Crime: Security theater in Memphis this week, courtesy of the Transportation Security Administration; more in the Commercial Appeal. The Memphis Police Department is rolling out their new auto license scanner, which looks up the name of the registered driver in the police database. Eyewitness News also got a ride-along.

The Wharton Administration: Commissioner Joe Ford thinks fellow Commissioner Mike Carpenter is headed to City Hall as A C Wharton’s CAO.

Shelby County Juvenile Court: The Department of Children’s Services isn’t locking up violent juvenile offenders, who are escaping custody and committing more crimes, reports WREG. Another, similar, story.

DeSoto County: The new Visitors Center is open, and drew a crowd. Because of citizens waiting to the last minute to pay property taxes, the City of Olive Branch needs three million dollars to keep functioning. The County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the funds for “final site analysis” of the new County jail. Did substitute teacher, hired from a temp service agency and now charged with sexual battery of students, escape background checks? The State Division of Planning will recommend a “certificate of need” for the Olive Branch LeBonheur hospital. Southaven began the process to issue $6 million in bonds for new sewer lines. The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen voted to extend alcohol service hours; State approval comes next. A Horn Lake business had the kibosh put on a promotional plan.

Willie Herenton: Former City Attorney Elbert Jefferson was called into the Federal grand jury investigation.

Politics: Harold Ford Jr, speaking as senior policy advisor to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, predicts a second stimulus package. Bill Frist’s education reform group SCORE will present a “legislative agenda” for next year’s session of the General Assembly and host a gubernatorial debate in January.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam will be in Memphis on Thursday to meet with the press. Democratic candidate Mike McWherter is touting a real poll showing him doing well. Republican State Senator Jim Tracy may run against “Blue Dog” Democrat US Rep. Bart Gordon in 2010.

A report from the Obion County Democratic Party Truman Day dinner. (via NWTN Today.coml) A letter is going out from our General Assembly to the Legislatures of every other State to ask them to join the “sovereignty” movement.

Bizarre results from the Federal Recovery.gov site claiming TN has seven more Congressional districts than reality and they spent more than $50 million between them, somehow.

Gibson Guitars: Police raided a Gibson manufacturing plant in Nashville on suspicion of using illegally imported rosewood.

Libertyland: Conflicting claims about what’s being done with the Zippin Pippin.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour’s proposal to merge some State-funded university is being killed as it arrives. Entergy customers could see their Winter utility bills cut by up to ten percent! The government of Hinds County is borrowing $6 million to cover expenses for the last three months of their fiscal year.

University of Memphis: President Shirley Raines and faculty are trying to craft a policy that punishes students who throw away student newspapers. The American Humanics Student Association is hosting a book drive. Also, student group Up ’til Dawn is raising funds this week for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. (stories via the Daily Helmsman) Betty Huff has been named vice-provost of student enrollment.

First United Methodist Church: Rev Scott A. Alford of Bartlett has been selected as their new senior pastor.

Agriculture: The USDA has declared all three Mid-South states disaster areas due to Spring and Fall rains and Summer droughts.

Arkansas: The Lottery Commission is considering getting both Mega Millions and Powerball.

Memphis City Schools: The Commerical Appeal is reporting late that the Gates Foundation will sign an agreement with Memphis City Schools! (Earlier: A decision from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on the awarding of $100 million in grants is expected today.) The number of fights in City schools is up and the system hopes to bring it down.

Image: Does Memphis have a self-confidence problem, worrying what other people think about us? Fox13 falls for the trap.

The Holiday Season: Santas are lobbying for H1N1 vaccines to protect themselves. Wal-Mart is cutting prices on many toys and video games deeply, to jump-start sales.

Cafe Toscana: The East Memphis restuarant is closing, a victim of the economy and bad press about the nearby Malco Paradiso’s teen audience fighting.

MLG&W: Talks between the utility and union workers are stalled.
 
 

Previously Posted: More on the Wright Medical Group’s new $65 million distribution facility; and from the Commecial Appeal. The Daily News looks into McKesson’s “need” for tweaks to the City’s PILOT program.

Memphis City Council: They voted to amend the PILOT program to offer more breaks to keep existing companies in town. The Industrial Development Board must now approve them.

Shelby County Jail: A Federal judge lifted Federal oversight of the jail, in place since 1995.

Tennessee: Corrections Commissioner George Little says he may be forced to release as many as 4000 prisoners if his budget is cut; more from Eyewitness News. US Senator Lamar Alexander and Republican gubernatorial candidate (and Shelby County District Attorney) Bill Gibbons reacted sharply; more from Gibbons here. Also, many education projects might be cut back or closed, too. And Education Commissioner Tim Webb is told he may need to cut $82 million from the Basic Education Program.

The State Comptroller’s office paid their workers an extra two weeks when they switched payroll systems. Despite the State’s problems, Fitch Ratings gives our latest bond offerings an “AA+”. A report on an audit of the TN Wildlife Resources Commission and Agency.

No other State is holding more entrepreneurial events for Global Entrepreneurship Week than TN.

Delta Air Lines: They will be offering free Wi-Fi on all Wi-Fi equipped flights around the Thanksgiving holiday. Also, the airline is trying to woo Japan Airlines into its industry alliance.

Business: ServiceMaster’s 3Q revenues fell as income grew. In a pricing dispute, Costco is no longer selling Coke products.

A business sector analysis of Tissue Banks International and other living tissue shipping companies, in the Daily News.

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

FedEx: A new tracking sensor for sensitive packages, named SenseAware is being introduced. More from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Mid-South Food Bank: Their mobile pantry, which serves Dyer County, will have its first run this Friday. But they need volunteers. (via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

Financial: Regions Financial is reinstating 401(k) matching contributions and merit pay increases next year. Renasant Bank is changing the company that handles their 401(k) plan.

Media: E. W. Scripps, the parent company of the Commercial Appeal has implemented training on “very deep and broad training in storytelling”.

United Way of the Mid-South: They have received a $45,000 grant from the IRS for their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Survey Says: Tennessee moves up four spots in a national health survey, to 44th! Fannie Mae is calling the recession “unofficially” over. Factory production dropped and wholesale inflation stayed flat.

Smart City Memphis: An argument for reform of the City’s PILOT program.

Student: Revisited: Clocks, deadlines and panic! Things she learned the other day.

Commercial Appeal: The Zippin Pippin is old and busted and should be let go of, unlike the Grand Carousel. Kudos to the City Council for toughening PILOT rewards.

Keith Norman: Another call for setting aside differences so as to focus on the children. (via the Commercial Appeal)

I Love Memphis: A visit to the Midtown Farmers Market. The other half of the thrift-store team from the bitter/books post above.

Persian Pit Bull: Halloween Eve at the Woodruff-Fontaine House. And then costuming up for Halloween parties.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Monday was her birthday! A peek at her family holiday cards for 2009.

Pulled Before the Push: Sarah’s poems … at age thirteen.

The Ominous Comma: Dr Harold Toboggans continues his nefarious Mind Over Memphis program with a trip to the Visible School.

The Conservative Zone: Mark has discovered the Cloward-Piven plan to crash the US economy.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Your Tuesday Downtown update.

Oval Soul Journey: Writer’s block.

Notes from Memphis: I know, I know; it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but here’s the schedule for Downtown’s Christmas warmups. Sigh….

moremittenz: A pretty straight-forward recipe for vegetable enchiladas. Sizing up her preparedness for her next marathon. Knowing the pattern of your mood disorder and recognising its onset.

artbutcher: If you’re looking for affordable original art, then the Memphis College of Art’s Holiday Bazaar this weekend might be for you.

bitter/books: Part Two of the epic three part series on Memphis’ thrift stores and the treasures within.

Brain Release Valve: A couple of interesting internet-device services that could make someone a whole lot of money, and be helpful.

Cliff Heegel, PhD.: Seven steps to total health. Really.

Fertile Ground: She’s been added to Amie Vanderford’s portrait project!

Just A Girl in The World: Bad service from AT&T’s DSL.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: He wants to know what y’all think of partisan political primaries.