POLITICS: State House Ethics Committee has declined to launch an investigation into the sex harrassment complaint against Speaker Kent Williams filed by Rep. Brian Kelsey, as the woman involved, Rep. Susan Lynn, has been hospitalised for stress from from the media flurry. Williams’ press release on the matter. More from the Commercial Appeal. The political speculation turns ugly and further details of Williams’ actions.

Tennesseans Zach Wamp and Marsha Blackburn interviewed on CNN on the Federal trillion-dollar party package.

Mayor Herenton: New avenues in the investigation as the grand jury hears from his son and some MATA associates. More from Fox13 and the CA.

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”.

MISSISSIPPI: New state 49 cent cigarette tax nearing approval. More from the Commercial Appeal. Also the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee votes to bring an Olive Branch hospital closer to happening.

Millington: Mayor Richard Hodges calls an emergency bedget meeting of the Board of Aldermen and City department heads.

The University of Memphis: They endow their latest chair of excellence: the Dorothy K. Hohenberg Chair of Excellence in art history. The Center for Community Building and Neighborhood Action puts UofM students to work helping the community’s poor. The Rev. Kenneth Robinson spoke today on the fulfilling of Martin Luther King Jr’s dream.

Memphis City Schools: They are planning to raise $5 million from private donors for synthetic grass for all 12 high school football fields.

ARKANSAS: The State House passes two measures, one limiting teen cell phone use and the other on animal cruelty.

Memphis Fire Department: They have received a $1.1 million grant from the Dept. of Homeland Security for a firefighters’ wellness program.

Survey Says: Mass layoffs in the state rose sharply — to 50 — in December. MovieMaker magazine rates Memphis one of the twenty-five best cities to make movies in.

Target: The Commercial Appeal has a bit more on the company’s plans for East Memphis and Midtown.

BUSINESS: First Tennessee sells 22% or $14 billion of first lien mortgages to unidentified buyer; more from the Commercial Appeal. Comedy TN, Memphis only standup comedy club, is closing at the end of February. Starbucks is closing more stores; more from the CA. Martin Music is moving from Cordova to Midtown. The assisted living community The Pointe at Kirby Gate was sold for $3.7 million. Trustmark’s earnings for both the most recent quarter and the year are very down. Panattoni Development Co. hire Colliers Management to maintain their portfolio of Memphis properties.

Business profiles of the new owners of the Racquet Club and the Rosenblum and Reisman law firm, from the Daily News. And the non-profit Mid-South American Humanics Collaborative is profiled in the CA.

Medtronic: They and Boston Scientific have settled a handful of lawsuits.

Mortgage Relief Efforts: Group is working with area businesses to hand out flier to employees, offering their mortgage counseling services.

Previously Posted: Both teams recommit to the Southern Heritage Classic. The Big Switch, to digital television, is back on. Apparently the ‘tip trade’ was a common practice at the Shelby County Clerk’s office. More on the $2.8 billion loss reported by Wells Fargo.

Memphis Police Residency: The City Council’s action this week is creating fallout. Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen-Holt hopes for a class-action lawsuit; attorney Jay Bailey may take her up on it. The Memphis Black Community Association say relaxing residency requirements will discriminate against black officers. More from WMC.

TENNESSEE: Proof of citizenship for driver’s license renewal is creating a hardship on some seniors. (This story shows you where to go for help.)

Shelby County Juvenile Court: The State Department of Human Services has notified them that it will not renew a contract for collections, going to an open-bid private contractor.

Secret Agent Mom: Sometimes the snow news isn’t all good.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: More grousing about how school closings are announced in Memphis … and the drivers!

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: A great quote for the day, no matter your beliefs.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: South Main Association news; and some personal finance information on types of assets!

The Shelf Life: Reviews of The Man Plan by Whitney Casey and The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.

Carbuncle Trumpet: Baby shower/party!

Stacey Greenberg: Teaching your kids to like the dentist and good dental hygiene.

Notes From Memphis:: Where to watch the Super Bowl downtown; more good apartment news.

Fore Left! Thoughts on President Obama’s interview with Al-Arabiya television.

Life as I know it from Memphis: She’s losing weightand birthday partying at casinos?

Mediaverse: Memphis: Thoughts on requiring non-Memphis resident police officers to pay a fee.

Friends for Our Riverfront: The good news and bad news on the Delta Queen.

Brain Release Valve: Just not today; more fast fiction.

Buck’s Blog: Smarter at two than many adults.

bitter/books: He visits the far-distant hinterlands of thrift stores: the Goodwill on East Shelby Drive!

55-40 Memphis: The digital television switchover will be a disaster for Memphis; the school systems will be involuntarily consolidated.

Commercial Appeal: The National Mall is America’s front yard. The Memphis City Council must consider the 58 cent property tax increase proposed by City Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash.

Wendi C. Thomas: She and her brother are going to take up a challenge and try to eat next week as cheaply as possible, within a set of rules they’re formulating. They’re blogging it here.