The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced on Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in May was 4.7 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 4.6 percent in April. In May 2016, the rate was 4.9 percent. The rate rose as the labor force grew and there was an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance. ... (click for more)

A Naval special warfare team member from Chattanooga has co-founded a tech startup for customizable workout supplements. Benjamin Lowry said he served five years in the Navy as Direct Support to East Coast Naval Special Warfare (NSW) units, had three deployments to Afghanistan, set the military sit-up record in Florida, graduated Army Airborne School, tried out for a D1 football ... (click for more)

Former City Councilman Manny Rico, who discovered two dead bodies at the Highland Memorial Gardens on Tuesday morning, said it appeared their killers "were making a statement." Mr. Rico said the bodies were lying on a roadway. He said, "It was just a short distance from some woods. They could have dumped them there and they would not have been found for a long time." Police ... (click for more)

An eyewitness to a murder told a Criminal Court jury that a man in the back seat of her boyfriend's car told another youth to shoot the boyfriend. Charles "Chaz" Holsey, 19, died as a result of the gunfire after a drug deal gone bad on March 2, 2015. Briston Smith, who was 18 at the time of the slaying, is standing trial for felony murder and attempted especially aggravated ... (click for more)

We want to add to the many heart-felt messages that have been expressed regarding the recent passing of Tom Edd Wilson, a truly great visionary.    While he made his mark on many local organizations, Tom Edd will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who worked closely with him at Erlanger.   We benefited greatly from his steady guidance, leadership ... (click for more)

Franklin McCallie, a former principal at Howard School and the maverick in one of Chattanooga’s finest families known for education, delivered an impassioned speech before the Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday. Sadly, his remarks came after the commissioners had passed the FY2018 budget that has no financial methodology for the Department of Education, much maligned in the ... (click for more)