Shelby County Commission: At today’s meeting, the list of school construction projects is due to a lookover. Some of the other items to be discussed. They will also look at finding an interim solution to Judge Ann Pugh’s retirement. Interim Mayor Joe Ford is seeking a “property maintenance code” to fight against blight.

Shelby County 911: The Emergency Communications board has approved an additional $2 million for the construction of a consolidated emergency call center.

Second Amendment: For the second time, the Legislature has over-ridden the governor’s veto of the “gun carry in restaurants” bill, this time by a two-to-one margin.

Harold Buehler: The controversial developer was found dead in his home Sunday, cause unknown.

Memphis City Schools: The Urban Education Center / Forum for Innovative Leadership begins next week and is expected to produce a modest return on investment.

Mississippi: The MS State Penitentiary at Parchman has closed Unit 32. Officials say that coming education cuts for the next school year won’t hurt students. Governor Haley Barbour skipped travelling to Louisiana to see President Barack Obama on his visit to the oil spill disaster. The State’s Medicaid program will not cut payments to doctors.

Downtown: Mainstay law firm Glankler Brown is decamping to East Memphis.

Politics: They also approved a State budget with no new taxes, bonuses for State employees and no cuts to Memphis projects. Governor Phil Bredesen pronounces himself happy. WMC on the passage in the House.

But the current session will still run a few more days this week, and Lt Governor Ron Ramsey is blaming the House for a Saturday Senate session. More reaction to that and comments from members of the House.

One of the Health Freedom Acts that went down in the House has suddenly been revived! Rep. Susan Lynn (a sponsor) explains. The Senate has bipartisanly approved the resolution praising Arizona’s new anti-illegal immigration law; more from Fox13. The Legislature approved harder, longer sentences for armed robbery. The Senate also dropped the bill to create a juvenile sex offender registry.

From the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a study on the extensive subsidised costs of public transit. Jackson Baker reports from the local front about the County mayoral and gubernatorial races, and he finagles a little press for Rep. Steve Cohen.

In the Eighth District Congressional District race, is the National Republican Congressional Committee placing too much pressure on their primary pick, Stephen Fincher? Fincher is coming under questioning for his family’s farm subsidies.

US Postal Service: Citizen Cora Haywood is protesting a proposal to go to five-day mail delivery.

Duck Unlimited: The Gulf oil spill is causing decades of work to disappear.

Bartlett: Aldermen are deploring the pay hike they introduced even as they move it along the process.

Tennessee: Governor Phil Bredesen will be traveling in Germany and Spain this week; the official press release. The State Supreme Court is hearing arguments about changing the rules governing lawyer’s files being turned over to defendants.

Medtronic: The company is urging its employees to log 3000 hours as volunteers to local charities and agencies.

Governor’s Race: Professor Larry Sabato calls Democratic candidate Mike McWherter “not a top-drawer candidate”. McWherter criticises Lt Gov and Republican candidate Ron Ramsey’s leadership. Ramsey has a new radio ad touting his pro-life credentials. Republican Zach Wamp is now targetting Bill Haslam solely in his attacks.

Real Estate: Local home sales were up slightly in May.

DeSoto County: The Hugh Dancy American Legion Post 134 will host a flag-disposal ceremony on June 12. Work near the Olive Ridge subdivision should stop most flooding problems. The town also hosted the Southeastern Lawfit Championship this past weekend; more from the DeSoto Times Tribune, WMC. DeSoto County schools cancelled its first two sessions of public school for middle schools. Some cities are grappling with unkempt, vacant yards. Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Walls will move from active church to a shrine following a congregation merger.

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis: Their GIVE365 initiative has already reached its first threshold.

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.

Heat Wave: Shelby County recorded its first heat-related death on Wednesday last week. More from WREG.

Regional Medical Center: Smith & Nephew donated $20,000 to The MED Foundation.

Willie Herenton: The former mayor has been asked by the City to return about $10,000 in legal fees the City paid to his lawyer, Robert Spence just before he left office. More from WMC, Eyewitness News, WREG.

United Methodist Church: Next week they’ll have an open meeting to share their plans for the profits from the sale of the Union Avenue Methodist Church.

Memphis Animal Shelter: Overnight officer Demetria Hogan has a felony arrest record and so can’t do her job issuing citations.

Memphis Dog Park: A Commercial Appeal report on opening day. More reports from WMC, WREG and another, Fox13. Mayor A C Wharton’s statement.

Public Library: The Friends of the Library annual book sale is this Thursday through Saturday.

Shelby County Correctional Center: Former corrections officer Darrell Jones has been arrested on rape charges against a former inmate. More from WMC, Eyewitness News, Fox13.

West Memphis Police Shootings: How you can help the families of the fallen officers.

Germantown: An invitation-only forum on the future of the city generated proposals to raise taxes or fees. The Miss Muff’N bakery made the TLC Network’s list of top ten national bakeries.

Port of Memphis: Deputy Director Randy Richardson will be the interim director while the board of directors waits for local matters to settle down before a director search.

Business: Wal-Mart expects to add 500,000 jobs in the next five years. The company explored its liability to sexual discrimination lawsuits many years ago. Former and current employees of Texas de Brazil will receive their back wages.

For a presentation for Methodist Healthcare, firm cs2 Adversiting used a blend of print and video called “augmented reality”. A business profile of Grand-Hollis, which sells Hollis Ultimate Hamburger Seasoning, from the Commercial Appeal. And another business profile of Bob Richards Jewelers.

From the Commercial Appeal, People in Business for Sunday and Monday; What to Do for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. And from the Daily News, Today’s Events.

FedEx: Researchers investigate the power of the company’s origin story.

Memphis International Airport: Baggage handler Gora Sow was busted in a drug smuggling sting; more from Eyewitness News. In somewhat related air lines news, Pinnacle Airlines reports flat passenger numbers for May while Delta Air Lines posted similar numbers, but to the positive.

Flood Recovery: A plethora of issues now for the residents of Memphis Mobile City trailer park after they’ve returned from disaster emergency housing. The Disaster Recovery Center in Covington is now the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center, who have made $40 million available in short-term, low-interest loans. FEMA is also handing off “taking charge of their recovery” to disaster applicants. Governor Bredesen has asked for Federal agricultural disaster designation for eight more counties, including some in West TN.

Pets: With the recession, fewer people adopt and more give up their pets, making for hard times for animal rescue agencies.

Arkansas: Tomorrow is the run-off Democratic primary election between sitting Senator Blanche Lincoln and challenger, and Lt Gov, Bill Halter. Both have been visiting black churches.

Metro Charter Commission: They have turned to the local firm of Mercuro and Pearson Studio to draw new district lines for the proposed consolidated council.

Financial: If you’re confused about the new rules for overdraft fees and protections, First Tennessee has a video explaining it.

Bigger Than Your Head: The cork that broke his favorite corkscrew! Yow.

artbutcher: He’s on the road to Vermonth (I think it is)! He says goodbye to his wife. Pics on the road from Tennessee through Ohio. More pictures of road food, then Niagara Falls. The home stretch before his new rooms and his new studio.

Jen-sized: Should she blog about work and risk the consequences?

From the Rainbows: Touring Memphis with friends and unloading furniture before the move. They’re getting offers and then a sale!

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: She’s encountering a lot of throw-em-backs in the dating pool.

Cute Stew: An enthusiastic review of Son of Rambow. Her 28 before 29 list, which only has a couple of months left. And she crushes on Travis.

Blue Collar Republican: Your children don’t need Avatar. The smokers versus the fatsos.

Mediaverse: Curious about what the paper didn’t report in a business story.

Midtown Stomp: One good wine, one meh.

The Lynnster Zone: A beating death in Knoxville leads to remembrances of three of her friends who aren’t with her any more.

Oh Dear God Why: A bottle of Fernet Blanca is returned by a customer because of its vile, horrid smell, so naturally Dave is going to drink it for you. He has to wear lab eyewear, just in case.

Memphis News: This city constantly searches for the next civic temple that will heal our divisions.

Wendi C. Thomas: She attempts to delve into the mind of Jerry Kane. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Steve Basar: Memphis and Shelby County officials need to do more to assure more safe bike riding lanes. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: Betting Memphis’ future on teachers. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: He shares the results of a private poll on the Shelby County Mayoral race. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: They tout their influence on MATA. The State must continue infant mortality programs. Mississippi’s First Congressional District race would benefit from discussion of the issues. Support for retaining Judge Pugh as an interim judge in Criminal Court. The Grizzlies Academy, which provided intesive education to at-risk students, was “too expensive to operate”.