Scenic Roots

(icon-library.com) Across this country, community land trusts are a common tool to keep single-family homes affordable - now, and for generations to come. Here in Chattanooga, land trusts have been part of the housing conversation for years - though we do not yet have an active land trust. Here’s William Newlin of Chattamatters.

Susan Lazenby and Bob Culkeen at WUTC. (Ray Bassett / WUTC) As Congress nears a final vote on rescinding Federal funding for public media, we have watched the story unfold here in Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley. This station, WUTC - a service of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - is the NPR member station for this area, while the local PBS member station is WTCI PBS. Both of our st...

On public media in Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley. Chattamatters: Community land trusts for affordable housing. The Essentials: Next at Riverfront Nights in Chattanooga. As you’ll hear - and more - on this episode of “Scenic Roots.”

On Chickamauga Lake (Privateer Sailing Education Foundation) On Chickamauga Lake, this is the season for learning to sail - for recreational sailing and sailboat racing. The Privateer Sailing Education Foundation - which teaches sailing on the lake and hosts sail camp each summer - is located at Privateer Yacht Club, which is about as old as the lake created by the TVA’s completion of the Chickama...

Olivia Reeves & Alison Lebovitz (WTCI PBS) Last year, Olivia Reeves brought home the gold for weightlifting at the Summer Olympics in Paris - and earned the world championship title, the first American weightlifter to do so in more than sixty years. Chattanooga celebrated Olivia’s Olympic win here on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - where she was an undergrad at th...

Austin Carroll, founder and CEO of Warrant (hellowarrant.com) As AI reshapes business, companies in financial services, real estate and insurance will need to adapt - and remain compliant with regulations. Warrant is a marketing compliance platform for those companies, powered by AI - based in North Carolina. I spoke this spring with Austin Carroll, founder and CEO of Warrant - backed in part by B...

Jack Matherly (Jack Matherly / LinkedIn) For some graduates of public high schools here in Hamilton County, their next steps beyond the classroom are careers in fast-growing industries: lineworking, welding, data analysis and cybersecurity. Viable Pathways to Prosperity is a local effort that connects those graduates with job training, career opportunities, mentorship and support to succeed in tho...

Viable Pathways for Hamilton County high school grads. Warrant: An AI agent for marketing compliance in business. On the water: Learning to sail on Chickamauga Lake. As you’ll hear - and more - on this episode of “Scenic Roots.”

Dr. Claudia Kramer (Angela Foster / UTC) How do we make sense of economics? Here on our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Dr. Claudia Kramer is the Scott L. Probasco Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business. She’s now writing a monthly column for Business Trend, the email newsletter from the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. _____ For...

Dock Party (Dock Party / Instagram) (Aired Thu 7/10/25) Dock Party is a band of four recent grads of The McCallie School here in Chattanooga. This weekend, the band opens Riverfront Nights - on Saturday starting at 6 PM at Ross’ Landing, presented by Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union. The members of Dock Party are: Colin Sanders, bass player; Sid Scheemakoti, singer and guitarist; Stuart Brown...

Outside ClearStory Arts. (ClearStory Arts) (Aired Thu 7/10/25) Here in Chattanooga, the best place this time of year for a pop up art market is indoors. On Saturday, ClearStory Arts hosts its Hot Chicken Art Market at its location - 1673 Holtzclaw Avenue - from 11 AM to 4 PM. Elle Quesenbery is executive director of ClearStory Arts - home to affordable studios for local artists, a gallery and a co...

Scott Payne & Alison Lebovitz (WTCI PBS) (Aired Thu 7/10/25) Scott Payne - dubbed the “Hillbilly Donnie Brasco” - spent more than two decades on duty with the FBI. As the primary undercover agent for investigations, his cases ranged from violent motorcycle gangs to domestic terrorism. Now, with his new book “Code Name: Pale Horse,” Scott is sharing some of the darkest moments of his career...

The Wreath of Honor Fallen Five Memorial at Tennessee Riverpark in Chattanooga. (Hamilton County Parks & Recreation) (Aired Thu 7/10/25) Here in Chattanooga, they are known - and will always be known - as “The Fallen Five.” On July 16th, 2015, five service members of the U.S. military were killed by a gunman at the U.S. Navy Operational Support Center off Amnicola Highway in the worst terr...

(United Way of Greater Chattanooga) (Aired Tues 7/08/25) Each year, United Way of Greater Chattanooga awards grants to nonprofits that make a difference across our community. This year, volunteer grant reviewers have been more involved than ever - reading and scoring applications from local nonprofits before making recommendations to United Way staff for the grants. Paulo Hutson Solorzano of A Med...

(Siskin Children’s Institute) (Aired Tues 7/08/25) For decades, Siskin Children’s Institute here in Chattanooga has served children with special needs and their families. The story began seventy-five years ago when two brothers - both businessmen - established the Mose and Garrison Siskin Memorial Foundation. Don Mueller is president and CEO of Siskin Children’s Institute. Emily Bylund is a parent...

A vacant lot held by the City of Chattanooga’s land bank at 2508 Taylor St. (Ian-Alijah Bey / Chattamatters) (Aired Thu 7/03/25) Amid the housing crunch here in Chattanooga, city officials have reactivated a decade-old tool to turn city-owned property into affordable homes. William Newlin of Chattamatters tells us about the city’s land bank, how it works - and the impact it could have on local hou...

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly - at Riverfront Nights in downtown Chattanooga this summer. (City of Chattanooga) On Thursday, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly stopped by our studio here at WUTC for our latest conversation. Among the topics: The land donation on Missionary Ridge; the City’s new budget; affordable housing; UTC’s new Chancellor; tech tools for City government, YMCA summer meals - & more.

(WTCI PBS) In 2008, Christian Siriano won the fourth season of Project Runway , the design competition series. At 21 years old, he was the youngest contestant to ever take the crown - and that victory was just the first step in launching a remarkable career in the fashion industry. From New York to Paris, his breathtaking designs have graced countless runways and red carpets. Whether you’re an A-l...

Fireworks at the Collegedale Freedom Festival in 2024. (Friends of the Festival) Also on Thursday: The Collegedale Freedom Festival and Fireworks. The free public celebration on the eve of the Fourth of July returns to The Commons, starting at 5 PM - concluding with the fireworks around 9:30 PM. Samantha Wright is with Friends of the Festival, which is organizing the celebration. (City of Colleged...

Fireworks at Pops on the River in 2024. (City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors) Friday is the Fourth of July. On Thursday, the City of Chattanooga hosts Pops on the River, a free public celebration for Independence Day. It takes place from 4 PM to 10 PM in Coolidge Park - with music and fireworks for the finale. Monica Kinsey is with the City of Chattanooga’s Parks and Outdoors. (City of Ch...

Sam Voisin (Chattanooga Convention Center) Sam Voisin is the new executive director at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Last week, just days into the job, he stopped by our studios here at WUTC. Chattanooga Convention Center (Chattanooga Convention Center)

What’s next for Chattanooga’s Convention Center? Meet Sam Voisin. Chattanooga’s Pops on the River. Collegedale’s Freedom Festival. As you’ll hear - and more - on this episode of “Scenic Roots.”

Dr. Lori Bruce on the campus of UTC. (Dan Henry ./ UTC) Dr. Lori Bruce is the new Chancellor here on our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is the 19th Chancellor at UTC since the university was founded in 1886 - and the first woman to serve in that role. Dr. Bruce comes to this campus from Tennessee Tech University, where she was a provost and vice president for academic affa...

The Woodshop in St. Elmo. (The Woodshop) This weekend, Be the Change Youth Initiative here in Chattanooga brings its “Concert for a Cause” series to the St. Elmo neighborhood. Saturday’s concert - featuring local female artists - begins at 7 PM at The Woodshop. Proceeds support The AIM Center and its mission for mental health recovery in Chattanooga. Sydney Guerrette is founder and president of Be...

A scene from “Destiny in Dayton” - performed at the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton. (Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation) It happened in July a hundred years ago in Dayton: The Scopes Trial. John Scopes, a high school teacher, went on trial in the Rhea County Courthouse - accused of violating a Tennessee law that barred the teaching of evolution in public schools. This July, Dayton will mark t...