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Chattanooga Update - July 18, 2013

120 views · Published 18 July 2013 · 5:23 · Indexed 19 October 2026

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

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Hello Chattanooga. Here's a quick look at today's top stories.

First of all, TVA has been cited again. Its Browns Ferry nuclear plant has been given the worst rating in the country by the nuclear regulatory commission.

This marks the ninth time in three years that TVA has been cited for violating safety standards at its nuclear reactors.

The latest citation comes after an incident when a plant operator failed to follow proper procedures and the Browns Ferry reactor was shutdown.

TVA has asked for a meeting Wednesday to argue against the citation, which could lead to further safety inspections.
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A LaFayette police officer crashed his car into a teenage girl on a bike Tuesday night.
Police say 16-year-old Nikki Watson didn't stop at an intersection and collided with a police cruiser driven by Lt. Robert Dunn.
We're told that as the girl approached the stop sign, she found the brakes on the borrowed bike wouldn't work. And she wasn't wearing a helmet at the time.
She's now in critical condition at Erlanger. Her family says she's got a bruised brain, a blood clot on her forehead, and a fractured leg.
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And for the third straight year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Erlanger Health System as one of Tennessee's 10 best hospitals. The magazine ranked Erlanger as high-performing in diabetes and endocrinology, among other specialties.
Erlanger was the only Chattanooga hospital that made the list.
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Some big leadership changes have been announced at Memorial Health Care.

The system's two hospitals will now each have a different president, and CEO James Hobson will shed the "president" part of his title to focus on healthcare strategy.
The two new presidents will focus on operations. Rick Napper has been named as president of Memorial Hospital, and Deb Moore will become president of the Hixson branch.
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A 29-year-old man faces seven counts of aggravated assault after police say he pointed an air soft gun at his neighbors, including several young children.
The incident started when a woman knocked on his door to ask him a question. Police say Joseph Kagombe told her that she woke him up and then brandished the gun and pointed it at the woman's head.
Police say he then pointed the gun at an 11 year old boy, an 8 year old girl and a 3 year old girl nearby and told them they were going to die.
Police say he also threatened officers on the way to the jail.
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It's been one week since a flash flood rocked South Pittsburg.
State agencies toured the flood damage on Wednesday.
FEMA says there isn't enough damage to give federal aid and state officials can't say if they'll be able to bring any relief money.
Meanwhile, mold is growing in homes and many families lost their vehicles to the disaster.
The Moss Motors dealership lost 31 new cars to the flood, totaling up to a half-million dollars in damage.
And officials say some of the flooding brought mud mixed with human excrement into people's homes.
Right now individuals and churches have stepped up to get the town back on its feet, but nobody knows how long THAT can last.
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Tea Party groups say they plan to protest against U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander on Saturday.
The protests will happen while Alexander holds a Smyrna event honoring Tennessee GOP chairmen.
While activists are unhappy with Alexander over his recent votes, they've so far been unsuccessful in fielding a candidate to run against him in 2014.
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You may want to top off the gas in your car today. Gas prices are heading higher, and quickly.

The average price of gas is already up more than 15 cents from a week ago.

Times Free Press finance columnist Chris Hopkins says odds are more pain is in store until July ends and kids get back to school.

Given gasoline inventories, and unrest in the mideast, Hopkins says prices may rise another 10 cents in the next few weeks.
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Roll out the red carpet. More stars are coming to Chattanooga for this year's She Expo.
TV doctor Travis Stork and "Days of Our Lives" star Deidre Hall are joining Real Housewives star Caroline Manzo and Duck Dynasty's Kay Robertson.
Hall will be taking photos and signing books, and Stork will talk and take audience questions.
The expo is July 27 and 28 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

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