News - Friday, October 6, 2017

Growing up poor, in a family that was often evicted because it couldn’t pay rent, Dr. Danielle Mitchell was too young to understand the repercussions of not being able to afford medical insurance until her younger brother’s struggle with epilepsy worsened.

We don’t need no stinkin’ special session on Medicaid expansion. That’s pretty much the Republican response to House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh’s call for Gov. Bill Haslam to bring lawmakers back to Nashville after the Graham-Cassidy bill failed in Congress.

Attorney Marcy Eason joins an elite group of jurists in becoming a Lioness of the Bar.

The Chattanooga chapter of the Southeast Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women bestowed the honor on Eason during its annual Lioness of the Bar event, an occasion during which the organization venerates an exemplary local female attorney or judge.

Unchecked presidential powers are plastered on the walls of American history.

Prior to Watergate, there was FDR’s Sumner Welles situation, Truman’s steel seizure, Eisenhower’s U-2 incident, JFK’s lady friends and LBJ’s Bobby Baker investigation.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors has elected Christy Gillenwater as its president and CEO. She will assume the position in December.

Gillenwater has been president and CEO of the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce in Evansville, Indiana, since 2013. Prior to her current position, she was president and CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in Bloomington, Indiana, from 2005 until her present position.

There’s something special about an evening at the symphony. It’s an occasion for dressing up and being in elegant surroundings and good company.

As when eating at a four-star restaurant, you want to be on your best behavior and do the right thing at the right time. During the former occasion, for example, you don’t want to use the wrong fork at the wrong time; during the latter, you don’t want to clap or cough out of turn.

Fans had scarcely had time to settle in their Finley Stadium seats – much less get used to seeing UTC’s No. 1 quarterback in action – when he was gone. Again.

Western Carolina linebacker Tahjai Watt, a 6-5, 215 QB-seeking missile with something to prove, could not believe he had the good fortune to be totally unblocked in the first quarter Saturday against the Mocs. But like any good defender, he didn’t take a moment to appreciate his good fortune; instead, he made a beeline for unsuspecting UTC quarterback Alejandro Bennifield.

Some people have the worst timing. Take Gerald Burlingame, for example. He waits until he’s taken his wife, Jessie, to their remote mountain cabin and handcuffs her to their bed in preparation for a little kinky sex before he has a heart attack.

There are moments when it seems America is about to come apart at the seams from the strain of internal conflict. But when Hurricane Harvey ripped apart Houston, Texas, a different portrait of America emerged, one in which people of all persuasions came together to heal wounds.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga will host its 2017 Showcase of Homes Oct. 13-15 and Oct. 20-22. The event, presented by EPB Fiber Optics, will feature 10 builders and 18 homes throughout Chattanooga and Hamilton County. Hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays.

A group of legislators and administration leaders known as the “Big 6” have released an outline for comprehensive tax reform that, if enacted, could lead to a tax on homeownership for millions, says the National Association of Realtors.

While the focus of this space is normally on residential real estate, numerous members of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors also provide commercial real estate services. This week, we explore this specialty.

GCAR has two multiple listing systems through which Realtor members share information and offer cooperation to other subscribers. With a combined 1,967 subscribers, only 300 of those currently subscribe to the commercial MLS. Of those 300, 238 also have a subscription to the residential MLS, so they practice both commercial and residential trades. The remaining 62 work exclusively with commercial properties.

As the home building industry celebrates Careers in Construction Month in October, we’re sharing the top reasons to consider a career in residential construction.

Diversity of skilled trades to consider

A home builder relies on a number of trained workers to get the job done right. This includes dozens of skilled artisans and professionals, including carpenters, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, painters and landscapers. Analysis from the National Association of Home Builders shows that 70 percent of builders use between 11 and 30 subcontractors to build a single-family home. Indeed, there are many different trades you can pursue depending on your personal interests.

When you create your financial and investment strategies for retirement, what will you need to know? In other words, what factors should you consider, and how will these factors affect your investment-related decisions, before and during your retirement?

An abundance of bluegrass entertainment will be served up on Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7, during the 11th annual 3 Sisters Music Festival. Held at Ross’ Landing, the free event will feature top names in contemporary and traditional bluegrass.