News - Friday, March 28, 2025

Melissa Loyd was 21 years old when a real estate agent encouraged her to buy a home. Loyd was touring an open house, and the woman said she could facilitate the purchase – both sides of it.

This was 1996, when buying a house was a breeze, so no one blinked at Loyd becoming a first-time homebuyer at her age. However, Loyd has since become a Realtor herself, and whenever she thinks back on the sale, she feels as though the agent took advantage of her, she says.

Zachary Atchley had no intention of ever becoming a lawyer.

Never mind that his father, Fielding Atchley, Jr., is a third-generation Chattanooga attorney with a celebrated 50-year practice. Never mind that his oldest of two brothers, Trevor Atchley, was practicing law with their father. And never mind that he’d inherited his father’s easygoing smile and charm, both of which have set clients at ease for decades.

Throughout our history, the federal courts have strived to help make this country, composed of several sovereign states and disparate people, one nation. In doing so, they have sought to carry out the goal stated in our nation’s first motto: “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of Many, One”).

Getting to know the leaders of Greater Chattanooga Realtors offers valuable insights into the dedication and experience that drives our association forward. This week, we’re spotlighting Steven LaMar, a Realtor who’s embraced leadership roles to better serve our industry and community. From early experiences in real estate to advocating for collaboration among members, their journey is a testament to the impact of service and engagement.

I grew up on the prairie – a section of northeastern Colorado considered one of the most arid places on earth. It’s no exaggeration to say I didn’t see a body of water until I was an adolescent. Where I’m from, water was something you dug out of a well, held onto, used sparingly and often prepared to go without.

In your zeal to share a new culinary experience with someone, have you ever said something like, “You have to try the sliders at Attack of the Tatsu. They’re the best?” Or has someone ever asked you something like, “Have you had the margherita pizza at Honey Seed? It’s the best.”

Collegedale Airport will screen “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” starting at 6:30 p.m. Activities will include yard games and a display of aircraft beginning at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Food trucks will be on hand selling local fare. The organizers recommend bringing a chair or blanket. Information: 423 236-5008 or @CollegedaleAirport on Facebook.

Spring is here, which means it’s once again time to wash the windows, organize your cabinets and steam your carpets. This year, in addition to tidying up around your house, why not also consider some financial spring cleaning?

Here are some suggestions to consider:

Among the many biblical teachings intended to guide us toward more virtuous lives is that we should feed the hungry. That certainly sounds reasonable. But feed them what?

I know what just popped into your mind. Hold that thought.

At the federal government level, the initiative to address this humanitarian endeavor was once known as food stamps and is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The feeling around the University of Tennessee is doubly as sweet this week, with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The Vols advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season, a first for the program. The Lady Vols advanced for the 37th time in the 43 years of the tournament, the first under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell.

It can be a smart, money-saving move to buy a used vehicle instead of a new one. The average price gap between new and used vehicles is more than $20,000, recent Edmunds’ sales data finds.

But many used-vehicle shoppers make costly mistakes that can be avoided with a little research and preparation. Here are five common mistakes identified by Edmunds’ experts and what you can do to avoid them.

You could really sink your teeth into a new sale today. It would taste good, too. You just need to hunt down the right potential client, give your pitch and scratch out the deal.

Just like that, if you could, though times are tough and clients are skittish. No worries, you got this. Read “Eat What You Kill,” a new book by Sam Taggart, and get ready to pounce.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee requested an investigation Thursday into how Trump national security officials used the Signal app to discuss military strikes, ensuring at least some bipartisan scrutiny on an episode President Donald Trump has dismissed as frivolous.

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel was not part of a Signal chat in which other Trump administration national security officials discussed detailed attack plans, but that didn't spare him from being questioned by lawmakers this week about whether the nation's premier law enforcement agency would investigate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of major automakers slumped following President Donald Trump's announcement that he will place 25% tariffs on auto imports.

Automakers have spread out their supply chains and production facilities throughout North America. Parts and production steps often cross one or more borders during the process. That means it will cost the major automakers more money to build their cars and trucks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major overhaul, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ella Langley leads the nominees for the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards with eight nominations.

The first-time nominee's nods include female artist of the year and female new artist.

ATLANTA (AP) — The second part of Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's top priority to limit lawsuits and large verdicts won approval Thursday from the House. The full package, also called tort reform, is set to hit his desk in the coming weeks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer for The Associated Press asked a federal judge Thursday to reinstate the agency's access to the White House press pool and other official events, saying the Trump administration's ban is a fundamental attack on freedom of speech and should be overturned. The government insisted there was no evidence that AP had been harmed irreparably.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As part of a push to roll back dozens of environmental regulations, the Trump administration is offering coal-fired power plants and other industrial polluters a chance for exemptions from requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene.

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel was not part of a Signal chat in which other Trump administration national security officials discussed detailed attack plans, but that didn't spare him from being questioned by lawmakers this week about whether the nation's premier law enforcement agency would investigate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee requested an investigation Thursday into how Trump national security officials used the Signal app to discuss military strikes, ensuring at least some bipartisan scrutiny on an episode President Donald Trump has dismissed as frivolous.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has once again scrambled the politics of organized labor and the working class with his planned tariffs on auto imports.

The White House is eagerly promoting supportive comments from the nation's top auto worker union leader, a previous Trump critic who endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris over Trump in 2024. At least a few Democrats from auto-producing states have joined their Republican colleagues in applauding the tariffs that Trump casts as a long-term jobs boost for U.S.-based auto production. Other Democrats, meanwhile, have blasted Trump's policy, warning that a trade war will drive up inflation and raise costs for all Americans.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Weak population gains and increased government spending will result in slower overall economic growth over the next 30 years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday.

The CBO's latest long-term budget and economic outlook report — for a timeframe that spans 2025 to 2055 — projects publicly held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2055. That's down from the agency's March 2024 long-term budget projection, which said publicly held debt would be equal to a record 166% of American economic activity by 2054.

DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on autos not made in the U.S. and certain auto parts are sending more tremors through an industry already being pummeled by steel and aluminum import duties and on-again, off-again 25% levies on Canada and Mexico. The new tariffs, announced Wednesday, are likely to jack up new vehicle prices and will also impact the used car market.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy expanded at a healthy annual 2.4% pace the final three months of 2024, supported by a year-end surge in consumer spending, the government said Thursday in a slight upgrade of its previous estimate of fourth-quarter growth.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A top European Union official visited a strategic metals site in central Greece on Thursday, after the bloc announced plans to accelerate production of its own critical minerals and reduce dependence on China.

Stéphane Séjourné, an executive vice president at the European Commission, toured an aluminum plant that will soon extract gallium — a silvery, melt-in-your-hand metal used in advanced semiconductors, 5G antennas, solar panels and military radar systems.

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that he would speak with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days after Trump announced 25% tariffs on auto imports.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a stunning turnaround for his Cabinet pick after her confirmation had been stalled for months over concerns about Republicans' tight margins in the House.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department leadership is proposing combining the two agencies responsible for enforcing drug and gun laws as part of a dramatic restructuring of the department, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

The memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks feedback on a reorganization plan that would combine the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into a single agency "to achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction, and regulatory efforts."

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major overhaul, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major anti-abortion groups gathered in the nation's capital on Thursday to begin a lobbying effort with Congress and President Donald Trump's administration aimed at eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, with some calling on Elon Musk to make the organization one of his cost-cutting targets.

Cam Ward believes he solidified his shot to become the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

The Tennessee Titans have the first crack to make the Heisman Trophy finalist from Miami their franchise quarterback. Or they could choose Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way star Travis Hunter, the Heisman winner.

NASHVILLE (AP) — Dylan Holloway scored two goals to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night for their season-best eighth straight win.

Cam Fowler also scored and Joel Hofer made 16 saves for the Blues. Robert Thomas had two assists.

Jeremy Pruitt is suing the NCAA for $100 million for lost and future wages, accusing the organization of conspiring with the University of Tennessee making him possibly the "last coach in America to be punished for impermissible player benefits."

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's public schools could soon be required to teach that the keys to a successful life include following a proper sequence of events: high school, job or higher education, marriage and then children.

It's a proposal advancing inside the state's Republican-dominant Legislature and similar to others moving in several states this year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court for permission to resume deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law, while a court fight continues.

The emergency appeal to the high court follows a rejection of the Republican administration's plea to the federal appeals court in Washington. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of appellate judges left in place an order temporarily prohibiting deportations of the migrants under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two prominent law firms targeted by the White House sued Friday over virtually identical executive orders, pushing back over edicts meant to punish them over their association with attorneys who have previously investigated President Donald Trump.

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor from implementing parts of President Donald Trump's executive orders aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts among federal contractors and grant recipients.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to preserve records of a text message chat in which senior national security officials discussed sensitive details of plans for a U.S. military strike against Yemen's Houthis.

NEW YORK (AP) — If you know or suspect you can't pay the taxes you owe this tax season, you should still file a return with that information or file for an extension. That's the top piece of advice that tax professionals want you to know.

"The IRS wants to work with you," said Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals. "But if you're asking the IRS for some help, they have to know something about you. So the first thing is to have that return filed. The number one takeaway is that owing money is not a reason not to file."

SCHOENEICHE, Germany (AP) — The U.S. government is on a global egg hunt, seeking exports from countries in Europe and elsewhere to ease a severe shortage that has caused egg prices at grocery stores to hit record highs.

Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden are among the nations the U.S. Department of Agriculture approached to address the shortage brought on by a bird flu outbreak, according to European industry groups.

SIMBORO, Indonesia (AP) — Tucked between the village and the forest, Haruna and his father-in-law worked diligently through the night distilling dried patchouli plants, stoking the boiler with firewood, drops of fragrant patchouli oil trickling into plastic bottles.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed his intention to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order that targets funding for programs that advance "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology," the latest step in a broadside against culture he deems too liberal.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the nature of financial crime changes, with technology and AI increasingly used to perpetrate illegal acts, the IRS' crime fighting arm —IRS Criminal Investigation— is announcing a new program intended to improve how it interacts with financial institutions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's use of a popular messaging app to discuss sensitive military plans — with a journalist on the text chain — is raising questions about security and the importance of safeguarding the nation's secrets.

It's also highlighting the differences between classified and public information, and demonstrating that even encrypted apps like Signal can lead to embarrassing leaks if the humans doing the texting don't follow basic security tips.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation picked up last month and consumers barely raised their spending, signs that the economy was already cooling even before most tariffs were imposed.

Friday's report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices increased 2.5% in February from a year earlier, matching January's annual pace. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.8% compared with a year ago, higher than January's figure of 2.7%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Noted economist Arthur Laffer warns in a new analysis that President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle, adding that the proposed taxes could weaken the ability of U.S. automakers to compete with their foreign counterparts.

BEIJING (AP) — In an address to major global business leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged foreign investors to have faith in China's business prospects, the latest move to revive the world's second-largest economy that has been dragged down by a property bust and a loss of momentum.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump moved Thursday to end collective bargaining with federal labor unions in agencies with national security missions across the federal government, citing authority granted him under a 1978 law.

The order, signed without public fanfare and announced late Thursday, appears to touch most of the federal government. Affected agencies include the Departments of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice and Commerce and the part of Homeland Security responsible for border security.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are less likely to see Canada and the U.S. as close allies than they were two years ago, the latest indication that President Donald Trump's tariff threats and talk of taking over a neighboring ally are souring a critical economic and military relationship.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump can fire two board members of independent agencies handling labor issues from their respective posts in the federal government.

A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed to lift orders blocking the Trump administration from removing Merit Systems Protection Board member Cathy Harris and National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada gaming regulators have issued a $10.5 million fine against the Resorts World casino on the Las Vegas Strip over allegations of illegal gambling, many of which centered on a bookmaker with ties to the interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani.

NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Javice, the charismatic founder of a startup company that claimed to be revolutionizing the way college students apply for financial aid, was convicted on Friday of defrauding one of the largest U.S. banks, JPMorgan Chase, out of $175 million by exaggerating her customer base by 10 times.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A prominent international law firm reached a deal with President Donald Trump on Friday to provide at least $100 million in free legal services and to review its hiring practices, averting a punishing executive order like the ones directed at nearly a half-dozen other major legal institutions in recent weeks.

NEW YORK (AP) — Even if you're not in the market for a new car, U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports could make owning one more expensive.

The new taxes, which are set to begin April 3 and expand in the following weeks, are estimated to raise the average cost of a car imported from another country by thousands of dollars. But repairs for vehicles that currently use foreign-made parts are also expected to get pricier — and, as a result, hike insurance costs farther down the road.

President Donald Trump's administration is terminating grants for two clean energy projects and roughly 300 others funded by the Department of Energy are in jeopardy as the president prioritizes fossil fuels.

The DOE is canceling two awards to a nonprofit climate think tank, RMI in Colorado, according to a document from the agency confirming the cancellations that was reviewed by The Associated Press on Friday. One was for nearly $5.3 million to retrofit low-income multifamily buildings in Massachusetts and California to demonstrate ways to reduce the use of energy and lower planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The other was for $1.5 million to assess business models for electric vehicle carsharing in U.S. cities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Noted economist Arthur Laffer warns in a new analysis that President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle and says the proposed taxes could weaken the ability of U.S. automakers to compete with their foreign counterparts.

NEW YORK (AP) — Another wipeout walloped Wall Street Friday. Worries are building about a potentially toxic mix of worsening inflation and a U.S. economy slowing because of households afraid to spend due to the global trade war.

The S&P 500 dropped 2% for one of its worst days in the last two years. It thudded to its fifth losing week in the last six after wiping out what had been a big gain to start the week.

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Friday that Denmark has "underinvested" in Greenland's security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump continues to talk of taking over the Danish territory.

TORONTO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his first call with new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was "extremely productive" and Carney said talks on a new relationship will begin after the Canadian election next month.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is pushing the House of Representatives to pass a measure that would prevent immediate financial disaster for the District of Columbia even as he continues to level harsh criticism at the city and its leaders.