Memphis City Schools: Appearing before the City Council, MCS Superintendent Kriner Cash warns / threatens that MCS will close — as early as this Fall — if the school funding situation isn’t settled. More from WREG, WMC.

Southern Heritage Classic: Jackson State and Tennessee State Universities have signed a five year agreement to keep the game in the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Winter Safety: Five household items you can use in your car, in an emergency. There are the recommended foods to stock up on, and then there’s what people actually stock up on; related story from WREG.

Delta Air Lines: They posted a $1.4 billion loss for 4Q 2008. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Survey Says: The Consumer Confidence Index dipped to a record low 37.7 percent this month. According to a job placement firm, 90% of companies plan cuts this year.

BUSINESS: Valero Energy posted a $3.3 billion loss for 2008; more in the Daily News. Target is closing a Little Rock, AR, distribution center and laying off hundreds of workers. Good news for Hidden Safes Inc. as they open their first Nashville branch. Buckeye Technologies saw 2Q net sales and net income dropped sharply; more in the CA. Nucor reports record earnings for fiscal 2008 and a steep drop in 4Q income. Best Buy is also expecting to lay off employees this year.

Texas-based realty company Keller Williams Realty is opening an office here. The Barboro Alley Flats project is finally turning over dirt. Permits have been secured for a new ‘green’ LaQuinta Inns and Suites near the Wolfchase Galleria.

People in Business for Wednesday from the Daily News.

AutoZone: They have picked up a contract with the state of Kansas for auto parts.

Delta Air Lines: They are adding a flight from Memphis to the Golden Triangle Research Airport in Columbus, MI. More from the Daily News. They also reported a $1.4 billion loss in 4Q.

FedEx: A cargo plane crashed in Lubbock, TX. More from WMC.

Homelessness: A report on the semi-annual count of homeless people in Shelby County and West TN.

Shelby County Utility Assistance Center: The calls are pouring in.

ARKANSAS: State’s unemployment rate rises slightly to 6.2% in December. A tougher animal cruelty bill is nearing passage in the House, as is a bill restricting cell phone use in moving cars.

Malco Theaters: They are teaming up with US Variety Clubs to help children’s organisations.

Shelby County Cities: Arlington’s general fund revenues are initially projected to be down only 4.5% this year. Bartlett, however, will have to dip into reserves to meet its current budget, avoid layoffs or property tax increases. Germantown’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen vote to realign part of Germantown Parkway.

Memphis City Council: Police Department turns to the police recruiting subcommittee for helping with changing the residency requirement and they get it. More on that from the Commercial Appeal and also a story on MPD Director Larry Godwin giving a talk to new recruits. Parks Services Director Cindy Buchanan brings the Council up to date on plans for city parks.

Downtown: More closings with Blues City Pastry and Cafe 61 added to the list.

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”.

Beale Street: Still more on the struggle between John Elkington and the City.
 

The University of Memphis: The Episcopal ministry on campus, Barth House, is closing down, due to loss of funds and will. The Athena Project is a new campus research clinic for domestic abuse. Attorney Leslie Ballin spoke to the Pre-Law Society on some of the infamous cases he’s been involved in.

Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare: Their Home Medical Equipment division has set up a new online ordering system.

TENNESSEE: In response to increasing unemployment claims, the State is opening 22 more centers to handle the load. More in the Daily News. Faculty at the University of TN have asked that any tuition increases go to the classroom and not their salaries.

Delta Queen: The riverboat will become a moored, floating ’boutique’ hotel in Chattanooga.

POLITICS: Via YouTube, Senator Bob Corker criticising the stimulus plan as a “potpourri of spending.” PACs and the parties spent $28 million in state legislative races over the past two years. The other judicial vacancy, in Shelby County Circuit Court is drawing a lot of candidates. A discussion is breaking out among local civil rights leaders over whether the Movement is reached its conclusion.

RISE Foundation: They have selected Linda Williams as their new president and CEO.

Shelby County Clerk’s Office: The Daily News with more on the investigation and suspension of employees there. The Commercial Appeal reports that the investigation is widening.

DeSoto County: The State of MS will take over the Star Landing Corridor connecting US Highways 78 and 61. A delay is being sought in the annexation struggle between Horn Lake and Walls.

Local Television: New Christian station Good News TV 23 may have to delay its debut if the Big Switch to digital broadcast is also delayed. Its format, by the way, will supplant WTWV-TV Channel 14. Also, WMC has announced that Ursula Madden will become their evening news anchor, along with Joe Birch; she replaces Donna Davis, who was let go last year.

The Conservative Zone: On hoplophobia.

garage sale of ignorance: A collision with models at a hair salon sparks some self-reflection.

Dining With Monkeys: A visit to Panda Garden proves fortuitous.

Friends for Our Riverfront: Links on ‘placemaking’ and a pair of green Memphis events.

at home she feels like a tourist: A long thoughtful response to the blog kerfuffle that’s broken out over the ‘Triangle Noir’ proposal, from someone with a foot in both camps.

Gilmore Girl Goes Memphis: Doggy play dates.

Life In & Around Memphis: There’s a polar bear plunge this Saturday; speed dating comes to Memphis.

Commercial Appeal: Higher education in the state needs to sit tight until the economy picks up.

Radio Sweethearts: The life of a news media junkie and its consequences

Joe Larkins: Thoughts on local news people getting into the story.

Mediaverse: Memphis: A good-bye interview with the CA’s Trevor Aaronson; also, thoughts on Fox13’s Valerie Calhoun and WMC’s Ursula Madden.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: Self-censoring and blog posting; happy with Obama; lovin’ the Learning Channel.

Buck’s Blog: Twenty-five things you may not have know about him; and a Daddy-daughter date night.

Bigger Than Your Head: A dozen wines for your consideration.