Shelby County Elections: A new poll says Republican Mark Luttrell and Democrat Joe Ford are tied in the race for County mayor. Candidates are feeling the heat, so to speak. The Daily News profiles Shelby County mayoral candidate Sheriff Mark Lutrell. Dipping into the mud.

Meritan: The agency that handles specialised medical care for foster kids is no longer allowed to handle those cases following a troubling investigation.

Heat: The City of Memphis has a variety of plans to help the poor, infirm and elderly survive the heat onslaught, including opening community centers. The heat hotline number for the Memphis mayor’s office is (901) 636-2688. Watch for the signs of heat exhaustion. The Memphis Fire Department is checking on the elderly; additional stories from WMC and WREG. The city copes.

Eighth Congressional District Race: Things have gotten rather stinky at Republican Dr Ron Kirkland’s campaign HQ. More pictures of the skunk. A humorous, short video about the “meanest, nastiest” race ever. “Conservatives for Truth” is a new outside-expenditure (527) group supporting Republican Stephen Fincher. The Minuteman Project is backing Stephen Fincher. The Commercial Appeal looks at the money issue.

National Night Out: Many cities moved last night’s activities indoors, or cancelled them, due to heat. But not Memphis. More on NNO from WREG. Candidates for County sheriff make use of the night.

Tennessee: Every County in the state now provides pre-K services.

Fayette County: An informational meeting about the Norfolk Southern Corporation’s proposed intermodal railyard turned up a lot of questions about its environmental impact.

Politics: The TN Democratic Party is taking ribbing about Monday’s email blast with humor. State Senator Mark Norris has been elected chairman of The Council of State Governments’ Southern Legislative Conference.

Watoto de Afrika: Director Donald O’Conner has been named one of the finalists in General Mills’ third annual “Feeding Dreams” contest.

Real Estate: Realtors are quickly catching on to the advantages of social media. Always check your HVAC company with the Better Business Bureau first.

Governor’s Race: The National Rifle Association has released its ratings of the Republican primary candidates. They are “sticking to core themes”. Republican Ron Ramsey says opponent Bill Haslam isn’t running a campaign speaking to the Republican base; slightly different version from Fox13. Republican Zach Wamp continues to press Haslam on a possible income tax. Democrat Mike McWherter has two new campaign ads out. Has McWherter already decided that Haslam will win the Republican primary? Nashville campaign stops yesterday for Ramsey and Jackson on Monday. A look at the support Wamp is receiving from his family.

Memphis Goodwill: They opened a new Goodwill Vocational Rehabilitation Services Center in North Memphis yesterday.

DeSoto County: People dependent on the Area Agency on Aging for senior services should not see any interruption of services. A new State law will tax VOIP customers to pay for E-911 services. The City of Olive Branch is considering a new well. Ribbon-cutting for the two new County schools — Lewisburg Primary and Lake Cormorant High — has been set. (previous stories via the Desoto Times Tribune) Southaven police are the first force in the County to have the new laptop computer system. More on the Methodist Healthcare drive for an Olive Branch hospital. The County is setting aside September 25 as Family Health and Fitness Day. Hernando is letting bids for a new garbage service.

TVA: The excessive heat is very profitable for the regional utility.

NEW! Main Street Journal Online: Senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan has a profile of County Commission District 5 candidate Dr Rolando Toyos. County Commissioner Steve Mulroy responds to the article. UPDATED! Toyos replies to Mulroy and on August 4, Mulroy answers back!

UPDATED 08/03! Main Street Journal Online Exclusive: State Rep. Mark White: He explains why he’s travelling to Arizona with a copy of the TN State resolution supporting their immigration law and gives a short report of their visit with Governor Jan Brewer in Arizona. UPDATED 08/03! Delegation leader, State Rep. Joe Carr, District 48, also reports on the visit and the politics.

Main Street Journal Online Exclusive: Brad Watkins: ISSUES FIRST: Many Shelby Countians would like to see the political candidates talking about real issues with a serious impact on the community.

Shelby County Office of Preparedness: Later this month, they will host a “Preparedness Planning Summit” to help inculcate emergency planning thinking.

Downtown: The WDIA/WHRK marquee will soon become an ATM kiosk for Iberiabank. The Center City Commisison’s Paul Morris took his first tour of The Regional Medical Center and came away impressed. Speaking of the CCC, their Design Review Board meets today.

Memphis in May 2011: Next year’s honored country is Belgium. More from Eyewitness News and the Commercial Appeal.

Lorenzen Wright: His younger brother, Lou Wright, is speaking to the press. Clearing up fact from fiction. Fox13 reports his ex-wife, Sherra Wright, is not cooperating with police; more from WREG. She is reportedly “concerned” about their kids; related story from WMC. Wright’s mother is asking questions.

Germantown police released statements on the 911 call. Remember that 911 calls on cell phones are difficult to locate. Police Director Larry Godwin talks about the progress of the investigation.

Thousands are expected at his memorial today, at the FedEx Forum. More in the Commercial Appeal. Several of the stations will provide live coverage or web-streaming coverage.

Arkansas: The defense has rested in the trial of Dr Randeep Mann; more from the Commercial Appeal. For the first month of the new fiscal year, tax revenues exceeded projections!

Business: Second quarter revenues for Tunica Gold Strike casinos slipped. Tenet Healthcare reported a 2Q profit. Wright Medical Group’s earnings doubled.

A business profile of Dave Cera’s MediaLinkup.com, from the Daily News. And, in the Commercial Appeal, a business profile of Cates Family Meat Co.

From the Commercial Appeal, What to Do and People in Business. In the Daily News, Today’s Events and Memphis Newsmakers.

FedEx: Their Trade Networks subsidiary opened three international offices. Learn more from the Daily News.

Pinnacle Airlines: This year’s second quarter was profitable but not as much as last year. Additional reports via the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Financial: Morgan Keegan’s Focus List has remained number one among the stock lists of a baker’s dozen of similar lists.

Southwest Tennessee Community College: They will break ground next week on a new nursing, science and biotech building on Union Avenue.

Mississippi: The agency in charge of child support cases, YoungWilliams Child Support Services, has been given more time to collect information in a State investigation. The Legislature will consider an Arizona-style immigration law; more in the Commercial Appeal. Additional reporting on the severe weather “safe room” grants.

The Intersection of Madness and Reality: Some thoughts on Essence magazine getting a white fasion director and why it doesn’t matter.

The English Major Bookstore: A wedding and a potential buyer.

The MakeShift Revolution: The mountain vacation is over, she’s back and muses on kids growing up.

Them’s The Rules: Putting Mr Candidate through a test.

theology & geometry: It’s called the “no win scenario”.

Thoroughly Modern Medusa: Her husband is a keeper.

Commercial Appeal: Excusing schools on TCAP even though the “moved goalposts” were anticipated for years. Germantown “bungled” Lorenzen Wright’s 911 call.

Cynthia Ham: It will be actions, not PR campaigns, that turn the city’s self-image around. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Sid Salter: A report on his impressions of the political speakers at the Neshoba County Fair. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Nicholas Beadle: The former Jackson Sun political reporter tells us why the Eighth Congressional District race is so interesting.

Mark Sorgenfrei, Jr: “Back and forth” is the name of the market game. (via the Daily News)

The Chubby Vegetarian: Ginger and orange marmalade tofu. Making orange marmalade.

The Chockley Blogs: A good photographer is always ready and willing. Incredible photographs.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: She updates you in convenient list format. Someone’s birthday is coming up.

Speak to Power: Thoughts on racial representation on the new Metro Council. A political partisan is confused by non-partisanship. Parsing the “known unknowns”.

Smart City Memphis: A jobs agenda can lead to an equality outcome. Is Memphis seeing a “burst” of entrepreneurship?

polar donkey: A bold prediction in the Ninth Congressional race.

MemphisShelbyInform: Did the City of Memphis miss out on $600 million that you’ll have to make up?

Mediaverse: He introduces open comment threads.

No Rococo: She’s celebrating her eighth wedding anniversary!

Pretty in Pink Megan: Dress advice for when it’s HOT, HOT, HOT.

Radio Sweethearts: Let’s play “NPR correspondent or Ikea product”?