Charles Carpenter: The former mayoral candidate and opponent of current Mayor A C Wharton had his law firm’s bond advising contract with the City terminated. Carpenter is claiming politics.

Arkansas: The Department of Education has cited 58 high schools for grade inflation; there are serious implications in the citation.

Mid-South Fair: More on the likely holdover of the Fair in Southaven later this year.

Memphis Police Department: More on the two year process to get applicants into the Memphis Police Academy.

Potholes: The cold weather is gone, but it left behind an annual problem.

Financial: First Tennessee Bank mortgage records were subpoenaed by the Federal Housing Administration.

Drug Market Intervention: A new program from the Shelby County District Attorney’s office, Memphis Police, and local churches and community groups, aims to catch low-level drug offenders and give them a “community intervention” aimed at ending their drug careers early. More from Eyewitness News, WMC and the Commercial Appeal.

BlueCross BlueShield: More on the stolen hard drives that may have compromised personal data for 220,000 BCBS customers.

Business: The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book for the Eighth District paints a “cautiously positive” outlook. Direct report link. Business and political leaders from the province of Manitoba, Canada, are in town to study our logistics, distribution and inland ports system. David Beré, the president and CSO of Dollar General stores, will retire at the end of the month.

A business profile of Aerospace Products International, from the CA.

What to Do and People in Business, from the Commercial Appeal.

D. Jack Smith: The Daily News interviews him on the occasion of his winning international recognition for his work in international marketing and direct selling industry law.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: The search committee expects to have a new chancellor hired by Summer.

DeSoto County: DeSoto is one of three MS counties chosen by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation to roll out the “Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities” program to fight childhood obesity and improve nutrition. The delayed renovation of the Wall’s Public Library is now underway.

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law: Hundreds of fresh young college faces is invigorating the Downtown scene as the new school opens this week. The Daily News on the history of the building, from its days as a Federal Courthouse to the modern incarnation.

SeniorBSafe: This is a new telephone hotline sponsored by Memphis CrimeStoppers for seniors to report problems and concerns in their neighborhoods.

West Tennessee: The number of waterfowl is on the rise, in various ways because of the cold. (via NWTN Today.com) Six people have been arrested and charged with TennCare fraud; more in the Daily News.

Le Bonheur Children’s Research Hospital: They are aggresively and ambitiously campaigning to get First Lady Michelle Obama to attend the opening (this Spring) of its new hospital.

The Madonna Circle: Their Antiques, Garden and Gourmet Show has been indefinitely postponed due to a lack of committed antique dealers.

Martin Luther King Day: The Commercial Appeal has a schedule of celebratory and commemorative events up.
 
 

Real Estate: Shelby County residential foreclosures were down 11% in 2009 but are expected to rise nationally. But, fourth quarter foreclosures went up. And the apartment/multifamily sector did well as investors seemed to snap up deals. The Land Use Control Board will consider an assisted living facility among other items on today’s agenda.

Haiti: The Better Business Bureau is warning people to be sure of the charities they want to donate to. The FBI is also issuing warnings. Agencies, groups, churches, individuals, etc. are mobilising to help out. Some Memphis missions are going back and some Memphis doctors believe we’ll have a role to play in treatment of the injured. Seismologists at the University of Memphis Earthquake Center are studying the data they’ve recorded. Germantown Presbyterian Church members just missed being in Haiti. Memphians with family ties in Haiti hope for word.

Whenever earthquake stories make the news, local news stations ask: “Is Memphis ready?”

MLG&W: Grizzly Zach Randolph is setting the example with the utility’s “Gift of Comfort” program, which helps restore power to people with overdue accounts. More from WREG.

Employment: Memphis has 6.4 applicants for every job opening.

The Wharton Administration: The City has contracted with Dynamic Security to replace police officers working at City Hall.

Memphis Fire Department: Paramedics now have new computer technology to help communicate with hospitals while patients are en route. The Memphis Fire Fighters Association, Local 1784, donated $40,000 to the burn unit at The MED.

Food Stamps: Students at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine are eating on a “food stamp” budget so they can learn sympathy and understanding of many of their future patients.

Politics: NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is now responding to all the hoopla about a possible Harold Ford Jr run against her. Is he avoiding the State party establishment? Harold Ford: New York City resident. Gawker wonders if the New York Times set up Ford in a “favorite sports team” question. The New York Observer looks into Ford’s New York money connections, little studied in 2006. New Yorkers see that Ford isn’t that liberal. Ford is now picking up some Latino support. Rev Al Sharpton warns that bullying Ford could create a “backlash”. The Commercial Appeal’s Bart Sullivan on Ford and the New York Times.

Another Tennessee liberal blogger is stunned by the Ford policy shifts.

The State’s tax revenues were down, below forecast, for the 19th consecutive month, over $54 million. Further reports from the Business Journal, the Daily News. More on Mark White’s victory Tuesday in the House District 83 race from the The Flyer’s Jackson Bakerand the Daily News.

Education Reform:A deal is brewed between Governor Phil Bredesen and the TN Education Association over his education reform legislation. The Commercial Appeal has more. The Senate Education Committee passes (12-0) a key part of the package. From the Knoxville News-Sentinel, a sampler of legislators and others react. Questions about negotiations between Bredesen and the TEA almost lead to blows. Bredesen’s opening remarks at the start of the legislative session. A short Q&A with Bredesen from the Nashville Scene. Working against a deadline.

Meanwhile, Memphians continue their protests that Bredesen’s plan short-changes Memphis colleges and universities. And the governor tells them to “bring me some ideas”.

National Tea Party Convention: The organisers have announced Sarah Palin’s speech will be open to reporters. A former supporter and early organiser of the TPN pens a long “whistleblower’s expose” that leads at least one backer — Eric Odom of the American Liberty Alliance — to withdraw. TPM Muckraker picks up the story.

Memphis Shelby Inform.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.

Germantown Performing Arts Center: Thanks to last year’s hit, Neil Berg will return to GPAC with 101 Years of Broadway later this month.

Mississippi: The State Senate votes to give Governor Haley Barbour additional budget cutting powers, but only for the current session; more in the Commercial Appeal. Governor Barbour has postponed his State of the State speech until Monday, January 18. The town of Walnut, in Tippah County, has passed its 3rd day without water.

Collierville: Sheriff Mark Luttrell speaks on County crime rates surrounding the city. A report from the most recent Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting. (via the Collierville Independent)

MidSouth Security Community: They are having a meeting tonight at Rhodes College.

MemphisConnect: Want a free tour of the Ghost River Brewery? And a reminder that the Midtown redevelopment crowd is having an open meeting to discuss a comprehensive design plan or “overlay” to guide future buildings.

Just A Girl in the World: Elizabeth wraps up her monumental novella on her New Year’s vacation in London.

Pretty in Pink Megan: She’s planning her one-year wedding anniversary vacation and wants some input on possible destinations.

Radio Sweethearts: When blogging becomes a chore, change focus slightly and alter your posting format.

Urf! Another option to consider? Maybe JP is The Flash.

The Chockley Blogs: Dinner at grandma’s house.

Student: Revisited: How she “does” sick.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Random student conversation in class.

Smart City Memphis: Why the fight over school funding is, in the long run, a good thing for Memphis. Why “Teach For America” is producing such great results.

Scribblescrawl: Let her photo mistake become your computer’s new wallpaper!

vibinc: Steve looks at the numerical basis for a new Metro legislative body for Shelby County.

VVixen: When government interferes with a woman’s private life.

Wendi C. Thomas: Pat Robertson: butt itch.

Commercial Appeal: Haiti desperately needs American help right now. Governor Bredesen’s perceived snub of Memphis universities in his presentation to the Legislature should be a wake-up call and boost to action.

Because I Said So: Charming Midtown homes often come with wintry drafts that must be endured. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She lauds an example of a two-faith marriage. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Jackson Baker: A lovely eulogy for Lauren Hesse. (via the Flyer)

Joe Spake: Things your burglar won’t tell you.

MemphisShelbyInform: Scofflaws owe the City $110 million in traffic fines.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: For her thirtieth birthday, she’s soliciting help in picking out a special dress.

Will Hicks: VHS v. Beta, Loopnet v. CoStar.

What is a Carbunkle Trumpet? This is probably not the kind of notice you write on the outside of an envelope….