“Dress for Success” CD: Dr “Dynamite” Dwight Montgomery of the SCLC talks about the surprise hit single from “King” Cash, “Cool” Cato and “Amazing A C”. A video is forthcoming!

MLG&W: About 1000 customers have now had utilities restored and outstanding bills forgiven. Including one family who owed nearly $7000! Also, at today’s board meeting, they will consider a wireless service contract with AT&T Mobility.

Skatelife Memphis: Plans for a new skatepark for Memphis are suddenly on hold after City Councilwoman Wanda Halbert blocks the site, blaming lack of notification. She responds in comments to this Commercial Appeal story. Skatelife Memphis website.

Memphis Police Association: The head of the police union, J. D. Sewell, has been relieved of duties pending a Memphis Police Department investigation of him.

The MED: On the eve of accepting his new job with The MED, Dr Reginald Coopwood called his former job “the best job I’ve ever had”. A major contract may be up for renewal by the Shelby County Commission, without competitive bidding. Shelby County Commissioner Mike Ritz has hard questions about the allocation of State funds and MED financing.

Memphis College of Art: More on their graduate program’s move Downtown and approval of financial incentives by the Center City Development Corporation.

Poverty: After yesterday’s Commercial Appeal story on poverty in Memphis, here is a similar story on poverty in Nashville for comparison. Mediaverse: Memphis has some thoughts on the Commercial Appeal’s reporting. The Brookings Institution report. Other stories on the report from Eyewitness News.

Tennessee: A German family is requesting asylum in America over home-schooling of their children.

Earthquakes: Remember Dr Iben Browning’s prediction of The Big One, back in 1990? A minor earthquake hit Powhatan, AR, yesterday afternoon.

Mississippi: Budget-cutting talks stall over putting Federal stimulus funds into the State’s general fund.

Monogram Food Solutions: Monogram’s changed plan for their new corporate HQ means their 15-year PILOT will now be for only 10 years says the Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board.

Business: Thomas & Betts has acquired JT Packard. PMC Biogenix has established a new technical center for developing new products. Target has filed a building permit to expand its Colonial store. A bit more on the closing of Dish.

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

West Tennessee: Property tax collections are running higher than usual in Dyer County. You also have more options to make payments this year. Also, home gas prices will be substantially lower this year. (all via the Dyersburg State Gazette) Customers of Atmos Energy should know that financial assistance is available. (via NWTN Today)

Harold Ford Jr: How defeatable is Senator Kirsten Gillibrand? She and Ford are now “sniping” at each other. According to Rasmussen, if Ford ran as an independent, he’d currently get about 10%. For some reason, New Yorkers compelled the TN Democratic Party to confirm that Ford is, in fact, a Democrat.

In town for a speech at Rhodes College, Karl Rove calls Ford “an articulate, attractive candidate who can sway crowds” and talks other political subjects. The Commercial Appeal also has the story.

Staff Sgt Daniel Merriweather: US Rep. Steve Cohen delivered comments honoring Merriweather, who died last week in Afghanistan, on the floor of the House. His funeral is set for noon Friday. More on funeral arrangements from the Commercial Appeal.

Fayette: Continuing fallout from the contract buyout and dismissal of former Fayette County school chief Myles Wilson as he is now suing in Federal court for “unlawful employment practices”. Some residents are still urging the County Board of Education to reverse its buyout. (both stories via the Oakland News)

Survey Says: Memphis has the 55th worst “peak hour congestion”. One in five Americans may not fill out their Census forms.

Arkansas: Lawmakers are recommending no raises for themselves or other elected officials. Dr Randeep Mann pleads “not guilty” in the Dr Trent Pierce carbombing case. The judge ruled there will be no retrial in the cases of Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, of the West Memphis Three; reactions and again. The director of the AR Lottery has revised his sales estimates. Three-quarters of Federal stimulus funds allocated for transportation and highways has been committed.

NEW! Main Street Journal: Commissioner Mike Ritz looks at The MED and offers some ideas on what to do.
 

State Education Reform: Governor Phil Bredesen’s higher education reform package does appear to be headed for a final vote today.

State Senator Brian Kelsey introduced legislation in the special session to start a pilot program for school choice. Does the reform legislation give the Commissioner of the Department of Education the power to take over failing school districts and appoint his own new head? Eight failing Memphis schools face a similar possible takeover. The University of Memphis’ Daily Helmsman reports on the research money dispute.

Tennessee’s application for “Race to the Top” funds can be found through here. And the official State announcement is here.

Memphis Fire Department: Questions about how convicted felon and criminal Lawrence Batiste got hired by the MFD.

Shelby County Commission: Talk of tightening zoning laws regarding strip clubs.

Interim Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford: More on his possible decision to run for the office when his partial term expires. And another story, from the Commercial Appeal.

Good Morning Memphis: Tax time is approaching and James McIngvale talks about changes. If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate with your kids, consider the Memphis Zoo.

The RISE Foundation: Their “Save Up” program has enabled fifty people to become homeowners by teaching money management skills.

Politics: Former State Rep. Phillip Pinion has dropped out of the Democratic primary in the Eighth Congressional District and is now endorsing Roy Herron. More from the Jackson Sun. Republican 8th District candidate Ron Kirkland is interviewed and profiled by The Messenger. And the Democrats have still not recruited a candidate in the Third District (Zach Wamp’s now-open seat.) with less than a year to go.

A former employee of the Secretary of State’s office, William Jay Reynolds, is suing claiming he was unfairly let go when Tre Hargett took over.

The Germantown Democratic Club is asking Governor Phil Bredesen to veto the bill passed last week that delays implementation of the Voter Confidence Act.

Tennessee Lottery: They are celebrating their sixth anniversary and touting the money they’ve given away and scholarships they’ve funded.

University of Memphis: A speech lab for students is due to open this Spring. The Daily Helmsman reports on the opening of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law downtown.

DeSoto County: The second in a series from the Desoto Times Tribune. This time, on the various county shelters and a planned television program. A related story on the Hernando shelter, from WMC. The Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organisation wants public comment on a planned extension of Houston Levee Road into Mississippi. Hernando Alderman Andrew Miller thinks proceeding with plans for curbside recycling is financially irresponsible. The DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority moved closer to building the Johnson Creek pump station.

St Jude Dream Home Giveaway: This year it is being sponsored by Brizo.

Haiti: Mid-South adoption agencies are being called about adopting Haitian orphans. Memphis musicians are holding a benefit concert this Saturday. COGIC will be sending teams and aid to Haiti as well.

Bartlett: More on the purchase of a rescue boat by the City’s Fire Department.

Commercial Appeal: Job cuts are scheduled to begin. The Memphis Newspaper Guild says nine jobs will be lost; the CA calls it 14. Mediaverse: Memphis has more. The CA’s business editor, James Overstreet is now the executive editor and associate publisher of the Memphis Daily News!

Millington: A new group, the West Tennessee Veterans Home Steering Committee, has set a goal of building a 150 bed, $24 million facility for longterm care of veterans in the city.

Association of Women Attorneys: The Daily News talks with incoming president Michele Howard-Flynn. Also, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law professor Janet L. Richards will be honored with the AWA Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award.

Real Estate: The commercial real estate sector, after a bad year, ended very well in December.

Midtown Stomp: Some wine, some friends… it’s all good.

Midtown Security Community: If you support much stricter gun laws for Tennessee, read up.

Persian Pit Bull: She finally gives in to… Facebook. But she still prefers blogging.

Pulled Before the Push: She’s looking back at some writings from important periods in her life and reviewing the last year’s life progress. A very personal and powerful post.

Radio Sweethearts: Matt’s wife is quite a bit more well-known than he is, and makes more money, and now he’s got a mild case of the breadwinner blues.

sharp stick in the eye: The first of (hopefully) a series of posts on their trip out west. In this installment: Arizona!

Smart City Memphis: Thoughts on tax “fairness”. A former news reporter wonders if watching local news skews your view of “reality”.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: Getting back on the fit train.

The Soundcheck and the Fury: Feeling wonder that the ineffable nature of music can be squished, via technology, into such small machines.

The Shelf Life: Chris Peck, the editor-in-chief of the Commercial Appeal, gives a short review of District Attorney Bill Gibbons’ book, No Surrender.

Student: Revisted: Lunch ladies, scarfs and George Clooney.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: After Scott Brown’s Massachusetts victory, Lang makes a pitch for the local Republican Party.

Love is a Movement: Freedom and the front porch.

The Author of Y’all’s Destruction: An Obama joke that you, well… have to be a fantasy fan to fully understand.

55-40 Memphis: Thoughts on micro-paying for online content from newspapers.

Commercial Appeal: They support the Memphis Research Consortium response to Govenror Bredesen’s higher education reform plan. After the “Massachusetts Miracle”, Congress should still pass health care reform, but with changes.

Newt Gingrich and Wayne Oliver: President Obama should live up to his campaign promise to keep the health care reform debate open and public. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Glenetta Dave: Misuse of child safety seats can be deadly. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She doesn’t much like Harold Ford Jr and lets you know he likes to cuss. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Because I Said So: Richard and his wife disagree on moustaches, so guess who wins? (via the Commercial Appeal)

I Love Memphis: Game 8 of the Breakfast Brackets is West St. Diner versus Miss Polly’s. Guess who was one of the Flyer’s “20 Under 30″?

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Thoguhts on transitioning back into triathon training.

Fertile Ground: A long and rather detailed story of a trip to the Peabody Hotel to watch the ducks.

Brain Release Valve: A rather mathematical look at the speed of information versus the speed of humans.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: Are you a woman interested in politics, or maybe running for office? Then you need to read about this workshop.