down with four “no-nonsense veterans”.

Legal: Helping felons regain their voting rights.

Dr Maxie Dunnam: The former pastor most widely known for his Perceptions is returning to inspirational messages with a new radio and TV series called I Believe in Memphis.
 

Catholic Diocese: A claim of sexual abuse against Father Milton Guthrie has been thrown out of Appeals Court. More in the Daily News.

Memphis in May: This year’s event ended with the Sunset Symphony and an air show. More reports on WMC.

Financial: BankTennessee showed a modest profit this year and is back on track.

Scribblescrawl: Tons of pictures and a report from the Memphis Zombie Massacre. Hundreds of zombies roaming the street of Memphis. (A very mild warning on the pictures, for the unprepared.)

Commercial Appeal: Encouraging news from the Memphis City Schools Foundaiton. The needs of a few outweigh the plans and finances of the owners. When Mayor Wharton says “everything’s on the table” in budget cuts, his definition of “everything” wis different than many. Advising readers to drive some other folks out of business. Remembrance and thanks on Memorial Day. What’s worse for the Gulf than the oil spill? Budget cuts will kill babies?

Otis L. Sanford: He’s a strong supporter of State-funded pre-K education. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Lucie Bridgforth: College should not be the inevitable next step of most high school students. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Cobb Hammond: The WWII story of the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Frederick W. Smith: The founder of FedEx argues against the changes in labor law in the FAA Reauthorization Act. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She looks at the disparities in savings between black women and whites in general, acknowledging many causes. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chick Chat: The old question about having babies or enjoying others’. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Small Business Advocate: A history of Memorial Day. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Tom Pease: Business owners must accept change. (via the Daily News)

Lori Turner: Make execution your competitive edge. (via the Daily News)

Memphis News: The Crosstown neighborhood is in need of some government attention.

Jon Alverson: Voter ID requirements are the way to ensure clearn, fair elections. (via the DeSoto Times Tribune)

Cliff Heegel, PhD: He wants to teach you about mindful walking and five aspects of mindfulness.

Cwabs! Thoughts on losing connections to people when we move. And ready to move.

Bigger Than Your Head: Cooking the Momofuku way. Also, the Wine of the Week!

Barefoot in Memphis: Friends, business and Maggiano’s in Nashville.

Sassy Molassy: Her youngest turns four and she sounds relieved.

Otto Destruct: He’s got a pretty cool new job.

Fertile Ground: Some reactions (and video) from the Memphis Zombie Massacre.

Divers and Sundry: Making your own tribble.

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: Types of Facebook users and some advice for them. Her inner roller derby girl yearns to block and elbow-jab.

I’ll be the one in heels: Seventeen years of marriage.

Joy’s Life and Times: Remembering back to her first year of triathlons.

MemphisConnect: Sixty Seconds, via Live From Memphis.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: She’s says good bye to Presley, her bad-ass, book-reading cat.

Just A Girl in the World: Do guys have these kids of hair disasters?

Oh Dear God Why: Dave and a friend venture forth to tackle the KFC Double Down with humorous results. And pictures, too. (Mild language alert)

The Chubby Vegetarian: A triathlon of sandwiches. Har-har.

The Soundcheck and the Fury: The conundrum of book publishing. Also, a query letter he wrote.

Secondhand Underground: Dave heads to the MIFA thrift store on Vance to explore the wonders awaiting there. (Language alert)