Shelby County Commission: At today’s meeting, they will select commission and legislative replacements among other business; more from Fox13. Meeting agenda here, courtesy of the Daily News. D’Army Bailey won’t back widow Johnnie Turner for the State House District 85 seat, but her opponent.

MATA: Local and Federal elected officials met with the board to discuss financial needs.

Cold Weather: Broken pipes keep MLG&W busy; more on frozen/bursting pipes from WREG, WMC and Fox13 and the Commercial Appeal. A local volunteer group handed out blankets at AutoZone Park on Sunday; more from WREG, WMC, Eyewitness News. WREG reports on uncovering the folks who have lived up to years without MLG&W power. Embracing the deep freeze. How the cold weather affects school attendance.

Downtown’s “homeless warming tent” will come down today. More on the tents (a second one was opened over the weekend) from Fox13.

Memphis City Schools: Rappers Cool Cato, King Cash, Dynamite Dwight and Amazing A C (ie. A C Wharton, Dr Kriner Cash, Cato Johnson and Dwight Montgomery) recorded a rap single titled You Got to Dress for Success to motivate kids to dress for business.

Politics: The “Tea Party protest” movement gains its first TN candidate as Donn Janes decides not to run for the Republican nomination in the US House 8th District, but as an independent aligned with the “Tea Party”.

The State Funding Board’s decision to use a lower estimate of tax revenues was made in secret. A State legislator is considering an amnesty for unpaid traffic violations.

In a Nashville campaign appearance, Republican candidate Bill Gibbons presented a plan for government accountability and performance. Former governor Don Sundquist offers advice to Republicans. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam’s hunting license snafu has been cleared up.

Harold Ford’s spokesman: He won’t be “bullied or intimidated” into a decision on a New York Senate run. The NY Post looks at his possible spoiler role.

The Commercial Appeal has short profiles of the 3 candidates for the State District 83 seat. And, they profile the upcoming election seasons. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker has a rather pained explanation for Guthrie Castle’s non-appearance at a recent public forum for candidates in State House District 83.

Ninth District Rep. Steve Cohen will be the featured speaker at a pro-marijuana legalisation fundraiser.

Tennessee: The TN Education Association agrees to 35% of teacher evaluations being based on students’ performance on standardised test scores, a concession. Governor Phil Bredesen is finishing up his budget proposal. The State’s start-up West TN capital fund, Innova Fund II, has raised $14 million. A study claims the State didn’t receive a “fair share” of Federal stimulus funds, but did better than other states with what it received. A look, from the Memphis News, at the education reform program Race to the Top which Governor Phil Bredesen has committed the State to. A short interview with Bartlett’s State legislator Jim Coley on education reform. More, from the Commercial Appeal.

Blue Cross / Blue Shield: The company is only now contacting customers whose personal data was potentially breached when hard drives were stolen… in October?

Collierville: Although the water surcharge isn’t likely to pass the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, water will still cost more. A seminar this afternoon will look at Franklin as a model for “walkable, vibrant streetscapes”.

Agriculture: Oddly enough, the cold snap may help some fruit farmers.
 
 

Forest Hill Funeral Home: Robert Nelms, one of the principals charged in the case, has been sentenced, following a plea agreement.

Survey Says: TN was rated the 13th best state for small business. Wholesale inventories and sales made strong gains in November. Gas prices nationwide have risen 14 cents/gallon.

Arkansas: The State’s Martin Luther King Commission is missing $22,000, according to auditors. The budget session for this year’s Legislature could be very, very ugly. Higher education chief wants assurances that remedial-class graduates are ready for college work.

Sanitation Workers: Unionised City sanitation workers are refusing to pick up in the very cold weather. The City and union are in arbitration talks this week.

The Regional Medical Center: Thanks to the County’s infusion of $10 million, threatened cutbacks will be withheld.

Tax Season: The IRS is hosting a free business workshop this Thursday, for businesses encountering taxes for the first time.

Project SAFEWAYS: A new Federally funded approach to nighborhood crime fighting involves, police, the DA, property owners, neighborhood associations, surveillance, a sign and more.

Juvenile Court: The Federal Department of Justice completed an on-site review of practices and conditions at the Court. A report will be issued at some point later in the year.

DeSoto County: The Commercial Appeal take s a look at Democrat Travis Childers and Republican Alan Nunnelee, running for the US First District seat. Aerial photos of the county will soon be available to the public. Many public officials have been granted “state of emergency” purchasing powers. So-called “bandit signs” are now outlawed in Southaven. Also, this year’s Southern Lights display was way off in attendance and fundraising. Hernando plans to “get more aggressive” in marketing itself. Olive Branch is aggresively promoting its social media and texting crime tipster capabilities. A $2.1 million MS grant will help fight flooding in the Autumn Woods area of Southaven.

Real Estate: The Memphis Area Association of Realtors believe the stage is set for a better local home sales. 4Q/2009 shows first rise in home sales in 3 years.

Playhouse on the Square: A series of events kicked off the opening weekend for the new facility.

Mid-South Men’s Forum: This public forum, to get African-American men to lead their lives, families and communities drew about 150. A pre-forum report from Fox13.

Free Flow Power: A company that proposes to use turbines to harness the powerful currents of the Mississippi River is hoping to do a study that would address many of the concerns and questions of locals.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour will give his State of the State speech on Tuesday. Clarksdale legislator John Mayo is serious about a tax on sugary soft drinks.

From the Commercial Appeal, Mississippi Outdoors — the hunting, fishing and wildlife news.

Center City Commission: They launched their search for a replacement for outgoing president Jeff Sanford. The Flyer’s John Branston interviews Sanford.

University of Memphis Cecil B. Humphreys School of Law: It opens for students today.

Unemployment: The nation’s unemployment rate held at 10% in November.

Business: The November SurveyMemphis shows general caution in outlook for small Memphis businesses. Businesses absorb the costs of the convenience of using a credit card.

UPS will cut 1800 jobs nationwide. More from the Business Journal. Foot Locker, which has six Memphis stores, will close 120 nationwide.

A business profile of Worlds Away, from the Daily News.

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

The Small Business Advocate, writing in the CA, warns readers to still “operate for survival”.

Financial: Board member James Graham of Cadence Financial has stepped down over possibility of selling bank.

Commercial Appeal: Along with First Tennessee Bank, they are sponsoring a financial literacy essay contest with area school kids.

Previously Posted: DVD distributor Technicolor will lay off 105. More on the nearly $3 million grant to the Memphis Bioworks Foundation for “green job training”.

Millington: From the Millington Star, part two of their Year in Review.

Joy’s Life and Times: Learning to like cold weather marathon training.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: What adults say isn’t always what kids hear.

Left Wing Cracker: Steve is, understandably, taking a short blogging break, but he’ll be back.

Commercial Appeal: Memphians aren’t accustomed to cold, so we should look out for each other. Mayor A C Wharton’s lustre on ethics gets dimmed. The paper deliberately micharacterises and describes the last Legislature’s efforts on gun laws, then advocates for more gun controls via the govenor’s office. Unsurprisingly, the paper comes down on both sides of the decade debate. Consumer electronics should not distract drivers.

The daily asks (via the Tennessee Newspaper Network) all the major, declared candidates (Democrat and Republican) for governor nine questions about the State’s gun laws.

Richard Locker: He provides an overview of the candidates’ responses. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: Mayor A C Wharton sets a tone of open government — warts, mistakes, bad judgment and all. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: Even though The MED’s problems are government-created and government controlled, it should follow St Jude’s example and focus on heart-wrenching stories? (via the Commercial Appeal)

John DeBerry: The Democratic State Representative provides a Democratic view of the upcoming 106th session of the Legislature. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Mark Norris: The Republican State Senator provides a Republican view of the upcoming 196th session of the Legislature. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She talks about Common Ground and its work to overcome racism. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphis News: Great hopes for real education reform in Tennessee.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Cafe Eclectic is opening a branch on Harbor Town. Can someone explain his obsession with the Nuh-Uh Girl?

Smart City Memphis: The mentality that leads to an I-269. Some thoughts on urban planning and the river city.

Shane of Memphis: His first memory.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: He rants on unprotested violence by women against men.

Akiddo: Restarting the blog in a new year. And maybe trying to post once a week.

55-40 Memphis: Overheard at Mayor Wharton’s speech to the Kiwanis Club.

Blue Collar Republican: A report from Donn Janes’ announcement that he’s going to run in the 8th District as a “Tea Party” candidate. And a tale of some recalcitrant cops out of full uniform.

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: If you would like to help Memphis’ homeless, Brad is organising a donation of sleeping bags and needs your help.

From the Rainbows: A fairly momentous weekend, on the health and diagnosis fronts.

Mediaverse: He parses the language on Willie Herenton’s Congressional campaign kickoff.

Notes from Memphis: She shares the plans for the new Confederate Park and the pedestrian walkway.

The Intersection of Madness and Reality: Paul Mooney and “the new black”.

theology & geometry: Recognising her mistakes from last year and wanting not to repeat them this year.

What is a Carbunkle Trumpet? A photo tour of some incredible Memphis music.

Xspectre8: A very complex and saddening post on dog training, personal health and recovery and much more. A must read for dog lovers.