DeSoto County: Results from yesterday’s mayoral and alderman elections. The Commercial Appeal has the big story, and more specifically the mayoral and alderman races. Olive Branch will host its third annual Safety Expo this Saturday, sponsored by the DeSoto County Extension Service and others.

County Commission Non-Merit Discrimination Resolution: Commissioner Steve Mulroy believes the new resolution will hold up in court when challenged.

Politics: An extensive interview with freshman State Rep. Judy Barker (Dist. 77; Union City). (via NW TN Today) After drawing attention and political anger, John Harris, head of the Tennessee Firearms Association has been discovered to not be a registered lobbyist in TN! Donn Jones has announced his run for the Republican challenge to 8th District Congressman John Tanner.

The State Senate has passed Governor Phil Bredesen’s energy bill. However, the governor’s 2010 budget document still hasn’t been delivered to the Legislature! Awaiting the governor’s signature is a bill to allow folks under a restraining order to select the person they turn their weapons over to. Does this year’s legislative session seem long? Here’s a look at various other regional legislatures and their sessions. More on the increase in the State unemployment tax. They also made a slight change to the bill on the abortion language changes to the State constitution.

In the House, the sponsor of a bill to open minors’ medical records to their parents has withdrawn the bill. Also, a proposal to merge the TN Ethics Commission and the Registry of Election Finance into one body, Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, is meeting with approval from most legislators.

Academy for Youth Empowerment: They are sponsoring a Youth Leadership and Economic Keys to Success Workshop to teach kids 8 to 13 the tools to success, like alternatives to gangs and violence.

Tennessee: Texas let the clock run out on some Federal wind/solar business dollars and that could be Tennessee’s gain. We will share, with 13 other states, about $42 million in funds to improve water and wildlife conservation.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: They are seeking volunteer subjects for a national study on a medication to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Cotton Museum: More on their planned expansion later this year.

John Wilder: The former State Senator and Lieutenant Governor, John Wilder, will be honored on the floor of Congress today, as a post office building in his hometown of Somerville receives his name.

On the Block: We ask local leaders about important issues of the day. This week: Do politicians from West Tennessee start with a location advantage or a location disadvantage in state-wide races?

County Commission: The Daily News reports on the budget talks after the crowd melted away following the anti-discrimination resolution vote. And the Commercial Appeal touts the good things expected from the anti-discrimination resolution. More on the “unsettled” property tax rate for the County.

Center City Commission: On the agenda for today’s meeting, are Union Avenue and South Main Street projects.

Mississippi: The delays in the Legislature in setting a budget are frustrating City and County school administrators as well, who can’t set their budget either, until the State does its job.

Hospice Homes: Two new hospice homes, being built by Baptist Memorial Health Care and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare separately, aremeeting an unmet need in the area.

Stanford Financial Group: Several of his attorneys want off the case and his ex-wife is now suing him.

Business: Harley-Davidson is seeking LEED certification for its new dealership in Southaven. More than 500 employees have accepted the Goodyear buyout plan. Lowe’s may be coming to Collierville soon.

People in business, from the Daily News. And the same in the Commercial Appeal.

Survey Says: The down economy is expected to dampen retail sales on Father’s Day, says the National Retail Federation. Most Memphis chief financial officers expect to do no hiring soon.

Medtronic: A Federal Circuit Court has reduced Medtronic’s payment to DePuy Spine by $87.7 million. More in the Daily News.

Real Estate: Pending home sales jumped nearly 7%. More details in the Daily News.

Real Value Inn: Formerly famed on local evening news as the Motel 78 on Lamar, new ownership and management and a makeover have transformed the one-time crime motel.

Crime: From Eyewitness News, the areas where home burglaries are prevalent. Memphis ranks 21 in the FBI’s rankings for murder in 2008 and fifth for violent crimes. (Story has a link to the FBI report.)

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: The focus of many members these days isn’t promotion but preservation of their businesses!

Banking: The two principals of Spectrum Capital Group are joining Morgan Keegan’s investment banking group. In other Morgan Keegan news, they had 14 decisions handed down in various arbitration cases in May.

On the Beach / Doug Johnson: Doug has got a new job! Will the blog go away now? Hopefully not!

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: The Voodoo Room is back and will be hosting a Tube Top night later this month. More tube top-piness from Paul.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Kitchens and wish-book shopping and a Neiman-Marcus gift card!

Ramblings of a River City Resident: Personal thoughts on the murder of Dr Tiller. Thoughts on gay families.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: Some observations on the Appeals Court ruling on the Second Amendment yesterday. Do your Crocs shoes need some of those rivet thingies?

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Your (political) joke of the day. Also, some cards for Second Amendment supporters to hand out at restaurants and other businesses that put up “no gun” signs.

The Chockley Blogs: Yes, summer vacation has arrived.

Commercial Appeal: They argue for retaining the Tennessee Plan for selecting State judges. Hoping that Governor Phil Bredesen’s veto of the “gun carry in restaurants” bill isn’t over-ridden.

Smart City Memphis: The County Commission resolution on discrimination wasn’t a Pyrhhic victory, but a real one.

Mick Wright: The national media is deaf. Your share of government debt.

Commontaries: The County non-discrimination resolution isn’t a solution, but a first step.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: A photo-report on women and marketing (sort of) and a yard sale.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Cat pee.

theology & geometry: Ms Ready McReadsalot.

My Midtown Memphis: It seems to be the newest rage here in Memphis: the McNuggetini. Yeah, really.

Urf! A bit of a peek behind the writer’s closed door.

Vegan Crunk: A writer for the local alt-weekly shows her opinions of some of the people she covers. Some Indian foods. And, some tapas foods to try out.

vibinc: Some compelling evidence that Mayor Herenton is playing politics with his resolution to the MSARC issue.

Xspectre8: Someone is messing around on his farm and is asking for bad trouble.

Mediaverse: Richard looks at the Urban Child Institute’s just released report and has some sharp questions on the conclusions about the numbers.

Lindsay Jones: Support for the Commission’s anti-discrimination resolution comes from the same place that drove the Founders to separate church and politics. (via the Daily News)