News - Friday, August 15, 2025

The numbers might have been heavy, but the delivery was light.

Dr. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors, brought a steady stream of statistics – and quips – to Greater Chattanooga Realtors’ annual Economic Outlook Breakfast Aug. 8 at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

After delivering a data-rich presentation on housing market trends at the Greater Chattanooga Realtors’ Economic Outlook Breakfast, Dr. Jessica Lautz opened the floor for audience questions. She addressed topics ranging from mortgage rate forecasts to insurance costs and strategies for first-time buyers navigating a competitive market.

As conversations around well-being gain momentum, August’s National Wellness Month is a perfect time to consider how our homes influence our health. More homeowners and buyers are prioritizing features that promote relaxation, sustainability and overall wellness.

Chattanooga Realtor Whitney Harvey was recently named one of the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 30 Under 30 honorees, an exclusive group of young professionals recognized for their achievements, leadership and community service. Here, Harvey discusses her path into real estate, her unique niche and the philosophy that drives her business.

When Melissa Poole unlocks the door to her new shop each morning, she’s stepping into more than a business. She’s stepping into a space filled with stories – some belonging to the furniture, lamps and vintage treasures on display, and some belonging to the people who bring them through her door.

This free, three-day event will feature internationally sanctioned competitions along the Tennessee River. Highlights will include the U.S. debut of Red Bull Creepers, a deep-water solo rock climbing event under the Market Street Bridge; a USA Diving-sanctioned high diving competition; and ChattaWake, Chattanooga’s first sanctioned wake surf event and a qualifier for the World Series of Wake Surfing. Organized in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga, the event will also feature highlining over the river, trampoline diving and freestyle “death diving” events. Founded by professional cliff diver Travis Sims, the festival promotes environmental responsibility through cleanups and water quality data collection. Since its origins as a sustainability tour, the initiative has removed more than 40,000 pounds of debris from waterways worldwide, including 15,000 from Tennessee. Beyond the sports, Ross’s Landing will become an outdoor playground with BMX river launches, a skate rink, slacklines and live electronic music each night. Information

The Humane Educational Society has completed its first week of surgeries at its newly opened low-cost spay and neuter clinic, marking a major milestone for the Chattanooga-based shelter.

The Community Spay and Neuter Clinic is open to all pet owners, regardless of county or jurisdiction, and costs up to 75% less than private veterinary practices in Tennessee. In addition to sterilization procedures, the clinic provides vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm testing for dogs and feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus testing for cats.

Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett has appointed Tim Davis as the new deputy chief of corrections for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, bringing more than 25 years of law enforcement and corrections leadership experience to the role.

Welcome to Flick Picks, your twice-monthly movie fix.

In each installment, we’ll spotlight three films: a fresh theatrical release, a buzz-worthy streaming pick and a classic worth revisiting. We’ll wrap it up with a snack suggestion – the perfect pairing for your home viewing.

Thirty-two cadets have officially joined the Chattanooga Fire Department after completing six months of intensive training at the department’s Fire Academy.

The program included Emergency Medical Technician certification, instruction in fire department operations, fire attack, suppression and search-and-rescue techniques. Cadets also mastered specialized skills such as hazardous materials response, vehicle extrication, rope rescues, ventilation and survival tactics designed to protect themselves or fellow firefighters in life-threatening situations.

You may have heard of the “4% rule” when it comes to retirement. The idea is simple: After you retire, you withdraw 4% of your investment portfolio each year. In theory, this helps ensure your savings last for your lifetime. 

While this rule can be a helpful starting point, it’s not a one-size-fits-all – and it’s definitely not a substitute for a plan tailored to your specific needs, wants and wishes.

Since nothing Taylor Swift ever does is small, her two-hour conversation with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce on their "New Heights" podcast is a watershed moment for a media format that has already outlived the device it was named for.

NASHVILLE (AP) — For a 3 1/2-year-old, Elmo sure has sung a lot on "Sesame Street" with some of the best musicians in the world.

But it wasn't until Thursday that the friendly red monster made his Grand Ole Opry debut, a country music rite of passage. The squeaky voiced singer's roots in the genre actually run pretty deep.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's capital sued to block President Donald Trump's takeover of its police department in court on Friday, hours after his administration escalated its intervention into the city's law enforcement by naming a federal official as the new emergency head of the department.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana sued the online gaming platform Roblox on Thursday, alleging the wildly popular site has perpetuated an environment where sexual predators "thrive, unite, hunt and victimize kids."

The lawsuit, filed in state court by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, alleges that Roblox has failed to implement effective safety measures to protect child users from adult predators.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump attempts to reshape college admissions, he's promising a new era of fairness, with an emphasis on merit and test scores and a blind eye toward diversity.

Yet the Republican president's critics — and some allies — are questioning his silence on admissions policies that give applicants a boost because of their wealth or family ties. While he has pressed colleges to eliminate any possible consideration of a student's race, he has made no mention of legacy admissions, an edge given to the children of alumni, or similar preferences for the relatives of donors.

When Terrence Dwyer received a knock on his door and a flyer for a solar panel system small enough to fit on his deck, he was quickly sold. Solar systems that plug into regular wall outlets have been popular in Europe for years and are gaining traction in the U.S. for their affordability and simple installation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — One major question will be front and center for Federal Reserve policymakers as they prepare for an annual conference in Jackson, Wyoming next week and a crucial policy meeting in September: Which is a bigger problem for the economy right now, stubborn inflation or slower hiring?

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers spent at a healthy pace in July, particularly at the nation's auto dealerships, even as President Donald Trump's tariffs start to take a toll on jobs and lead to some price increases.

But the figures also underscore anxiety among Americans: all the uncertainty around the expansive duties appears to be pushing them to step up their purchases of furniture and other items ahead of the expected price increases, analysts said.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes summit that could determine not only the trajectory of the war in Ukraine but also the fate of European security.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration, stepping up its crackdown on policing in the nation's capital, on Thursday named the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration to be Washington's "emergency police commissioner" with all the powers of the police chief — a significant move that increases national control over the city as part of the federal government's law-enforcement takeover.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ms. Jay didn't wait for the authorities to come before packing her tent and carrying what belongings she could across Pennsylvania Avenue on her way to whatever comes next.

She'd been living her "Girl Scout life," she said, saving money and looking for work while homeless. When she got word that the law was on its way, she found herself living the scouting motto: Be prepared.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday named the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Terry Cole, as Washington's "emergency police commissioner" as she carries out President Donald Trump's unprecedented decision to take over the Washington police department.

Don't splurge just yet. Rumors spread online Friday that the U.S. government will soon be issuing stimulus checks to taxpayers in certain income brackets.

But Congress has not passed legislation to authorize such payments, and, according to the IRS, no new stimulus checks will be distributed in the coming weeks.