City of Memphis: An unknown number of part-time employees were kept on City payroll through “check requests” that may pose tax problems.

MLG&W: The public utility will need to add tens of millions to its pension fund, but it’s unclear where the money will come from. Their website has been highly rated by a national trade industry report.

Lakeland / Arlington Elections: From various sources, reports and stories on the election results: Daily News. From the Commercial Appeal: Lakeland and Arlington.

Politics: The lawsuit seeking to overturn the “gun carry in restaurants” law has been scheduled for a November 6 hearing. US Senator Lamar Alexander has touched off a press release war with the White House over “czars”.

The Commercial Appeal notes Mark White is running for the State Rep. seat in District 83, which Brian Kelsey is leaving in his run for the State Senate. Speaker of the Senate and Lt Governor Ron Ramsey made two committee appointments, including former Senator Paul Stanley’s replacement on the Senate Commerce Committee. An East TN survey of the Republican gubernatorial field that somehow manages to miss Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons?

Consolidation: A report from last week’s meeting in Cordova on the subject.

Beale Street: Eyewitness News investigates the leases on some of the businesses there and finds some very, very low rents.

West Tennessee: The Dyer County chapter of the Red Cross is holding a “Just Tie One On for the Troops” campaign in anticipation of the return of area soldiers in mid-October. (via the Dyersburg State-Gazette).

Fairground: The Flyer examines the change of plans and direction that led to the wide acceptance of the Marshall-Lipscomb design for Fairgrounds renovation. Also, follow-up on the fate of the Carousel from Libertyland; and from WMC. The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center, which is sited on part of the Fairgrounds, is still short $2 million toward its part of the costs.

City & County Schools: The State will be funnelling nearly $56 million in Federal stimulus funds into local school construction projects.

Dog Parks: Changes in the plans for the Division of Parks and Recreation may mean adding dog parks to the City’s collection.

DeSoto County: The Southaven Chamber of Commerce had a party to celebrate their 40th anniversary. A proposed loitering fine of $500 is being discussed for Southaven. Praisefest is a one-day expo to help people learn more about area churches, to find a fitting worship home. More on the pay raise that Olive Branch police want. Two months after the summer storms, Olive Branch is still trying to recover.

Greater Memphis Chamber: They held a mock earthquake drill Thursday in the Falls Building downtown.

Main Street Journal September Issue: Now celebrating our fourth year as Memphis’ premier newsmagazine. You can peruse the Table of Contents here. Senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan looks at the Downtown / mayoral synergy with Downtown: Can the Center City Commission keep Downtown moving ahead? Publisher Jonathan Lindberg looks at the top three candidates in the Memphis mayoral race in part two of The Race For Mayor.

H1N1 Virus: The schedule for public information meetings by the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department. A report from the first of these meetings, last night, from WREG. After news of a City Hall employee coming down with the swine flu, Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery publicly got his flu shot as an educational event; more from Fox13. Memphis City employees will get a flu vaccine for free?

Unemployment: The state’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percent, to 10.8% in August. More stories on this from the Commercial Appeal. Analysts do not expect Memphis to recover from the recession until 2012.

The 2010 County Mayor Race: The Tri-State Defender talks with candidates Deidre Malone and Harold Byrd. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker also writes up Malone, as does Bill Dries for the Daily News.

Lulu the Pot-Bellied Pig: Soooey! Lulu, the Millington family pet who almost got evicted, was given a reprieve and will be allowed to continue to live with her family.
 

Countrywood Neighborhood Sale: This weekend is the area’s largest yard sale event. Official website here.

“Toe Tag”: This DVD hopes to teach clueless parents some of the warning signs and visible clues of gang membership in the kids. It’s available to the public.

Collierville: A revamped site review process could help speed up building approval by two-thirds.

Chick-fil-A: A little history of the First 100.

Business: OppCities helps white collar, professional workers who are looking for jobs.

A People in business, from the CA.

Memphis International Airport: Bond issuance was approved to allow construction of a new parking garage and rental car facility. The Commercial Appeal has more.

Mid-South Food Bank: Tyson Foods gave fifteen tons of food to them recently.

University of Memphis: The campus Federalist Society sponsored a debate on the Constitution. (via the Daily Helmsman) The Executive MBA program will hold an informational meeting on September 30.

Target House: The residential facility for families of patients at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital is celebrating its tenth year today.

“For the Love of Shirley”: A benefit for Shirley Williams, the long-time bartender at the Lamplighter, will be held at the Hi-Tone Cafe this weekend, beginning tonight.

The Visible School: They have almost reached their financial goal to buy a new building Downtown to move the school to.

FedEx: The company’s first quarter net income fell by 53% over last year. More from the Daily News. And a positive spin on the news from the Commercial Appeal.

Renasant Bank: Scott Forman has been named VP and commercial lending officer.

Survey Says: The average family is paying over $13,000 for family insurance coverage through employer-sponsored insurance. Housing starts and permits rose to their highest levels this year in August; family home builder confidence also rose. The net worth of the US grew last quarter by $2 trillion.

The Daily Docket: Thoughts on the feminisation of modern men.

Smart City Memphis: Consolidation and the old Memphis v. Nashville comparisons. A request for rhetorical calm that unfortunately includes a crude insulting term!

The Conservative Zone: Drake and Zeke have him yelling at the radio.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Well, he finally dropped a card on a restaurant.

Ramblings of the Mad Cow: Two blog recommendations for you.

Persian Pit Bull: This unfortunate story is not for those with weak stomachs.

a field guide to urban memphis: “When did everything become hyperbole?”

Boys In The ‘Hood: Big brother saves newborn brother from the evil dog menace!

Commontaries: Democrats and Republicans should learn to listen to each other. Not all student athletes are bad students and bad people.

Love is a Movement: The new Uptown magazine is out.

diary of a southern domestic diva: Being a Browns fan in a city of red, blue and orange.

Doug Johnson at Work: Goodbye to a former coworker.

Downtown Memphis Blog: Memphis has its own Ghost Hunters?

Fertile Ground: You would think a four day weekend would mean lots of “me time”, but noooooo….

ForkBombr: Genius idea or business killer for the Wall Street Journal?

Friend for Our Riverfront: There will be a tribute concert for Jim Dickinson this Monday at the Overton Park Shell.

The Rant: “We liberals really do think far right-wingers are stupid.” (via the Flyer)

Commercial Appeal: Not giving Olive Branch police officers a raise is penny wise but pound foolish. Libertyland’s old Carousel needs a new home, soon.

Rabbi Rafael Grossman: The importance of Rosh Hoshannah. (via the Commercial Appeal)

The Memphis Blog: The new proprietor of this CA blog, Blake Palmer, takes you on a tour of the building. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Just a Girl in the World: After two TV-free years, Elizabeth marinates herself in it and has some interesting observations. The embarrassing truth: she’s a Miley Cyrus fan.

garage sale of ignorance: They’ve seen Dan (The DaVinci Code) Brown’s next book and it has a Memphis connection.