News - Friday, May 1, 2020

When the effects of COVID-19 and the accompanying social distancing began to be felt in the state, unemployment was at near-historic lows.

Now, weeks after restaurants, retail stores and offices emptied, those figures have soared as tens of thousands of Tennesseans have been laid off or furloughed.

• 68,968: Unemployment claims filed the week of April 18

• 396,000: Unemployment claims filed in the last six weeks

The first day of May is Law Day. We set aside May 1 of each year to celebrate the rule of law and the role of law in our society.

The American Bar Association, our nation’s largest legal organization, describes it in these words: “Law Day provides an opportunity to understand how law and the legal process protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.”

You probably anticipated your business insurance would provide some relief for the impact of COVID-19 since it likely included coverage for general risk, business interruption, contingent business loss or civil authority actions.

However, when confronted with a novel event like the one we’re experiencing now, your insurance providers might be construing these policies to deny coverage to you.

By David Laprad

As the coronavirus continued to make its presence felt in every corner of the business realm, a panel of area commercial Realtors convened via Facebook Live on April 23 to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their business.

Hosted by Russell Elliott, 2020 president of Greater Chattanooga Realtors’ Commercial Council, the panel consisted of David DeVaney, president of NAI Charter, Benjamin Pitts, commercial property agent with Herman Walldorf, Tiffanie Robinson, CEO and president of Lamp Post Properties and Second Story Real Estate Management, Lisa Brown, managing director of KW Commercial Downtown, and Robert Fisher, commercial property agent with KW Commercial.

Members of the National Association of Realtors have for decades supported a free, open market that embraces fairness and equal opportunity for all buyers and sellers. Greater Chattanooga Realtors strongly supports the Fair Housing Act, legislation that was first passed in 1968 and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status and national origin.

Over the last several decades, Chattanooga has earned a reputation for being a planet-friendly community. But did you know that incorporating ecofriendly products and designs into a home is not only good for the environment, it can be helpful for your wallet, too?

With less than five minutes to escape the room in which I was incarcerated, I could feel Death’s hot breath on the back of my neck.

Actually, it was my wife’s breath. Her tension as precious seconds ticked off the clock had become palpable, and I was certain that if my captor didn’t dispatch me quickly, she would.

It’s not a flattering image for Tennessee: A widely published photo of a woman at the Capitol, part of a protest seeking to “liberate” the state from coronavirus restrictions, holding a sign saying this:

“Sacrifice the Weak. Re-open TN.” Hold that thought: Sacrifice the weak.

Mother’s Day is upon us. If you’re a mother, you’ll enjoy the recognition you get from your family on this day. And given the health concerns caused by the COVID-19, your appreciation of family may be even greater this year.

As we all know, mothers have a difficult job. And many mothers also run their own businesses – another demanding task made even more difficult these days. What special challenges do women face who embark on careers as business owners?

Commercial real estate agent Zac Adams is joining the Robinson Team of Keller Williams Realty. He has more than 15 years of experience in sales.

Born in Dalton, Georgia, Adams began his career as a competitive swim coach after earning a degree in broadcast journalism at Louisiana State University, where he was a three-time letter winner and SEC finalist on the collegiate swimming team.

Renters in Bradley and Hamilton counties whose homes and property were damaged by the tornadoes and severe storms April 12-13 can apply for federal disaster assistance.

FEMA Individual Assistance is available to renters, including students and homeowners, and can help pay for temporary housing. The initial rental grant is for a 60-day period and can be reviewed for further assistance. The registration deadline is June 24.

Volkswagen Chattanooga plans for employees to return to work May 3 following a six-week suspension of operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve dedicated the past several weeks to implementing stringent health and safety measures,” says Tom du Plessis, president and CEO of the company. “After assessing the current situation, we’ve decided to resume production under clear safety measures and with the health of our employees as our highest priority.”

The JKC Foundation has selected Chattanooga State Community College student Gary Satin as one of 50 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This scholarship will provide him with up to $40,000 per year over the next three years to complete his bachelor’s degree at a college of his choice.

First Horizon has provided a donation of $25,000 to assist Erlanger in meeting needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be used to support clinical technology enhancements that support Erlanger’s COVID-19 patient care process.

First Horizon market president Jay Dale says providing funds to the hospital is a sound investment in the community. “The challenges faced by health care professionals is something no one could have predicted. We want to do all we can to ensure they face these challenges with confidence knowing they are prepared with the equipment they might need.”

Crye-Leike Real Estate Services Realtor Mary Carlson is a new recipient of e-PRO Certification from the National Association of Realtors. Carlson is affiliated with Crye-Leike’s East Brainerd branch office and serves the residential real estate needs of buyers and sellers throughout Hamilton, Catoosa and Walker counties.

Nearly three in four Realtors currently working with sellers reported their clients haven’t reduced listing prices to attract buyers, a new survey from the National Association of Realtors finds.

This suggests interested home sellers are remaining calm and avoiding panic selling during the uncertain economic environment brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the NAR says in a news release.

In the wake of the tornadoes and severe storms that ripped through the Chattanooga area April 12, EPB estimates more than $28 million in damage to the community’s electric and fiber optic infrastructure. This exceeds the $25 million damage total from the tornadoes that impacted the area in 2011.