The New Interim County Mayor: A look at the business relationships and dealings of the County Commissioners, as they ready for today’s continued vote for an interim Mayor. New City mayor A C Wharton offers a solution to the interim mayor crisis.

The Wharton Administration: Mayor A C Wharton appears in no hurry to replace Police Director Larry Godwin.

Shelby County: Many County offices don’t even have websites for citizens to get information.

Collierville: City officials are embracing revised, walking-friendly plans for some Boyle Investments properties. Some more local news.

H1N1 Virus: The Health Department is running low on stocks of the seasonal flu vaccine.

Politics: Two Republican candidates for the State House District 83 seat, Mark White and John Pellicciotti, have agreed to a forum. Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Roy Herron won a straw poll at a Sullivan County event Saturday. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker points out that straw polls are meaningless. The gubernatorial campaign of Republican Bill Haslam reports it has earned another $1 million.

US Rep. Steve Cohen had a town hall meeting on Saturday. And a Republican event had all four major Republican gubernatorial candidates in attendance.

Three present or former chairs of smaller state parties (Libertarian, Constitution and Green) were deposed late last week for a lawsuit challenging the State’s ballot access laws. A Cook Political Report study of competitive Congressional races finds three in Tennessee.

A report on a legislative study commission (for the next session) on waste and recycling.

DeSoto County: New housing starts are still low, but might be trending up; more from Fox13. The Catholic Social Services Food Pantry in Walls needs some food donations urgently. Promoters of the Coldwater River as a “blueway trail” are going online. The Olive Branch Board of Mayor and Aldermen will vote tomorrow on longer liquor service hours.

FedEx Institute of Technology: A look at the organisation that turns innovations at the University of Memphis into real world applications that make money.

West Tennessee: The Dyersburg Jaycees are preparing for the annual Chimes for Charity program. The 59th annual Dyersburg Christmas Parade has been set for November 30. Delays in paying property taxes are straining Dyer County government. (via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Mississippi: Regional agricultural and business group wants to add catfish to the USDA’s food safety inspection list. Public schools are leaving swine flu shot decision up to parents. State Medicaid officials should have checked with the Legislature before changing reimbursements, says court. Cotton production will hit a 140-year low thanks, in part, to record October rainfaill. The rate of sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers is on the rise.

Financial: Most major banks in the Memphis area are still keeping funds to cover loan losses.

Red Light Traffic Cameras: A lawyer in Clarkesville opposed to traffic cameras is suing, claiming the company operating them doesn’t have a “private investigators” license. A GPS software program, Phantom Alert, will warn you when traffic cameras are nearby.

Peabody Hotel: The Forbes Travel Guide gave them a four-star rating, one of only two in Tennessee.

The MED: The consulting firm, FTI Cambio, that consulted for them on restructuring to reduce expenses, charged and spent lavishly on the hospital’s (and your) dime — $17.5 million over two and a half years.

City of Memphis: A safety advocacy group ranks Memphis fifth most hazardous for walkers. Pending a PILOT agreement, KcKeeson Corporation might invest $186 million. Violent crimes are costing the City and County millions of dollars in all sorts of ways. A coalition of publica agencies and private organisations are teaming up for a stabilisation effort to keep the Sherwood Forest neighborhood from sliding into housing trouble.

WKNO: A look at the pubic broadcaster’s new studio center and offices.
 

Business: Memphis will again participate in the Emerging 200 program by the Small Business Administration. Fathead is now offering vinyl attachable logos from the University of Memphis. Dollar General’s IPO was a big success.

A business profile of GoodBooks, the Goodwill Industries bookstore, from the Commercial Appeal. A business profile of Forty Carrots, from the Daily News. A business profile of the Midtown Farmers Market, from Fox13.

The Small Business Advocate warns against being distracted.

From the Commercial Appeal, Done Deals; What to Do and again; People in Business for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Arkansas: Officials say budget cuts will not prevent the State getting a new statewide trauma system. The University of Arkansas is providing free tuition to seniors.

United Way of the Mid-South: They received a $45,000 grant from the IRS for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for next year. They also signed a direct lease on the Lenox Park property.

Tennessee: In a historic first, challenger Jamie Hollin defeated Nashville Metro Councilwoman Pam Murray in a recall election. Governor Phil Bredesen begins work on his last State budget in a very difficult position. More, including a schedule of budget hearings, from the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Commercial Appeal. He says his education plan will focus on graduation rates.

Real Estate: The National Association of Realtors said at their annual event that the housing market and economy are looking up. A 7100 square foot home was scheduled for auction Saturday. How developer Jason Speed of Speed Investments is able to keep his buildings at near-100% capacity

Survey Says: Don’t use cliches during job interviews. GenXers are becoming discontent with work. Charitable giving is expected to decline about 10 percent this year.

Urban Land Institute: They are hosting a public forum on the city’s “greenprint” titled, Greenways and Byways: A Regional Forum for Success on Wednesday.

University of Memphis: A relative of a man accused of vandalism at a GLBT center collected and trashed hundreds of copies of the campus newspaper; more in the Commercial Appeal. Tension between the Faculty Senate and the Provost’s office after Provost Ralph Faudree revoked his offer for the Senate to choose its own ombudsman.

Memphis City Watch: A history of Overton Square and why people are fighting so for it.

MemphisConnect: She’s looking for a survival guide and some tips on dating in Memphis.

Long Tall Animals: A poetic self-description: “I’m made of mistakes.”

Midtown Stomp: He treats himself to a home-made dinner. With wine, of course….

Notes from Memphis: She travels to the Far East (of Shelby County) for soccer, and learns about parkour. And plug for the new Market Cafe and Salad Expressions.

Oval Soul Journey: Panic on I-40. At nearly 30, she’s not the same woman she was at 23.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Downtown is winning the war against “bums”.

Smart City Memphis: Kids, MPOs, and planes & automobiles.

String of Theories: A vegetarian but filling lasagna recipe!

Doug Johnson at Work: It doesn’t hurt during deer season when your good friend is a pilot who can fly you to the huntin’.

Brain Release Valve: Some interesting, if controversial, thoughts on justice.

Crime in Memphis: The MPD is about to start rolling out the first of up to 70 police cars with the License Plate Reader technology.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: A tale of fright, fear, drugs and intense devotion as her husband has a worktool accident.

Gwynn Bradley: Where is a plan of action to stop crimes before they happen? (via the Daily Helmsman)

Commercial Appeal: A downtown riverfront project without controversy? Planting the seeds of “we warned you” over the Gates Foundation grants to MCS? America should quit its wars and help her troops. Kudos to Southaven for a public sports building project. One in four adult Tennesseans still smoke?

Otis L. Sanford: He gets spammed with internet astroturf by pro-health care reform supporter but can’t get really mad about it. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris L. Peck: He offers up a branding campaign to reduce our city’s incredible diversity to “One Memphis”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Lucie R. Bridgforth: America is not as great as it thinks it is and needs more reality checks. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Zach McMillin: On the eve of resumption of voting for an interim County mayor, a look at the tangled relationships and alliances and complex people on the Commission. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: We must find the outrage sufficient for all our city’s problems. (via the Commercial Appeal)

James Overstreet: The recession’s not over yet. (via the Commercial Appeal)

The Memphis News: Tigers coach Tommy West’s speech last week was honest criticism or just negativity?