🌱 TikTok Banned On Campuses + Children's Theatre Returns

Hello all. It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Patch newsletter. Keep reading for the most important things happening these days in 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, your local weather:

• Saturday: Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 79 Low: 48.
• Sunday: Mainly cloudy. High: 79 Low: 55.

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Here are the top three stories in Chattanooga today:

1. The City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Schools announced that a new Future Ready Institute has officially launched at Tyner Academy. The One Chattanooga Institute of Early Care and Learning will be welcoming its inaugural class as early as this upcoming fall. Students who participate in this program will earn their child development associate credential upon graduation, which will create immediate eligibility for employment by many early learning centers across the city. (Chattanooga Pulse)
2. On Thursday, Mar. 23, Tennessee officials approved legislation prohibiting public college and university campuses from using the China-based social media platform TikTok on their Wi-Fi networkings. The House passed the Senate Bill 834 with a vote of 80-11. The bill doesn't make a specific mention of TikTok, but it does ban any app associated with the People's Republic of China. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
3. With support from a First Horizon Foundation grant, Chattanooga Theatre Centre will be reintroducing its Theatre for the Very Young performance this upcoming spring. This will allow children ages three to six to be fully immersed in the art of theatre through an interactive original performance called "Plant, Grow, Pick!" Throughout the show, professional actors will be inviting kids on stage to make them feel as though they are a part of the experience. (MyFox Chattanooga)

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Today and tomorrow in Chattanooga:

Saturday, March 25

• Elementary School Recruitment Event at East Brainerd Elementary School (9:00 AM)
• Rock The Riverfront at Chattanooga Green (8:00 PM)

Sunday, March 26

• Little Bella's Trail Rides at Enterprise South Nature Park (2:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Chattanooga Police Department offers a safe-exchange zone at the Police Service Center. This is a designated parking spot under camera surveillance 24/7 that's designed to be a safe space for individuals or businesses to make private sales and online purchase exchanges. (Chattanooga Police Department)
• Various businesses in the Chattanooga area were celebrated by the Chamber Small Business Awards for their achievements for serving as examples of excellence within the community. Among the finalists are local businesses including Becaffinated, Handup Gloves, and the Chattanooga Zoo. To see the full list of finalists, visit here. (Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce)
• Looking for a new furry friend to add to the family? The Tennessee Humane Animal League's Pet Placement Center is excited to welcome a litter of 11-week-old puppies that are currently available for adoption. These puppies are adorable, fun-loving, and looking for a loving family to bring them into their forever home. (Tennessee Humane Animal League's Pet Placement Center)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you soon with 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.