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Chattanooga Today, April 24, 2013

58 views · Published 24 April 2013 · 4:23 · Indexed 22 October 2026

Channel: chattanooga times free press · 2013 · News & Politics

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Good morning Chattanooga.
Here's a quick look at today's top five stories.

First of all, a special report in today's Times Free Press reveals hate groups are seeing enormous growth not only in the southeast but across the country.

Last year, 33 hate groups were counted in Tennessee, 53 in Georgia and 30 in Alabama.

There are now more than 350 hate groups across the entire southeast, and 1,000 nationwide, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Much of the growth comes since the election of America's first black president, with a 69 percent increase in hate groups in the last decade alone.

Today's news report comes after the March 24th slaying of Franklin County resident Corey Matthews.

The four men who were charged in Matthews' death were all Aryan nations members.

Now sheriff's officers say there are more members of the hate group than they had thought in the region, and the members are apparently signing up while in prison.

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Next up, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander is pressing a bill that would let states require sales tax collection on all online purchases.
Supporters say such a step would help even the score between online retailing and brick-and-mortar stores, which are forced to collect sales tax at the register.
Current law already requires Internet shoppers to self-report their purchases, calculate in-state sales tax and pay up. Virtually no one does, though, and authorities don't enforce the law. That means the nation loses out on about $23 billion dollars in revenue, including about $400 million dollars in Tennessee alone.
The new bill offers an exemption for retailers that don't collect more than $1 million dollars annually. But eBay is pushing for a $10 million dollar exemption that would shield virtually all of its sellers.
The new bill has definitely placed Alexander in an interesting position. Usually one to call for smaller government, he's now spearheading what could amount to a new nationwide sales tax.
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In business news, Tennessee's biggest health insurer and Chattanooga's biggest hospital are joining in a five-year network agreement.
Officials hope the partnership between BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Erlanger will lead to better and less costly health care.
The unique network agreement, which begins July 1st, is longer and more involved than most insurance and hospital payment arrangements, and it's designed to boost the number of paying patients at Erlanger while limiting the costs of care for BlueCross and its members.
The alliance will make Erlanger the exclusive local hospital for many of the 25,000 Chattanooga residents who sign up for one of the new health exchanges under Obamacare.
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Next up, thousands of hot rod and high-performance cars will roll into the Scenic City this summer as part of the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour.
Spectators will be able to see 35 hundred vehicles at the free car show on June 6th. Chattanooga is one of seven cities on the annual tour this year.
4,000 spectators are expected to attend the one-day show at Chattanooga State Community College. The economic impact of the show is expected to pump more than a million dollars into the city.
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And UTC is welcoming David Blackburn as its new athletic director.
Blackburn says hiring new men's and women's basketball coaches are among his top priorities. Take a look:
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And we'll see showers with a possible thunderstorm after noon today with a high temperature near 70 degrees. Expect some fog after midnight with a low around 41.

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