Memphis City Government: No pay raises this year for City employees. Unions won’t press the issue; more here. Lawyers and Democratic activists Karl Schledwitz and David Cocke are suing the City for collecting fees and charges on delinquent tax payments; the fees are assessed by a Texas company — Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Simpson — hired to collect the taxes.

Health Care Reform: Dr Manoj Jain on how health care reform will affect you. Legislators in Nashville are awaiting the bill. Mid-South reactions and more reactions; also, critics and supporters. More reactions from the Daily News. “Thrills and disappointments”, from the Commercial Appeal. Governor Phil Bredesen sends his congratulations and warns of “challenges”. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey is urging a court challenge.

Easter: If you want somewhere special to go for lunch, eight State Parks will open their restaurants on Easter Sunday.

Mid-South Food Bank: Thanks to the Great Recession, the need is greater than ever and they now serve counties all across West Tennessee.

Arkansas: Governor Mike Beebe isn’t a supporter of health care reform, even though a Democrat, and he worries about the cost.

Memphis Business Group on Health: They have worked with local governments and hospitals to increase the spread of information about health care, and help with improving it.

Memphis City Schools: The school board voted to change bus companies to an out-of-state firm; further information from the Commercial Appeal. Fox13 background story. Administrators are threatening cuts to charter schools if the City doesn’t come through with promised court-challenged funds.

Business: The Federal Reserve’s Burgundy Book for Memphis shows the manufacturing sector made gains, but most other sectors of the local economy did poorly. Federal Reserve website here.

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

Emerging 200: Although turnout for Monday’s event was “dismal”, they are still committed to filling all fifteen slots in this year’s program for entrepreneurs.

Memphis and Shelby County Health Department: Although they applied for Federal “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” grants, we were not accepted.

Financial: An analyst has downgraded shares of First Horizon Naitonal Corporation from “buy” to “hold”. Shares of Regions and SunTrust banks are farthest above their 50-day moving average right now.

MPACT Memphis: Their annual fundraiser garnered $37,000 for a three-part non-partisan project for young professionals.

Downtown Farmers Market: Located at Central Station, they open their 2010 season on April 17.
 
 

Mississippi: Two black troopers who were fired last year are claiming racial discrimination by the Col. Michael Berthay, head of the Highway Patrol; more in the CA. Will the legislative session be extended; most likely? Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant wants MS to join the group of States promising to challenge the constitutionality of health care reform; Governor Haley Barbour too. Officials are awaiting word on Medicaid funding.

Agriculture: Cotton production in the Mid-South has dropped 53% as farmers switch to the more profitable corn.

Survey Says: International Paper was rated one of the most ethical companies in the world. According to Symantec, Memphis is not a cybercrime hotspot. Local gas prices rose more than 3 cents/gallon last week.

FedEx: The Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill, minus language that makes unionisation at FedEx easier; reconciliation with the House bill comes next.

Real Estate: Contracts for future commercial construction continue their 2010 plummet. Mercer Capital Management is making their move to the Clark Tower at the end of the month. Elliot Eisenberg, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders, spoke last week about the impact of single-family housing in the local market. Roebuck Auctions’ headquarters was sold back to the bank at a foreclosure auction; more at the Commercial Appeal.

NEW! Main Street Journal: Jonathan Devin takes us inside The Grove as Faith Baptist goes to camp.

Tax Season: The IRS is hosting an open house on Saturday to answer questions from and offer assistance to taxpayers.

Consolidation: A short report on a Rebuild Government house meeting. Rebuild Government website here. Former Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith is still working with the Metro Charter Commission thanks to funding from Rebuild Government.

Memphis Fire Department: Eyewitness News continues to dig and uncovers new allegations of wasteful spending and bad management.

Crime: The Mid-South Junior Golf Association’s First Tee program has been hit by scrap metal thieves.

Kroc Center: Stories on yesterday’s groundbreaking, from Fox13. More from Eyewitness News, WREG, the Daily News.

Memphis Animal Shelter: The former supervisor and veterinarian both appeared in court Monday to answer charges against them; more in the Commercial Appeal. The attorney for one, Tina Quattlebaum, says she’s not guilty. Current director Matthew Pepper talks with Live at 9 about what’s happening now.

DeSoto County: State plans to put some funds away, instead of into the school systems, is decried by County Superintendent of Education Milton Kuykendall. The County school board has revised their layoff policy. Hernando’s Cedar Hill Farm is applying for a liquor license. Also, the Hernando Farmers Market hosts a vegetable workshop on Friday. Southaven wants to apply for Federal funds for a community shelter. The DeSoto County Soil and Water Conservation District are your go-to guys for soil erosion problems.

Politics: A bill that some argue would politicise county election administrators has been put on indefinte hold. The House passed a bill that bans the sale of urine in some situations. The legislator responsible for pulling the bill to renew the TN Wildlife Resources Agency was Rep. Susan Lynn, who blamed other politicians. A roundup of legislative action on Monday, from the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

The Swing State Project ranks all the US House seats by “safe / lean / likely / toss up”. All candidates for the 6th Congressional District will participate in a debate being hosted by two district tea parties. The “TN Health Freedom Act” is getting new impetus after yesterday’s health care vote. The TN Center for Policy Research is also calling for its passage. State Democrats says they’ll oppose it.

Republican gubernatorial candidate and Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey is calling for the TN Attorney General to join the other States planning a consititutional challenge to health care reform; more here. Republican Zach Wamp says childhood education is key to adult success; his protest sign-making skills are noted on Capitol Hill.

Governor Phil Bredesen says he was against the health care bill. Official statement here. Why Rep. Jim Cooper voted “yes”.

Congressmen Steve Cohen in the Ninth and John Tanner in the Eighth are lining up big earmarks for West Tennessee and Shelby county. Rep. Marsha Blackburn declines them on principle.

TN Eighth District: US Rep. John Tanner released a statement on his health care vote Sunday. “Last Democrat standing” Roy Herron comments on the withdrawal of the other Democrat, Luther Mercer II. The Republican candidates release statements on health care reform. News from the campaign trail near Jackson.

Oakland: “Miracle badge” ex-cop Joshua Smith turned himself in and faces three charges stemming from his claim. Police chief says it “never happeded”. More from Eyewitness News, WMC, the Commercial Appeal.
 

Tennessee: Governments across the state are considering all sorts of ways to increase tax revenues this coming year. Larry Coleman, who unsuccessfully sued to access certain TNInvestco documents about company selection, is now filing an appeal. Hunters across the state donated more than 100,000 pounds of ground venison to the hungry and needy last year.

Just A Girl in the World: Big plans for her birthday yesterday.

Left Wing Cracker: Chastising John Tanner for his “no” vote and bringing up scurrilous stories and allegations from his past.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: One conservative woman’s actual experiences in health care.

Jeff Teague: The president and CEO of Planned Parenthood for Middle and East Tennessee says his organisation is not targetting African-American communities. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Commercial Appeal: Helping homeowners get mediation instead of foreclosure. They support allowing cars less than four years old to bypass emissions inspections.

A Right Perspective: Gangs in schools undermine everything we work for with kids. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chick Chat: A new South Africa is still emerging. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Smart City Memphis: Support for Mayor Wharton’s Office of Talent and Human Capital. Thoughts on the Memphis that’s left behind.

Sassy Molassy: Pictures and the kind of beauty that moves.

Pretty in Pink Megan: She’s changing her mind about shorts.

Memphis Matters: The Playback that almost wasn’t.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: How you can help the needy.

MemphisConnect: More on St George’s Educational Symposium this weekend.

MemphisShelbyInform: Some suggestions for the 2011 Memphis City budget.

I’ll be the one in heels: How the health care bill affects her.