POLITICS: A report from the Daily News on the recent City/County consolidation forum. Representative Steve Cohen honored by The Forward magazine. State Senator Jim Kyle is the new Democratic Minority Leader.

A big legislative battle is expected this year over sales of wine in grocery stores.

Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce: Starting today is the ‘Parade of Shoppes’, a retailing effort to stimulate sales.

Memphis Housing: Falling home prices are an opportunity for some first-time home buyers.

St. Jude Memphis Marathon: The December 6 run is already sold out! More, from WMC.

BUSINESS: For turkey farmers, Thanksgiving is just the start of a busy month. Clean-up of Belvedere Triangle park helps nearby businesses. Ridgeway Trace Target store will open in March; no other tenants for center announced yet. Fred’s sees increase in net revenues but a drop in sales for 3Q; similar report from the Daily News. Buckeye Technologies closes one plant and drops a shift at another. The pet business is thriving.

Six free clues for teenagers seeking their first jobs.

Commercial mortgages are down 41% from 2007.

County’s October unemployment rate hits 7.1%.

People in business, from the Commercial Appeal, for Monday, Sunday, Saturday, Friday, Thursday.

Making the new ‘social media‘ work for your business.

A profile of The Village Toymaker, which sells more classic, hands-on toys.

Memphis International Airport: The 9/27 or East-West runway will be closed for nine months to be rebuilt.

TENNESSEE: Officials at state’s colleges and universities agree to cuts before tuition hikes. TDOT has no shortage of ideas in spending Federal road monies. TBI is investigating the Criminal Justice Portal for illegal information checks by unauthorised public officials.

A report on how the economic downturn will affect cities and counties in the state.

Barron Heights Transitional Center: Helping men who are homeless or alcoholics get back on their feet and have a reason to say thanks.

University of Memphis: A report from the Tri-State Defender on Dr. Cornell West’s speech last week. Another report on the school’s special zoning request. The University is also planning to request a special board, independent of the TN Board of Regents, to govern itself.

Crime: A story from the Commercial Appeal on citizens fighting back against crime.

Car break-ins increasing. How to protect yourself against shopping crime; more from Fox13. Scammers are now working an MLG&W angle; more, from Eyewitness News. When shopping, remember: Stow it, don’t show it. From Eyewitness News — protecting against identity theft and watching your mail.

Arkansas Earthquakes: North-central Arkansas has been ‘rattled’ with earthquakes in recent weeks. Scientists aren’t yet sure what that means.

Cyber Monday / Black Friday: As Black Friday is the strongest in-store retail business day, so Cyber Monday is the online version.

Related stories on Black Friday shopping from the Commercial Appeal, Fox13. Luring shoppers with creativity. Long lines early Friday. More, from WMC.

Memphis City Council: Reviving an old practice, seven Council members attend church together this weekend!

Germantown: Community library named 2nd best in state. The Commercial Appeal has a report on the new Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s first meeting.

Shelby County: Work continues on ‘Sustainable Shelby’ initiative, turning the plan into reality. The ad hoc government - business - financial group working on the local aspect of the foreclosure crisis meets to plan strategy. The County’s 2006 Safe Haven Law is proving effective. The Utility Assistance Program, not even open, is already booked for months.

The Med: Has closed its downtown clinic.

Charities: United Way worries about a slow economy slowing donations not panning out … yet. Here’s a contradictory story on the Salvation Army; another report, from WREG. But there are signs elsewhere. And there are more volunteers than needy at one Thanksgiving event.

Bartlett: City considers new senior-friendly residential zoning. Also, the Mayor has directed all departments to cut spending this fiscal year by 4%.

American Paper Optics: Local maker of 3D glasses combining facilities and growing, too!

DeSoto County: A list of parades and events coming up. Fears of retail spending cutbacks not materialising, but extra police patrols are scheduled. Hernando solider earns Bronze Star. Olive Branch may raise garbage fees. County receives grant to pay for emergency sirens for rural areas.

Memphis City Schools: System would like to make security officer training in-house. Related story from Eyewitness News. New software helping teachers keep an eye on when computer students are wandering off into the Web.

Memphis Diocese of the Catholic Church: Memphis’ Bishop Steib is being considered for Arch-bishop of St. Louis diocese.

Shelby County Schools: Looking to prepare the next generation of leaders.

Amnesty International: Held a forum in Memphis on ‘health care as a right’.

Wal-Green’s: Will be offering free health screenings at various locations around the city this week.

World AIDS Day: Marking the 21st annual event with free screenings and education.

Church Health Center: The launch a new website for the Hope and Healing Center.

MISSISSIPPI: State demographics show they are slightly younger than most of US, with many of the young in DeSoto County. Also, Governor Barbour hopes for cigarette tax increase to balance the State budget, but is it enough?

Zondervan: Bible publisher is trying to attract volunteers and participants to its commemorative hand-written Bible project.

bitter/books: A thrifting visit to the DAV store on Mendenhall.

The Conservative Zone: Mark’s Monday is an important personal milestone!

at home she feels like a tourist: Strong questions and a suspicion about president-elect Obama’s choices for his government.

garage sale of ignorance: The ultimate RickRoll in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Radio Sweethearts: Thanksgiving, NPR style.

The Chockley Blogs: Expressing thanks and it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

Running With Dice: Thoughts on lethal consumerism and Left4Dead.

Commontaries: Thoughts on the Pressley murder and the annual Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Commercial Appeal: Many editorials from the long weekend. Arguing in favor of the never-ending mayoral campaign. City schools need to make up the deficiencies in public health. Applause for Teach For America. Calls for cutting college and university budgets, without hurting students or raising tuition? Finally, putting pressure on the City Councilpeople who want to keep the police residency rule.

Otis L. Sanford: Where is Memphis’ Obama?

Robert A. Compton: He also hopes for a better, visionary leader for Memphis.

Blake Fontenay: Looking past Herenton should begin now? He also says goodbye to his CA blog and to the Politics Today column. A sad day….

BEEB: A photo-essay on family to be thankful for.

Mediaverse: Memphis: Richard compares and contrasts how the Commercial Appeal handled an AP story on Anna He. He also has thoughts on Blake Fontenay’s goodbye to blogging. And Dr. Cornell West’s speech here in Memphis.