Memphis Sports: The Grizzlies are ranked close to the bottom of NBA team worth. Their worth is also less than last year. But, the Autozone Liberty Bowl is the fifth most expensive ticket this bowl season!

Fitch Ratings: They have downgraded both First Horizon National Corp. and First Tennessee Bank to a ‘C’ rating, non-investment grade. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Second Amendment: DeSoto County Sheriff wants to ban discharging a weapon in county limits, although some DeSoto cities also have their own laws. Further reports from Fox13. Also, a Memphis pastor will swap groceries for weapons on December 31st.

MLG&W: Millions of dollars in electricity being stolen in dangerous thefts. The utility is also continuing to warn customers about various scams.

ARKANSAS: Surprise! Your community really does have a police department. Backers of the successful lottery measure are nearly $60,000 in debt.

Delta Air Lines: They will be changing their SkyMiles program into a tiered rewards system. This will apply to transferred Northwest rewards, too.

Memphis City Council: Chairman Myron Lowery, acting on a request from Councilman Harold Collins, has tasked a sub-committee to find ways to recruit and deploy more police to the streets. A look from the Daily News into the issues behind the ‘payday lender’ problem in Memphis.

Lenny’s: Local chain’s founder has passed away in Texas.

Humane Society University: They are sending their Disaster Animal Response Team to train Memphians “to be effective emergency animal relief responders.”

Volunter Memphis: They award PAETEC their Corporate Neighbor of the Year honor.

Big Foot Lodge: Now past a copyright infringement suit, they are looking for a second location!

TennCare: The AmeriChoice - Methodist LeBonheur deal is apparently rather tentative.

Downtown: Early approval for the American Cancer Society Harrah’s Hope Lodge.

Lakeland: City will get weekly pickups with higher fees.

Bartlett: Police suggest you stay off Stage Road for Saturday’s parage. Also, they will be stepping up ’stealth patrols’ for the holidays.

DeSoto County: Course offered to teach exploding non-English speaking population the language.

Emergency Dispatch Center: 911 District board accepts challenge to fund half of a new facility, if City and County will fund the other half.

Collierville: Sadly, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, a 135-year old church started by slaves, will be torn down.

Holiday Parades: A schedule of some upcoming events.

St. Jude Marathon: Be prepared. It’s tomorrow and record crowds and runners will screw up Downtown and Midtown traffic all day.

BUSINESS: Fred’s reports lower November sales for 2008; more from the Daily News. Panera Bread is coming to Memphis — December 9th. Another report, this from the Tri-State Defender, on last week’s Memphis Economic Summit. A Southaven business finally recovers from last February’s tragic tornado; similar story from the CA.

Some advice on saving your home if you’ve had a brush with foreclosure.

Contents of Tunica Cabaret finally auctioned off.

Having sold its old building, Entercom is ready to move to new accomodations. J. R. “Pitt” Hyde ups his shares in GTx by 25,000 shares.

E. W. Scripps: Newspaper chain, which also owns the Commercial Appeal, is selling its Denver paper, the Rocky Mountain News. More from WMC. In a related story, AbitibiBowater, the nation’s largest newsprint maker, is closing plants (including one in Covington) and laying off up to 1100 people.

Memphis Area Home Builders Association: Incoming president, Stephen Hodgkins, facing lots of challenges in the coming year.
 

Memphis City Schools: Beginning in January, the system will offer ‘overage academies’ for students a year or more older than grade average.

National Civil Rights Museum: A January exhibition titled ‘Freedom’s Sisters’ will honor the women of the Civil Rights movement.

Foreclosure: It’s only an idea still, but are the City and County about to start lawsuits against mortgage companies?

MISSISSIPPI: State is facing a teacher shortage. More from the CA. Also, is the Entergy lawsuit a ‘turf war’?

Survey Says!: Study from the United Health Foundation ranks TN near the bottom in health. More from the Daily News.

University of Memphis: They have just filed a $2.7 million permit for renovations of the baseball stadium. Also, 125 employees agree to buy-out program.

Army Corps of Engineers: Union says the Corps is union-busting with 100 Federal jobs.

Hope Fellowship Church: A talk with Pastor Ricky Williams on building a church committed to its community.

Germantown: Mayor Goldsworthy taken to hospital with chest pains. City’s greenbelt cameras getting good reviews so far.

Shelby County Schools: Officials are revisiting the dress code.

a field guide to urban memphis: A serious review with the local author of a new book on ‘heterochronicity’.

Brain Release Valve: Very creepy caterpillar web photos and a horrific tale of a real place.

Radio Sweethearts: Having a hard time finding the good news on NPR.

Fertile Ground: From grandma to teenybopper in one Target shopping trip. Also, teaching her kids to be Secret Santas without blowing the real Santa’s cover!

Citizens to Preserve Overton Park: A quiz! Guess what caused the tree scars.

Fore Left!: A. C. questions a CNN poll, then thoughts on Cuba, Iran, Jimmy Carter and spies.

John Branston: He comically explains the Federal bailout.

I Am Not My Hair: Gift ideas for men and how songs spark memory.

Memphis Flyer: Obama’s victory didn’t herald in the post-racial era after all, at least in Memphis.

Mick Wright: Do you have a favorite MW blog post or comment from 2008? He’s opened up the nominations.

Too Lazy to Fail: Cats on psychedelics (it’s OK) and he’s sorta famous!

Life as I know it from Memphis: Pictures and stories of fireplaces, Uggs and homeless shelters, then an unpleasant surprise at a Downtown restaurant!

Mary Cashiola: Thoughts on amending wine sale laws.

Commercial Appeal: Applauding the City Council sub-committee to explore police recruitment.