Unemployment: The Memphis metro unemployment rate rose to 11.3% in January. Shelby County’s rate was 11.4%. More reports from the Daily News, the Commercial Appeal.

Google Fiber Internet: You, yes you, can help bring Google’s project to Memphis by participating in a short survey or maybe even making a short video. More from WMC. Google’s website here.

Memphis City Schools: Parents want Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash to address a rape involving East High School students; related stories here and here. The incident cause some students to leave school. The Green Schools program trains and rewards students to monitor and correct teacher behavior in keeping electrical costs down. Most non-city students at Chimneyrock Elementary will end up at Macon-Hall Elementary next year. Board of education member Patrice Robinson doesn’t want any police forces in the schools.

In Nashville, school custodians are fighting job outsourcing, calling it a “Race to the Bottom”.

Memphis Fire Department: A triptych of Mayor Wharton, Osama Bin Laden and Hitler displayed at Fire Station 16 is being investigated. More from WMC and WREG.

NEW Playhouse on the Square: Beginning next weekend is FROST/NIXON with a special opening weekend rate. Playhouse website here. Press release here.

Music Commission: As part of Women’s History Month, they will honor nine Memphis musicians at a gala luncheon later this month, which will also fund a healthcare plan for local musicians. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Collierville: If you see smoke coming out of sewer pipes in your home or yard, it’s probably the City’s sewer cleaning company testing lines for leaks. Probably. The Collierville Chamber of Commerce voted Jimmy Lott their Person of the Year.

Politics: State Senator Mae Beavers suspends her campaign for mayor of Wilson County and decides to run for re-election instead, putting her head-to-head with already announced Republican Senate candidate State Representative Susan Lynn. Video of Beavers’ announcement. Lynn intends to stay in the race. The Lebanon Democrat had previously interviewed each. In making this move, Beavers may have lost $31,000 in previously collected donations; more in the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Rep. Stacey Campfield says it will be “all out war”. Vote in polls on who should drop which campaign. News reports from the Tennessean, the Nashville Scene and again. A bill by Memphis’ Rep. John DeBerry would remove the power of the state parties to decide their own primaries and elections and give that power to the Secretary of State.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey supports the “clarification” bill amending the “gun carry in restaurants” law. Ramsey also says he opposes two Bredesen tax increases. He has also named a “leadership team”. Pre-K funding discussed, from the Tennessean.

The TN Hospitality Association has come out strongly against the “clarification” bill, re: gun carry in restuarants. A bill would remove the ability of certain counties to “diminish or take away” the duties of a County sheriff.

US Rep. Jim Cooper is reportedly “undecided” on health care reform. Nashvillian David Briley plans to run for TN Democratic Party chairman Chip Forrester’s executive committee seat.

Memphis Police Department: The Learning Channel’s Police Women is coming to Memphis to film a season of that show here.

Consolidation: A more in-depth report of former Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith’s visit to the Metro Charter Commission.

Bartlett: A report from yesterday’s Bartlett Business Expo. Former CAO Jay Rainey was approved as a rehire for his old position.

American Airlines: They have rolled out paperless, mobile boarding passes at Memphis International.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center: They will be connected to the virtual private network which encompasses the whole UT system, to be developed by AT&T.

Southern Women’s Show: It begings today at the Agricenter. Official website here.
 
 
 

YMCA: A new public awareness campaign hopes to help them reach their $360,000 fundraising goal.

Germantown: Confusing and ill-communicated regulations on sidewalks are leading to citizen anger and inability to comply.

NEW! Main Street Journal: Senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan interviews County Commission candidate Chris Thomas in the first of an ongoing series on various County candidates.

The Regional Medical Center: Already OK’d by the state’s hospitals, Republican legislative leadership is also supporting a hospital “coverage fee”, just not a tax; more from the Commercial Appeal. New CEO Dr Reginald Coopwood says the hospital must get past its crisis mentality and think competitively. Federal officials say Mississippi can use Medicaid funds to reimburse The MED. The MED is paying $25,000 a month to four lobbyists, including Harold Ford Sr!

MLG&W: Smart grid technology already in use in Nashville has resulted in some much, much higher bills.

Memphis Animal Shelter: The Flyer profiles and interviews the new executive director, Matt Pepper. Also, in the month of April, dogs and cats can receive rabies shots from the annual Rabies Vaccination Clinics.

Downtown: The Horizon, once touted as a great thing for the Downtown, has now become a symbol of the Great Recession in the Memphis market.
 
 
 

Land Use Control Board: A report of actions taken at this week’s meeting.

IRS: A Memphis employee, Farrah Jones, has been indicted for filing false returns and stealing data.

Tennessee: March is ColoRectal Cancer Awareness Month. The State may start charging for rescues in State Parks. If you are travelling to the Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, be careful: the City’s speed cameras will be watching you. The State will borrow money from the Federal government to keep its unemployment fund solvent.

Small Business: The Small Business Council of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce had a social media program yesterday on adapting to the new internet. Tight credit is nearly crippling small business right now. SCORE Memphis will be hosting two small business loan workshops.

Business: More on the Schulz GMBH pipe manufacturing plant coming to Tunica. Medtronic is being investigated for its relationship with some cardiologists in Massachusetts.

A business profile of SeedCo, a non-profit working with disadvantaged families, in the Commercial Appeal.

From the CA, What to Do and People in Business.

TNInvestCo: A MarketWire press report on their first investment company: Innova.

David Kernell: Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who is the victim in the crimes allegedly committed by Kernell, will testify in the case. An Associated Press report.

DeSoto County: An “uptick” in new housing permits, especially in Hernando. An independent review gives good marks to County schools and may lead to an accreditation. More on the support for payments from the Mid-South Fair that Sheriff Mark Rasco is claiming the Attorney General’s opinion gives him. US Congressional leaders are pledging to get Federal money for the County’s wastewater system. (all stories via the DeSoto Times Tribune) More on the Mid-South Fair story, from Fox13.

Porter-Leath: They are seeking teams for their Gumbo Cook-Off at the 18th annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival which will be held in April.

Financial: First Horizon National Corporation will hold its annual stockholders meeting next month and a number of issues are in play.

Survey Says: BusinessWeek calls Atoka one of the best affordable suburbs. Trucking activity rebounded in February for the region.

Oakland: More on former policeman Joshua Smith, of the “magic badge”.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour restored $82 million in budget cuts. The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretative Center has received a $200,000 grant. A report on the current status of a number of bills in the State Legislature; the legislature is on a short “spring break” right now. Gun carry legislation has been drastically scaled back. ATVs are a nuisance to state farmers. One-third of state traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. Foreclosure notices are up 42%.

Hickory Ridge Mall: Workers are wrapping up the conversion into a World Overcomers Church vision of community revitalisation.

Real Estate: Memphis area foreclosure filings fell by nearly one-third in January. The Laurels condominiums, near the University of Memphis, are selling quickly; older, related Commercial Appeal story. Good new for residential builders in February. A judge issued a temporary injunction against the Memphis Area Association of Realtors, which had blocked Larry Mayall and First National Realty from the MLS database.

Speak to Power: Here’s a radical yet surprisingly simple suggestion for fundamental health care reform.

The Conservative Zone: Would you like to meet Mark? Well, he’ll be at Mid-South Con this weekend, so swing over and say hello.

Smart City Memphis: The lessons of the past are ignored as a new generation gets the same old con man’s pitch. Comments so good and thoughtful, they become their own post!

Secret Agent Mom: There is something to be said for the presence and tactility of a printed photograph.

Persian Pit Bull: A photo-report of their trip to Gus’ Fried Chicken in Mason.

North Mississippi Commenter: Is maybe the wisest course for Ole Miss to continue without a mascot?

MemphisConnect: Ten health habits that could help you live to 100.

Just A Girl in the World: She gets complexes over two things in life and one happens on Monday.

I’ll be the one in heels: Should she make her teenage son get a job?

From the Rainbows: Before they move away, one last trip to the Gold Strike to live it up.

Fore Left: How CNN reported the David Kernell hacking case.

Downtown Memphis Download: A report from last weekend’s Soup Sunday, with many pictures!

John Branston: He looks at the many competing interests and personalities and desires fighting over the Fairgrounds. (via the Flyer)

Brittany Jackson: The choice of college for high school seniors is often dictated by the financial aid available. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Ophelia Ford: The State Senator has a bill to move property tax replacement funds to the Center City Commission to be used downtown. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Renee S. Frazier: Preparing for your visit to the doctor can increase his quality of treatment. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Jackson Sun: The proposed tax on hotel/motel breakfasts is, in essence, double-dip taxation.

Frank Cagle: Candidates who own their businesses aren’t truly isolated by blind trusts from knowing how they’re doing. (via the Knoxville MetroPulse)

Commercial Appeal: Remembering with respect and honor the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots. Accusing Mayor A C Wharton of patronage and cronyism.

Ron Wade: The director of HopeWorks argues that helping ex-felons find meaningful jobs will help cut recidivism rates. (via the Commercial Appeal)

BackBeat: A visit to Coletta’s and a coupon you can use!

Bigger Than Your Head: The Italian wine tour heads to Monferrato and redemption.