Chattanooga - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Turnout was down 75% in Middle Tennessee special election

As an off-cycle special election, turnout in the special election primary for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District race was down significantly compared to the 2024 general election.

By Adam Friedman / Tennessee Lookout November 10, 2025

Democratic turnout in the Oct. 7 primary, in which state Rep. Aftyn Behn was selected as the nominee, came close to Republican turnout.

LaFayette High School teacher killed in house fire

A Walker County teacher died in a house fire Sunday morning, according to county officials, and his wife and two children received serious injuries.

By Staff Report November 9, 2025

Walker County / Walker County officials released this photo of the damage at a home on Ridgewood Circle.

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Five things to watch on the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission agenda

Hamilton County planning commissioners are set to review projects that include a subdivision near Birchwood, high-density housing in Highland Park and more at their Monday meeting.

By Emily Crisman November 9, 2025

Staff file photo / The Regional Planning Commission gathers in the Hamilton County Commission room for a meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025.

Public input sought on Booker T. Washington, North Chickamauga Creek Gorge state parks

$10M event center coming to Booker T. Washington, $5.5M restroom, parking facilities funded for North Chick

By Ben Benton November 9, 2025

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Leaves change color as people fish from a dock at Booker T. Washington State Park on Nov. 7, 2025. The state is seeking public input on its plan for the park, one of two parks in the Chattanooga region to be included in updated management plans for 14 state parks across the state.

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Kennedy: At UTC, ‘Dr. K’ spurs young inventors

You might have heard of pro basketball great Julius Erving, aka "Dr. J."

By Mark Kennedy November 9, 2025

Staff Photo by Mark Kennedy / University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Erkan Kaplanoglu guides engineering students who are developing biotech devices for rehabilitation and treatment.

Chattanooga city officials look at providing shutdown aid, but not for two more weeks

Amid uncertainty about when federal food aid benefits will resume, the city of Chattanooga is looking at its options to reduce strain on those in need -- though that help likely won't come for weeks.

By Siena Duncan November 9, 2025

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Volunteers place labels on cans of cream corn at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. The city of Chattanooga is considering giving $200,000 to the food bank to help it manage increased traffic in the wake of the federal government shutdown.

More Chattanooga areas targeted for code inspection ‘blitz.’ See where

Areas of Chattanooga, based on City Council district, will be hit by a code inspection 'blitz' over the next few months, according to a Public Works Department press release.

By Siena Duncan November 5, 2025

Staff file photo / Code violation tags hang on the doors of a vacant storefront on West Eighth Street on Oct. 2, 2018, in Chattanooga. The city's code inspection team will be looking at as many addresses as possible by City Council district over the next few months, into 2026.

Alabama commission weighs security concerns, law enforcement needs around drones

An Alabama commission charged with regulating drones Tuesday weighed security concerns around drones manufactured in China with law enforcement insistence that no domestic manufacturer makes comparable ones.

By Ralph Chapoco November 5, 2025

Photo by Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector
Members of the Alabama Unmanned Aircraft System Study Commission sit behind a drone during a meeting on Nov. 4, 2025. The drone is part of the fleet used by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The Commission heard from law enforcement about the need to continue using drones made by a company based in China.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announces $5M for food banks during food aid benefits freeze

Days after thousands of Tennessee families lost monthly federal food benefits, Gov. Bill Lee announced he would direct $5 million in state funding to food banks.

By Anita Wadhwani and Sam Stockard / Tennessee Lookout November 5, 2025

Photo by John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout
Volunteers with Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville work to feed people impacted by the federal government's funding freeze for food aid.

Alabama tax revenue growth slows as COVID relief disappears and interest rates drop

The growth in tax collections declined in 2025 and the trend is expected to continue for 2026, according to a report from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA).