News - Friday, August 14, 2026

Somewhere in the South African bush, a leopard had found an effective place to protect her prize.

High in a tree, beyond the reach of prowling hyenas, she’d stashed a kill from earlier in the day.

Jessica Lautz couldn’t help but see a parallel.

Folks in Chattanooga seem obsessed with declaring which restaurant serves not just the best hamburger in the city, but the entire state. Rarely does a day pass that I don’t drive by Merv’s on Mountain Creek Road and through the shadow of the sign promising “Tennessee’s Greatest Burger” inside.

When 2-year-old Amelia Aiken placed her hands on the bright pink wheels of a custom-built mobility chair at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she quickly figured out how to make it go.

Within moments, she was propelling herself down the hallway.

A historic Monteagle building that played a role in the American labor and civil rights movements has received permanent protection through a preservation easement held by Preserve Chattanooga.

The Highlander Folk Library, part of the former Highlander Folk School campus, is the first property outside Hamilton County on which the Chattanooga-based nonprofit has accepted a preservation easement.

For Winnie Paris, service has never been limited to one role or one season of life. From serving in the U.S. Navy to raising her family, staying active in the community and building a career in real estate, her path has always centered on helping others.

If you’re dealing with debt, you’re far from alone. More than 80% of U.S. households carry some form of debt (2025 Federal Reserve report), and since 2019, total household debt for Americans has increased more than 31% to $18.59 trillion. 

The city of East Ridge will celebrate the grand reopening of the newly renovated East Ridge Community Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, Aug. 22. The ribbon cutting begins at 11 a.m., followed by tours, family-friendly activities, raffles and a light lunch (while supplies last) through 4 p.m. The $2.6 million renovation includes an expanded gym with a regulation basketball court and pickleball courts, improved accessibility, upgraded building systems and remodeled community spaces. The East Ridge Community Center is located at 1517 Tombras Ave. Information

Local 3 WRCB is reshuffling its weekday anchor lineup with several familiar faces moving into new roles beginning Monday, Aug. 17.

Sports Director Ben Bobick and reporter Sierra Rucker will become anchors of “Local 3 Today,” joining meteorologist Clay Smith for the weekday broadcast 4:30-7 a.m. Bobick, who has spent nearly a decade covering sports across the Tennessee Valley, will continue his Friday Morning Football and Horsing Around features.

The Chattanooga Police Department welcomed 21 new officers with the graduation of CPD Academy Class 2026-2 following a 20-week police academy.

The graduating class represents a wide range of professional and life experiences, including four military veterans, a former professional football player, a former wildland firefighter, a personal trainer and a welder.

Peter Skoronski got paid by the Titans last week – a $100 million deal that made him the NFL’s highest-paid guard. The Titans would love it if somehow JC Latham is the next player to earn a big contract extension with the club.

Perhaps more than any other element of the offensive line, Tennessee needs Latham to stay healthy and take a big leap forward this season, the way Skoronski played himself into their long-term plans a year ago.

Choosing the best new SUV for your needs can be difficult, especially if you plan on using it for towing. A vehicle’s maximum tow rating is an important consideration, but it only tells part of the story. 

The best towing SUVs combine stable handling, strong braking and enough power to keep you moving on hills and mountain grades. Ideally, they also offer advanced technology features that simplify hitching and maneuvering while remaining comfortable and easy to live with day to day.

Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. A solution to a thorny problem is likely right in front of you, but you know how easily things can be overlooked and that can cost money. So counteract any oversight. Fix the issue by looking for these great business books …

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Cam Ward struggled in three drives for Tennessee against San Francisco's backup defense and the Titans went on to beat the 49ers 19-13 in the exhibition opener for both teams Thursday night.

Tony Pollard ran for a touchdown and Joey Slye kicked four field goals for the Titans, with three coming from at least 50 yards out.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the White House to continue construction on its $400 million ballroom project while it appeals a lower court's order to halt the work.

Trump's solicitor general petitioned the high court to suspend last week's decision by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione's lawyers have told a judge that Mangione plans to plead guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione's lawyers made the disclosure on Friday during a hastily scheduled Manhattan federal court hearing, which is ongoing. He could still change his mind.

LONDON (AP) — Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to consider the death of the summertime state of mind.

The season itself is in no danger; climate change, mainly caused by the burning of oil, gas and coal, is warming the weather year-round. Viewed this way, summer-like weather is ascendant. It's setting records across the globe — melting Arctic ice, driving droughts, intensifyingwildfires, spinning up storms and endangering millions of people who can't affordair conditioning, time off work or "coolcations." The heat is so extreme in Asia that Japan has coined a new meteorological category for the danger: kokusho-bi — or "cruelly hot day."

PARIS (AP) — A top court in France on Friday struck down a law banning children under 15 from using social media, saying it infringes on fundamental freedoms.

The Constitutional Council ruled that provisions in the ban "disproportionately infringe freedom of expression and communication" and haven't provided legal guarantees to ensure those rights, according to a press release summarizing the decision.

Ask a teen what they want to be when they grow up, and there's a fair chance being an influencer is on their list.

Digital media and the people who star in it have been cultural mainstays for teens' entire lives, so creating social media, video or podcast content seems a natural, albeit nontraditional, career path. And now they can earn a college degree in that very field.

NEW YORK (AP) — As traumatic injuries and deaths surge among children involved in crashes on e-bikes and other electrified vehicles, one California prosecutor is cracking down by pursuing criminal charges against some of the young riders' parents.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is ordering the U.S. Navy to remove the advanced system used to launch fighter jets from its newest type of aircraft carrier and return to using older steam catapults that he has long said he prefers, according to a directive issued Thursday.

A U.S. soldier's wife who spent more than a month in federal immigration detention said she is back home after officers removed her from a deportation flight to Brazil.

Earlier this month, The Associated Press highlighted Maisa Lopes Eliaser as one of dozens of spouses or parents of U.S. troops who had been detained after President Donald Trump's administration rolled back protections for military families amid its push for mass deportations. Following the AP's reporting, a group of Congressional Democrats launched an investigation into deportations of military service members and their families.

NEW YORK (AP) — After splurging on the World Cup and Amazon Prime Day sales, Americans unexpectedly cut their spending in July by the biggest amount in more than a year.

Retail sales fell 0.6% last month, marking the biggest decrease since May 2025, compared with a revised gain of 0.2% in June, according to the Commerce Department data released Friday. Economists were projecting a small increase.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to highlight his record on crime and safety during a visit to New York on Friday, pivoting to one of his strongest issues as he looks to boost Republicans in battleground races ahead of the November midterms.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's son-in-law and negotiator Jared Kushner will travel to the Middle East next week to try to advance plans for an end to the conflict in Gaza after a deal recently announced by the Trump administration ran into Israeli opposition.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The battle over the Kennedy Center's future escalated Thursday as President Donald Trump's allies on the board took new steps to commemorate him with physical changes to the iconic performing arts institution that could defy a federal court order.