🌱 Police Hold Reform Town Hall Meeting + Free Tax Assistance

Morning, friends! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Chattanooga Patch newsletter. Come along to find out the most important things happening around town.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Chattanooga Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Chattanooga long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 64 Low: 38.

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Here are the top three stories today in Chattanooga:

1. Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy is holding a town hall meeting today to discuss police reform and to reflect on the beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police in January. The town hall meeting will be hosted by the Chattanooga chapter of the National Panhellenic Council, which represents historically Black sororities and fraternities. This meeting will reflect on Nichols' recent death and follow back on events from 2020 when protestors took to the streets of Chattanooga calling for law enforcement reform in response to the murder of George Floyd. (Subscription: Chattanooga Times Free Press)
2. Law enforcement and the community is responding to recent carjackings by teenagers in Chattanooga. Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp expressed her concerns about these incidents and the plans her office has to take action. Among the incidents, she is responding to include a carjacking near Memorial Hospital on the 2500 block of DeSales Avenue on Jan. 26. (WDEF News 12)
3. As tax season approaches, the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga offers free tax assistance and preparation over the next 10 weeks by IRS-certified volunteers for individuals with low and moderate income or those with disabilities. Taxpayers have until Apr. 18 this year to file their returns unless granted extensions. Individuals using the Volunteer Income Tax Preparation program should make an appointment at a designated time and bring the required documentation. (Subscription: Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Today in Chattanooga:

• Preschool Storytime At Avondale Branch Library (11:00 AM)
• Chattanooga Organized For Action At Renaissance Presbyterian Church (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The College Days discount is back at the Tennessee Aquarium this month! College students, faculty, and staff can visit the aquarium and see IMAX 3D films at half price. (Tennessee Aquarium via Facebook)
• In honor of Black History Month, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate and discover Black-owned and led businesses in Chattanooga. You can learn more about these businesses here. (Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• If you own a Chattanooga Public Library card, you are in luck! The Hunter Museum of American Art is now offering free passes to anyone with a library card at all library locations. Library cardholders will also get free admission to Sunday Studios with children. (Hunter Museum of American Art via Facebook)

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That's it for today! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.