During November's Apprenticeship Week – which formally launched a remarkable new program called Apprenticeship Works – one local woman from Unum who participated and graduated from its company's apprenticeship program declared to a crowd of Chattanooga's business leaders, elected officials, and media: My apprenticeship is one of the best things in my life.
It feels like a very long funeral in America right now. So much heartache and hurt. Often, it seems more than we can bear.
Several years ago, when Rod Francis first moved to Chattanooga, he began noticing with fresh eyes those big brown historic signs all around town, marked with three words:
The three Republican candidates for county mayor and two candidates for district attorney have discussed a variety of issues: crime, education, jobs.
Of all the sentences I've written in my career, this one may be the most surprising.
I have never been elected to public office, but I imagine there is a moment in the lives of all elected politicians when one's individual will and agenda come into conflict with the will and agenda of the people you were elected to serve.
Not long ago, David French, the political commentator, author and veteran - he's probably my favorite conservative writer - wrote a stirring essay that reminded us of the importance of the Ninth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
Meet William Burleson, a high school senior in Charlotte, N.C., graduating this spring, with plans to major in English and psychology in college.
Twenty minutes into the first county mayoral debate between our three Republican candidates, the moderator from Hamilton Flourishing asked a question about crime and violence.
Daffodils are such brave and encouraging flowers. Each winter, I see their green stalks emerging out of the still-cold ground, usually after some premature warm spell, and I think: You're too early. Return to cover. You've been duped.
