Around and About Chattanooga

By Michael Edward Miller

News & Politics Arts Government & Organizations Local

What's Around and About Chattanooga about?

Originating as a Chattanooga, Tennessee public radio show, Around and About features news, interviews, and arts coverage. In particular, the show covers human-interest stories, Southern literature and discussion of current events. Some guests are Chattanooga residents; others are national authors, experts and celebrities. The show is broadcast Mondays & Wednesdays on WUTC NPR 88.1 FM, and more information is at www.wutc.org.

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Around and About Chattanooga episodes:

11.16.2018
Thought for America Recycles Day: What Researchers Found in the TN River
Today is America Recycles Day, and here’s a discovery that could encourage more of us to put our plastics in the recycling bin instead of the garbage can... Researchers with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute say they’ve found the Tennessee...
11.15.2018
Why TVA Started Its Own Fire School
A pivotal event at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Brown’s Ferry Nuclear Plant changed how the nuclear power industry responds to fires.
11.14.2018
Sierra Hull, Chuck Mead & Many More Americana Artists at 11/17 Cumberland Trail Benefit
The Crossing the Cumberlands concert is coming up November 17 at the Tivoli with around 30 Americana artists performing. It’s a benefit for the development of the Cumberland Trail and the protection of the natural resources along the 300-mile corridor....
11.13.2018
Hamilton County Leading Tennessee in Strong Economic Growth, According to UT Report
Tennessee’s economy shows continued growth, especially in Hamilton County, according the Secretary of State’s new report released for the third quarter of this year. Dr. William Fox speaks with us about it. He directs the University of Tennessee’s Boyd Center...
11.13.2018
Forward Thinking: Chattanooga Design Studio Surveying How Pedestrians Use Innovation District
Later this week, if you’re walking through downtown Chattanooga’s Innovation District, someone might be watching you to see how you’re using the space. The Chattanooga Design Studio is putting out a call for volunteers: people to help survey which corridors...
11.09.2018
November Is Epilepsy Awareness Month
WUTC’s Richard Norwood speaks with Shawnessy Cargile, Educator for the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee.
11.09.2018
Election Roundup: For Some Local Candidates, Healthcare Wasn’t Just an Issue—It Was a Profession
A pediatrician, a family physician, and two nurses were among the candidates on various Hamilton County ballots during the midterm elections, and their experiences informed their ideas on increasing Tennessee residents’ access to healthcare.
11.08.2018
At UTC, Haslam Touts a Jobs Task Force for People with Disabilities
Governor Bill Haslam visited the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to see how the state’s Employment First Task Force is creating opportunities on campus. The task force helps people with intellectual, development and other disabilities get jobs. It started five...
11.07.2018
Confederate Monument Controversy, Other Topics Coming up at UTC’s Civil War Symposium
Dr. David Sachsman joins us to talk about the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 26 th annual Symposium on the 19 th -Century Press, the Civil War and Free Expression.
11.07.2018
Republicans Win 8 of 9 Partisan Races on Hamilton County Ballots
Yusuf Hakeem was the only winning Democrat in various Hamilton County elections Tuesday. He replaces Tennessee State House District 28 Representative JoAnne Favors, also a Democrat, who is retiring.
11.07.2018
‘Dracul’ Co-Author Dacre Stoker Explains His Family’s ‘Stake’ in the Dracula Legacy
The world’s most famous vampire novel was published in 1897, and since then, countless authors and screenwriters have created their own versions of Dracula. But author Dacre Stoker has a unique perspective on it. He’s the great-grand-nephew of Bram Stoker,...
11.07.2018
Urging Voters to Re-Defeat Hillary, Blackburn Wins
At her rally Sunday with President Trump and Vice President Pence, Republican candidate for Senate Marsha Blackburn associated her opponent with Hillary Clinton--something Blackburn did repeatedly during the campaign. She pointed out that Democrat Phil Bredesen had both supported Clinton...
11.06.2018
No ‘R’ and No ‘D’: Some Hamilton County Races Are Nonpartisan
Brian Williams faces Jim Bethune in today’s election for the next mayor of East Ridge. The race is free of political party affiliations, and Williams says it’s nice not having that bickering.
11.05.2018
Chattanooga Rally: Trump Denounces Democrats on Immigration; PolitiFact Refutes Trump’s Rhetoric
Immigration is a big concern for Tennessee voters as the November midterms approach, and as a caravan of thousands of migrants slowly makes its way through Mexico toward the United States. Some see the coming caravan as a threat or...
11.04.2018
At Blackburn’s Rally, Trump Is Main Draw for Some
President Trump and Vice President Pence are appearing at 7 pm at UTC’s McKenzie Arena to support Republican candidate for Senate Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn hopes to replace retiring Senator Bob Corker. She’s in a fierce race against Democrat Phil Bredesen,...
11.02.2018
Praise & Protests: UTC Students React to Upcoming Trump Rally on Campus
Students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are preparing for a Presidential appearance Sunday evening. Trump has rented UTC’s McKenzie Arena for a rally in support of Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn. Student reactions are mixed. Some students told...
10.31.2018
Bredesen, Trump Both Tout ‘Most Favored Nation’ Remedy for High Drug Costs
President Donald Trump proposes using the “most favored nation” business concept to force prescription drug companies to offer lower prices to the U.S. government. Right now, the U.S. often pays much more than other developed nations. More than a week...
10.31.2018
Chattanooga Artists Featured in the Hunter Invitational IV
There’s a new special exhibition at the Hunter Museum of American Art, and it features several local artists. WUTC's Will Davis takes us there.
10.30.2018
McNair’s WWI Song Cycle, Based on War Poems, Premieres at UTC 11/1
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Dr. Jonathan McNair has created a new song cycle: Returning, We Hear the Larks. The campus is observing the centennial of World War I, and these songs put melody to the verses of six...
10.30.2018
President Trump to Hold Campaign Rally at UTC On Sunday
Just before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump will visit Chattanooga to campaign for U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn, who is a Republican seeking to replace retiring U.S. Senator Bob Corker. Blackburn is a tight race with Democrat Phil Bredesen, the...
10.29.2018
Ballot Vox: Dr. Danielle Mitchell, U.S. House, TN District 3
Ahead of the November 6 th midterms, we’re speaking to candidates. Dr. Danielle Mitchell is running for Tennessee’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House. Previously, we spoke with Chuck Fleischmann, the Republican incumbent running for re-election. Today, we’re speaking...
10.29.2018
Ballot Vox: Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. House, TN District 3
Ahead of the November 6 th midterms, we’re speaking to candidates. Chuck Fleischmann represents Tennessee’s Third District congressional district in the U.S. House. The district covers much of East Tennessee, including Hamilton and Bradley County. Fleischmann is a Republican who’s...
10.29.2018
City Officials, Public Discuss Challenges at Chattanooga Housing Connections Conference
It’s becoming more expensive to rent a home or apartment in Chattanooga. Nearly a quarter of Chattanooga renters are severely burdened by the cost, meaning they spend at least half of their income on housing. That’s one startling statistic brought...
10.25.2018
NFIB Endorses Bill Lee in TN Gubernatorial Race
Jim Brown, State Director for the NFIB, says it wasn’t a quick decision figuring out who to endorse in Tennessee’s gubernatorial race. The National Federation of Independent Businesses is a political advocacy group for small business owners with 6,000 members...
10.25.2018
A Musical About the End of a Marriage That Begins With the End...and the Beginning
The Last Five Years, a musical by Jason Robert Brown, is in The Chattanooga Theatre Centre this weekend starting on Thursday October 25 th . There are just two characters in the play, Jamie and Cathy. Talking to Richard Winham,...
10.24.2018
Author Interview: Brian Tucker's 'Pokeweed' Is Illustrated YA Lit
Chattanooga author Brian Tucker joins us to discuss Pokeweed , his new illustrated novel for young adults. Fast-paced and compelling, the coming-of-age story is both grim and rewarding.
10.24.2018
Hallowe'en Horror Film Festival Runs 10/27 & 10/28
When he was little Chris Dortch spent a lot of time with his grandfather, a man who loved nothing more than scaring young Chris and his sister with tales that kept them awake at night. Chris loved those stories and...
10.23.2018
Ballot Vox: Karl Dean, Tennessee Governor
Recently, we featured a profile of Republican Bill Lee , who is running for Governor of Tennessee. Today, I'm speaking with his Democratic opponent Karl Dean, who is a former Nashville Mayor.
10.19.2018
Southern Christian Coaltion Says Getting Rid of ACA Protections Would Be Unchristian
Tennessee’s Attorney General is suing to overturn the Affordable Care Act, and a Tennessee group of faith leaders is protesting, saying it would be unchristian to get rid of protections for people who have pre-existing conditions. The Southern Christian Coalition...
10.17.2018
Hamilton County High Schools are Reinventing Vocational Education
This fall more than 20 Future Ready Institutes have begun preparing high school students for careers in fields ranging from engineering to health sciences. Each of the institutes, based in 13 Hamilton County high schools, is preparing students to tackle...
10.17.2018
Tennessee Anti-Slavery Advocate: We're Not Winning Yet, But We Will Be
Second Life Tennessee, a Chattanooga nonprofit that fights human trafficking and slavery, met with lawmakers to discuss the fact that such problems exist here in East Tennessee—even though they’re often perceived as existing elsewhere. Research shows 85% of Tennessee counties...
10.17.2018
Starting 10/20, Startup Week Chattanooga Features 100+ Entrepreneur Events
Tia Capps and Allison Wolfe from the Company Lab join us to talk about Chattanooga’s Startup Week 2018, which runs from October 20 to October 27.
10.16.2018
Past the Gig City, a Digital Divide Separates Some Tennesseans
The nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization Think Tennessee is evaluating the state’s digital divide: Think Tennessee says thousands of residents are missing out on the economic, health and educational benefits of having broadband Internet service. In some areas, it’s simply unavailable;...
10.15.2018
New Book Lauds Chattanooga as a 'Next American City'
Mick Cornett, the former mayor of Oklahoma City, has co-authored The Next American City: The Big Promise of Our Midsize Metros. It features success stories of cities on the rise; ones that are attracting new residents, new businesses, and innovation....
10.12.2018
Corker on Khashoggi Vanishing & Senate Response: U.S. Doesn’t Abide by Killing Journalists
As a journalist myself, I'm glad many U.S. Senators have responded strongly to Saudi reporter Jamal Khashoggi vanishing in Turkey--Senators are pressuring President Trump to investigate the incident and (if it turns out Khashoggi was murdered by the Saudi regime)...
10.11.2018
Campaign Surprise: Tennessee Democrat Gains Endorsement from Competing Candidate
Three candidates are on the November ballot for Tennessee State House District 30, and one of them has received an unusual endorsement. Joda Thongnopnua, the Democratic candidate, gathered with reporters outside the Hamilton County Election Commission building to announce why...
10.10.2018
Extra, Extra! Chattanooga Theatre Centre Presents Disney’s ‘Newsies’
The Chattanooga Theatre Centre is presenting Disney’s musical Newsies through October 14. Guest director Katherine Michelle Tanner joins us.
10.09.2018
Journalist Unearths WWII Story in ‘My Grandfather’s Bones’
“The legend of my grandfather was quite well known among our family,” says Clay Bonnyman Evans. His grandfather was U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr., who grew up in Knoxville, died in the 1943 Battle of Tarawa and...
10.02.2018
Speaking at Chattanooga Forum, Bredesen Remains Undecided on Kavanaugh
Monday night at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Phil Bredesen held a townhall-style meeting. The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Tennessee answered questions on a wide range of topics, including the Affordable Care Act and last week’s acrimonious Congressional...
09.20.2018
Marilyn Lloyd, Tennessee's First Female Full-Term Congresswoman, Has Died
The first woman from Tennessee elected to a full term in Congress has died at age 89. A personal tragedy put Chattanooga Democrat Marilyn Lloyd into the race for the U.S. House in 1974. Originally, her husband was the Democratic...
09.19.2018
According to This Theory, Individuals Need to Be Understood As Part of a Family System
A family systems coach is coming to Chattanooga to talk about a theory that views families as emotional units and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit. Andrea Maloney Schara is the author of Your Mindful...
09.19.2018
Family Promise Celebrates 20 Years in Chattanooga
Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga is throwing a party November 9th to celebrate two decades of helping the city’s homeless population. WUTC’s Will Davis talked to Family Promise’s Marketing and Development Director, Cary Bayless.
09.18.2018
How a Chattanooga Lynching Set a Supreme Court Precedent Involving the Bill of Rights
In this interview, I’m speaking with Illinois State University historian Dr. Amy Wood about the legacy of lynching in the South and a Chattanooga tragedy that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Wood is the author...
09.17.2018
UTC Chancellor Steven Angle Delivers Annual State of the University Address
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Chancellor delivered his annual State of the University address Friday. WUTC’s Richard Norwood tells us it happened just before the school showed off a new housing complex.
09.17.2018
Following $40 Million Gift, UTC's Business School Renamed
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is celebrating the largest private donation in the school’s history. Alumnus Gary W. Rollins and his wife are giving $40 million to UTC’s College of Business. The couple visited campus Thursday for a renaming...
09.14.2018
Closing the Federal Deficit: Bredesen Favors a Freeze; Blackburn Backs an Amendment
Former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn are both proposing ways to close the federal budget deficit, which is increasing despite a strong economy. Both Bredesen, a Democrat, and Blackburn, a Republican, are November candidates for the...
09.14.2018
$10 Million Miller Park Renovation Adds Greenspace, Performance Venue
You might say, it’s downtown Chattanooga’s newest music venue: the EPB Community Stage at the newly-renovated Miller Park is a building with a glass front that lifts up like a garage door. It overlooks a new 25,000 square-foot greenspace where...
09.13.2018
Dalton's 55th Annual Creative Arts Guild Festival 9/14 - 9/16
Amanda Brown joins us, the Executive Director of the Creative Arts Guild, and Leanne Martin, the Operations & Events Director, to talk about the upcoming festival in Dalton. From their Web site: The Creative Arts Guild’s 55th Annual Festival of...
09.12.2018
'Things That Go Bump' in Barking Legs
The Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga’s upcoming production of Terence McNally’s play Things That Go Bump in the Night opens on Friday September 14 th in Barking Legs Theater on Dodds Avenue. As with all of the plays produced by the...
09.10.2018
Ballot Vox: Joda Thongnopnua, TN State House Dist. 30
WUTC is speaking with Democratic, Republican, and independent candidates ahead of the November 6th midterm elections. Today, Joda Thongnopnua joins us. He's a Democrat running for Tennessee State House District 30, which includes East Ridge and East Brainerd. He faces...

What's Around and About Chattanooga about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Around and About Chattanooga episodes:

Thought for America Recycles Day: What Researchers Found in the TN River

Why TVA Started Its Own Fire School

Sierra Hull, Chuck Mead & Many More Americana Artists at 11/17 Cumberland Trail Benefit

Hamilton County Leading Tennessee in Strong Economic Growth, According to UT Report

Forward Thinking: Chattanooga Design Studio Surveying How Pedestrians Use Innovation District

November Is Epilepsy Awareness Month

Election Roundup: For Some Local Candidates, Healthcare Wasn’t Just an Issue—It Was a Profession

At UTC, Haslam Touts a Jobs Task Force for People with Disabilities

Confederate Monument Controversy, Other Topics Coming up at UTC’s Civil War Symposium

Republicans Win 8 of 9 Partisan Races on Hamilton County Ballots

‘Dracul’ Co-Author Dacre Stoker Explains His Family’s ‘Stake’ in the Dracula Legacy

Urging Voters to Re-Defeat Hillary, Blackburn Wins

No ‘R’ and No ‘D’: Some Hamilton County Races Are Nonpartisan

Chattanooga Rally: Trump Denounces Democrats on Immigration; PolitiFact Refutes Trump’s Rhetoric

At Blackburn’s Rally, Trump Is Main Draw for Some

Praise & Protests: UTC Students React to Upcoming Trump Rally on Campus

Bredesen, Trump Both Tout ‘Most Favored Nation’ Remedy for High Drug Costs

Chattanooga Artists Featured in the Hunter Invitational IV

McNair’s WWI Song Cycle, Based on War Poems, Premieres at UTC 11/1

President Trump to Hold Campaign Rally at UTC On Sunday

Ballot Vox: Dr. Danielle Mitchell, U.S. House, TN District 3

Ballot Vox: Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. House, TN District 3

City Officials, Public Discuss Challenges at Chattanooga Housing Connections Conference

NFIB Endorses Bill Lee in TN Gubernatorial Race

A Musical About the End of a Marriage That Begins With the End...and the Beginning

Author Interview: Brian Tucker's 'Pokeweed' Is Illustrated YA Lit

Hallowe'en Horror Film Festival Runs 10/27 & 10/28

Ballot Vox: Karl Dean, Tennessee Governor

Southern Christian Coaltion Says Getting Rid of ACA Protections Would Be Unchristian

Hamilton County High Schools are Reinventing Vocational Education

Tennessee Anti-Slavery Advocate: We're Not Winning Yet, But We Will Be

Starting 10/20, Startup Week Chattanooga Features 100+ Entrepreneur Events

Past the Gig City, a Digital Divide Separates Some Tennesseans

New Book Lauds Chattanooga as a 'Next American City'

Corker on Khashoggi Vanishing & Senate Response: U.S. Doesn’t Abide by Killing Journalists

Campaign Surprise: Tennessee Democrat Gains Endorsement from Competing Candidate

Extra, Extra! Chattanooga Theatre Centre Presents Disney’s ‘Newsies’

Journalist Unearths WWII Story in ‘My Grandfather’s Bones’

Speaking at Chattanooga Forum, Bredesen Remains Undecided on Kavanaugh

Marilyn Lloyd, Tennessee's First Female Full-Term Congresswoman, Has Died

According to This Theory, Individuals Need to Be Understood As Part of a Family System

Family Promise Celebrates 20 Years in Chattanooga

How a Chattanooga Lynching Set a Supreme Court Precedent Involving the Bill of Rights

UTC Chancellor Steven Angle Delivers Annual State of the University Address

Following $40 Million Gift, UTC's Business School Renamed

Closing the Federal Deficit: Bredesen Favors a Freeze; Blackburn Backs an Amendment

$10 Million Miller Park Renovation Adds Greenspace, Performance Venue

Dalton's 55th Annual Creative Arts Guild Festival 9/14 - 9/16

'Things That Go Bump' in Barking Legs

Ballot Vox: Joda Thongnopnua, TN State House Dist. 30