More than 16 million Americans live with a disease caused by smoking, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  It also reports one in four adults still use tobacco products, at least occasionally.  The American Lung Association lists smoking as the leading cause of preventable death.   CHI Memorial’s Rees Skillern Cancer Institute offers a ... (click for more)

Two BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plans each earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars for 2016 from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an accrediting body for health insurance plans. "The star ratings, debuted by NCQA in 2015, are designed to help consumers understand how well a health insurance plan supports its members in getting recommended care. With ... (click for more)

A Highway 58 man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit and run of a Rhea County man.   Walter Hale was badly injured and later died after he was struck in Dayton.   Authorities were led to Douglas Edward Alvey, 52, through video from the We Care business in Dayton, where the 60-year-old victim worked.   After officers with the Dayton ... (click for more)

A 78-year-old man has been found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest at a residence on Central Avenue. Chattanooga Police were called to the 1900 block of Central Avenue on Thursday at 10:08 a.m. Upon arrival, Chattanooga Police officers located George Garth deceased. At this time there is no suspect information available. Chattanooga Violent Crimes Bureau investigators ... (click for more)

Re: City Police donating two patrol cars to Kevin Muhammad's Nation of Islam: While I know it's unpopular to mention the wisdom of separation of church and state, this sets a dangerous precedent and should meet with concern from everyone who values religious and secular freedom. What's next? Southern Baptists getting old city parking scooters to patrol church parking lots ... (click for more)

Somebody should have gotten an award last Tuesday when a 90-minute “education summit” involving our school leaders, politicians and media produced absolutely nothing. Zilch. Zero. Oh, there are a number of candidates we could give an award for “nothing,” both in our school district and on its fringes. Yet to find Tennessee Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen brought her high-and-mighty ... (click for more)