School Menus: Memphis City schools here and Shelby County schools here.

Local Media: Is small and extremely local the way to rescue for newspapers?

Girls, Inc.: They arranged for local girls to get free back-to-school makeovers for the new school year!

Mid-South Fair: DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco is expecting Fair officials to pay the cost of the extra security he’ll provide.

Town Hall Meeting: US Rep. Steve Cohen’s “town hall meeting” Saturday is described as “rowdy” (Daily News), “ugly” (Commercial Appeal), “frenzy” (Flyer), “circus” (Fox13), “shouting match” (WMC), “heated” (Eyewitness News). The Flyer’s Jackson Baker uses a vulgar sexual insult to describe the protesters. Some pre-town hall planning by local Democrats, and more here.

Many Memphis bloggers were there and have posted their thoughts and experiences: Born Again Hippies. LeftWing Cracker. Smart City Memphis. vibinc.

Politics: State Senator Jim Kyle will announce his candidacy for governor tomorrow; more in the Commercial Appeal. Nashville attorney Jane Bransetter Stranch has been nominated by the Obama adminstration to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The fallout from the State Senator Paul Stanley affair could cost the Republicans the majority in the House, though not for the reason you might think. Finding new ways to get campaign cash to the candidates.

Former mayor Willie Herenton made a surprise appearance before the Shelby County Democratic Party Executive Committee.

Arkansas: The State’s new Lottery Commission has hired four more employees. Life Styles, Inc., which supports developmentally disabled people is having their new office donated to them! Former West Memphis City Councilwoman Helen Harris was arrested on felony assault and evading arrest charges. Alternative medical practitioners are calling for the repeal of a new State law banning them from dispensing medications.

Pinnacle Airlines: The airline rebounded nicely with $6 million in profit this quarter.

Cotton: The spread of “practical pigweed” is threatening to dramatically inflate the costs of cotton.

Summer Youth Employment Program: Around one-third of the kids hired by the City this Summer didn’t get their payment on Friday and so are missing the sales tax holiday savings before the start of school next week.

Delta Air Lines: The airline still has plans, undiscussed, to cut more management and administrative jobs later this year.

Back to School: Four new languages will be taught by the Memphis City School system, including Arabic. Shelby County Schools teachers and principals are ready to start. More “ready for school” stories from: Fox13.

Many parents are angry with MCS over the changed school bus routes; more from Eyewitness News, and again and again; WREG. At least one parent is promising to sue in Federal court.

DeSoto County: The popular Coldwater Trade Days is a fundraiser for the Tate County Volunteer Rescue Squad. You can buy a goat there. New Olive Branch Police Chief Don Gammage has assembled his crime-fighting team. The DeSoto County Museum in Hernando teaches kids local history.

“Cash for Clunkers”: The US Senate has approved $2 billion to keep the program going.

Real Estate: Mortgage activity is rising in Memphis since June. And mortgage rates dipped with good economic news. Local developers are turning to self-storage and apartment complexes for steady income in the down economy.

Public Housing: The Daily News has a short interview with Ron Sims, of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development about public housing.

Orpheum: Theater president Pat Halloran is investing in the play Memphis in its bid for Broadway.

NEW! Main Street Journal August Issue: Now celebrating our fourth year as Memphis’ premier newsmagazine. The Table of Contents for the August issue is now online for you to peruse.

Jeff Sanford, Center City Commission: Sanford’s address to the Commission’s annual luncheon two weeks ago caused a buzz. But it’s been hard to find more than excerpts, until now. Thanks to the CCC, the Main Street Journal is proud to present the full text of his address!

The Lowery Administration: Reports on the new mayor’s open house at City Hall Friday, from the Commercial Appeal. Pete Aviotti, Jr — Mayor Willie Herenton’s long-time aide and special assistant — has been told he will not have his contract renewed; he has been working without portfolio since the end of June. Fox13 also took at tour of the mayor’s offices on the seventh floor of City Hall and he introduces his staff. (WMC) More on the office tour from Eyewitness News.

Our Next Mayor: Candidate Charles Carpenter opened his Whitehaven campaign office Saturday. A look at some of the much lesser known candidates. Beginning tonight, WREG is broadcasting profiles (one each night) of the 10 major mayoral candidates already announced.

Collierville: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen is set to vote tonight on whether to opt-out of gun carry in public parks.

Mississippi: A black lawyer’s group is calling for Governor Haley Barbour to appoint a black judge. US Rep. Travis Childers is travelling in Israel this week.

Mississippi Outdoors, from the Commercial Appeal.

Tennessee: The much-ballyhooed “Solar Initiative” from Governor Phil Bredesen may not receive Federal funding. More from Fox13. The State Department of Education is looking at new initiatives to improve reading comprehension. A look at our state’s history of privately printed money, called “scrip”.

Business: The Kohl’s store in Cordova re-opened over the weekend; more from WMC. Is the recession finally bottoming out? Shareholders for Merck and Schering-Plough “overwhelmingly” back merger. Second quarter sales for Fred’s dropped.

A business profile of Main Event Boutique, a Midtown fashion store, from the Daily News. The Memphis News talks with Justin Timberlake about his Mirimichi golf course. And, a business profile of the Madison Hotel downtown, from the CA.

People in Business, from the CA, for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Done Deals in the Commercial Appeal.

The CA’s Small Business Advocate says social networking is about building relationships and communities than selling your products.

Dr Randeep Mann: The Arkansas doctor accused by the government of having a weapons arsenal now faces seven additional charges. Also, Dr Trent Pierce, who survived a carbombing attack, says the State Medical Board will not be intimidated by that attack.

“Plug In”: Thursday’s mixer for marketing and advertising and networking people was a resounding success.

Bartlett: The score so far is Bartlett, zero, and Steve Pearson, lone annexation holdout, one.

Financial: A brief look at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and their good-to-date year.

US Post Office: The sole post office in Memphis slated for closure, as a cost saving measure, still has defenders.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: Their Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, along with the Hamilton Eye Institute, are hosting the PanAmerican Society for Pigment Cell Research conference in September.

Survey Says: For the first time in a year, unemployment declined nationally.

Methodist University Hospital: It’s not just the cafeteria that’s been redesigned, but the menu as well.

The Chockley Blogs: Some beautiful photos from the farmer’s market.

Leila’s Combined News Feed: More on potty training.

Persian Pit Bull: Niece and nephew come to visit! They all go to Shelby Farms for kits and baby buffalo watching. Uncle Tony gives football lessons and then, horses! And then some dog blogging.

Commercial Appeal: The NRA isn’t as powerful as the paper thinks it is. Hailing three freedom fighters. Dreaming up another Big Project for Memphis:SoFo. There are always things more important than being stingy. Early release of prisoners is a good way to save some money in the State’s budget.

Don Wade: A look at the plans, hopes, grants and wishes to redevelop the area south of the FedEx Forum. (ie. SoFo) (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis Sanford: He declines to run for mayor but wants the real candidates to be serious about issues. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Lisa Huffstetler: Dinner with her husband’s National Guard unit brings some powerful understanding. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Dr Manoj Jain:: “Allocating” is a much nicer and less ugly word than “rationing” when talking about health care reform. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphis News Tinkering with the City’s charter has unleashed a host of unintended consequences.

Bigger Than Your Head: Informed remarks on writing for blog links.

Mrs. Katherine: The joys and tribulations of potty training. And, the joys and tribulations of getting satellite TV installed.

Midtown Stomp: Some important information on the importance of soil to the flavor of wines. A tasting of Turley Zinfandels.

Sassy Molassy: A defense of high school.

I’ll be the one in heels: She went to her high school reunion and returns with pictures and tales.

16 Balls in the Air: Saturday morning.

A View From the Middle: Another “parking lot review” of the new G. I. Joe movie.

Ashley La Rouge: Life is a project and she’s happy with her current status.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Simple, yet astonishingly effective advice for social media advertisers. South of Beer. Pics from a weekend rooftop party.

Fertile Ground: Kudos to the Botanic Gardens on My Big Backyard and visiting the City Museum in St Louis.

Weeden Arts Watch: Did you know the City Council has approved nine public arts projects for the 2010 fiscal year? He also explains what UrbanArt is and what they do.

Commontaries: He’s not impressed with Wanda Halbert and he’s growing more impressed with Myron Lowery.

bitter/books: Thrift-shopping at the Elvis Presley Amvets store, with bonus guitar shredding!