News - Friday, June 12, 2026

Twenty-seven years ago, Chattanooga police Sgt. Tim Carroll stood beside a creek off Cannon Avenue as investigators recovered the body of a woman.

She’d been dead for months.

Partially clothed and found near Interstate 24, she wore red shorts, a red ponytail holder and a rubber band around her left wrist. A ligature – the instrument of her death – remained around her neck.

Is the best-kept secret in town really a secret if everyone else seems to know about it?

The discovery of a new dining – or rather, sipping – destination is the focus of this installment of Food FAQ, as we dive into the sparkling depths of The Spritzeria.

On a warm evening in Chattanooga, a concert, festival or fireworks display can still draw thousands of people to the Tennessee River. Yet for all the success of the city’s celebrated waterfront, River City Company president and CEO Emily Mack says one of Chattanooga’s greatest civic assets has reached an important crossroads.

Occasionally, a national ranking grabs attention and creates the impression that it tells the full story of our housing market. A recent online report labeled Chattanooga as having “overpriced homes” – and it quickly made the rounds.

Getting married is a major decision that comes with a financial to-do list that’s arguably more important than choosing a venue or a cake. Talking openly about money can help set you and your partner up for a stronger future.

What financial conversations should I have with my fiancé?

Head into your marriage with honest conversations about money, including these four topics: 

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has appointed Lee Williams Weldon as its next vice chancellor for advancement and executive director of the UC Foundation, effective July 16.

Weldon brings more than 15 years of higher education advancement experience and most recently served as senior associate vice president of development for Miami University and chief development officer for the Miami University Foundation.

Hoar Construction has broken ground on a new 54,000-square-foot rehabilitation hospital in Ooltewah that is expected to open in spring 2027.

The inpatient facility is being developed by The Sanders Trust, with Lifepoint Health as owner in partnership with CommonSpirit Health. Hoar is serving as general contractor for the project.

The Master Gardeners of Hamilton County will present their annual tour on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The self-guided outing will feature five private gardens and the arboretum at Southern Adventist University’s Hickman Science Center, 4836 Colcord Drive, Collegedale. Additional stops include 7902 and 7903 Bear Stone Drive, Ooltewah; 6508 White Oak Valley Circle, McDonald; 8920 Finney Point Drive, Ooltewah; 10984 Prairie Lake Drive, Apison; and 1864 Holden Farm Place, Ooltewah. Highlights include annuals, perennials, native plants, pollinator gardens, water features, stone pathways and an arboretum with an audio guide. Admission is $20 and is good for both days. Proceeds will benefit the organization’s horticulture scholarship and community garden grant programs. Tickets

The U.S. General Services Administration has unveiled the design concept for a new federal courthouse in downtown Chattanooga, presenting plans for a classical-style building that officials say will serve as the region’s primary center for federal judicial operations for generations.

Competition is robust for the title of Tennessee’s Most Embarrassing Public Official, a contest I hereby create. The legislature alone is deep with worthy contenders, each seemingly intent on out-dumbing the other on any given day.

To name but a few I’ve written about before: Sen. Janice Bowling, with her belief that Tennessee schools are providing litter boxes for students identifying as cats; Rep. Gino Bulso, with his opposition to barring first cousins from marrying each other; Rep. Todd Warner, for his bill to rename Nashville’s airport for Donald Trump.

Karlyn Pickens wore her University of Tennessee softball uniform for nearly as long as a senior possibly can. The generational ace helped the Lady Vols reach the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series for the second consecutive year.

By Bradley Iger | Edmunds 

Once you’ve decided to buy an electric vehicle, the exciting but tricky part is choosing which one to get. 

For a growing number of car shoppers, an electric SUV makes the most sense for everyday life. The latest models have enough range to handle everyday driving and the occasional trek out of town without much of an issue. They’re also roomy for your family and have some innovative technology features. 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Anthropic will donate $150 million to launch a fellowship program that places people early in their careers with nonprofits around the country to help them use artificial intelligence more effectively in their work.

Claude Corps, named for the company's popular AI chatbot, will hire and embed 1,000 fellows trained in the use of Claude at a wide range of organizations for a year. Anthropic President Daniela Amodei told The Associated Press the company hopes the program will expand and become a pillar of its strategy to help humankind realize the benefits of AI while also managing its risks.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he had called off new military strikes on Iran, suggesting progress had been made in talks to end the war just hours after the American leader threatened to escalate the conflict by seizing control of Iran's oil industry.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied to their best day in two months, and oil prices fell Thursday after President Donald Trump called off his threat to bomb Iran in the evening. That raised hopes for a potential deal that could get the global flow of oil going again.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he plans to nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, as director of national intelligence.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. government on Thursday announced sanctions against Cuba's state-owned oil and gas company in a move expected to increase tensions between the two countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that key assets of the company, known as Cupet, were "unlawfully expropriated from American owners years ago."

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key surveillance tool that allows the United States to collect intelligence abroad appears certain to expire after Congress on Thursday failed to temporarily extend the program, in a protest of President Donald Trump 's temporary pick to head the nation's intelligence agencies.