The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga distributed nearly $27 million throughout the region last year thanks to expanded use of donor advised funds (DAFs), foundation officials announced today. Specifically, CFGC made 2,722 grants totaling $26,287,076.05 over the course of 2023, an 8.8 percent increase over the total amount distributed in 2022. These grants included significant gifts to local priorities such as education, housing, food security and workforce development. Of these gifts, approximately $16,800,000 million were made from 132 donor advised funds. The total amount distributed from the Foundation’s DAFs is the highest in eight years and the second highest amount in the ...

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga will host their annual ‘Women Build’ Brunch on April 26 at the Chattanoogan Hotel from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The brunch is presented by Hamico and Real Estate Partners. Community volunteer Cynthia Dale will serve as chair, while Nicole Brown will emcee the program. Andrea Hardaway, author, property developer and manager, will be the keynote. Officials said, "Andrea's company, First Property Management, has become a magnet for real estate investors focused on growing their property portfolios. In addition to her business, she is also a strategy consultant and will be offering her valuable insights and encouragement ...

Today Mayor Tim Kelly announced that Chattanooga rose 26 places in the latest Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities rankings, moving up to 46 from 72, placing Chattanooga third amongst Tennessee’s largest cities. This year’s ranking is the highest in at least 12 years, and places Chattanooga above cities like Boulder, Asheville, Boston, Oklahoma City, and Philadelphia.It’s also the first of the series based primarily on data from Mayor Kelly’s time in office. According to Milken “the 2024 index and rankings are mainly based on data from 2022.”“This vault up the rankings reflects the hard work we’ve done to improve our city as ...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The City of Chattanooga is holding its Housing Sustainability Fair on Saturday, January 27.It will take place at the downtown public library[1] located on Broad Street.Current homeowners will learn about resources relating to home improvements, utility relief, credit counseling and estate planning. City representatives are making sure residents have all the skills they need to meet the challenges of home ownership.“Things come up when you’re a homeowner, something breaks, your insurance rate goes up, or you realize that you want to downsize,” said Sydney Shivers, Chattanooga Director of Housing Policy. “Our goal here is to make sure ...

Chattanooga's Humane Educational Society is excited to announce their participation in the BISSELL Pet Foundation "Empty The Shelters" nationwide adoption event. During this event from December 1-17, HES is waiving their standard $50 adoption fee for adult dogs, cats, and kittens.BISSELL Pet Foundation is teaming up with Dogtopia to sponsor free or reduced adoption fees for over 350 shelters across the country. As the nation’s largest funded adoption event, “Empty the Shelters” has helped nearly 140,000 pets find loving homes by making adoption affordable for prospective pet owners. "HES is thrilled to be a part of this campaign, just in time for ...

The gift of giving can oftentimes be the greatest thing to wrap up in a nice, shiny bow, spreading the holiday cheer to those in need. Check out these local toy drives and holiday fundraisers to give back to the community this season. Stop by any of these donation locations + events to support larger drives. Photo by Forgotten Child Fund Drives for organizations + groupsToys for Tots[1] This national campaign supported 17,112 kiddos with 51,414 toys locally last year. The Read House | Drop off toys in the lobby now through Thursday, Dec. 14. Big Brother Big Sisters | ...

Chattanooga named the best place to retire in new study by ...  Chattanooga Times Free Press

One of Chattanooga's largest attractions returns to the Scenic City Friday, June 2nd, and will last until Sunday, June 4th.Riverbend Festival is celebrating 40 years of live entertainment in the City's heart. This year they're adding some new features.Festival organizers say this year, no matter rain or shine, they want festivalgoers to be comfortable.As temperatures reach the eighties tomorrow, organizers want guests to know they are prepared for extreme heat."I'm looking forward to more than anything to really make Chattanooga proud of Riverbend," said Mickey McCamish, the Executive Director of Riverbend.Mickey McCamish says festivalgoers will find more accommodations this year. ...

Chattanooga, Tenn., was selected among 16 cities across the country to participate in a new partnership to help train workers for emerging industries to diversify the talent pipeline and help low-income neighborhoods.Chattanooga will focus its efforts on the growing clean energy industry, which is receiving a host of new incentives under the infrastructure measures adopted by Congress during the pandemic.The National League of Cities, which is launching its "Good Jobs, Great Cities" academy, picked Chattanooga from among more than 200 cities that applied for the initiative."This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for these cities to take advantage of these unprecedented federal ...

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee talking to media in Chattanooga.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  Governor Lee is calling Tennessee lawmakers back to Nashville for a special session. That announcement came late last week.We caught up with him today in Chattanooga. The Governor hopes to pass legislation that he says will “strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights.”Lee hopes to keep guns out of the hands of unstable people.He believes the state can do that, without infringing on Second Amendment rights.Gov. Lee said, “There needs to be a way to separate those who are a danger to others and to themselves from access to ...

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission (ATJ), which offers much-needed access to civil legal services to communities in need, is celebrating Help4TNMonth. Help4TNMonth is an annual celebration held during the month of April. Its purpose is to offer Tennesseans free assistance with civil legal issues and highlighting the organizations that provide these services throughout the year. This year’s theme is second chances and cleaning up records/clean slate. Legal service providers and partners are asked to submit their legal clinics, trainings, and volunteer events here[1].Attorneys are encouraged to provide pro bono service through the Help4TNMonth event list, or through ...

The Chattanooga City Council has formally adopted Mayor Tim Kelly’s Climate Action Plan[1], a growth strategy that will protect Chattanoogans’ quality of life and increase national competitiveness amid changes to the climate and international economy. The plan includes a series of actions to drive smart, clean-energy growth, protect natural resources, and strengthen the local economy, driving home Chattanooga’s leading position as a green, sustainable city in a changing world. “At its core, this is a sustainability plan for Chattanooga, one that will lead to social and economic benefits that all residents care about – like more transportation options, good-paying jobs, ...

Chattanooga will become the first National Park City in the United States, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly told the Kiwanis Club of East Brainerd on Friday. The global National Park City movement claims only two cities worldwide in its family - London, England, and Adelaide, Australia. Mayor Kelly said a more detailed parks master plan will be announced closer to Earth Day next month. The mayor asked the group, What does Chattanooga have that other cities can’t copy or do better? “For us, it’s greenspace,” he said. “Look out the window.” He said in the coming months Chattanooga will begin “doubling ...

In a list of 20 cities, Southern Living has ranked Chattanooga #8 in The South's Best Cities 2023.[1]For Chattanooga, the piece says," Anyone would have high expectations for a city with a reputation for riverside charm, but Chattanooga always exceeds expectations. For one, it's a lot of fun. Whether walking the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge over the Tennessee River, exploring trails and greenways, shopping your way through downtown, or tucking into something delicious at a locally-owned spot like Niedlov's Bakery and Cafe, there's no shortage of memorable experiences to find here."Mayor Tim Kelly acknowledged the recognition in a social media post, ...

Since it's start in 1982 at Ross’s Landing at a time when most of the buildings were boarded up, and few had reason to come to the riverfront, the Riverbend Festival has ignited civic pride, stimulated business and civic leaders to rethink downtown, and showcased the arts.Today, Riverbend ranks in the top 10% of all music festivals, provides over $20 million in economic impact, and works to bring people together from diverse backgrounds from around the country and the world to enjoy music in a special place that holds so much of Chattanooga’s history. A wide variety of performers covering almost ...

Tags:CompetitionOffice of Policy PlanningBureau of CompetitionUnfair Methods of CompetitionThe Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule that would ban employers from imposing noncompetes on their workers, a widespread and often exploitative practice that suppresses wages, hampers innovation, and blocks entrepreneurs from starting new businesses. By stopping this practice, the agency estimates that the new proposed rule could increase wages by nearly $300 billion per year and expand career opportunities for about 30 million Americans.The FTC is seeking public comment on the proposed rule, which is based on a preliminary finding that noncompetes constitute an unfair method of competition and therefore ...

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against employees or applicants for employment because of their religious beliefs in hiring, firing and other terms and conditions of employment. Additionally, Title VII requires federal agencies to reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs or practices of employees or applicants unless doing so would impose an undue hardship upon the agency.Religious DiscriminationThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines "religious beliefs" to include theistic beliefs (i.e. those that include a belief in God) as well as non-theistic moral or ethical beliefs about right and wrong that ...

Children’s Hospital Fired Maintenance Assistant for Seeking Exemption to Influenza Vaccine Requirements, Federal Agency ChargedATLANTA – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), a pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, violated federal law when it fired a maintenance assistant for requesting a religious exemption to its influenza vaccination policy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today.According to the EEOC’s suit, the maintenance employee, in accordance with CHOA’s procedures, requested a religious exemption to CHOA’s flu vaccination requirements based on sincerely held religious beliefs. CHOA had previously granted the employee a religious exemption in 2017 and 2018. ...

Scenic City made Forbes list of 50 global destinations; Chattanooga Tourism Co. anticipates more visitors CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — There’s excitement throughout Chattanooga, as the city was recently named one of the best places to travel in the world in 2023 by Forbes.The Scenic City was featured alongside Botswana, Spain, and the Canary Islands, among other destinations.The folks at Chattanooga Tourism Company are beyond excited about their inclusion on this selective list in Forbes, which reaches more than 140 million people worldwide. Hugh Morrow, the Tourism Company’s Chairman of the Board, says those in city hospitality “could not be more excited.”He ...

Paige T. Walter The Chattanooga law firm of Evans Harrison Hackett PLLC announce that attorney Paige T. Walter has joined the firm as its newest associate.  Ms. Walter completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in 2018, where she received her B.A. in Economics, cum laude, and her B.S. in Telecommunication Production, magna cum laude. She attended the University of Georgia for law school, where she obtained her J.D. in 2022. She was named a University of Georgia Henson Distinguished Law Fellow and is the recipient of the University of Georgia Sustainability and Environmental Impact Initiative Grant.  Ms. ...

(The Center Square) — All four constitutional amendments on the Tennessee statewide ballot, including a proposal to put right-to-work legislation into the constitution, passed on Tuesday by a wide margin.The right-to-work amendment further cements a law that has been in place since 1947, Tennessee is one of 27 states with such laws, which allow workers across the state to elect whether or not they would like to join a union. Without a law in place, unions can require membership as a condition of employment as they do federally."Right-to-work states like Tennessee have higher real income and employment growth than non-right-to-work ...

For six weeks, Chester Frost Park will be transformed into an immersive drive-thru lighting experience for all ages as NoogaLights lightens up the holiday season.This magical winter light experience, located on Dallas Island inside Chester Frost Park, is the perfect destination for families, friends, and work groups looking for a one-of-a-kind way to celebrate this holiday season!Opening November 14 and running daily through December 31 (except for Christmas Day), bring your family and friends to experience a magical half-hour drive thru the 1.5-mile electrifying route.“Installing Christmas lights is like eating ice cream, everyone is happy,” says ELF (Extreme Lighting Fanatic) John ...

The Chattanooga law firm of Evans Harrison Hackett PLLC announces attorney Timothy B. Ballard has joined the firm as a member. Mr. Ballard practices primarily domestic relations (“family”) and personal injury litigation. In addition to his extensive litigation experience with divorce and child custody matters, Mr. Ballard has represented numerous clients in cases involving such nuanced issues as grandparent visitation, contested adoption and termination of parental rights, parental relocation and multi-jurisdictional child custody disputes, and Juvenile Court practice. He also regularly serves as a Guardian ad Litem in the Circuit and Chancery Courts.  While Mr. Ballard's practice consists largely of ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced appointments to three judicial positions across the state.“Each of these qualified Tennesseans will bring valuable experience to their respective roles,” said Gov. Lee. “I am confident they will serve our state with the highest integrity, and I look forward to their service.”The following Tennesseans have been appointed:Professor Jeffrey Usman – Court of Appeals, Middle DivisionJudge Tom Greenholtz – Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern DivisionJudge Kyle Hixson – Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern DivisionProfessor Jeffrey Usman is an Associate Professor of Law at Belmont University College of Law. Usman has held judicial ...

Soaring COVID-19 cases renew US debate over mask mandates  Chattanooga Times Free Press

Patients in Chattanooga area now protected from surprise medical bills by federal law  WTVC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal appeals court has declined to lift a ban in three states on President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for workers who contract with the federal government.The ruling comes after a nationwide ban on the mandate for federal contractors was imposed by a federal judge in Georgia last month.A judge in Louisville, Kentucky, blocked the Biden rule in November for that state and two others: Tennessee and Ohio.A panel of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld the injunction for the three states in a 2-1 ruling Wednesday."This ensures, while the case continues to proceed, that ...

Federal money coming to Chattanooga to improve infrastructure; Here's what's on the list  WTVC

A Chattanooga jury unanimously found a Texas law firm, its owner, and agents liable for consumer protection violations and the unauthorized practice of law arising out of their actions in soliciting families of the fatal 2016 school bus crash in Chattanooga.   The jury found in favor of the state and against the Witherspoon Law Group, owner Nuru Witherspoon, and law firm representatives Glenn Smith and Alphonso McClendon.   Both Smith and McClendon, who are not licensed attorneys, solicited parents whose children had died in accidents. McClendon also falsely held himself out as a lawyer, the State Attorney General's Office ...

(TNS) — In a satellite research facility of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, researchers are analyzing billions of bits of data gathered in Chattanooga to help shape America's energy future.Using EPB's fiber-optic network and smart grid in Chattanooga, ORNL scientists here are able to remotely and virtually test ways to better deploy the power grid to maintain reliable electricity supplies in a cleaner, more efficient manner."President Biden has a goal of getting to 100% clean electricity generation by 2035 and net-zero carbo emissions by 2050," U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during a recent visit here. "The solutions that are ...

Tennessee jury trials have been postponed through Jan. 31 because of rising coronavirus cases.The Tennessee Supreme Court issued the order suspending trials Tuesday. The suspension will begin Nov. 23 through Jan. 31 unless an exemption is granted by the Chief Justice on a case-by-case basis. The order also directs judicial districts to reexamine their reopening plans and coronavirus protocols, specifically mentioning the high court receiving complaints of judges, attorneys and defendants failing to follow protocols and some even attending court while testing positive for the virus. Face masks are required for everyone who enters courthouses. The order urges court staff to use phone ...

 By Joyce Peterson | September 15, 2020 at 11:28 PM CDT - Updated September 16 at 10:49 PM UPDATE: The largest property management group suing the Trump administration dropped out of the lawsuit on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Wogan Group, LLC and Lennox were among the plaintiffs. Together, they manage more than 1,800 apartment units in the Memphis area. Attorney Josh Kahane wouldn’t say why Wogan and Lennox dropped out of the suit but did say, “unfortunately the CDC’s well-intended eviction moratorium appears to be a serious and unlawful infringement on the constitutionally protected rights of property owners, both large and ...

TOPLINEThe Trump Administration announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will use its authority to temporarily ban residential evictions for certain renters through the end of the year. Protestors demonstrate during a 'No Evictions, No Police' national day of action protest against law ... [+]AFP via Getty Images KEY FACTSThe moratorium will apply to those individuals who expect to earn $99,000 or less in 2020 (or couples filing jointly who expect to earn $198,000 or less)—those who received a stimulus check this year, or would have been eligible based on their 2020 income, are also eligible.Renters seeking ...

Jury trials are set to resume in Chattanooga Federal Court on Sept. 14 after a long hiatus due to the coronavirus. Judge Travis McDonough is looking at a trial for one of four different defendants. They include Corey Carlos Garrett, Calvin Wayne Hanks, Mark Daniel Allen or the civil case of Riverfront Commercial Center, LLC vs. Westfield Insurance Co. Clerk of Court John Medearis said, "The judge conducting a jury trial will determine the number of jurors in accordance with the applicable civil or criminal federal rules and the discretion the judge has within the rules.  Appropriate measures will be ...

Hamilton County sues first business for noncompliance with mask mandate  Chattanooga Times Free Press

Tennessee joined at least 10 other states in broadly limiting liability lawsuits related to Covid-19 exposure, under legislation Gov. Bill Lee signed into law.The new law sets up legal hurdles for anyone filing a lawsuit over exposure to the virus, broadly protecting businesses, health-care providers, nonprofits, and others including schools and churches. For a lawsuit to avoid dismissal, the plaintiff must show the defendant’s actions amounted to gross negligence or willful misconduct and provide a signed statement from a doctor attesting that they believe the plaintiff’s injury or sickness resulted from the defendant’s actions.The Republican governor, in a livestreamed signing ...

Civil jury trials in Nashville will be suspended until 2021, the county's top judge ordered Thursday. Criminal trials will remain on hold through September, as under a previous order, while the judges monitor the pandemic to determine when its safe to reopen. Presiding Judge Joe P. Binkley Jr. announced the extension in an order to Davidson County courts "due to the continued risks of contagion."Most of the county's court business has been modified or on hold for months over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Judges will continue to meet to consider constitutional ramifications of delaying criminal trials into October, November and December. Concerns over the spread ...

Tennessee lawmakers raise concern over Gov. Lee's use of executive power during COVID-19 crisis  Chattanooga Times Free Press

Resilient Chattanooga ready to rebound from coronavirus, Chamber of Commerce leaders say  Chattanooga Times Free Press

The N.B.A.’s Houston Rockets and restaurants like Chez Panisse are among those suing their insurers for refusing to pay “business interruption” claims during the coronavirus outbreak.Nick Gavrilides, owner of the Soup Spoon Cafe in Lansing, Mich., pays $12,002 in annual premiums to his insurer, which is refusing to pay his business interruption claims.  Credit...Rachel Elise Thomas for The New York TimesWhen the Great Lockdown started in Michigan, Nick Gavrilides closed the dining room of his Soup Spoon Cafe in Lansing, had some farewell beers with his workers and set to work on an insurance claim.He had paid for business interruption insurance, ...

Supreme Court won't halt challenged border wall projects  Chattanooga Times Free Press

Where does live music go from here? A veteran Chattanooga music writer shares his take.  Chattanooga Times Free Press

A glance at how the pandemic has impacted Chattanooga-area nonprofits dependent on volunteerism  Chattanooga Times Free Press

In a ruling affecting hundreds of people yet to be convicted of charges for which they are locked up, Shelby County Criminal Court Judges on Thursday ordered the indefinite suspension of criminal jury trials.The order, which negates prior plans to lift the suspension in September,  will affect the vast majority of more than 2,100 people locked up in three local jails, according to Shelby County Sheriff's Office data. At the Downtown jail, where the vast majority of county detainees are held, more than 83% of people had yet to be convicted of their charges as of a June 30 Tennessee Department of Corrections report."It ...