☕ Front Porch Morning: Raise Day, Early Voting Opens, and One Last Hot Day Before the Cool-Down

Or: A Big Wednesday Made Simple — Hear Your Raise, Make Your Voting Plan, and Find the Jackets

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Today is a big one, but it is not a hard one. Social Security’s raise for next year is expected this morning. Early voting opens today. And the weather is sunny and hot, near 89°F, before a real cool-down this weekend. You don’t have to do anything about the raise. You only need a plan for voting and a glass of water this afternoon. Let’s take it one cup of coffee at a time.

⏱️ Your 30-second morning recap

• Yesterday: Experts’ final forecasts put next year’s Social Security raise at about 3.5% to 3.6%. That is a forecast, not the official number.
• Yesterday: The Federal Trade Commission’s warning made the rounds again: nobody real asks you to pay with gift cards. Medicare cards are free.
• Today: The official raise is expected after the inflation report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern (7:30 a.m. Central). It starts with your January 2027 payment.
• Today: Early voting opens and runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. Sequatchie Election Commission: (423) 949-2431.
• Weather: National Weather Service: sunny, high near 89°F, calm wind. Tonight mostly clear, low around 64°F.

📝 Jot This Down: today’s 3 things to remember

1. Your raise is automatic and free. The number is expected this morning, and it shows up in your January 2027 payment. Hang up on anyone who wants a fee to “boost” it.
2. Early voting: today, Oct. 14, through Thursday, Oct. 29. Call (423) 949-2431 for the place and hours. Bring a Tennessee or federal photo ID.
3. Hot today, near 89°F. Do yard work early, drink water, and rest in the shade this afternoon.

Tomorrow’s heads-up: Thursday, Oct. 15 is the first day of Medicare open enrollment (through Dec. 7) and the first day you need a free burn permit. Dunlap City Hall meets at 5 p.m. The library is closed Thursdays. Sunny again, near 88°F.

📰 In Case You Missed It Yesterday (Tuesday, Oct. 13)

💵 Final Forecasts for Next Year’s Social Security Raise

On Tuesday, CNBC reported that experts expect next year’s Social Security cost-of-living raise (the COLA) to land around 3.5% to 3.6%. The Senior Citizens League and analyst Mary Johnson both forecast 3.5%. AARP forecast 3.6%. If it comes in near 3.5%, it would be the biggest raise in three years. Johnson said the final number could still be a little higher or lower once September’s prices are counted.

What it means for you: These are educated guesses. The real number comes from Social Security, and it is expected this morning. Either way, you don’t have to sign up or pay anything. The raise starts with your January 2027 payment.

👉 Read more (CNBC: 2027 COLA could rise 3.5%)

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself: Gift Cards Are a Red Flag

A widely shared column published Tuesday passed along a Federal Trade Commission warning. Callers pretend to be from the government and ask people to pay a “tax bill” or a fee for a “new Medicare card” with gift cards. The FTC’s advice is simple: if a caller scares you, rushes you, and wants gift cards, that call is a scam. Hang up.

Two things to keep in your pocket: Medicare cards are free. And the IRS never asks for gift cards. The Tennessee Attorney General adds that the IRS first contacts you by mail, not by phone.

What it means for you: With raise news today and Medicare season tomorrow, expect more of these calls this week. You can always hang up and call a number you looked up yourself. To report a scam in Tennessee, call Consumer Affairs at 1-800-342-8385. The FTC’s line is 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP).

👉 Read more (Beware scammers who want your gift card money)

🌡️ Near-Record Warmth Now, Frost Talk for the Weekend

Tuesday was summer-warm again. The weather service office in Morristown called this week’s heat near-record territory for mid-October. It also flagged the chance of frost across the region this weekend, with hollows and higher ground colder than town.

What it means for you: Enjoy the warm days, but plan ahead. Before Saturday night, unhook and drain your garden hoses, bring in tender potted plants, and make sure the furnace or heat pump comes on.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Disconnect the hose before Saturday)

📅 Today in the Valley (Wednesday, Oct. 14)

☀️ Today’s Weather: Sunny and Hot, Near 89

The National Weather Service Dunlap forecast (updated about 1:30 a.m.) calls for sunny skies, a high near 89°F, and calm wind. Tonight is mostly clear, low around 64°F. Thursday is sunny near 88°F.

Then the change comes. Friday is sunny near 79°F with northwest gusts up to 25 mph. Friday night drops to about 43°F. Saturday stays near 64°F, and Saturday night falls to about 39°F. That is a drop of about 50 degrees from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday night. Forecasts that far out can shift, so check again Thursday.

What it means for you: Do outdoor chores before about 11 a.m., drink water, and rest in the shade or the air conditioning this afternoon. Check on a neighbor who lives alone. And put a jacket by the door for Friday.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

💵 This Morning: Social Security’s 2027 Raise

The government releases its September inflation report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern (7:30 a.m. Central). That report is the last piece Social Security needs to set next year’s raise. The official number is expected today and will be posted on Social Security’s COLA page.

• When it starts: With your January 2027 payment. Your October, November and December payments stay the same.
• Your own new amount: Social Security usually sends personal notices in December, by mail or in your online my Social Security account.
• Cost: Nothing. There is no form and no fee. It is automatic.

What it means for you: Listen for the news this morning, then write the percent on your calendar. Don’t count it as spending money yet. Medicare’s 2027 Part B premium can take part of a raise, and that number usually comes out separately.

👉 Read more (Social Security: Cost-of-Living Adjustment)

🗳️ Early Voting Opens Today

Early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 state and federal general election runs today, Wednesday, Oct. 14, through Thursday, Oct. 29. You don’t need a reason to vote early in Tennessee. The ballot includes state and federal races and three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution, each a yes-or-no question.

• Sequatchie County Election Commission: 68 Spring St., Dunlap. Phone (423) 949-2431. Office hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday. Early-voting hours can be different, so call ahead to confirm the place and hours.
• Bledsoe County neighbors: Early voting is at the Pikeville courthouse, 3150 Main St., Suite 700. Hours vary by day. Call (423) 447-2776.
• Bring: A current or expired photo ID from the State of Tennessee or the federal government, like a driver’s license or passport.
• Voting by mail: If you’re 60 or older, you can ask for an absentee ballot. Your written request must arrive by Saturday, Oct. 24.

What it means for you: Early voting is like going to the grocery store on a Tuesday morning instead of Saturday afternoon. Shorter lines, less fuss. Make one phone call, put your ID with your car keys, and pick a cool morning to go. You can look over a sample ballot at GoVoteTN.gov.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Early voting opens)

📚 At the Library Today: Family History Help and Chair Dancing

The Sequatchie County Public Library, 227 Cherry St., Dunlap, has two programs for grown-ups today, from its own calendar:

• 9 to 11 a.m. Central: Genealogy help. Bring your family records, old letters, or notes.
• 1 p.m. Central: Chair Dancing for adults. No sign-up. First-timers should arrive a little early to sign a waiver. It meets again Friday at 1 p.m.

Cost was not listed, so call (423) 949-2357 if you’d like to check. The library is closed on Thursdays, so tomorrow it won’t be open.

The library is also a drop-off spot for the VFW Post 5772 Veteran Support Drive, collecting new clothing and shoes (size 9 and up) for veterans at the VA hospital in Murfreesboro, through the end of October.

What it means for you: If you have been meaning to write down Grandpa’s side of the family, this morning is your chance to get some help. Chair Dancing is gentle exercise indoors, out of the afternoon heat.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: library and week calendar)

🏥 Get Ready Today for Medicare Season Tomorrow

Medicare open enrollment runs Thursday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Dec. 7. Changes start Jan. 1. Federal numbers for Tennessee show more Medicare Advantage choices next year, with 155 plans in the state, up from 132. The average monthly Advantage premium in Tennessee dips slightly, from $12.52 to $11.73. But plans differ county by county, and some 2026 plans are not coming back.

What it means for you: You don’t have to change anything. Today, just find the Annual Notice of Change letter your plan mailed this fall and set it beside your pill bottles. If your doctors, drugs or costs changed, call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free help. They do not sell insurance. And never give your Medicare number to someone who called you first.

👉 Read more (Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment)

🚧 On the Roads and Around Town

Today is the last day of TDOT’s posted Oct. 8–14 work report. It listed flagger-controlled single-lane closures for resurfacing on SR-111 (near Lewis Chapel Road to near East Valley Road), SR-399 (Grundy County line to near SR-111), and SR-8 (south of Whitlow Road to north of Sherman Road). Crews may keep working past today. It is also Homecoming Week, today is Wild West dress-up day, and school buses are rolling.

The Sequatchie County Senior Citizens Center, 103 Heard St., offers meals, transportation and activities. Call (423) 949-2228 to ask about today’s lunch and schedule.

What it means for you: Add ten minutes to Valley drives, be patient with the flaggers, and give school buses plenty of room.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: roads and schools this week)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge: The Rest of This Week

• Wednesday, Oct. 14 (today): Social Security raise expected after 7:30 a.m. Central. Early voting opens. Genealogy help 9–11 a.m. and Chair Dancing 1 p.m. at the library. Sunny near 89°F.
• Thursday, Oct. 15: Medicare open enrollment opens (through Dec. 7). Free same-day burn permits required starting today, at BurnSafeTN.org or 1-877-350-2876. Dunlap City Hall meets 5 p.m. Central, 15595 Rankin Ave. Library closed.
• Friday, Oct. 16: Homecoming parade in the morning (listed as 9:30 a.m.; an earlier listing said 9 a.m., so arrive early). Football vs. Community, 7 p.m. Gusty, near 79°F. Don’t burn on a windy day.
• Saturday, Oct. 17: Days of Yesteryear tractor show, gates 8 a.m., Coops Creek Commons, 287 Pine St. (free). Dunlap Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Harris Park. High near 64°F. Saturday night near 39°F.
• Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 17–18: Free Remote Area Medical dental, vision and medical clinic at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. First come, first served. Questions: 865-579-1530.
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Free flu shots at Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central. “Let’s Talk Medicare” at the library, 10 a.m.

✅ Your Calm Morning Checklist

• ✅ Listen for the Social Security raise after 7:30 a.m. Central. Write the percent on your calendar.
• ✅ Remember: the raise is automatic and free, starting in January.
• ✅ Call (423) 949-2431 for early-voting place and hours. Put your photo ID with your keys.
• ✅ Hang up on anyone who wants gift cards, a fee for a Medicare card, or your Medicare number.
• ✅ Do yard work early. Drink water. Rest out of the sun this afternoon (near 89°F).
• ✅ Find your Medicare Annual Notice of Change letter for tomorrow.
• ✅ Before Saturday night, unhook and drain the garden hoses and find the jackets.
• ✅ Circle fridge dates: Oct. 15, 17–18, 20, 24, 29.

Practical rule: You don’t have to remember it all. Just keep this page handy, and check back tomorrow morning.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What time will we hear about the Social Security raise, in our time?

The inflation report comes out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, which is 7:30 a.m. Central. Social Security is expected to announce the raise today after that. Check SSA.gov/cola or the news.

When will the raise show up in my bank account?

With your January 2027 payment. Social Security usually mails personal notices in December, and you can also see yours in your my Social Security account online.

Do I have to sign up or pay to get the raise?

No. It is automatic and free. Anyone asking for a fee, gift cards, your Social Security number or your bank details to “boost” your check is a scammer. Hang up.

Where do I vote early in Sequatchie County?

Call the Sequatchie County Election Commission at (423) 949-2431, 68 Spring St., Dunlap. Early voting runs today through Thursday, Oct. 29. Call ahead to confirm the place and hours before you drive.

What ID do I need to vote?

A current or expired photo ID issued by the State of Tennessee or the federal government, like a driver’s license, state ID or passport. A college ID or an out-of-state ID does not count.

Do I have to change my Medicare plan tomorrow?

No. Open enrollment is optional and runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Use it if your doctors, drugs or costs changed. Free help: TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

Will it really get that cold this weekend?

The National Weather Service forecasts about 39°F Saturday night in Dunlap, and frost is possible in low spots and on higher ground. It’s a good week to unhook garden hoses and check your heat.

🔗 Helpful Numbers & Resources

• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213. SSA.gov COLA page · Report a scam: ssa.gov/scam
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Medicare open enrollment
• TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• Sequatchie County Election Commission: (423) 949-2431 · 68 Spring St., Dunlap · GoVoteTN.gov
• Bledsoe County Election Office: (423) 447-2776
• Sequatchie Senior Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2228
• Sequatchie County Public Library: (423) 949-2357 · 227 Cherry St., Dunlap
• Dunlap City Hall: (423) 949-2115
• Free burn permits (starting Oct. 15): BurnSafeTN.org or 1-877-350-2876 (weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central)
• Sequachee Valley Electric outages (24/7): 1-888-421-7832
• Sequatchie County 911 non-emergency: (423) 949-9912. For an emergency, call 911.
• TN Division of Consumer Affairs (report a scam): 1-800-342-8385
• FTC fraud reports: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) · ftc.gov/complaint
• Tennessee Adult Protective Services: 1-888-277-8366
• National Weather Service Dunlap forecast: weather.gov point forecast

🌅 One Good Morning at a Time

A busy Wednesday doesn’t have to feel busy. Hear the raise news, make one phone call about voting, and stay cool this afternoon. Tomorrow brings Medicare season, and we’ll walk through it with you, one morning at a time. Read Dunlap.Today every morning for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today