News - Friday, April 20, 2018

If an artist were to paint a picture of Kevin Christopher’s childhood, it wouldn’t be pretty. Shadows and dark colors would swirl around a young boy whose father wasn’t there, whose feet could find no purchase on the constantly shifting sands of his living situation and who even found himself at odds with the law from time to time as he grew older.

Why should UT Knoxville be limited to its annual Sex Week when Tennessee legislators are celebrating year-round?

Based on the scurrilous reports published in these parts over the last couple of years, state legislators are doing more than collecting per diems in Nashville, and there’s plenty of evidence to prove it.

Beginning in fall 2018, students can attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law without having to commit to full-time study.

The board of trustees in March approved the college’s request to offer a flexible schedule Juris Doctor degree.

The Tennessee Supreme Court clarified when a new legal ruling issued after a criminal trial should be applied to a case retroactively and what standards an appellate court should apply to decide whether the new rule affords a defendant relief.

These issues were presented in Christopher Minor’s appeal of his convictions of felony murder, aggravated robbery and other charges, including seven counts of violating the criminal gang offense statute and his sentence of more than 60 years in prison for his participation in a robbery and murder in Madison County.

There’s a new face at the office of the Chattanooga Bar Association for the first time in 17 years. Administrative assistant Chrystal Teague has assumed the position formerly occupied by Wanda Paschal, who has retired.

A native Chattanoogan, the 34-year-old Teague brings several years of experience as a legal secretary for a local attorney and with Moccasin Bend’s legal department to the position.

New real estate firms are popping up left and right in Hamilton County as owners and brokers position themselves to take advantage of the current housing boom. But one company with 40 years of experience in the Greater Chattanooga area is showing that a tried-and-true firm is more than up to the task as well: Coldwell Banker Pryor Realty.

The National Association of Realtors is joining its 1.3 million members across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and further advocate for inclusion and diversity in the nation’s communities.

NAR is also recognizing April as Fair Housing Month, with education and events for members and state and local Realtor associations throughout the month.

The Greater Chattanooga housing market continues to show strength as we edge into what is arguably the busiest time of year for buyers and sellers.

New residential real estate has been relatively slow in the first quarter of 2018, yet housing is resilient in a consistently improving economy.

The spring home buying season is in full gear in the Chattanooga area and North Georgia, and the home building industry is celebrating New Homes Month throughout the month of April.

If you’re in the market for a new home you’re probably thinking about what features are essential on your must-have list. Do you wonder if other home buyers are looking for the same things?

“What’s the main difference between a contemporary art center and a traditional one?” one might ask. The founder of the Stove Works Contemporary Art Center nonprofit, 34-year-old Charlotte Caldwell, has an answer.

“Intent, is the main difference. A contemporary center features artists who are producing objects of art that address social and political complexities. The stories of those who create the visual work are an important part of the showcase,” she says.

Actor Jon Hamm is the best reason to see “Beirut,” an old school espionage thriller set in civil war-torn Lebanon. Not that the film as a whole isn’t worth seeing, but Hamm, who made a name for himself as Don Draper in TV’s “Mad Men,” does good work as a former diplomatic tasked with negotiating the release of a friend from Middle Eastern terrorists.

Crye-Leike Real Estate Services is now ranked as the nation’s third largest independently-owned real estate firm, according to the 2018 REAL Trends 500 annual ranking report.

Crye-Leike ranked third on the report’s list of largest independents with 28,699 closed transactions corporate wide reported in 2017, beating last year’s ranking of fifth largest real estate brokerage.

April 22 is Earth Day. First observed in 1970, Earth Day has evolved into an international celebration, with nearly 200 countries holding events to support clean air, clean water and other measures to protect our planet. As an investor, what lessons can you learn from this special day?

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will host its final Luken Holdings Pops Series concert of the season, Bob’s Favorites, Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre. The event will celebrate principal pops conductor Bob Bernhardt’s 25th anniversary with the CSO with a concert comprised of his favorite show tunes, movie music and more.