In an opinion released Wednesday, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the felony theft conviction of the defendant, Denton Jones. Over a period of 15 days, Jones stole several fitness trackers from two Target stores in Knoxville on five visits to the stores. In the indictment, the state aggregated the offenses from five separate misdemeanor thefts to one felony count. Jones ... (click for more)

Mueller Water Products officials announced on Wednesday that the company will expand its Tennessee presence and locate new operations in Marion County. The project will create up to 325 new jobs in Kimball over the next five years. Mueller Water Products, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement ... (click for more)

The "East Chattanooga Rising" Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was delayed when the city's Industrial Development Board did not get a quorum on Thursday morning. Chairman Skip Ireland said two of the seven members became ill. Also present were Ray Adkins and Jelena Butler. A public hearing still went forward including a full explanation of the TIF from three speakers. Chairman ... (click for more)

Volkswagen of America and The Conservation Fund announced an initiative to help protect and restore forestland in the United States, starting with making some 1,500 acres near the Chattanooga VW plant available for park land. Volkswagen plans to provide a $1.25 million donation to The Conservation Fund, who will use a portion of the funds to buy, protect and donate hundreds of ... (click for more)

A wise man once wrote that reading about tax increment financing is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Yes, it is boring, but it is important that the city use this tool wisely to create economic development opportunities and to build community trust. On Thursday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m., the Industrial Development Board (IDB) will hold a public hearing regarding a proposed ... (click for more)

For a guy that endured the evolution of personal computers, I’ve never forgotten one of the earliest truths: “GIGO -- Garbage In, Garbage out.” As a newspaper reporter who started with Royal portable typewriters, then went to “telecopiers,” and then “Telerams,” and then Radio Shack’s first really portable computer and on down the line, I still marvel at mankind’s genius. When I ... (click for more)