Shelby County Commission: They meet today and the day begins with Mayor Mark Luttrell presenting his balanced budget to the commission.

The Commission’s meeting agenda and their website.

Memphis Fire Department: Lieutenant Reggie Davis has been suspended with pay following an altercation with another firefighter.

Municipal School Districts: The State Senate this week may take up an amendment to an unrelated bill that would begin the process of forming MSDs this year.

Crime: Residents in Frayser claim that a gang is blocking the entrance to the North Frayser Community Center. The only field for night baseball in Germantown had the copper taken from its lighting.

Shelby County Corrections Center: Prisoner Martez Wright has become a minor media celebrity after its discovered he’s posting to Facebook, has a cellphone inside the jail, and is getting marijuana. More from Fox13, ABC24. Reaction from the union representative for jailers.

Food Bank: They are in “crisis” with donation running far below demand. Here are ways you can help!

Tennessee: The State’s tax revenues increased for 2011, a good sign. Three of the State’s top prescribers of medications have been blocked from filling prescriptions.

Healthcare Reform: More on the study that says it will be “good” for Memphis, even as it introduces other problems. Link to the study.

Veterans: Should Americans who served their county have a special court system to hear their cases? A bill has already passed the State House.

End of Session: The General Assembly hopes to adjourn by the end of the week, though quite a few issues remain. More from the Associated Press, the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Commercial Appeal. A special session still might be called, to discuss a Health Insurance Exchange, if Obamacare is upheld by the Supreme Court.

Politics: A rewritten bill to block welfare benefits for those who fail drug tests may pass constitutional muster. Michelle Rhee, head of an educational activist group, is calling on Governor Bill Haslam to veto the bill limiting the number of foreign workers in State charter schools. TN Republicans think they have a good chance of picking up seats in both the State House and Senate this Fall; State Senator Stacey Campfield’s predictions. The bill limiting what middle and elementary school teachers can discus sexually has passed out of the House Education Committee. Despite strong leadership opposition, the “guns in trucks” bill is due to be scheduled for a floor vote. Tennessee is prominent in a New York Times story on social issues in State legislatures.

House Democrats have debuted an “alternative” budget of their own; more from the CA. Is a conservative lobbying group, Judicial Crisis Network, unfairly involving themselves in TN’s debate over judicial selection?

“Re-Entry”: Working with US Representative Steve Cohen, local religious activists and both mayors’ offices are seeking to federalise and expand the local “second chance” to create an “initiative” for rehabilitating those with multiple felonies.

Bartlett: A “retail development overview meeting” held with business and elected leaders discussed relaxing some development rules for the community.

Rhodes College: The Daily News has a long feature article on the school and the current president, Dr William E. Troutt. The school’s website.

Chattanooga: The city is being touted as an economic success model. Read that story. The housing market is “resilient”. One year ago: Horrific tornadoes.

Collierville: The community recently completed the Collierville 2040: Land Use Plan.

Arkansas: Was a too-cozy relationship in place betweeen State Police, who provided security, and the University of Arkansas? Convicted bomber Randeep Mann is now being sued for wrongful death by a former patient; more from Fox13.

Knoxville: The wife of Knox County mayor Tim Burchett has filed for divorce less than three years after their marriage.

Internet Exclusive: Tomeka Hart and Separate Schools: Regular contributor Mick Wright shows that Tomeka Hart, candidate for the Ninth Congressional District, working with Darrell Cobbins, doesn’t have the best interests of Shelby County’s surburban residents in mind when it comes to schools.

Internet Exclusive: What Is “Stand Your Ground”? Regular contributor Craig Harper looks at Tennessee’s “Stand Your Ground” law, telling you what it is and what it covers. Clear and factual information.

Whitehaven: Various people, organisations and businesses are vying for a share of $43 million in rehabilitation funds slated for the area.

Shelby County: The Shelby Public Defenders Office is asking for $28.4 million because of a 20-year miscalculation in its budget, but that must pass the General Assembly. Three of the four civil courts had a steady level of filings in the 1Q. One year after catastrophic flooding, “much of the flood damage persists” across the County.

State Representative Curry Todd: Some are questioning his residency in the community following a divorce.

City of Memphis: The City’s Division of Housing and Community Development, with $600,000 in Federal funds broke ground on five new homes, built with various private agencies and partners. More from WREG.

University of Memphis: The half-ton bronze likeness of Tom III was unveiled on Friday. Fox13 talks with sculptor David Alan Clark. More from WMC and WREG. Today, the statue of Ramesses will be moved from the Pyramid to its new home on the campus. The move is expected to take all day.

DeSoto County: The Landers Center (formerly the DeSoto County Civic Center) will repay their $7.5 million loans, after due diligence is performed. The North Delta Planning and Development District, is back in business, with local leaders’ weclome. The County’s two tech centers have new principals. The Hernando Parks and Recreation Foundation Board is learning to make do with less. Southaven mayor Greg Davis says, despite the scandals, the city of thriving. Today will be the opening of the Desoto Central Performing Arts Center.

Mississippi: The new State redistricting maps have been completed but they are being privately reviewed and not being released to the public yet. Still struggling to recover from last year’s catastrophic flooding in the Tunica Cutoff; more from WREG. Within the next few months, the Tunica Riverpark will be rehabbed and reopened. Traffic crimes are down in North MS. College students in MS may face a tuition increase.

EDGE: The Economic Development Growth Engine expects their part of the proceeds from the sale of the Army Defence Depot last year to be $$10 million.

National Open House Week: Realtors are preparing for next weekend’s big event. The Memphis Area Association of Realtors will take part.

Business: Social media sites are becoming more and more important in the new hire screening process. More health care providers are working to present easily understandable prices to the public.

The Daily News reports Today’s Events. In the Business Journal, there’s People on the Move. And, in the Commercial Appeal, What to Do for Sunday and Monday; People in Business for Sunday and Monday; Property Transfers.

Verso Paper: Hoping he’ll lead them out of a bad bankruptcy experience, the company named David Paterson, formerly of AbitibiBowater, as their new CEO. Their former CEO, Micael Jackson, retires next month.

Regions Financial: They are one of eight financial institutions being investigated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for their overdraft protection fees and marketing.

Local Media: If you missed them, you can watch WREG’s Informed Sources online. And, the Daily News’ Behind the Headlines is also available, via WKNO.

Internet: Hundreds of thousands of Internet users may lose their web service if their computers were infected by a virus the government is trying to eradicate.

Gasoline: Gasoline lines are reappearing around the Mid-South. The national average for gas in $3.91/gallon. The local average for gasoline, though, is stable at $3.70/gallon, according to MemphisGasPrices.com. A little bit more from WMC.

Support Our Schools: Their message can be condensed into “more money, more stuff, more personnel”. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Jack McElroy: Reporters should eschew “shorthand” labels for complex issues, as in “Don’t Say Gay” or “death tax”. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Knoxville News-Sentinel: Pat Summitt leaves coaching at the peak of her career, with “dignity and grace”.

George Brown: He answers the question, “Do news reporters ever wear shorts under the anchor desk?” (via WREG)

John Branston: When it comes to the school merger, too many chefs and not enough cooks. (via the Flyer)

Tom Humphrey: The party names change, but the legislative shenanigans never change. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Jackson Sun: Now is the time to act to improve schools.

David Hampton: After 36 years, his farewell column. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Wendi C. Thomas: Now she know what it’s like to be a Republican during the decades that Democrats were running things. And she’s not at all happy…. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Andre K. Fowlkes: Why you should support local businesses. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Smart Stuff 4 Work: As a boss, do you unwittingly teach what you’ll allow? (via the Daily News)

Commercial Appeal: They welcome new U of M Athletic Director Tom Bowen. Recognising Tonya Eubanks and thanking the Salvation Army. The annual struggle to balance what the City’s leaders want and what we can afford. Focusing attention on Hispanic college students. A great place to retire.

Gina Hancock: The Nature Conservancy is teaming up with the Memphis Zoo to save the lowly bat with an artificial “bat cave”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: Despite higher energy costs, government subsidies, changeover costs and government regulations, “going green” is “smart economics”? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: He’s writing about Second Amendments issues so all the usual, shopworn cliches are trotted out in the place of real, substantive thinking. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Rev Brandon D. Walker “Great teachers need to be celebrated for their accomplishments….” (via the Commercial Appeal)

Nooga.com: He pens five notes to five former teachers.

Bill Killian: Chattanooga has gone from a “dirty city” to the Scenic City. (via Nooga.com)