County Commission: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker with a report on the non-merit discrimination resolution meeting earlier this week.

Raleigh Springs Mall: The Raleigh Community Council is trying to head off the closure of the mall, which seems imminent.

The MED: As part of budget cutting, the board of directors trimmed employee benefits by about $2.5 million.

MSARC: A rape victim who was also a victim of problems at the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center, speaks up. A Fox13 report on the back-and-forth between the City and County over authority and funding. More on that from WMC and again, and the Commercial Appeal. It may become a “political showdown”.

Politics: City Court Clerk Thomas Long has announced he’s running for County Clerk in 2010; Debbie Stamson currently holds that office. Some Google searching of the top four Republican candidates for governor. US Rep. Marsha Blackburn (7th District) now has a Democratic challenger: Dr Greg Rabidoux, currently a professor at Autsin-Peay University, of Clarksville. Nashville is exploring using their Beer Board regulations to prevent gun carry in restaurants with a County beer permit.

As expected, the State Senate over-rode Governor Phil Bredesen’s veto of the “gun carry in restaurants” bill, 21 - 9; more from Fox13, Eyewitness News. A breakdown of the vote. More local reaction on Fox13 and WREG from restauranteurs. More in the Commercial Appeal.

A breakdown of who voted which way in the House’s vote on the “gun carry in restaurants” bill. The House has tabled until the next session Governor Bredesen’s energy efficiency bill package. They delayed a vote until next week on setting a state-wide residential building code.

Both sides of the Legislature has sent a bill to the governor, regulating consumer debt management and credit counseling services.

MLG&W: Unfinished and poorly blocked road work leads to man falling into a pothole. He’s now suing.

Germantown: Developer of a proposed residential retirement community has until today to agree to changes or make an appeal to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. A proposed traffic-slowing policy to allow neighborhoods to apply for speed bumps needs some language tweaking before being considered.

Mid-South Fairgrounds: The folks who put on the Mid-South Fair are being asked to put together some type of fall festival event for the Fairgrounds. The Commercial Appeal has more.

Crime: The three Mid-South states all rank in the top ten for meth lab busts last year.

Banking: More on the spike in mortgage rates last week.

St Francis Hospital: The Bartlett facility will double its number of beds after the Bartlett Planning Commission OK’d plans.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour is being asked to get involved in responding to the EEOC complaint against State sheriffs over racial discrimination. A look at upcoming changes to State domestic violence laws. Special budget session may mean an increase in State auto license fees after all. According to a survey, the state has the lowest rate of internet access in the country.

Delta Air Lines: The airline’s traffic dropped again in May.

VESTA Home Show: A report from the groundbreaking ceremony of the first “green” home show, at The Villages at White Oak. (via the Bartlett Express)

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?

Grizzlies: More on the proposed “privilege tax” for NBA and NHL players. It was sponsored by Memphis Rep. G. A. Hardaway.

City Council and the Budget: Everything is being looked at but councilmembers’ travel and meal expenses won’t be cut. Here’s a look at the salaries of various Herenton appointees. Also, from Joe Saino, the Memphis Watchdog, is a 2005 document showing all the then-current salaries of every appointed position in his administration. (PDF document)

Mid-South Terrorist: The shooter of the military men in Little Rock, Abdulhakim Muhammad, had prior weapons charges in Knoxville, but they were dropped. The man’s lawyer blames experiences in Yemeni jail for “hardening” him; U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen helped free him.

Tennessee: The State is doing better than its peers in its defined benefit pension plan, says State Treasurer David Lillard. The Department of Safety is promoting organ and tissue donation, sponsoring booths at drivers license stations around the state. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, we have the highest rate of depressive episodes of any state in the nation. More on the DHS doing daycare van inspections this Summer.

Memphis Area Association of Realtors: They have revised their 2009 numbers. Home sales in April were down nearly one-quarter over the same month last year. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Business: Wal-Mart expects to create 22,000 jobs this year, though that’s down from last year. More on Fred’s sales increase last month.

A business profile of Skyline Exhibits, a tradeshow exhibit company, in the Daily News.

People in Business, from the CA.

The Big Switch: The FCC will be holding clinics in the coming days to help folks with the switch to digital broadcast television. The article has the schedule.

Arkansas: The State Supreme Court has rejected a claim by Counties that the State was underfunding small school systems. The Lottery Commission doesn’t like the pool of applicants so far for executive director of the State’s lottery.

MLG&W: The utility will open contract negotiations with its union, the IBEW, on July 1.

Land Use Control Board: A report on the recently adopted Unified Development Code for the County and what it might mean.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: Along with the University of Memphis, they will share $1.1 million in research funds. More in the Daily News.

National Donut Day: That’s right, you have a reason to munch donuts today and feel good about it!

Survey Says: A survey from Duke University points to the recession lasting through the end of the year. The US Census Bureau reports internet usage is still growing. Both Crichton College and LeMoyne-Owen College are in the bottom ten of American universities in graduation rates. Retailers report a slowdown in sales for May.

Musing, Nits and Praises: Good news for the new father.

Doug Johnson: His Charlie Brown moment.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: He and Steve Cohen actually agree on something … at least in sports and economics.

Smart City Memphis: Thoughts on the struggle between the mayor and the city council on the budget.

The Horn of Plenty: A straight-forward recipe for a mushroom quiche with savory walnut crust.

Urf! Today is a very special day for this couple. She presents her side.

autumne reflections: Arm pain, Twitter meetups and newsletters; it’s been a busy week. And more thoughts from Otherlands.

Commontaries: Is Abdullahakim Muhammad a terrorist or just a murderer?

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: The community activists seeking change and support for the MSARC have some activities coming up.

Cwabs! His Tiananmen story.

Commercial Appeal: A farewell to KoKo Taylor. Questions about the County Clerk’s office investigation.

Sudeshna Banerjee: A visitor from Calcutta visits the usual tourist destinations and does the usual tourist things and likes it. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Born-Again Hippies: It’s the monkey jihad!

Dining With Monkeys: Stacey takes the boys out to Jerry’s Sno Cone! Much sugar and fat is had.

Fore Left! Hey, AC actually praises President Obama!

garage sale of ignorance: “Let’s nyoki nyoki together with us!” Earnest weirdness as only young Japanese women can present it.

Lean Left: Questions on the proposed new “privilege tax” for certain professional athletes in Tennessee. Differentiating terrorisms.

Jim Strickland: Current economic realities demand drastic change in city’s budget. (via the Flyer)

The Rant: A working musician’s point of view on gun carry in restaurants and bars. (via the Flyer)

Mediaverse: Thoughts on Mayor Herenton’s remarks on and the City Council’s action on the MSARC issue.

Midtown Security Community: There will be a special presentation at this month’s meeting, on June 17.

Leila’s Combined News Feed: Leila and her mommy had a busy weekend with food and books and pictures! Oh, and music at the Levitt Shell.

Egotistical Whining: The good enough parenting model.