Christmas & the Holidays: A report from Saturday’s Memphis Christmas parade, from the Commecial Appeal. Someone was injured at the Bartlett Christmas parade; he is Rory Mack. Theatre Memphis has started its run of A Christmas Carol. The Angel Tree gifts ceremony was held Friday.

The Memphis Food Bank says its need is greatest in December and they could use donations, if you can. If you have an old bicycle, it can be restored and donated to the needy.

Downtown: A plan to clear out the homeless and the panhandlers from the Downtown during the holidays is drawing a lot of criticism. Reaction from the homeless. More from WREG, Eyewitness News.

Memphis City Council: Two Councilmen talk about spending Federal dollars on blight-fighting or crime-fighting.

St Jude Memphis Marathon: Saturday’s race had its first-ever fatality in its 30 year history. A half-marathon runner died crossing the finish line. More from Eyewitness News. A WMC report on the race.

Memphis Police Department: They are being reviewed this week to retain their accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Local Media: The state’s four largest newspapers (Memphis Commercial Appeal, Nashville Tennessean, Chattanooga Times Free Press, and the Knoxville News-Sentinel) will now print major investigative pieces and political reporting from member papers of the new Tennessee Newspaper Network. This does not supplant an earlier agreement that involved two additional newspapers in news-sharing agreements. Mediaverse: Memphis notes the potential weaknesses of this network.

More on the Federal Trade Commission’s new regulations about blogging.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold a meeting next Monday seeking public comment on broadband (internet) access in Memphis.

American City Business Journals: The company, which publishes the Memphis Business Journal, added a four-page wraparound to last week’s issue to highlight the company’s health in an otherwise tough sector.

Politics: A look at the financial disclosure forms and personal finances for the Republican gubernatorial candidates.

Analysts are now giving State Sen. Roy Herron the edge in the race for the Eighth Congressional District seat being vacated by John Tanner. Also, how Herron’s departure from the Democratic gubernatorial race is changing the picture. Doctor Ronald Kirkland of Jackson may also join the Republican side of the race; more in the Commercial Appeal.

Senator Lamar Alexander is emerging as a Republican spokesman in their opposition to health care reforms. The Commerical Appeal’s Washington correspondent looks at US Rep. John Tanner’s goodbye year.

The Legislature may revisit and tighten up the State’s smoking ban.

DeSoto County: A list of State and Federal legislators with district ties to the County. A report on Saturday’s Olive Branch Christmas parade. Olive Branch police plan to reclassify 2008’s only hate crimes. The Hernando Parks and Recreation Department will fight childhood obesity with HEAL. County Sheriff’s deputies don’t have radar in their cars?

Germantown: After criticism, the storm water fee change proposed for businesses and non-profit groups is being reconsidered.

Liberty Bowl: It’s Arkansas v. East Carolina.

Shelby County Clerk’s Office Investigation: Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons says more arrests may be coming.

Social Media Club: The Memphis chapter is hosting a Tweetup this Wednesday. It’s open to all investigating social media strategies and opportunities. In a somewhat related story, a pair of media professionals talk about getting your press release noticed.

Real Estate: During a hectic year, Goodwyn Condominiums have emerged an attractive property judging by the latest activity. The Canal Road Townhomes Development in Gulf Coast Alabama has two TN banks — Bank of Bartlett and Bank of Mason — fighting each other. The original, Eighties owners of the French Quarter Suites have bought back the hotel.

MLG&W: One employee was taken to the hospital after a strange odor led employees to call the Fire Department and later, HAZMAT officials. You can help specific people who can’t afford their utlity bills with the “Gift of Comfort”.

Metro Charter Commission: A look at the progress made at their third meeting from the Daily News.

Shelby County Commission: At today’s meeting, they are expected to fill Joe Ford’s vacancy. The meeting agenda is http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=46508, courtesy of the Daily News.

Fayette County: The Superintendent of County Schools, Myles Wilson, had his contract bought out Thursday night and is now out. More on why from WREG and Eyewitness News.

Memphis Animal Shelter: The controversy continues as some people are criticising the new interim officer supervisor, Demetria Hogan, for her criminal background. More from Eyewitness News. A look at the conditions inside the shelter before the raid and a link to the new consultant’s report.

Collierville: A profile of mayor Stan Joyner after his first year in office.

Education: A look at The Common Application, and its variants, used by many colleges and universities to speed the application process for students.

Overton Square: Even though developers Sooner Investment withdrew their site plan application from the Land Use Control Board last week, Sooner is now filing for a demolition approval for the Square.

Russell Wiseman: Flak for the Arlington mayor’s Facebook comment on A Charilie Brown Christmas and President Obama continues to roll in. More from Fox13, WMC, WREG, Eyewitness News.

GreenTech Automotive: The Memphis News tries to talk with the owner about progress and their plans for the $300 million automotive plant in MS. Some background on Tunica’s economy.

Business: The National Institutes of Health Library have become subscribers to Genomix’ GeneIndexer product. As their situation worsens, the sale of Luminetx is being considered. Hancock Fabrics reports increased net sales for 3Q.

A business profile of the Village Toymaker store in the Children’s Museum, from the Commercial Appeal. And, a business profile of Express Medical Transporters.

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

The Small Business Advocatesays brand value is better than brand sexiness.

Delta Air Lines: Their “system” traffic fell 7% in November.

Bartlett: A total of seven lawyers have now applied for the Division 2, Munipcal Court judge’s position.

University of Memphis: After an angry reader picked up and destroyed hundreds of copies of the school’s newspaper, the Daily Helmsman, but could not be punished for that, a move to create State-level punishments.

Millington: Town officials are revisiting regulations on cars parked in yards.

FirstWorks: This program, a pairing of Lakeland’s Fun Times Learning Center and St Paul United Methodist Church, helps several dozen needy families with all kinds of support.

Memphis Bar Association: They have elected both a new board of directors and new officers.

Mississippi: The mysterious manufacturing plant whose announcement was put on hold last month is still trying to get its financing in order. Raise Your Pints is a grass-roots movement to raise the alcohol limit in beers, to allow the sale of “gourmet” beers.

From the Commercial Appeal, Mississippi Outdoors.

Wendi C. Thomas: Strict discipline and college awareness are the watchwords at Freedom Prep. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: He argues that politics were at play in Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons’ decision to prosecute parents of repeatedly-truant school kids. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Jerome Wright: He compares and contrasts the two competing plans for Fairgrounds redevelopment and the Salvation Army’s part in it. (via the Commercial Appeal)

James Overstreet: Does the drop in the unemployment rate for last month signal an economic recovery? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphis News: The GreenTech automotive plant can be an opportunity for Tunica to show off to the world.

Memphis Daily News: A quick look at the local company behind The Blind Side.

Weeden Arts Watch: John’s mother has passed away. UrbanArt is seeking student art for its storefront space.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: Mothers, daughters and cancer.

Essays for Nobody: Thoughts on the news and a very good excuse for the blogging break!

Dining With Monkeys: Guest blogger Greg takes an out-of-town friend to The Kitchen at Brookhaven.

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: Jobs, not jail for the homeless.

bitter/books: Sad news about the downtown Salvation Army. The Bartlett Goodwill store seems to do odd things to Dave.

Barefoot in Memphis: A Thanksgiving catch-up and a green truck.

a field guide to urban memphis: Thoughts on Overton Square. Hippie nostalgia and the Rebel Jesus.

Love is a Movement: A new Thanksgiving tradition is started, and a couple of pics from the St Jude Marathon.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: The difficulty of working through recovery from an injury.

Mediaverse: Memphis: Some changes noted and discussed from the local news stations.

The Ominous Comma: Finding ways to divorce Christmas from the consumerist frenzy and make it personal and meaningful again.