Little Rock Terrorist: Abdulhakim Muhammad is now claiming justification in the murder of an Army recruiter, calling it “an attack of retaliation.”

Memphis City Schools: More on the lunchroom equipment grant for the Central Nutrition Center. Whitehaven High School has come out in opposition to the proposal to go to “block scheduling” next year.

In a related story White Station and Collierville High Schools were named in Newsweek magazine’s annual 1500 best schools list.

What Do You Think About Memphis? The 16th annual poll was released yesterday. No link to poll results and scanty details, though.

Bartlett: Tuesday night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen had the second of three readings on the budget and the property tax rate, set for $1.49.

Shelby County Commission: At their meeting today, they’ll once again tackle the County’s budget, among other issues.

Consulting Services Group: County Mayor A C Wharton is asking for a reconsideration of contracts with the troubled financial advisors. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis Literacy Council: Interim executive director Sallie Johnson is set to make herself permanent in the job. Website here.

Orgill: The Daily News has much more on the closing of their Memphis facility and the consolidation in Missouri. The Commercial Appeal has more.

Business: Wright Medical Group is cautiously expanding. American Paper Optics was honored by the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce as Entrepreneur of the Year.

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

FedEx: FedEx Express CEO David J. Bronczek has been selected as the next chairman of the International Air Transportation Association’s Board of Governors. More in the CA.

Collierville: Mayor Stan Joyner launched the Mayor’s Action Center to handle quick-response citizen requests and public nuisances.

Millington: Twenty-two properties have been identified as needing immediate action to bring them back up to code. Citizen volunteers are being called to help!

Lambuth University: After months of financial difficulties, they are talking with the State about financial help or possibly selling the school and merging with the University of Memphis.

Survey Says: On employees’ summer wish list are shorter Friday hours and flex time, says OfficeTeam. Construction spending rose very slightly in April; consumer spending, however is still down. Competition really is stiff: for every job open right now, there are 5.4 candidates! Wholesale inventories dropped 1.4% in April.

Overton Park: City engineers have shelved plans for a detention basin, after public pressure.

Germantown: The Board of Mayor and Alderman voted again to increase funding for non-profit groups. A thrid and final reading later this month will seal the deal.

Banking: The Treasury Department has allowed 10 banks to repay $68 billion in government investments; the CA also reports.

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?

MSARC: WREG’s Mike Matthews wonders who will ever be held accountable for the problems at the facility? From the Daily News: Questions persist.

Politics: More new laws just signed by the Governor. From the Tennessean, a look at the slow progress of the judicial selection bills. The TN Road Builder’s Association gives a fundraising dinner for gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey that is attracting attention. Rep. Curry Todd is calling the creation of the TN Ethics Commissions a result of media pressure.

Competing budget aims from the governor and the legislature are slowing down progress on passing any budget. Both parties are holding closed-door meetings on the budget votes, and that’s drawing media scrutiny.

The State Senate passed a bill allowing people in the military on deployment to assign their parental visitation rights to other family members, not just grandparents.

The State House has delayed action yet again on the bill to unify minimum construction codes across the state.

Memphis City Council: Progress on the City’s budget is also going slow; literally line by line. They are starting at the top, with the executive offices. More on the stalemate from Eyewitness News. Council members express satisfaction and happiness over the Mayor’s MSARC decision; some public reaction, from WMC.

Shelby County: Planners are beginning early, looking at school board voting districts for potentially needed changes.

Tennessee: While the Legislature debates his budget, Governor Phil Bredesen is travelling with a trade delegation in Europe. More in the Daily News.

FedEx Forum: The Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority approved the issue of $135 million in bonds to restructure debt and lower payments.

Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: A new exhibit honors the Saint Blues Guitar Workshop.

Regions Bank: They are rolling out “smart ATMs” that provide photographic documentation on the spot of cash and check deposits.

Memphis International Airport: The TN Department of Transportation gave MIA a $22.5 million grant.

The Digital Switch: Local over-the-air television stations begin the final switchover to digital broadcast television later this week. Are you ready? There are FCC workshops to help you. More from WREG, too.

Arkansas: A legislative commission has set the new salary for the director of the new Lottery Commission, and its huge.

Eskapadez: Who she follows on Twitter and why.

Fertile Ground: Team Oster takes a family bike ride around Midtown.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: She also participated in the Heatwave triathlon and here’s her report.

Jen-sized: Leave Shawn Taggart alone!

LeftWing Cracker: Words of advice for State Senator Roy Herron, who is running for governor.

Thaddeus Matthews: He uncovers an educational surprise about Memphis CAO Keith McGhee. Is last year’s SC Democratic party chair about to announce a big surprise?

memphis.cool.movies: The Li’l Film Fest is June 13th and this year’s theme for the short, locally made movies is family. The film listing is at the link.

Dining With Monkeys: The crew go to an art exhibition and then a fancy dinner at Interim.

MemphisConnect: More love for the Levitt Shell.

Doug Johnson: Settling in at the new job, iPhone jealousy and “reorganisation.”

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: He’s got tons of Downtown news here and here.

Commercial Appeal: The US Supreme Court gets one right. The new arrangement for the MSARC is welcome, but an investigation is still called for.

16 Balls in the Air: She had the lucky kind of life-altering scare. I did not know these existed.

A View From the Middle: Markus just celebrated his birthday and there’s video!

Ashley la Rouge: A change of space, a change of attitudes.

55-40 Memphis: The rumor was true. Running a city isn’t rocket science.

Joe Hayden and Lurene Kelley: A guest column that blasts local television news for its sensationalism and focus on crime, encouraging TV news to be more like … newspapers. (via the Commercial Appeal)

autumne reflections: The doctor’s visit about the mysterious arm pain and her trivia team wins!

Bigger Than Your Head: Another cheese toast post — this time with black bean and corn salsa.

Brain Release Valve: A glimpse of a possible, technologically wild, future.

Buck’s Blog: Pre-birthday and Happy Birthday!

Commontaries: Willie and Yalanda. The best example for a man is another man.

Cwabs! Microsoft is a little off in their counting. In another post, it’s funny because we’re Southerners.