Clint Cooper

Clint Cooper is the Free Press editor at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, representing the conservative side of the newspaper's opinion section. Previously he worked as the religion editor, assistant sports editor and Metro and Lifestyles staff writer for the newspaper. Clint has received numerous honors over the years for his writing and design including first place awards for Best Editorials and Best Single Editorial from the Tennessee Press Association. The Chattanooga native is a cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in mass communications and did postgraduate work there in secondary education. Clint and his wife, Donna, have one adult son, Patrick. Contact Clint at 423-757-6497 or ccooper@timesfreepress.com. You may friend him on Facebook.

Contact Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6497.

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Opinion: Beginning of the end or new beginning for Volkswagen in Chattanooga?

by Clint Cooper ·April 22, 2024

Is this the beginning of the end for Volkswagen in Chattanooga, or simply a new beginning?

Staff Photo By Olivia Ross / State Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, left, and Frank Jennings pose for a photo as United Auto Workers supporters gathered at IBEW headquarters on Friday to celebrate the union's win for representation of Volkswagen workers in bargaining rights with the company.

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Opinion: Transformation of Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital sets benchmark for Chattanooga’s Moccasin Bend

by Clint Cooper ·April 20, 2024

We wouldn't categorize it as an apples-to-apples comparison, but a city in North Carolina has shown the way in transforming a state mental hospital with a cultural history into a spacious park.

File Photo By Clint Cooper / Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, center, stands in the way of the use of the tip of the peninsula as part of the Moccasin Bend Archeological District.

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Opinion: Clint’s Clips: Legislature officially trivializes Bible by making it one of 10 state books

by Clint Cooper ·April 19, 2024

It was sad to us that Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill enshrining a version of the Bible and nine other texts as official state books, and that all but one member of the Hamilton County delegation supported the measure.

Contributed Photo/Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation this week, making a version of the Bible one of 10 texts to be tabbed state books.

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Opinion: Don’t rush through education scholarships program without full debate on merits

by Clint Cooper ·April 18, 2024

We can't say we didn't see this coming.

File Photo/John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout / Sen. John Lundberg, R-Bristol, said the governor's Education Freedom Scholarship Act may not be able to pass this year.

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Opinion: Hamilton County commissioners should rethink move to chill public comments

by Clint Cooper ·April 16, 2024

Got a matter of grave importance to bring before the Hamilton County Commission? Hope it can wait a week.

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Opinion: Coonrod deserves benefit of doubt, but voters need investigations information sooner rather than later

by Clint Cooper ·April 15, 2024

The scrutiny of Chattanooga City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod is on the increase.

Staff File Photo / City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod is facing a pair of investigations about her residency and the nonprofit she runs.

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Opinion: Site selection for current federal courthouse in 1930 was a free-for-all

by Clint Cooper ·April 13, 2024

The relatively quiet determination of the site for a new Chattanooga federal courthouse in 2024 is nothing like the near free-for-all that resulted in the selection of the current Joel W. Solomon Federal Building site on Georgia Avenue nearly 100 years ago.

Staff File Photo / Four cyclists wheel past the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and onto East 10th Street in this June 9, 2014, photo.

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Opinion: Clint’s Clips: Tennessee added to list of states desiring a term limits convention

by Clint Cooper ·April 12, 2024

How do you feel about term limits for members of Congress?

Getty Images / The Tennessee Senate has passed a resolution that makes the Volunteer State one of seven states seeking a national convention to set term limits for members of Congress.

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Opinion: Fleischmann may have right idea about not counting noncitizens, but his bill won’t go anywhere

by Clint Cooper ·April 11, 2024

If you took a poll of U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann's constituents, you would undoubtedly find majority support for the Equal Representation Act which he is co-sponsoring.

AP File Photo/John Raoux / The briefcase of a census taker is seen as she knocks on the door of a residence, Aug. 11, 2020, in Winter Park, Florida.

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Opinion: Tennessee legislators try to close social media’s Pandora’s box with parental consent requirement

by Clint Cooper ·April 9, 2024

Social media has become almost like a Pandora's box, platforms that once open contain much potential evil and are impossible to close.