News - Friday, September 20, 2019

As 10,000 new beneficiaries each day age into a Medicare population that already supports 60 million, it is important to understand which plan to select when open enrollment begins Oct. 1.

And it is just as important for people who have been enrolled to re-evaluate their situation to make sure they are in the best plan.

Medicare-for-all is getting increasing traction as a campaign issue in the run-up to the 2020 presidential elections.

But what does the term really mean?

“I think it means different things to different people, and there’s many different options that are out there,” says Andrew Scholnick, senior legislative representative at AARP. “Different candidates have proposed their own plans, and members of Congress have introduced different bills. So it’s hard to say definitively what it means.”

Gov. Bill Lee has released details of the state’s proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for about half, or $7.9 billion, of the state’s Medicaid funding to come through a federal block grant.

It would be the first program of its kind in the country if it is approved.

The Chattanooga Bar Association and Chattanooga Bar Foundation Fellows have renovated and remodeled the mock court at Brainerd High School, giving students a more complete picture of the U.S. legal system.

The local bar took on the project this summer as its part of a communitywide effort to physically rejuvenate the entire school. Dubbed “Brainerd Together,” the massive undertaking involved more than 30 sponsors coming together to clean, paint and make much-needed repairs.

Three of Husch Blackwell’s Chattanooga-based attorneys are listed in Best Lawyers in America 2020, including Ronald Feldman and Jim Henderson for real estate law and Alan Cates for trusts and estates, trusts and estates litigation, and nonprofit law.

From Chickamauga Dam to downtown Chattanooga, seven bridges reach across the Tennessee River, connecting communities on either side of the waterway.

One bridge carries pedestrians from the City Center to North Shore (Walnut Street Bridge), and another reminds drivers of those who served in the U.S. military (Veteran’s Memorial Bridge). A third carries trains across the tributary (Tenbridge).

As the summer draws to a close, multiple opposing factors and trends are competing to define the direction of the real estate market.

After the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate July 31, 30-year mortgage rates continued to decline, approaching lows last seen in 2016.

The residential construction industry in the Chattanooga area can provide women with a rewarding career path. Builders and remodelers in the tri-state area are seeking skilled artisans and professionals, including carpenters, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians and painters. Here are some reasons why women should consider pursuing a fulfilling career in the trades:

Jennifer Lopez stars as Ramona Vega, a veteran stripper who turns the tables on her wealthy Wall Street clients in “Hustlers,” a crime drama written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. The filmmaker based her script on the true story told in New York Magazine’s 2015 article, “The Hustlers at Scores.”

Henry To’o To’o has given announcers a reason to grab the pronunciation guide because they know they will be calling his name multiple times.

The Tennessee freshman linebacker has made an instant impact for the Vols and provided hope for a brighter future amid a somber start.

The City of Chattanooga will host the 15th annual Go Fest at the Chattanooga Zoo Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Go Fest is a free event that celebrates people of all abilities. The zoo will be transformed into an adaptive space with sports, animal attractions, interactive exhibits and musical performances. Parking at the zoo will be limited, but a number of spaces will be reserved for people who use wheelchairs. The public is urged to use the free shuttle, which will run from Engel Stadium to the zoo.

Eighty years ago, farmers were encouraged to plant an innocuous ornamental plant from Asia to serve as cheap ground cover and feed for livestock. Decades later, entire hillsides, power lines and forests have been devoured in kudzu’s jungle-thick, creeping conquest of the Southeast.

Erlanger’s fourth annual Believe Bash will be held Saturday, April 25, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The event co-chairs are Dr. Mark Brzezienski, Jayne Brzezienski, Dr. Jason Rehm and Jamie Rehm.

Activities will include a cocktail reception, dinner and live and silent auctions. Delta Dental is sponsoring a 12-piece band.

David Quessenberry was in the spotlight for the Tennessee Titans in Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts after catching the Titans’ first TD of the game on a tackle eligible play.

It’s odd enough that a guy wearing No. 72 is celebrating a reception in the end zone. But for Quessenberry, an extra offensive tackle, that moment Sunday was a fitting tribute to what he’s been through just to get himself back onto an NFL roster.

Same old Titans – win when they are not expected to, lose when they are not expected to.

The Titans’ ugly 19-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts was a blown opportunity to take early control of the AFC South. Now on a short week, they get to go to Jacksonville to try and right their situation. But since the game will be played Thursday, before the deadline for this edition of the Ledger, this week’s four downs section will be four observations of where the Titans are after two games.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera opens its 87th season at the Tivoli Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m., with “Shostakovich & Rachmaninoff.”

Guest pianist Steven Lin will perform Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 3” – one of the greatest and most challenging piano concertos of its time, CSO Musical Director Kayoko Dan says.

For the past several years, artificial intelligence – or AI – has increasingly found a place in many walks of life. Almost certainly, you use some form of AI, whether it’s your time on social media, your use of mobile banking, the navigation system you rely on for directions, or any of the many other AI-driven applications relevant to your daily life. But AI has also become a significant part of the financial services industry. So, you might wonder if AI can help you become a better investor.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department is reminding residents that “all disasters are local” and encouraging households to be prepared to care for themselves during the first three days of an incident.

Health Department Emergency Response Coordinator Maegan Kerr says it takes time to mobilize the resources to respond to a disaster, so families need to plan now for how to respond.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has received a report of a scam involving criminal imposters claiming to be detectives with the office. The imposters were found to be “spoofing” (impersonating) actual numbers the HCSO uses.

Car shoppers seeking superior fuel economy have two particularly intriguing choices this year: the Honda Insight and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Both deliver an EPA-estimated 52 mpg in combined city and highway driving, which is among the best of any vehicle on sale. They’re also notable for their design. These are two conventionally styled sedans that largely keep their eco-credentials hidden from view.

One of the biggest retirement mistakes you can make is not realizing what you don’t know.

I regularly hear from people in or near retirement who misunderstand how Social Security works, dramatically underestimate life expectancies or fail to plan for big expenses, such as long-term care or taxes.

Years ago, job interviewing was an event. During my first job post-college search, I flew to companies across the U.S.

There were phone interviews in the beginning. But companies rolled out the red carpet for in-person interviews. And that was for a college graduate with almost no real work experience.