Posts with the category “local-news”

From News Channel 9: Miller Industries in Ooltewah is laying off 150 employees as part of a cost reduction plan.The towing equipment manufacturer cited reduced sales and lower order volumes as reasons for the cuts, which will be spread across plants in Ooltewah and Greeneville, Tennessee, and Hermitage, Pennsylvania. The company says it will provide financial assistance, benefits support, and care...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Lee University alumna Lora Taylor has accepted an appointment with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., where she will serve in the Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office as part of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. Ms. Taylor, who earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Lee in 2020, most recently served as a STEM educat...  Read More

From TN.gov: After several months of steady unemployment rates, newly released data for July reflects a slight change in Tennessee’s jobless rate, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July was 3.6%, an increase of one-tenth of a percentage point over June’s rate. One year ago, the rate was 3.4%.Tenness...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board met last night.Director of Schools Dr. Linda Cash reported a strong start to the school year, highlighted improvements in achievement rates, and introduced Britain Sapp, a BCHS student recently appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve as a student member of the Tennessee State Board of Education. Representative Dan Howell was also in attendance and honored with a pro...  Read More

From TN.gov: On Thursday, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti launched Operation Robocall Roundup, a bipartisan, multistate effort by the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to crack down on robocalls across the country. Attorney General Skrmetti and 50 attorneys general are sending warning letters to 37 telecommunications companies demanding that they stop routing illegal robocalls through their n...  Read More

The Chattanooga Mayor’s Office has released a full list of data gathered from the multi-agency response to flooding within the city on Tuesday.Here’s a quick recap:CHATTANOOGA FIRE DEPARTMENT (CFD)More than 100 firefighters responded50+ emergencies and calls for assistanceSwiftwater rescue team saved 35 individuals from hazardous situationsWorked with CPD and other partner agencies on roadblocks, ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A young family of three were killed after a large tree fell on their car Tuesday night. East Ridge police responded to South Moore Road just before midnight to attempt life-saving rescues.They found Yuri Tomas Vicente Lopez, 29, Giomara Epifania Vasquez, 27, and Emma Vicente, 3, all deceased.Officials said the ground had become so saturated in water from flash flooding t...  Read More

Britain Sapp, a student at Bradley Central High School, has been chosen by Governor Bill Lee to serve as the student member of the Tennessee State Board of Education.Sapp was recommended by the Bradley County School Board in March and went through an application and interview process this summer.Sapp has served as the East Tennessee representative for the Tennessee Association of Student Councils,...  Read More

Chattanooga Fire crews responded to flooding emergencies across the city Tuesday night, rescuing stranded drivers and helping residents trapped in their homes.Swiftwater teams worked on McCutcheon and Hickory Valley, where people are stuck in vehicles. No injuries have been reported so far.Interstate 24 was shut down in both directions between Belvoir and Spring Creek due to high water. The Braine...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is investigating the death of an infant over the weekend.It happened on Saturday, August 9 at a home on Oakland Trail.Details are limited at this time.A BCSO spokesperson confirmed the investigation to Local 3, saying that information was limited because of a minor being involved.The cause of death and the name of the child have not bee...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: The Rhea County Commission has approved a $21.6 million general budget and a $43.3 million school budget on first reading.The budgets were passed Friday night by a 7–0 vote, with two commissioners absent.The property tax rate will remain at $1.3486 per $100 of assessed value.A final vote will be held August 25 at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex.State law requires budgets to b...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Grundy County Sheriff's Office says dozens of pets weren't the only living things found inside a home at the center of an animal neglect investigation.The GCSO confirmed on Monday, eight kids were also found inside a home along with dozens of animals.The children are ages one to 17.The GCSO said the animals that were found included at least 40dogs, one pig, and sever...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday for a work session.Mayor Davis shared that the state comptroller’s office has officially approved the county budget and commended commissioners for passing the budget before the fiscal year began.The Finance Committee voted down a $75,000 request to prepare property on Minnis Road for a new fire facility. Commissioner Milan Blake asked to include the rec...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday.City leaders celebrated a state award for the Inman Street revitalization, calling it one of the city’s most complex engineering projects.The main debate of the meeting centered on a proposed zoning change in the Spring Creek development. The change would have allowed apartments on the ground floor of a planned building, which was against the original requi...  Read More

From WKRN: The FBI’s latest crime data shows violent crime in Tennessee has declined over the past five years.The largest drop was in robberies, which fell by 38.5% from December 2019 to December 2024. Homicides decreased by just over 30%, rapes by 18%, and aggravated assaults by about 1%.Property crimes also saw declines, with burglaries down 42%, larceny-theft down about 25%, and arson down 7.5%...  Read More

From WZTV Nashville: Governor Bill Lee says Tennessee will seek a federal waiver to restrict the purchase of soda, candy, and other high-sugar foods with SNAP benefits.Under the plan, SNAP benefits could not be used for foods where sugar, corn syrup, or high-fructose corn syrup are the main ingredient, or for carbonated beverages with those sweeteners listed among the first two ingredients. The pr...  Read More

The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce has selected the 2025–26 Class of Youth Leadership Cleveland.The program is designed to develop and inspire the leaders of tomorrow and includes 26 high school juniors from Bradley Central, Cleveland, Walker Valley, and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School. Students were chosen for their academic achievement, leadership qualities, and passion for communi...  Read More

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn has officially entered the race for governor of Tennessee, announcing her candidacy earlier this week in a radio interview. If elected, she would become the first female governor in state history, following her precedent-setting role as Tennessee’s first female U.S. senator. In her announcement, Blackburn positioned herself as a staunch conservative ready to lead the ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: It's no secret that Chattanooga and the surrounding areas are continuing to grow in population. There have been many proposed plans to help in congested traffic areas. Hamilton County officials announced Wednesday the expansion of Hilltop Drive and Volkswagen Drive. Both are located off of Interstate 75.The project is costing the county between $22 to $25 million. Officials say ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Athens Police Department is searching for a person of interest in the Tell Street shooting.Carlos Quintana is considered to be armed and dangerous, potentially traveling on foot according to officials.If you have any information on his current location, do not approach and contact 911 immediately.PREVIOUS: The Athens Police Department is investigating a shooting that...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against a Tennessee man charged with killing the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found abandoned in a home's front yard, authorities said Thursday.Austin Robert Drummond, 28, appeared by a video feed from jail before a judge in Tiptonville, two days after he was arrested in the killings that set mostly rural areas of western...  Read More

From WDEF 12: Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn has officially entered the race for Tennessee governor.Blackburn announced her candidacy Wednesday, saying she wants to ensure Tennessee remains a conservative leader as power shifts back to the states. She emphasized support for border security, veterans, the economy, and Second Amendment rights.Former President Trump praised Blackburn as a longti...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Planning is underway for the inauguration of Dr. Phil Cook as the 18th President of Lee University, set for Friday morning, Sept. 19. University staff are already making preparations for the ceremonial and gala event, which will officially install Dr. Cook into his executive role and celebrate the outset of this exciting new chapter in the institution’s history. The ceremony...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Bradley County School Board members have done away with hefty fines as a consequence of breaking cell phone policy, but not all are on board with other regulations. These concerns were all part of a special meeting that happened Tuesday night, after parents have been pushing back against the new regulations.Cell phone policies are up for debate again as board members continue to...  Read More

Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks was elected 1st Vice President of the Tennessee Municipal League during the League’s annual business meeting recently held in Chattanooga.Mayor Brooks said it’s an honor to be elected by his peers to serve in the leadership role.He’ll represent Cleveland and help set legislative priorities for TML, which advocates for 345 cities and towns across the state.TML elects a ...  Read More

From WDEF News 12: City leaders from across Tennessee came together in Chattanooga for the Tennessee Municipal League Conference, a three-day event focused on collaboration, innovation, and celebrating the success stories of cities throughout the state.Mayor Julian McTizic Sr. of Bolivar kicked off the final day with applause and appreciation.“It has been a wonderful past three days,” McTizic said...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Cleveland, TN Police Department is asking for your help in providing information in a shooting.The incident happened on Saturday, August 2 around 9:00pm on Sunhill Drive.Residents and businesses in the area are asked to review any security camera footage around the time of the incident.If you notice anything unusual, contact the Cleveland Police Department at (423)559-3311....  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Vitruvian Health Care System said it is extending access after United Healthcare's (UHC) contract termination "in order to support all patients." Vitruvian officials said, "Bradley Medical Center’s contract with United Healthcare - including Commercial, ACA/Exchange Plans (Individual/Family), and Medicare Advantage plans was terminated by UHC on August 1, 2025. UHC has not t...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board met yesterday to consider a new policy on student cell phone use.The policy update is required by a new state law that went into effect on July 1st. Local State Representatives Dan Howell and Kevin Raper were both sponsors of the bill. The new state law bans the use of personal technological devices, including cell phones during instructional time. All school system...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The new 729 area code is now in effect in Chattanooga. This is also known as an area code overlay.The area code overlay is the addition of another area code to the existing code of the same geographic region. In this situation, the 729 area code will be added to the 423 area code. This addition will require new procedures. Grace Marek with the Tennessee Public Utility Commission...  Read More

From Local 3 News (AP): Tennessee is set to execute 69-year-old Byron Black today.Experts say this will likely mark the first time a man has been put to death with a working defibrillator in his chest.Gov. Bill Lee declined Monday to grant a reprieve, clearing the way for Byron Black’s execution after a legal battle and ongoing uncertainty about whether the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator w...  Read More

The Cleveland City School Board met yesterday.Board members approved several policy updates on first and final reading, including a major revision to the district’s rules on student cell phone use. The updated policy, rewritten with guidece from the Tennessee School Boards Association to comply with new state law, prohibits students from using personal wireless devices during instructional time. W...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday.Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution allowing Mayor Gary Davis to sign a three-year agreement with Cleveland State Community College. The agreement will ensure continued enrollment of county first responders in the college’s EMT, AEMT, and paramedic programs.Another resolution passed to enter into a 10-year, nearly $3 million contract with Axo...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Chef Wesley True of Inman Social has been crowned the 2025 King of American Seafood.He won the title at the 21st Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans by preparing fried catfish with herb aioli, smoked trout roe, hot sauce vinaigrette, and peaches.Chef True previously placed second in 2006. ...  Read More

A Bradley County judge is warning a man charged with murdering his ex-wife not to stall future court proceedings.Craig Liner is accused of shooting Karen Liner in her driveway in January. He appeared in court Friday without an attorney, citing a lack of access to funds due to a court order.Judge Sandra Donaghy warned Liner that the case would not be delayed further and urged him to secure legal re...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Over 40 small-breed dogs in McMinn County have been rescued from a "horrific animal hoarding case," in a home on Haley Street, says Vice Mayor Jordan Curtis.Friday, Athens Police responded to the home in reference to an animal call they received. The department says officers found numerous dogs outside. When they tried to find the homeowner, they saw even more animals inside.Off...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A 54-year-old man from Old Fort faces 11 counts of attempted murder, among several other charges, after 14 improvised explosives were found during his arrest on Friday, officials say.According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Kevin O’Neal had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel. When deputies and detectives arrived at his home on Amber Way Frida...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Cleveland City Schools has launched it's first-ever Book Bus in partnership with the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF).The Book Bus is a mobile library which will deliver free books and literacy resources to families across the area.GELF awarded Cleveland City Schools a Book Bus grant in 2025.This program allows school districts to turn decommissioned school buses into...  Read More

The Bradley County Sheriff's Office and the Cleveland Police Department are reminding drivers that school starts back next week.Cleveland City Schools begin August 4th.Bradley County Schools begin August 6th.Drivers are urged to take extra time, obey traffic laws, and follow school zone rules. Also, remember some parents are also getting used to new traffic patterns as they are dropping off their ...  Read More

A multiple-vehicle crash has closed both southbound lanes of Interstate 75 Friday morning.The crash is at MM 17.6, which is south of Bancroft Road.There's currently no time estimate for when the road will be reopened to traffic.Drivers should seek an alternate route if possible....  Read More