Posts with the category “local-news”

According to a release from Bradley County EMS, crews responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-75 Southbound at mile marker 24 that resulted in the interstate being shut down yesterday.Five vehicles were involved in the crash.One person had to be rescued from a vehicle by the Cleveland Fire Department and was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Other drivers were evaluated ...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools has announced several leadership transitions at the end of the 2026 school year.Dr. David Stone, Director of Special Populations, is retiring after a 30-year career in public education.His wife, Dr. Stephanie Stone, Principal of Ross Elementary, will also retire at the end of the year. She’ll continue leading the school until then.Assistant Principal Zach Riggins will also r...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Bradley County Schools will begin training school safety teams this week on the use of weapons detection systems at secondary schools, part of the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance student and staff safety.Training will start Thursday, January 8,  at Walker Valley High School, followed by Bradley Central High School on Friday, January 9. During the training sessions, student...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A new report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows hundreds of people arrested for driving under the influence in 2024 later tested negative for both alcohol and drugs.According to the TBI, 419 DUI arrests statewide resulted in no detectable substances in a person’s system. Several law enforcement agencies in the Tennessee Valley area contributed to that total.Officer...  Read More

From Local 3 News: January 5 was the day former Tennessee State Representative Robin Smith was supposed to begin an 8-month sentence at an all-women's federal jail in West Virginia, but a judge re-sentenced her to a year of probation.“She was due to report this afternoon, and she was also fined an amount of $7,500, which she was required to pay,” says Ben Rose, Smith’s pardon attorney.Smith resign...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Department of Transportation is temporarily closing lanes along I-75 North for tree trimming in Bradley and McMinn Counties.The work is set to take place on January 6-7 from 8:00pm to 6:00am each night.The right lane and shoulder of the interstate will be closed from mile marker 34 to mile marker 36.Tennessee Highway Patrol Officers will be assisting drivers with t...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met last night.Lisa Lovelace with Bradley Medical Center shared updates on improvements since Vitruvian Health took over in 2024, including increased patient satisfaction, added services, and staffing expansions. She also addressed concerns about a proposed free-standing ER by Parkridge, stating it could threaten the viability of local health care and result in duplic...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Robin Smith now knows which federal prison she will serve time in after her conviction and sentencing in the 2022 federal mail fraud case that also ensnared then-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his chief of staff Cade Cothren.Smith is scheduled to report to FPC Alderson in West Virginia no later than 2:00pm, Monday, January 5, 2026.Federal Prison Camp Alderson is...  Read More

From WKRN: Four family members, including two children, were found dead inside a Waverly, Tennessee home on Friday.Authorities in Humphreys County say the victims, two women and two boys under 18, died from gunshot wounds.Deputies found the bodies during a welfare check at a home.The sheriff says investigators suspect a murder-suicide and do not believe there is an outside suspect. The Tennessee B...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Traffic fatalities are trending downwards in the State of Tennessee, 14% for 2025. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, there was 1,194 in 2024, and there were 1,045 in 2025. Overall, there were 147 fewer roadway deaths in the Volunteer State."We are looking at statistics; the contributing factors from the drivers, was it speed? Was it alcohol? ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Cleveland man and a Johnson City man associated with a biker gang are now facing charges after a stabbing incident in Tazewell, Tennessee in late December.Town officials say officers found multiple motorcyclists affiliated with the "Pagan Motorcycle Club" at a convenience store called Catdaddy's Market on North Broad Street when responding to a call about a large disturbance.O...  Read More

Bradley Medical Center says United Healthcare rejected its counteroffer and ended negotiations, putting local patient care at risk.The hospital says UHC gave them only two days to accept a proposal that pays less than the cost of care.BMC says Parkridge Hospital gets significantly higher payments from UHC for the same services. For example, an ER visit is reimbursed at nearly $3,000 at Parkridge b...  Read More

From News Channel 9: A Decatur, Tennessee woman is suing United Airlines, claiming the company fired her for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine that violated her Christian beliefs.Christina DeBusk, a former United supervisor, worked remotely from her farmhouse in Meigs County for more than five years before her termination in November 2021. She had been with the airline for 26 years, holding senio...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Starting January 1, 2026, Tennessee will have a new public safety law aimed at preventing repeat domestic violence and protecting potential victims.Savanna's Law was passed this year and is named after Savanna Pucket, a Tennessee Sheriff's Deputy who was killed in 2022 by a former partner who had a history of domestic violence.The law requires the state to keep a list of people ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: AAA recently released its Year-EndHoliday Travel Forecast: a prediction of how many people we can see on the roads and in the skies as we reach the end of 2025.They estimate 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the last few weeks of the year. This number is a 2.7 percent increase from the numbers we saw last year and surpasses that record of nearl...  Read More

From News Channel 9: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is suing Roblox, accusing the platform of deceiving families and endangering children.The lawsuit claims Roblox misled users about safety risks and prioritized profit over child protection.Skrmetti said, “Roblox is the digital equivalent of a creepy cargo van lingering at the edge of a playground.”He says the company reduced child s...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading an investigation in Polk County after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper fired his service weapon at a man, and the man then shot himself.The shooting happened Sunday night in Reliance, near Spring Creek Road.The Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were responding to a call of a man experiencing "mental h...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Blood Assurance is offering an incentive to all donors through December 31.Donors can receive a $25 eGift card as the non-profit says they are facing a critical holiday blood shortage.To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.Donors are asked to eat a full meal and hydrate before don...  Read More

The Bradley County Trustee’s Office has received a positive audit for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.Trustee Mike Smith said the audit was performed by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and found no year-end adjustments were needed.The Trustee’s Office processed more than 53,000 parcels with 100% accuracy.This marks the tenth year the office has also handled property taxes for the City of Charleston.S...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday, December 18, that he has granted executive clemency to 33 individuals across the state. Country music star Jelly Roll, legally named Jason DeFord, was among those pardoned.“After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 33 individuals executive clemency,” said Gov. Lee. “Each individual case is unique a...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A 64-year-old woman is dead after a camper fire in the 900 block of County Road 20 in McMinn County.Now, special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, alongside the McMinn County Sheriff's Office, are working to determine what led to the fatal fire.Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the scene Thursday, December 18, according to the TBI.After they extin...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee could get a new childhood cancer license plate, but they first need a minimum of 1,000 preorders.The Childhood Cancer Organization and The Grayson Foundation are trying to bring the new plates to Tennessee. The preorder deadline is January 6, 2026.There have only been 610 preorders out of the 1,000 needed. It costs $40 to preorder a plate, and you can do so here.If you...  Read More

A local sports legend is being remembered for his impact on and off the field.Alphonso Martin, known as “Mr. Bradley”, passed away this week.Martin was a three-sport standout at Bradley Central from 1979 to 1981, later playing baseball at Seminole State and the University of Tennessee. He went on to play semipro baseball and returned home to coach and mentor young athletes.Martin’s legacy is remem...  Read More

Another Bradley County Commissioner has announced he will not seek re-election.District 7 Commissioner Josh Rogers said he made the decision after careful reflection and prayer, choosing to prioritize his family and other responsibilities.He said serving Bradley County has been one of the greatest honors of his life, and emphasized his commitment to continue serving the community outside of electe...  Read More

Bradley County is no longer an option for the proposed replacement of Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, according to State Senator Adam Lowe.Lowe told our news partners at Local 3 yesterday that the state would be searching for another location. The Bradley County Commission united against the proposal Monday in a unanimous vote to send a letter to state officials officially objecting to a st...  Read More

From News Channel 9: Police officers in Sweetwater shot and killed a man Monday night after they say he advanced toward them with a knife.Officers were called just after 7:30 p.m. to a business in the 900 block of South Main Street on a shoplifting report.When they arrived, they located the man and started chasing after him, according to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).F...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Shock and disbelief sounded across the room at Tuesday night's Bradley County commission meeting when things took an unexpected turn after an item not on the agenda took center stage: discussion of a piece of property located off of exit 20 on Pleasant Grove Rd. for the building of a new Moccasin Bend mental health facility."We've had zero meetings, community meetings, and conve...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Two people died in a house fire in McMinn County Tuesday evening, prompting a partial closure of State Route 163, Sheriff Joe Guy says.The fire started around 6:15pm. Once the fire was under control, two deceased people were found. TBI Arson Investigators are now on the scene and will lead the investigation, Sheriff Guy says.We have a crew on scene working to learn more....  Read More

From the Chattanooga: Cleveland Police have made an arrest in an armed robbery at Harry’s Food Mart, 4600 North Lee Highway, that occurred last Monday.The store was robbed by a lone armed subject. Information gathered from the initial investigation, combined with online tips and the work of Sergeant Russell Fredricks of the CPD Intel Unit, developed a suspect.  Based on this information Detective ...  Read More

From NewsChannel 9: An investigation by the Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDOR) led to the owner of a tropical fish store in Cleveland pleading guilty to tax evasion.The department says a judge accepted Eric Wayne Helton's guilty plea last Friday.Helton's charges stem from his failure to remit collected sales tax for the Aquatic Den, located on Keith St NW in Cleveland.TDOR says Helton was sent...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday. County Mayor Gary Davis suggested a resolution authorizing the county to participate in an interlocal purchasing system. The resolution passed 12-0. Fourth District Commissioner, Howard Thompson, announced he will not seek re-election. He thanked his fellow commissioners and the community for their support over the years. Commissioners had a lengthy dis...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Everyone involved in the crash on Ingleside Avenue, including a deputy, an arrestee, and the occupants of another car, suffered minor injuries, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy says.Paramedics took all parties to a local hospital, but the wounds sustained during the collision don't appear to be serious.Sheriff Guy did not share any additional details about the crash.An inve...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Over the weekend, Athens police arrested two people in separate incidents at the same location, on two separate days. On Saturday December 13, there was a domestic incident at 322 Lynn Avenue. Athens police said they arrested Skyler Farrar and charged him with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and retaliation for past actions. The next day, December 14, law enforcement were c...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: As part of its Homecoming tradition, Lee University presented Alumni of the Year awards across its 11 departments and schools. Recipients were recognized during departmental breakfasts or receptions held throughout Homecoming weekend.For the College of Arts and Sciences, the award winners include John and Joan Perez, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences; Louis Morgan...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Former State Rep. Gerald McCormick, who served constituents in Hamilton County and Chattanooga, has died at 63.Tributes are pouring in from local and state officials for the former Tennessee House Majority Leader, who battled ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease).Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly stated McCormick was a force of nature who worked tirelessly to make the Scenic City a...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee’s unemployment rate held steady in September at 3.6%, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.The statewide rate was unchanged from August and remained below the national unemployment rate of 4.4 percent.State officials say the release of September data was delayed due to impacts from the federal government shutdown affecting the U.S. Bureau ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The State of Tennessee has put Harold Wayne Nichols to death for the 1988 rape and murder of ChattState student Karen Pulley.Officials pronounced him dead at 11:39am EST.Six witnesses, including Local 3's Michelle Heron, attended the execution. They report seeing both Nichols and the spiritual advisor shedding tears."To the people I harmed, I'm sorry," Nichols said befor...  Read More

From News Channel 9 (Read the full story here): A teacher at Shenandoah Baptist Academy in Cleveland has been cited after grabbing a student by the face and shaking his head during an October incident.The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says Dr. Jeff Fauver, who also serves as athletic director, was upset with the way a student threw a basketball. The student reported the action felt like assault....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee will prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to buy sodas and other high-calorie foods made primarily with sugar beginning in 2026, following federal approval of the state’s request for new restrictions.The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Tennessee’s waiver on Wednesday, allowing the state to bar SNAP purchases of items where the main ingredient is sugar, corn syrup,...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Bradley County Jail has again earned Tier 1 Accreditation from the Tennessee Corrections Institute, renewing the designation it first received in 2024.The recognition follows a comprehensive audit evaluating the jail’s operations, safety protocols, and inmate care. During the Tennessee Corrections Institute Board of Control meeting on December 3, members voted to approve the...  Read More