Latest Chattanooga Times/Free Press Stories

By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 6--Electricity rates in the Tennessee Valley could jump this fall by more than 15 percent because of the rising costs of coal and the lingering effects of the drought. TVA President Tom Kilgore said today that power rates for most consumers will increase for the third time this year on Oct. 1 under the automatic fuel cost adjustment made every three months by the federal utility. In a briefing for reporters today, Mr. Kilgore...

By Emily Bregel, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 6--The ruckus over a rumored abortion clinic in Chattanooga continued Tuesday as dozens of young people who oppose abortion gathered to protest. The event took place at the supposed future site of an abortion clinic on Hixson Pike. Young people ranging from about age 3 to the late 20s attended. The protest was organized by Charles Wysong, president of the American Rights Coalition, a Chattanooga-based advocacy group that gives...

By Holly Leber and Casey Phillips, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 6--Casey Phillips: From the previews, "Swing Vote" looked like it was going to end up trying too hard to be comedic, but as is often the case, the scenes selected for the trailer don't necessarily reflect the overall tone of the film. Yes, it has its funny moments, but the serious statement it makes about how our political system caters to special interests is what kept me watching. Well, that and a phenomenal...

By Holly Leber, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 5--As the saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know. The Internet continues to increase opportunities for networking, with sites such as MySpace and Facebook keeping people connected, complete with access to music preferences and embarrassing photos. For those seeking more formal, professional networking opportunities, however, there is LinkedIn. "(We're) taking networking to another level," said Krista Canfield, public...

By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 4--U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said today he is hopeful that Congress may vote as soon as next month on a compromise energy plan that would allow more offshore drilling but also tax oil companies more to pay for incentives for alternative energy. Mr. Corker, one of five Republican and five Democratic senators who forged the bi-partisan package over the past six weeks, said he was encouraged by comments over the weekend from...

By Joan Garrett, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 4--Jeff McEwen believes his 16-year-old son, Austin, can do just about anything he sets his mind to. Last year Austin scored a 30 on the ACT as a high-school sophomore. He plays seven musical instruments, paints and enjoys speaking German, Mr. McEwen said. "He is a very intelligent young man," Mr. McEwen said. Yet with all his accomplishment, there is one problem. Austin doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up. As...

By Kathy Gilbert, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 4--Reflection Riding Arboretum and Botanical Garden is up for recertification, so officials are out at the 300-acre preserve counting and identifying all trees. The process involves more than pinning labels to trees, said Chattanooga Urban Forester Gene Hyde, a member of the recertification team and a former Reflection Riding board member. "It would be great to do a GIS (geographic information system) inventory of all the trees...

By Beverly Carroll and Chloe Morrison, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 3--When Jeff Fava was at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in the early 1980s, high-tech learning tools were hard to come by. "If we had a calculator we felt like we were doing good," the Ringgold, Ga., resident said. When Mr. Fava's son starts his freshman year at Catoosa County's new Heritage High School this week, he will have access to a fully loaded television studio, photograpy darkroom, a 900-seat...

By Herman Wang, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Aug. 2--WASHINGTON -- Seeking to end political gridlock over gas prices, a bipartisan group of 10 senators from eight states, including Tennessee and Georgia, unveiled an energy plan Friday that includes increased oil drilling and expanded tax credits for alternative fuels and technology. The $84 billion plan would be paid for entirely by closing tax loopholes enjoyed by oil companies and new revenues from offshore drilling leases. "I...

By Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Jul. 31--NASHVILLE -- A top Tennessee State Employees Association official said Wednesday that Gov. Phil Bredesen could get enough workers to leave state employment rolls voluntarily if he would make offers to people at or near retirement age. "I think the only way to do this properly is just to let people volunteer because you have a significant number of employees who have 30-plus years who did not get the offer," Employee Association...