Posts with the category “local-news”

From Local 3 News: The school resource officer for Bradley County's Michigan Avenue Elementary School has created a program for kindergarten - 2nd graders that could be a real lifesaver.The students are learning to interact with first responders. Sheriff's deputies and emergency workers are teaching them the basics of making a 911 call.2nd grader Vander Vaughn said, “We are getting help from them,...  Read More

Bradley County Sheriff Steve Lawson says school safety efforts are expanding beyond campuses to include roadways across the county.In a social media post, the sheriff’s office says it will immediately increase patrols and enforcement in areas where residents have reported speeding concerns.Lawson is urging drivers, especially students, to slow down and warns that excessive speeding in school zones...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee continued his America 250 Celebration, which includes visiting all 95 counties in the state.On Wednesday, March 25, Governor Lee made a stop in Meigs and McMinn counties. In Decatur, Tennessee, he visited the Meigs County Courthouse. There he was met with dozens of residents, greeted them and took pictures.His main message was a simple "thank you" to ...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: MurMaid Mattress, a staple of the Tennessee Valley for nearly five decades, was recently spotlighted in Bed Times, the premier national magazine for the sleep products industry.The feature highlights the family-owned company’s successful evolution into a premium factory-direct manufacturer and its transition to a third generation of leadership.Founded in 1979 by Joy and Elme...  Read More

Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union’s annual Idea Leap Grant Competition is almost here.Voting for the People’s Choice finalists opens March 30th at 8 a.m. and runs through April 3rd at 5 p.m.Community members can vote online after watching semifinalist videos from each region.Small businesses are competing for a share of 225-thousand dollars in grant funding, with winners to be announced during...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission held a work session yesterday to review early budget discussions, hear committee updates, and take public comments.County Mayor D. Gary Davis said many department requests include significant increases, and he will move forward with a balanced budget using current and projected revenues. He also plans to include a salary increase for county employees.Commissioners dis...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday, focusing on community initiatives, development, and infrastructure.City leaders proclaimed April 11th as World Parkinson’s Day in Cleveland.Officials say the designation is meant to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, which affects more than one million Americans and currently has no cure.The Cleveland Housing Authority also provided an update on lo...  Read More

High schools in McMinn County will begin using the CEIA Opengate weapons detection system starting Tuesday, March 24.School officials say the system is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen safety measures for both students and staff.With the new screening process, students are encouraged to allow a few extra minutes for arrival as the system is implemented....  Read More

On Monday, March 23, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Cleveland Police Department was called to a crash on North Lee Highway at King Den Drive. Officers arrived on scene and learned that a 2001 Lincoln Towncar, driven by Colene Mercer, age 87, was turning left onto King Den Drive from North Lee Highway, when it was struck by a Mercedes, which was south bound on North Lee Highway. The Mercedes...  Read More

The City of Cleveland is hosting the Justice Bus to provide free legal help to the community.The event will take place Tuesday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.It will be held at the Cleveland Bradley County Public Library.Visitors can speak with volunteer attorneys and get answers to legal questions....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tax season is coming up, and several organizations in our area are providing free assistance.A lot of the programs are powered by the Volunteer Income Tax assistance program (VITA) or the AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide.Before you go anywhere, make sure to call ahead and see if they're taking appointments.TENNESSEE:Hamilton Co.Urban League of ChattanoogaFirst-Centenary ChurchHixson C...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools has announced new principals for three elementary schools for the 2026-2027 school year.Donald Benton will serve as principal of Ross Elementary School.Dr. Alicia Kahrs has been named principal of Arnold Memorial Elementary School.Dr. Joe Parker will lead Blythe-Bower Elementary School.Director of Schools Dr. Jeff Elliott said in a release that the new leaders are committed ...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board met last night.The board recognized Lake Forest Middle School’s show Choir, Revolution, for winning 5 Grand Championships and winning Best Vocals and Best Choreography in all five competitions they competed in this year. The choir is the winningest group in the 25-year history of Revolution.The board approved a grant-funded modular building at Oak Grove Elementary t...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A bill that would allow Tennessee schools to display historical documents, including the Ten Commandments, has passed the state Senate Thursday.The measure sparked sharp debate among lawmakers, ultimately passing strictly along party lines. Republicans argue the Ten Commandments are a significant part of the nation’s historical foundation, while Democrats say the bill crosses th...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Students at Tellico Plains High School in Monroe County were allowed to leave early on Thursday, March 19 after a gas leak.Monroe County Schools and the high school announced that additional repairs to the gas lines are needed before students can return to campus, and their decision was made only out of an abundance of caution.“The safety of our students and staff is always our ...  Read More

From News 12: Residents in the Ten Mile community of Meigs County are raising concerns about ongoing flooding along State Route 304.Neighbors say drainage issues are causing repeated flooding that threatens businesses and creates hazards for drivers.TDOT says it has studied the issue extensively and is exploring several possible solutions.This follows many of the residents coming together to sign ...  Read More

From News Channel 9: A Cleveland business owner is defending himself after neighbors raised concerns about suspected illegal burning on his property.The concerns first surfaced after a viewer shared drone video with our newsroom.The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) told us that video appears to show illegal burning happening at Cleveland Roll Off Rentals.Now, the owner o...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Chattanooga Airport is gathering community support for their TSA agents as they work without pay through a partial government shutdown.Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, people are welcome to leave grocery store or gas gift cards at the reception desk through the wooden double doors on the second floor of the rotunda.“See these smiling faces?? They’re part of the TSA team...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee lawmakers are continuing to push forward with the “Fair Rx Act,” despite strong opposition from CVS Health.The proposed legislation would prevent pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating pharmacies in the state, which is a business model CVS currently uses.CVS warns the bill could lead to the closure of more than 100 of its pharmacies across Tennessee, with t...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A bill requiring Tennessee students to show documentation proving citizenship to enroll in public schools passed the state house Monday, with support from all but three Republicans, who joined Democrats in opposition.It now goes back to the Senate, before requiring Governor Bill Lee’s signature. The Senate version is sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, a Hixson republican.Schools would...  Read More

From Local 3 News: For two students at Cleveland Middle School who rely on wheelchairs, getting through the school hallways just got a little easier, thanks to a group of their own classmates.Sixth graders Angel Molina and Angel Diaz navigate the school differently than many of their peers.The boys’ STEM teacher, Derek Morris, says it was clear the boys wanted to be able to do certain things on th...  Read More

Cleveland Utilities has announced that fiber construction is now complete, giving all electric customers access to its fiber internet network.The utility says the service offers equal upload and download speeds, with no data caps or contracts.Customers who sign up by March 31st will be entered into a drawing to win a JBL Clip speaker.Officials say the expansion marks a major step in providing mode...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday.Much of the meeting focused on early discussions about the county’s upcoming budget and a potential property tax increase.County Mayor Gary Davis distributed budget request packets to commissioners, outlining millions of dollars in proposed spending increases from various departments. The increases are what county government departments are asking the co...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at Clearwater Road and Congress Parkway in Athens, Tennessee, on Monday.First responders transported that person to a local trauma center, according to the Athens Police Department. They say the person’s injuries were not life-threatening.Police say the pedestrian stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle on Monday morning, March 16, 2026....  Read More

From News Channel 9: A defense attorney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Sweetwater Police Chief Eddie Byrum over comments and videos he posted on social media about a controversial hunting case.Attorney Matthew Rogers claims the police chief trespassed on private property while recording one of the videos and made statements he says were misleading about Rogers’ clients.The dispute stems fro...  Read More

From News 12: Bradley Central basketball star Kimora Fields has been named Tennessee’s Gatorade Player of the Year.Fields helped lead the Bearettes back to the state tournament this season.During the regular season, she averaged 32 points, eight rebounds, and three steals per game.Fields also scored more than 3,000 points during her high school career and maintains a 4.0 grade point average....  Read More

The SPCA of Bradley County has found a home for its new animal shelter.The organization was the winning bidder on a commercial property at 111 Industrial Way Southwest in Cleveland. The site includes a 4,900 square foot building on one acre.On Tuesday, the Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals approved the zoning change needed for the project to move  forward.A title search is underway, and the SPCA e...  Read More

From TN.gov: The Tennessee Department of Treasury is encouraging Tennesseans to check ClaimItTN.gov for missing money after businesses and organizations across the state turned over an additional $248.6 million in unclaimed property so far since July 1, 2025.Tennesseans may soon receive a letter from the Department notifying them they have unclaimed money. Each year, the Unclaimed Property Divisio...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A bill moving through the Tennessee legislature could soon end the twice-a-year clock change for residents across the state.House Bill 1300, filed by House Republican, Chris Todd, would require Tennessee to observe standard time year-round, eliminating the annual shift between daylight saving time in the spring and standard time in the fall.Todd says the legislation responds to ...  Read More

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal hit-and-run that happened early Wednesday morning on Highway 64.Deputies say the crash happened around 6:30 a.m. in the 6000 block of Highway 64.Investigators say a pedestrian was first struck by an unknown black vehicle that may have significant front-end damage. That vehicle left the scene.Authorities say the injured person was still a...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Multiple people are now facing charges after an investigation revealed drug activity at a “Dirt Dynasty” home in Tellico Plains.Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones says his deputies, alongside the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, obtained a warrant to search a home on Belcher Loop in the Rafter community on Tuesday, March 10.He says the...  Read More

From WATE News 6 Knoxville: Former Tennessee First Lady Martha Carolyn Swanson Sundquist has died at the age of 88. Sundquist served as Tennessee’s first lady from 1995 to 2003 during the two terms of her husband, former Governor Don Sundquist.She was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1937 and graduated from Augustana College before marrying Don Sundquist in 1959.During her time as first lady, she suppo...  Read More

From News Channel 9: McMinn County is one of several in East Tennessee where health officials are raising the alarm about a drug linked to more than a dozen overdoses.Officials say the drug, N-propionitrile chlorphine, also known as cychlorphine, appeared in nine overdose deaths between late October and December.As of mid-January, the substance had been associated with seven additional deaths.Auth...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: For Colt Maughon, a senior at Cleveland High School, a long-held dream is becoming reality. The standout student and leader has received appointments to the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy. After careful consideration, Mr. Maughon has accepted his appointment to the Naval Academy, where he plans to pu...  Read More

From News Channel 9: There are new safety concerns from some Cleveland residents centering around a property with a history of complaints and 911 calls regarding possible illegal burning.Documents we obtained from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) show several attempts to contact the property owner.Those documents say they were alerted to a complaint of illegal burnin...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Opening day at Erlanger Park is just weeks away, and while the stadium itself is nearing completion, development around the new ballpark is still in its early stages.Hamilton County commissioners toured the stadium Tuesday to see the progress ahead of the Chattanooga Lookouts’ scheduled opening day on April 14.Jason Freier, managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, said the to...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday.County Mayor Gary Davis read a statement in which he thanked the community for the outpouring of love and support after his son’s passing. Commissioner Milan Blake invited the public to this weekend’s production of 1776, The Musical, a benefit fundraiser for the Art Is Here Partnership.The musical is March 12th-15th at the Lee University Dixon Center.The...  Read More

Cleveland leaders are moving forward with plans for a new indoor aquatic center and are asking the public for more input before a state grant application is submitted.City officials say they are applying for a 3.5 million dollar Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant through the state.The money would help pay for the natatorium portion of a larger indoor sports and entertainment complex planned at ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A multi-vehicle crash shut down both directions of Interstate 75 in Hamilton County Monday evening near the Scenic Overlook, north of Ooltewah.TDOT says the crash was reported around 7:13 p.m. near mile marker 15.6.Emergency crews responded to the scene, but it is unknown how many vehicles were involved or whether anyone was hurt....  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Department of Education renewed Education Freedom Scholarships for nearly all current voucher recipients, according to records obtained by Local 3. For the 2026-2027 school year, 18,644 students currently enrolled in the program applied. The department reports 99% of currently enrolled students applied for renewal.For the 2026-2027 school year, 18,644 students curr...  Read More