Dave Flessner is the business editor for the Times Free Press. A journalist for 35 years, Dave has been business editor and projects editor for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, city editor for The Chattanooga Times, business and county reporter for the Chattanooga Times, correspondent for the Lansing State Journal and Ingham County News in Michigan, staff writer for the Hastings Daily Tribune in Nebraska, and news director for WCBN-FM in Michigan. Dave, a native of Lansing, Mich., joined the Times Free Press in 1999 after working for 19 years at The Chattanooga Times. He covers energy, business and special projects, including the Tennessee Valley Authority. Dave has previously covered police, county government, politics and education. A 1979 graduate of the University of Michigan, Dave also studied economics at Michigan State University's Graduate School of Business. He has won more than a dozen journalism awards for business, breaking and investigatory reporting, including first place honors for education coverage in 2007 from the Tennessee Press Association, investigative reporting in 2006 and project reporting in 2005 from the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists, deadlline reporting in 2002 from the Georgia Associated Press Association, and health care reporting in 2001 from the Tennessee Hospital Association. Contact Dave at 423-757-6340 or dflessner@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on twitter at twitter.com/chattreporter.
Chattanooga gas prices fell another 11.3 cents a gallon in the past week, dropping to the lowest inflation-adjusted price for fuel for the start of spring in modern history.
by Dave FlessnerChattanooga's biggest bank is limiting its branch operations to scale back retail operations as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.
by Dave FlessnerAs the heightened demand for household essentials continues across the country in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, a Tennessee-based retailer said today it plans to nearly double its normal hiring rate and add up to 50,000 employees by the end of April.
by Dave FlessnerNearly a century after the Tennessee Valley Authority was created to help harness the power of the Tennessee River, the federal utility is looking to the sun for more of its power.
by Dave FlessnerWest Star Aviation, which opened a $22 million corporate aircraft maintenance facility at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in 2016, on Friday released some of its contract labor at its four facilities.
by Dave FlessnerWith layoffs underway or expected soon at many restaurants, retailers and other businesses hurt by the coronavirus shutdown of activity, state unemployment offices are shifting their focus and staff to handle the expected surge in new claims for jobless benefits online.
by Dave FlessnerConsumers trying to cope with the economic fallout from the growing COVID-19 epidemic are getting some reprieve in what they pay for energy.
by Dave FlessnerAmerica's biggest retailer plans to hire 4,200 workers in Tennessee in the next couple of months to staff its stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.
by Dave FlessnerIf you are getting cabin fever and looking for outdoor solace amid the coronavirus epidemic, state and national campgrounds and parks are staying open for campers, hikers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts.
by Dave FlessnerThe chairman of Waffle House, a chain known for getting its restaurants back up and running after natural disasters, isn't happy with where he says many political leaders are heading on the coronavirus response.
by Dave FlessnerThe market value of Chattanooga's publicly traded companies has lost more than half of its collective value so far this year following another major sell-off of stocks on Wall Street Wednesday.
by Dave FlessnerFood City CEO Steve Smith has a message for those being hurt by the closing or cutbacks at local restaurants, gyms, hotels, bars, stores and other businesses because of the coronavirus outbreak.
by Dave FlessnerClaims for new jobless benefits by workers who just lost their jobs in Tennessee nearly tripled in the second week of March compared with the start of the month, according to state figures released Tuesday.
by Dave FlessnerDespite closing schools and declaring a state of emergency, Tennessee is among one of the least aggressive states in tackling the growing coronavirus pandemic, according to a study released today.
by Dave FlessnerOne of Chattanooga's biggest employers is shifting most of its staff to at-home work this week and giving workers extra pay or benefits to help in the transition.
by Dave FlessnerThe Pulse, a weekly entertainment publication that covers music, arts, entertainment and culture in the Chattanooga area, is suspending its print editions.
by Dave FlessnerThe average price of regular gas in Chattanooga dropped 10.5 cents per gallon in the past week to $1.91 a gallon, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 stations. Gas prices in Chattanooga are 33.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago and at the lowest mid-March levels in four years.
by Dave FlessnerOne of Chattanooga's oldest and most popular family-style diners famous for allowing patrons to share food on Lazy Susan tables has closed down its sit-down service and is launching delivery service for the first time in 70 years.
by Dave FlessnerWhen Josh Yother took over Skyuka Hall in 2014, the school once known as Scenic Land School had shrunk to only about a dozen students and was nearly out of money.
by Dave FlessnerAs thousands of local students are moving to online course work and more employees are doing telework from home, major internet providers are offering some short-term upgrades, discounts and service expansions to aid the expected surge in online usage and demand.
by Dave Flessner