Monica Mercer

Monica Mercer

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Latest stories by Monica Mercer

Chattanooga: Millionaire McKenzie files for bankruptcy reorganization

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009

Cleveland, Tenn., businessman Steve “Toby” McKenzie, whose name is on UTC’s McKenzie Arena, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy citing debts totaling more than $150 million.

Tennessee: Jury duty dodging on the decline

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009

Facing a new Tennessee law and possible fines of $500, hundreds showed up Tuesday for the first jury summons of the new year, causing a long and frazzled-looking line on the third floor of

Toby McKenzie files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

Cleveland millionaire Steve “Toby” McKenzie, whose name is on UTC’s McKenzie Arena, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid debts totaling more than $100 million owed to various banks.

Chattanooga: New jury law means big jury crowd today at court

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

With new laws in places that provide tougher penalties for those who dodge jury duty, the first jury pool of the year gathering this morning was more than twice what it normally is, officials said.

Chattanooga: Frizzell gets 8 years in prison for traffic death

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

The strange odyssey of Steven Tyler Frizzell, who was unable to escape the spotlight after being caught buying beer while out on bond on a charge of vehicular homicide, ended Monday when he pleaded guilty to causing the death of a man and severely injuring his wife and her friend during a drunken driving crash.

Chattanooga: Frizzell pleads guilty, gets 8 years

Monday, Jan. 5, 2009

Steven Tyler Frizzell, who was unable to escape heavy media scrutiny after being caught buying beer while out on bond on a charge of vehicular homicide, pleaded guilty today to causing the death of a man and severely injuring his wife and her friend in a drunken-driving crash.

Hamilton County: Frizell expected to plead guilty

Monday, Jan. 5, 2009

A young man who was caught buying beer while out on bond on charges of vehicular homicide is expected to plead guilty today for his part in a 2007 drunken driving crash that killed one and severely injured two others.

Tennessee: Black teens caught in culture of violence

Friday, Jan. 2, 2009

The number of black teenagers arrested on murder charges in Tennessee has risen steadily since 2001, while the number of white teens charged with murder has remained steady or fallen in the same period, according to the TBI.

Tennessee: Rules change for jury duty

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009

Blowing off jury duty used to be easy, court personnel say, but a new Tennessee law taking effect Jan. 1 could leave docket dodgers on the hook for up to $500.

Hamilton County: Police DUI crackdown is holiday tradition

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

Since tradition demands that champagne corks pop tonight during New Year’s celebrations, tradition also demands that police step up their patrols to catch impaired drivers.