Scenic Roots

John T. Scopes (Library of Congress) (Aired Weds 3/19/25) In July 1925 - a century ago this summer - the Scopes Trial was held in Dayton, Tennessee. On trial: John Scopes, a high school teacher accused of violating a Tennessee law that barred the teaching of evolution in public schools. William Jennings Bryan, who ran for President three times, argued for the prosecution - while Clarence Darrow de...

Spotted Dolphins, Bahamas (Call of the Dolphins via The Tennesee Aquarium) (Aired Weds 3/19/25) How do we interact with dolphins? How are we in common? How are we different? How can we learn from them? The film “Call of the Dolphins 3D” - now screening at the Tennessee Aquarium’s IMAX 3D Theater here in Chattanooga - dives right in. Tim Geers is a nine-time Emmy Award winning news and documentary...

(Chattamatters) (Aired Thu 3/13/25) Last year, the City of Chattanooga’s reserve fund hit a record high - more than 150 million dollars. William Newlin of Chattamatters tells us why the city is spending down some of that fund. (William Newlin / Chattamatters) For more stories on local government and exploring our community, visit chattamatters.com - and Chattamatters on social media.

(Chattanooga Bach Choir) (Aired Weds 3/12/25) This year marks forty years of the Chattanooga Bach Choir. David Long is celebrating twenty years as the Choir’s artistic director. On Thursday, the Choir holds a 40th Anniversary Gala at the Westin, starting at 6 PM. On Saturday, March 29th, the Choir performs a Masterworks concert, featuring Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, starting at 7:30 PM at Covenant...

Ishmael Reed (Academy of American Poets) ( NOTE:  Due to inclement weather, the “Culture on 4” event was canceled - but Ishmael Reed was still able to return to Chattanooga, receiving a key to the city from Mayor Tim Kelly. ) _____ (Aired Weds 3/12/25) He’s a writer and poet who was born here in Chattanooga. His words - from poetry and prose to plays and novels - have reverberated around the world...

(Welcome Home of Chattanooga) (Aired Weds 3/12/25) For the past ten years, Welcome Home of Chattanooga has provided hospice care to people with terminal illness who have no other place to go at the end of life. On Friday, starting at 6 PM, the nonprofit will celebrate its 10th anniversary with “Love and Grief” - an event at The Historic on Rossville Avenue. The gathering will feature Sara Rian, a...

Dr. Robert Dooley, Interim Chancellor and Dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. (UTC) For this episode, we bring you the latest in our monthly series “Chatting with Chancellor.” Last week, I sat down for a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Robert Dooley, Interim Chancellor here on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - and...

Erika Roberts - at TEDxChattanooga’s flagship event in November 2024 at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. (TEDxChattanooga) (Aired Thu 3/06/25) TEDxChattanooga - the nonprofit that presents “ideas worth spreading” - presented its flagship event for 2024 back in November at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. Among the speakers: Erika Roberts. Watch: Erika Roberts | TEDxChattanooga Our thanks t...

Chad Prevost - at TEDxChattanooga’s flagship event in November 2024 at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. (TEDxChattanooga) (Aired Thu 3/06/25) Three weeks to go until the first event of this year from TEDxChattanooga, the nonprofit that presents “ideas worth spreading.” “Sessions” - on Friday, March 28th at Songbirds - will feature local musicians Randy Steele, Bindy and Fawley. Back in Novembe...

A map of Chattanooga City Council districts. (chattanooga.gov) (Aired Thu 3/06/25) Here in Chattanooga, Mayor Tim Kelly won a second term - and three incumbents on the city council were reelected - in Tuesday’s municipal elections. Two city council races - District 6 and District 8 - face runoff elections on Tuesday, April 8th. Depending on the outcome of those runoffs, up to six new members could...

Jenny Xu - at TEDxChattanooga’s flagship event in November 2024 at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. (TEDxChattanooga) (Aired Weds 3/05/25) TEDxChattanooga - the nonprofit that presents “ideas worth spreading” - presented its flagship event for 2024 back in November at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. Among the speakers: Jenny Xu. Watch: Jenny Xu | TEDxChattanooga For more on the upcoming S...

Dan Wykoff - at TEDxChattanooga’s flagship event in November 2024 at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. (TEDxChattanooga) (Aired Weds 3/05/25) At the end of this month, TEDxChattanooga - the nonprofit that presents “ideas worth spreading” - holds its first event of this year. “Sessions” - at Songbirds on Friday, March 28th - will feature local musicians Randy Steele, Bindy and Fawley. Back in No...

(Chattanooga Symphony & Opera) This weekend, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera hosts a special concert focused on female film composers and other pieces in film. “Silver Screen Symphonies”is on Saturday, starting at 7:30 PM, at the Walker Theatre. Ilya Ram, the CSO’s Music Director, conducts the concert. Alison Lebovitz, host of “The A List with Alison Lebovitz” on our public media part...

Jules Downum - at TEDxChattanooga’s flagship event in November 2024 at Barrelhouse Ballroom in Chattanooga. (TEDxChattanooga) Imagine an NPR Tiny Desk concert, pair it with a TED Talk - and set it on a stage with a listening room vibe. TEDxChattanooga - the nonprofit that presents “ideas worth spreading” - returns to Songbirds in downtown Chattanooga on Friday, March 28th for its first event of th...

(justgrimes / Creative Commons) On the ballot this election day here in Chattanooga is a proposed change to the city charter. The amendment would lift a residency requirement that City of Chattanooga employees must live in Tennessee. Chattanooga’s police and fire departments have pushed for the change - and so has Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.

Dr. Cecilia Fajardo-Hill (Arizona State University) In the last third of the last century, artists in Latin America through their works defied the dictatorships and oppression of their era. Some of that art - created by women - centered on the body. On Tuesday, an art historian based in Arizona talks about “Body Politics / Political Bodies in Latin American Art” here on our campus - the University...

How does rural America hold the key to the future of entrepreneurship? The Company Lab - or CO.LAB - is the nonprofit startup accelerator here in Chattanooga for entrepreneurs across Southeast Tennessee. On Tuesday, March 11th, it will host the Rural Entrepreneurship Summit at Bryan College in Dayton. Allie Schrenker is director of community engagement at The Company Lab. _____ For more, visit The...

Dr. Jessi Gold (University of Tennessee) What is the impact of opioids on campuses - including ours, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? How can campuses normalize conversations around addiction and recovery? These are among the topics for Tuesday’s first-ever event for “Well Informed” - a biannual series on key wellness topics affecting students across the University of Tennessee System....

An aerial view of downtown Chattanooga - highlighting AT&T Field and the rest of Hawk Hill. (River City Company) When the Chattanooga Lookouts leave AT&T Field for a new multiuse stadium now under construction in the South Broad District, what is the future for Hawk Hill and adjacent parking lots downtown? River City Company - the economic development nonprofit for downtown Chattanooga...

A rendering of Monospace. (Mattaforma via NOOGAtoday) (Aired Thu 2/27/25) In Southside Chattanooga, a venue that fuses fine dining and music is planned for the undeveloped side of Stove Works. Kristen Templeton and Haley Bartlett of NOOGAtoday tell us more about Monospace.

Jennifer Andrews (Chattanooga 2.0) (Aired Thu 2/27/25) Teaching artists visit students and educators in the Hamilton County Schools through the Arts-Based Collaborative here on our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: abc@utc. Community partners also play a role - including the nonprofit Chattanooga 2.0, where Jennifer Andrews is director of early childcare strategies.

Miller Park in downtown Chattanooga. (River City Company) (Aired Thu 2/27/25) Last year, River City Company - the economic development engine for downtown Chattanooga - launched a program for Emerging Producers. It provides resources for artists and organizations with less than two years of event management experience to develop and produce their own events for the community. The second cohort of...

A close up of the Fireman’s Fountain Memorial. (City of Chattanooga) (Aired Thu 2/27/25) The Fireman’s Fountain - on Georgia Avenue next to the Hamilton County Courthouse in downtown Chattanooga - honors firefighters in this city. For years, the County has maintained the memorial - with the land on which it sits in the City’s hands. Recently, the City donated the land - and now, the County is star...

(Chattamatters) (Aired Thu 2/27/25) City elections here in Chattanooga are next Tuesday, March 4th. Early voting began two weeks ago on February 12th and runs through today. William Newlin is with Chattamatters - whose voter guide is available online at chattamatters.com/voterguide .

Chiko Chingaya (Chiko Chingaya) (Aired Weds 2/26/25) In accounting, there’s a talent crunch: a smaller pool of graduates available to hire, more expectations from clients. Talisman is a startup here in Chattanooga that aims to bring generative AI into the equation for accountants and their clients. Chiko Chingaya is co-founder and CEO of Talisman, one of the companies supported by Brickyard, which...