David Cook is the award-winning city columnist for the Times Free Press, working in the same building where he began his post-college career as a sportswriter for the Chattanooga Free Press. Cook, who graduated from Red Bank High, holds a master's degree in Peace and Justice Studies from Prescott College and an English degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. For 12 years, he was a teacher at the middle, high school and university levels. A Marshall Memorial Fellow, Cook published in magazines (The Sun, Utne Reader, Geez), academic journals, an anthology on homelessness ("Personal Struggles, Professional Lives: Ethics and Advocacy in Research on Homelessness" — Lexington Press) and an anthology on grandparents and grandchildren ("Grandparenting with Heart" — North Atlantic).
JaLonnie Mack was 15 and pregnant with nowhere to turn. Then, she found Baby University.
by David CookIn the late '80s and early '90s, public and private forces aligned to create a series of economic and cultural changes so profound, people all over the world took note. Some even called it a renaissance.
by David CookIt is time to undo the school system merger.
by David CookIn February, Get Vaccinated Chattanooga held its first free vaccine clinic, and 880 people came.
by David CookMy soul, what a life.
by David CookLakweshia Ewing remembers decades ago, sitting at the elementary school lunch table as her friend — the preacher's daughter — was talking about the church van that got stolen. All her classmates were nodding, yes, how awful, how bad.
by David CookTen days ago, local police arrested a 13-year-old for shooting a 14-year-old.
by David CookThere was a shooting Wednesday night. According to local media, both victim and suspect were children.
by David CookSome years ago, Ric Morris was driving downtown. Morris is a dark-skinned Black man. He was driving a Mercedes. Used, not new.
by David CookDon't call them selfish.
by David CookThe big political headline last week: US Rep. Liz Cheney lost her leadership position in Congress.
by David CookSpringer Capital is a real estate equity firm in Philadelphia, some 700 miles away. It owns properties along the eastern U.S., including two apartment complexes in Chattanooga.
by David CookYears ago, a friend was teaching elementary school in North Georgia.
by David CookWe were in the kitchen cooking. Tuesday night. My wife read the news on her phone.
by David CookYes, in Tuesday's mayoral run-off, Tim Kelly won.
by David CookIt was Saturday, March 14, 2020.
by David CookHer name was Claudine.
by David CookImagine the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park without any statues or memorials.
by David CookTo all the poll workers, campaign volunteers, voters, election officials and candidates who ran for the right reasons: Thank you.
by David CookTuesday, the city votes for a new mayor.
by David Cook