Election Day: Today is Election Day if you live in State House District 83, where voters will choose between Republican Mark White (press release), Democrat Guthrie Castle, and independent John Andrueccetti.

Memphis Animal Shelter: They are closed a few days this week so staff can receive training on new systems to deal with previous problems. And now Mayor A C Wharton is facing threats from animal “lovers”.

Memphis Police Department: Four recruits have been fired from the Police Academy since September, on a variety of charges. Former police officer Bridges McRae is on trial this week in the beating of transgendered prostitute Duanna Johnson.

Memphis Union Mission: The cold weather meant increased donations to the shelter.

MemphisShelbyInform.com: Main Street Journal contributor and the Memphis/Shelby Watchdog Joe Saino is starting the website as a volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan expansion of his government watchdog activities. Website here and press release here.

Shelby County Commission: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker with an early-Monday report on the day’s Commission meeting. Johnnie Turner will finish out her husband’s term in the State House; more from Eyewitness News, WMC, the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. And John Pellicciotti will finish out Matt Kuhn’s District 4, Position 3 term; more from the CA.

Commissioner Henri Brooks was presented the Rosa Parks Award on Sunday.

The Commission also approved another $50,000 for the tire redemption program. City Council approval is required next.

Mid-South Fair: They appear to be headed back to Southaven for the 2010 fair.
 

Arkansas: The City of Turrell continues without an operating budget.

Sanitation Workers: Almost one-third of the City’s sanitation work force didn’t work Friday but got paid for it, citing a cold weather clause in their contract. More from WMC and the Commercial Appeal.

Business: Lakes Entertainment is partnering with a MS firm to develop a new casino in Tunica; more from Eyewitness News, WMC and the CA.

A business profile of Cool Chicks Coffee Company, from the Commercial Appeal.
What to Do, from the CA.

Pinnacle: An analyst expects the airline to miss its 4Q earnings in a report next week.

Delta Air Lines: They are raising checked bag fees.

Mid-South Eye Bank: They have moved their offices to the campus of UT Health Science Center.

Madison Avenue: Councilman Shea Flinn is proposing to shut down Madison from Front to Cooper on Sundays from 5 AM until noon, to create an “urban trail” for hikers, walkers and bikers.

DeSoto County: Unkempt lots and presentations from the United Way were topics of discussion at the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting. The Southaven Police Department is accepting applications for the next Citizens Police Academy, in late February. (stories via the Desoto Times Tribune) More on the grant to fix flooding problems at Autumn Woods subdivision in Southaven; and still more from WREG. A re-airing of an episode of America’s Most Wanted is generating tips on the unsolved shootings of two Olive Branch police officers.

Survey Says: Gasoline prices are at their highest in 15 months.

Publisher and Editor in Chief Jonathan Lindberg holds his nose to look into the health care reform political process.

Homeless Warming Tents: The tents set up downtown this weekend cost around $10,000. More reports from WMC, WREG.

MLG&W: Beginning Thursday, their “cold weather moratorium” on power cut-offs will end.

Memphis City Council: Courtesy of the Daily News, the agenda for today’s meeting. The meeting is expected to be “brisk”. The Council will vote on the “30-10-10″ plan to give funds to the City schools.

University of Memphis: Finance professor Ronald Spahr argues that the high US corporate tax rate is holding us back.

Memphis City Schools: A majority of the School Board is in favor of a separate police force for City schools.

Politics: Donn Janes’ jump from Republican primary to “Tea Party candidate” in the 8th District race was prompted by the National Republican Congressional Committee. A Democrat has now entered the race for Zach Wamp’s 3rd Congressional District seat, Brad Parish.

NY Governor David Paterson suggests Harold Ford Jr “look for another state” to run in, based on his abortion view. Ford says, “I’m a New Yorker. I’m a New Yorker.” The White House shuns him, backs Gillabrand. Ford has also now finessed his position on gay marriage into an affirmative. TN’s liberal blogosphere doesn’t spare the criticism.

Before the special education session in the Assembly begins, one of a handful of bills to be voted on is to delay implementation of the TN Voter Confidence Act. Two of Governor Phil Bredesen’s bills on education reform have been unveiled and the Legislature reacts and wants more information. Links to the text of both bills. Bredesen talks about the political atmospheres in Nashville and Washington.

Tea Party Convention: Next month’s first national meeting of “tea party” protesters will be closed to the press. Website here.

Real Estate: Memphis home prices could rise 1% in 2010. Peabody Place Hotel Company has sold their Hampton Inn & Suites Memphis Beale Street to Fairwood Capital.

Mississippi: County District Attorneys say budget cuts could lead to inmate release before trials. The Legislature is considering stricter penalties for passing school busses; more in the CA. The State Senate agrees to give Governor Haley Barbour more flexibility in budget cuts. He will give his State of the State speech on Thursday. The Associated Press looks at how Governor Barbour is balancing his office with his duties in the Republican Party.

H1N1 Virus: After last Fall’s big scares and shortages, did government make too many doses after all?

Mortgages: The slight uptick in mortgage activity at year’s end didn’t make up for a “dismal” 2009.

Woodgrove Subdivision: The developer of this Collierville project is confident of success.

AT&T: They invested $28 million over the past two years to improve their wireless network in Memphis. More in the Commercial Appeal

Medical Education and Research Institute: They have received accreditation from the American Association of Tissue Banks.

Memphis Drum Shop: Following a December fundraiser, they donated $10,000 to the Kroc Center scholarship fund.

Willie Herenton: He will formally launch his campaign for the Ninth Congressional District seat on Saturday, February 6.
 
 
 

Tennessee: Counties are resisting pressures from the State to assume part of the costs of juvenile detention. TVA set records last week for energy usage. The TN Wildlife Resources Agency has unveiled a new website. If the auto industry turns around enough, GM might reopen their Spring Hill plant.

Bless the Printing Press: It’s all the spaces in your life where your best, furry, friend used to be….

Dining With Monkeys: A review of Overton Park Pizze Stone.

Grand Divisions: GLBTs need to find something more constructive than hatin’ on Harold.

I’ll be the one in heels: Some regrets, many photography-based. Vacation planning goes blooey.

Jen-sized: She shares a fitness secret some of you can use.

Just A Girl in the World: The epic trip to London continues with Part the Second, Part the Third (New Year’s Eve), and Part the Fourth (New Year’s Day).

MAKE IT HAPPEN: The Shelby Angel story may have a happy resolution coming.

MemphisConnect: A quick profile of Christian preacher and activist Shane Claiborne.

Oval Soul Journey: The potential boyfriend passes the important dog test.

Pretty in Pink Megan: She goes for it and makes a Mardi Gras King Cake.

Pulled Before the Push: Sarah captures a strange, maybe supernatural moment in her backyard.

Vegan Crunk: One of the side effects of her cleansing diet is caffeine withdrawal. And, how she calms her sweet tooth when sugar is off the menu.

The Soundcheck and the Fury: Bob Dylan and his bodyguards.

The Chockley Blogs: Mother and daughter matching aprons. Joy!

Smart City Memphis: Convenience may kill your favorite liquor store. How many resembles some Rust Belt cities. A case for Fisherville.

short + rose: On hats and cakes and staying warm.

sharp stick in the eye: Gone over to the fashion dark side.

Shane of Memphis: Trading “forever” for “for now”.

Scribblescrawl: A progress report after Week One of Project 2010. And, she’s “making” a cookbook. It’s 1997?

Commercial Appeal: Skepticism over the City sanitation workers taking a cold weather day. Clearing Madison Avenue of traffic on Sunday morning is “innovation”.

Chick Chat: Just being there is often all it takes. (via the Commercial Appeal)

A Right Perspective: Rights to diversity must go both ways. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: As the 2010 Census begins, some useful warnings and advice.