Memphis City Schools: New school busses! Teachers are looking forward to their first day. And everyone is worried about the baking heat.

“Kuts 4 Kids” aims to get students presentable for school. More from WREG.

Metro Charter Commission: Today is their final meeting.

Mississippi River Mystery: People are still buzzing about the possible stingray sighting last week.

Tennessee: The Board of Regents has chosen Deputy Governor John Morgan as the new chancellor, despite a request for a broader search from the State Senate’s Education Committee, which was quickly dropped. FEMA says that TN has received $300 million in Federal disaster assistance from May’s floods. Through executive order, Governor Phil Bredesen has directed that vending machines on certain State properties meet nutritional and health guidelines.

Politics: Walker + Associates employee Brenda Stayton is believed to have embezzled $1.2 million from the PR firm. A massive turnover of incumbents in Wilson County! (Lebanon, near Nashville)

Shelby County Commission: A pay raise for firefighters is one topic on today’s meeting agenda. They will also vote on the Unified Development Code, which promises sweeping changes around the County. Examples. More on the firefighters’ pay increase.

Eighth Congressional District Race: Democrat Roy Herron already has a new campaign ad out, that looks Fred Thompsonish and sounds very Republican. Independent candidate Donn Janes says he’s now “perfectly positioned”. The Tennessean looks at the two major candidates: Herron and Republican Stephen Fincher.

Governor’s Race: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter foregoes wooing more Democrats to chase disaffected Republicans. He “came out swinging” on Friday and Democrats will “pound”. Ned Ray McWherter and Jim Haslam are advising their sons differently. Will Shelby County play a greater role in the general election?

Real Estate: The Memphis Area Home Buidlers Association is looking for a new site for their new HQ; will it be a bellwether of the next hot development? New and existing home sales dropped in July. Record-shattering mortgage rates continue.

T. O. Fuller State Park: Saturday was the tenth annual fundraiser, the Fuller Fest.

Arkansas: Jurors are scheduled to resume deliberations in the trial of Dr Randeep Mann today. More AR school kids are heading to college. A State program of utility assistance for the poor is closed after using up all its funds. Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln is calling for repeal of parts of President Obama’s health care reform.

School Menus: The school menus for Memphis City schools and Shelby County schools.

The Wharton Administration: More shenanigans at the General Services Division as 90 Memphis police squad cars sit, brand-new and unused; more from Fox13, WMC. Four former employees of the GSD, all under investigation, will get generous pensions. The City and County often find themselves fighting each other to land businesses.

MLG&W: Critter-proofing the substations.

The Endless Heat: Hundreds got free air conditioners in this weekend’s “Beat the Heat” campaign; more from WREG. More information on the latest three heat-related deaths. Early news of a possible 14th death. Previous heat waves have been more lethal! How those without AC are coping. As more kids take to the cooling water, swimming lessons become more important. After a worker, Emmite Johnson, died on his way home from work, the Public Works Department is reevaluating things.

Memphis Police Department: Their “Criminal Reduction Utilizing Statistical History” program is drawing national attention.

Fairgrounds: A report on construction progress as the Fall football season approaches.

Shelby County Schools: Classes will be in a new “blocks and skinnes” format. A half-million in Federal funds will help retrofit school busses.

Collierville: A short profile of new Assistant Police Chief David Tillner.

DeSoto County: At look at Olive Branch’s sustained efforts to win more businesses. Swanky “Square on Tap” in Hernando hopes to draw sophisticated beer lovers. The Regional Utility Authority is working on wastewater pipes and flow stations. A report from the Hernando Parks Department’s first scavenger hunt. Applications are open for the 2010 Women of Distinction awards. A look at the independent candidates running for the First Congressional District seat. Hernando is hosting a back-to-school Bike Safety Fair next weekend. Seems like everyone knows Sluggo.

Memphis Animal Shelter: Suspended veterinarian Dr. Angela Middleton has now been terminated.

Leadership Memphis: They launch their “100 Things in 100 Days” campaign on Wednesday.

Business: “Customs brokerage and freight forwarding” are another growing part of Memphis’ huge logistic and transportation web. The South Memphis Farmers Market will open two hours earlier this Thursday. Permex Products is moving its manaufacturing facility from Memphis. Two new locations for Lumber Liquidators.

A business profile of DestinationXL, a store for big and tall men, and a business profile of Three Dog Bakery, in the Commercial Appeal. In the Daily News, a business profile of the Vanick Group, a software / web development firm.

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

Bicycyle Ride Across Tennessee: An annual event to promote tourism, natural appreciation, health and conservation, the seven-day ride kicks off September 12.
 

Southwest Tennessee Community College: They are teaming up with the Better Business Bureau to offer free consumer alert programs to students.

Stella Marris: Some of the changes and renovations going on, both inside and out.

Financial: The new CEO of the Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union is Daniel Weickenand. Over the weekend, Wells Fargo had a “distressed homeowner” workshop for their home loan customers. Triumph Bank has managed six straight quarters of profits.

Elvis Week: It’s that time of year again, Elvis fans. Official Elvis / Graceland site.

Mississippi: A large influx of Federal money will go to more than primary education. Also, Mississippi Outdoors — the hunting, fishing and wildlife news — from the Commercial Appeal.

Jan Knight: Back-to-school time brings problems most adults aren’t ready for. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Sid Salter: MDOT chief Butch Brown’s problems present the Legislature with an opportunity. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Small Business Advocate: It’s vital to your business’ health to know the fundamentals. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphis News: Cooperation between City and County must come before the State will pitch in too.

Tom Pease: Learning to put aside your ego is important. (via the Daily News)

Wendi C. Thomas: President Obama’s failures in office are our fault? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Michael Kelley: Describing the struggle for the direction of Overton Park and the Old Growth Forest. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: He discovers and talks up the practical benefits of a trade education at a community college. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: Advice to Democrats on how to avoid another loss like Thursday’s. Meet Alma Law and learn why we should honor her. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Jonathan Cole: Welcome sex and gender diversity and have nicer homes and better jobs? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: Thursday’s election made Memphis look good. Time to sit down and figure out what to do with Overton Park. Looking forward to the new school year.

The Chockley Blogs: In honor of his wife’s birthday, he posts the most beautiful pictures of her he’s taken. Awwww….

The English Major Bookstore: More pictures from her wedding! It was on the river, too.

Reginald Milton’s - A Fresh Look: Three factors that led to Thursday’s Democratic debacle.

Notes from Memphis: A themed photo-tour of Downtown.

Left Wing Cracker: He thinks the Shelby County Democratic Party should cut it out.

Jesus Is Hot: Wondering if someone “has what it takes” and if that’s even the right question.

Speak To Power: So depressed are they at last Thursday’s election news, they didn’t post all weekend!

artbutcher: He represents the new south, at least artistically.

Dining With Monkeys: Taking the kids to the Trolley Stop Market and the word “celestial” gets used.

Getting Over My Ex in 30 Dates or Less: For new readers, she links to some previous posts about unforgettable dates.

Jen-sized: Thoughts on DVRs and ratings.

theology & geometry: Was she outclevered? Snuggling down into domesticity. A reunion with her oldest friends leads to a familiar meditation on change.

Xspectre8: This man walks around prepared… really prepared. It’s fascinating and you should read this.