News - Friday, August 28, 2020

The Chattanooga Bar Association has recognized two individuals who traveled different paths through life with the same honor: The 2020 Liberty Bell Award.

JoAnne Humphries Favors is a retired nurse, former legislator and devoted community servant who has spent her life “turning obstacles into opportunities for others,” states the proclamation which names her as a recipient of the award.

Best Lawyers in America has named 166 Chattanooga attorneys to the 2021 edition of its report, which recognizes the country’s leading lawyers based on a national peer review survey.

Best Lawyers also named 29 Chattanooga attorneys Lawyers of the Year.

Alexis Willis woke up one morning during Hamilton County’s COVID-19 quarantine and said, “I want to own a home in 60 days.”

To casual observers, the odds might have appeared to be stacked against her. Willis, 37, had never owned a home. Moreover, she had worked for nonprofits for over a decade. While this had been a labor of love, Willis had been unable to build personal wealth.

The last two weeks have been exciting times for our democracy. With the Democratic and Republican national conventions coming to an end, it’s clear both sides are highly invested in November’s general election.

While there’s little both parties agree on, there is one thing that binds them – the importance of voting. As a citizen, casting your ballot is both a right and a responsibility, and the results of voting can echo far into the future.

First-time homebuyers in the Tri-state area get plenty of help from Realtors and mortgage brokers during the search and purchase phases of buying a home, but what should you do after you close?

As soon as you move in, there are a few tasks you should consider completing to help keep your home comfortable and family safe. To help you transition to the status of new homeowner, consider adding the following items to your to-do list.

Community nonprofit blood center Blood Assurance is collecting plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 donors to be distributed to sites involved in the Passive Immunity Trial of the Nation study.

The study will test whether infusions of plasma collected from COVID-19 survivors can help other hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The plasma contains antibodies that fight against the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Tennessee District of the U.S. Small Business Administration has recognized Chattanooga-based BrightBridge Capital as its fiscal year 2019 top dollar and loan volume provider for the Community Advantage and 504 loan programs.

The awards, which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were announced during the LendersConnect Conference held virtually this month.

Newsweek has identified Siskin Hospital as one of America’s best physical rehabilitation facilities in a national ranking.

The magazine recognizes Siskin as one of five top physical rehabilitation facilities in Tennessee and in the top 15% in the country.

Chattanooga State Community College recently moved into the state budget winner’s circle when the General Assembly approved funds for a new $21.7 million advanced manufacturing building for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga.

 Labor Day is almost here. Of course, this year, the holiday may have a different impact, given the employment-related stress and disruptions stemming from the coronavirus. Yet, it’s good to recognize the value of work and its importance in achieving your life’s goals. But if you’re going to retire comfortably and reach your other financial objectives, you also need to invest – and your investments need to work as hard as you do.

Learning at home using technology has been a challenge for schools and families as everyone adapts to operating in a new learning arrangement during the pandemic.

At East Side Elementary School, the situation has become much more manageable thanks to a $32,500 donation to the school from the Church of the Good Shepherd to purchase Chromebooks. The school was able to buy an additional 147 Chromebooks to move closer to its goal of providing a device to every child.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga will host its first hybrid live and virtual Raise the Roof event Wednesday, Sept. 30, at noon.

The event will feature a welcome message from Jonathan Reckford, president and CEO of Habitat International. Linda Brock of Real Estate Partners is the event’s presenting sponsor for the second year.

A rule of thumb for car buying is that a used vehicle will provide greater savings and better value than a new vehicle. But “better value” isn’t applicable to every car, especially right now.

COVID-19’s effect on the auto industry has been twofold. For one, shoppers are aiming to spend less on a vehicle, often by buying used. Additionally, there’s less new car inventory because of factory slowdowns, furthering used car demand.

If you earn a decent income but have trouble saving, the culprits could be the roof over your head and the car in your driveway.

Retirement savers who contribute more to their 401(k)s

often spend less on housing and transportation than their peers, a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and J.P. Morgan Asset Management reveals.

There are many days when 2020 feels like the year that will never end. If someone had been taking bets in 2019 about how this year would play out, we all would have lost.

One of the most challenging things about this year has been self-care, which allows our best selves to show up for friends, family and co-workers.

The Great Recession demolished jobs across the U.S., and eventually came for mine, too. After graduating in 2009, I worked four months as an entry-level executive assistant at a nonprofit before being laid off.

I had limited financial knowledge, a short work history and a lot to prove to break into the field of journalism, my ultimate goal. Along the way, I picked up valuable lessons that might help you manage your finances during the coronavirus-related recession.