School Menus: Memphis City schools here and Shelby County schools here.

Beale Street: Management company owner John Elkington ordered by judge to turn over all financial records.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: Dozens may be laid off and some positions kept unfilled in budget cuts.

Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee: Local group, seeking to maximise the preservation and personal usage of the Mississippi River and its eastern banks, teams up with the National Park Service to explore creating a ‘blue trail’ on the river.

Main Street Journal: Many of our January stories are now online. Mick Wright looks at resilience in tough times. Jonathan Lindberg reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers. “Where Playhouse on the Square Is Headed” by Michael Roy Hollihan. Joe Saino’s “My Memphis Budget Wish List”.

Memphis City Schools: Applications for the optional schools transfer program will be taken starting this Friday morning. Parents in both the city and county surprised by City’s decision to take back three schools from County; more from Eyewitness News. (Previous announcement here.) One percent of city school students are homeless; MCS is trying to help them. If planned Cognressional act goes through, MCS could see as much as $100 million this year; more from WMC.

BUSINESS: Vining Sparks IBG is opening a fourth location. Vacant industrial real estate is rising. Music-Entertainment & Marketing Summit planned for June, if all goes well; more from the Business Journal, the Tri-State Defender. Laurelwood Shopping Center in tough times, but hopeful for the Spring.

GTx reports net revenue increases in 4Q and all of 2008, but losses overall in both. Also, their stock was hit after an announcement about drug Fareston in Europe; more from the Daily News.

Oakland Deposit Bank has a new owner, hoping to boost capital. Bayou Group investors who managed to rescue their money are being sued by those who didn’t. BancorpSouth sees 4Q profits fall 48%; more from the Daily News. Synovus, holding company for TrustOne Bank reported a half-billion dollar loss. SunTrust banks are revamping city operations utilising their new Memphis offices.

People in Business, from the CA, for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

A business profile of masterIT, a technology firm in Bartlett.

Shelby County Commission: Vote on possible ‘domestic violence only’ judge could come today. They may also transfer some ownership of the Fairgrounds.

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID bill stirring old fears among some. Legislators are also considering sex education. University leaders trying to make budget cuts palatable.

Mississippi Outdoors, from the CA.

Mississippi River Toll Bridge: A recent report says tolls won’t recover one billion dollar cost of proposed bridge.

Calvary Street Ministries: They, too, are feeling the effects of the bad economy. Help is always needed. There’s also a similar tale of struggle on the Memphis Union Mission, from WMC. And a look at the strain on caregivers from the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis Animal Services: City has filed for a building permit for a new facility on Appling Road. Also, a related story on Mewtopia in East Memphis.

POLITICS:: Speaker Williams announces the new committee assignments and committee chairs. Memphis and Shelby County lose some chairmanships; Rep. Mike Kernell out and Rep. Curry Todd in. (Original release in .DOC format can be viewed here.) The Commercial Appeal reports. And the Daily News also has some analysis. And a report on the building feud between House members Kent Williams and Brian Kelsey! Another report, this from Nashville, on the Susan Lynn allegation, from Rep. Lynn herself!

State Senator Mark Norris was honored by the National Federation of Independent Business, for his work on behalf of small businesses.

Upstart candidate Chip Forrester is elected chairman of the TN Democratic Party. Shelby County’s David Upton, a member of the executive committee calls shenanigans.
Governor Phil Bredesen is already warning people they will not like his proposed budget. Despite failed English First effort in Nashville, lawmaker still hopes for success with driver’s license testing bill.

The Commercial Appeal critiques Mayor Herenton’s reputation as the savior of Downtown and mentions his political problems. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn tells county officials that plans for stimulus package aren’t decided yet; she’s not sure how money will be divided up; a related appearance on Good Morning Memphis. Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons says his office will add a burglary focus.

Tennessee Hospitality Association: After the merger of the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association and the Tennessee Restaurant Association, that’s the new name of the trade industry association.

DeSoto County: Two grants to Hernando Parks and Recreation will fund youth archery and golf programs. Enviornmental assessment urged for proposed intersection of I-55 and Nail Road. The Southaven elections continue to draw candidates. Horn Lake alderman Tim Smith is stepping down. City of West Point seems to be turning things around. County’s ‘four year wish list’ for roads lists 53 projects.

Survey Says: According to SurveyMemphis, local business outlooks fell sharply in December. More than 40% of office professionals go to work sick.

Shelby County: Diet time for Millington mayor and police chief. And Collierville is moving forward with plans for expansion.

Memphis City Council: A report from their recent retreat; more from WMC. Members of the Council will be hosting a public forum at the Brickford Community Center.

TENNESSEE: Attorney General’s office settles with Countrywide on behalf of 6900 state borrowers. Governor takes aim at a “family owned non-corporate entities” tax break. And legislators are considering a law to protect mentally challenged and special students.

Memphis Grizzlies: More on the booting of Marc Iavaroni; related from Fox13, Eyewitness News. GM meets with team after the firing.

Lionel Hollins is their new coach; more from the CA. Owner Michael Heisley made that call. More on the coaching change from the Flyer here and here. The CA’s Geoff Calkins comments on giving Hollins a chance.

Shelby County Parks: The county board will have a full plate this year, if funding goes through.

Super Bowl: Get ready for Sunday with the ‘Home Team Huddle’.

University of Memphis: Program encourages career professionals to become teachers. And, as student numbers stay high, the number of instructors is dropping, thanks to budget cuts. Also, student reaction and worry about the effects of budget cuts, via WREG.

Fayette County: Considering a noise ordinance for unincorporated part of county.

theology & geometry: She went to the Inauguration and took more photos then you can handle. Random observations from that day.

Carol Coletta: Three ‘doable dividends’ Memphis can take advantage of.

Running With Dice: Boardgames! Does this game exist? And a Picasa debacle.

The Gadfly: Thoughts on the inauguration and the changing of the presidents.

polar donkey: Excoriating the ‘Triangle Noir’, public housing, redevelopment, Downtown and crime!

Notes From Memphis: Another Downtown loss. This time: Stella.

Moments in Time: She’s now at twenty weeks in her pregnancy and counting.

Fore Left! Illuminating interview on CNN; thoughts on post-Election Republicans; why isn’t Gillebrand getting the Palin treatment?

Commercial Appeal: Tennessee lags nation in not supporting death penalty reform. Rejecting English Only sent a good message to the rest of the world. Norfolks Southern’s Fayette County railyard should be stopped. Soldier’s death in Afghanistan is a reminder of war’s costs. Applause for using Mississippi’s cigarette tax increase to fund education.

Marc E. Taylor: Pre-K education must become a priority for Shelby County.

Wendi C. Thomas: Disliking a presidential choice leads to heated reactions.

Michael Kelley: Decades-long delays in administering the death penalty means the process needs re-examining.

Myron Lowery: He tells of his experiences at the Inaugurations, and the tale of a special coat.

Chris Peck: Personalising the President’s call to action.