Posts with the category “local-news”

You only have four days left to early vote in the County Primary Election.The final day to cast an early ballot is April 30th.As of Saturday, about 3,600 people have voted in Bradley County, which is roughly a 4.5 percent turnout.Voters can cast ballots at the OCI on Urbane Road, the Election Office on Broad Street, the Northeast Recreation Center on Berry Street, and the Fire-Rescue Training Cent...  Read More

From WATE: President Donald Trump says he spoke with Governor Bill Lee about redistricting Tennessee to add another Republican congressional seat.Currently, eight of the state’s nine U.S. House seats are held by Republicans.Trump says the change would correct what he calls an “issue with the current map.”The conversation comes after Senator Marsha Blackburn called for lawmakers to redraw district ...  Read More

In a special called meeting on Thursday, the Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Dr. John M. Davis as the next president of Cleveland State Community College.Dr. Davis currently serves as Vice President of Administrative Services at Germanna Community College in Virginia.He has more than a decade of experience in higher education leadership and holds degrees from the College of William and Mary a...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools is proud to announce that Jordan Reeves will serve as the new Assistant Principal of E.L. Ross Elementary School. Reeves has been teaching fourth grade at Ross since 2023 and is known for building strong relationships with students and staff. She was recently named Cleveland City Schools District Teacher of the Year for 2025 to 2026 and received the Don Goff Innovation Award...  Read More

On Thursday, the Bradley County Board of Education approved a balanced $115.5 million budget to be submitted to the Bradley County Commission.The proposed budget includes a 1.5% salary increase for employees and allocates $1.1 million for capital outlay, including building improvements and general maintenance.The District is scheduled to present the budget during a County Commission hearing on May...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A follow-up inspection for Benton Elementary was completed on February 10. This comes after health inspectors found outstanding risk violations, giving the school as low score of 68. In the new report, it shows zero violations were found during the most recent visit. That is big improvement from the initial findings. Previously, the inspection report cited 16 violations,...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The City of Athens Fire Department received a nearly $40,000 grant from Firehouse Subs to purchase new extrication tools.The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant allowed the fire department to purchase a Hurst Spreader, Cutter, Ram, and accessories.The City of Athens says these new tools will help with the fire department’s ability to respond to crashes and other rescue...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The 2026 State of the Schools in Bradley County highlighted the current state and the plan for the future in the school district.Mission Possible was the theme at the annual meeting. Bradley County prides itself on providing more than just an education to its students.Dr. Linda Cash, the Director of Schools for Bradley County, says, “I want people to know that education is about...  Read More

From Cleveland Daily Banner (See Full Story Here): Cleveland Utilities customers could soon see lower internet bills.Officials say the price of the one-year residential internet plan will drop from $69.99 to $67.99 per month starting in July.Leaders believe the lower cost will encourage more customers to sign up or upgrade their plans, especially with faster speeds and improved Wi-Fi coverage.Clev...  Read More

From News 12: Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn is calling for new congressional district lines. Blackburn is urging state lawmakers to redraw districts, specifically targeting a Memphis-area seat currently held by a Democrat.Republicans already control eight of Tennessee’s nine U.S. House seats, following redistricting changes made in 2022.Blackburn says the move would help strengthen Republican...  Read More

The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has announced a major guest speaker for its annual benefit event.Dale Earnhardt Jr. will headline the 19th Annual Benefit on July 16.The event will take place at McMinn County High School, with doors opening at 6 p.m.Tickets are available through the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce website, and table reservations can be made by email....  Read More

Governor Bill Lee has signed new legislation aimed at helping expectant mothers with high-risk pregnancies in Tennessee.The new law allows pregnant women to obtain temporary disabled parking permits.Supporters say the measure will help ease some of the physical challenges that come with high-risk pregnancies.Similar laws have already been passed in states like Florida and Illinois, with others con...  Read More

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has announced the promotion of Lt. Julie Quinn to the rank of captain, recognizing nearly three decades of service and leadership within the department.Captain Quinn began her career with the agency in 1997. She served as a Field Training Officer from 1998 to 2003 before being promoted to corporal in 2003, sergeant in 2005, and lieutenant in 2010. In 2017, she t...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday and discussed several items tied to growth, parks and the city’s greenway system.The Council approved a plan of services for a proposed annexation on Old Freewill Drive.The resolution annexes 82 acres of property. The property is expected to help connect the Candies Creek Greenway into Fletcher Park. City Manager Joe Fivas said the greenway project would ev...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met Monday evening for a work session.During committee and district reports, several commissioners shared brief updates.Commissioner Howard Thompson encouraged residents to take advantage of early voting, noting there is still time to cast ballots.Commissioner Tommy Ledford highlighted this weekend’s Relay for Life event. Activities begin at 1 p.m., with opening cerem...  Read More

A 50-year-old Cleveland man has died following an incident on the Ocoee River in Polk County.Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency game wardens and State Park Rangers responded just before 1:30 p.m. after reports of an unconscious man in the water south of Ocoee Dam Number 2.Witnesses say Richard White fell from a raft while recreational paddling. He was wearing a helmet and personal flotation devic...  Read More

The Tennessee Board of Regents will meet April 30 to consider new leadership for Cleveland State Community College.The meeting will be held virtually and livestreamed at 10 a.m. Eastern time.The decision follows months of interviews, public input, and finalist evaluations.Chancellor Flora Tydings is expected to present her recommendations during the meeting....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Heads up to drivers in Polk County.TDOT Bridge Inspection crews will be conducting scheduled inspections across the county in the coming weeks.The Polk County Road Department has been asked to close these bridges from 9:00am to 3:00pm on the following dates:Grassy Creek - Thursday, May 7Old Hwy 411 - Monday, May 11Reynolds Bridge - Friday, May 15“Please make arrangements ahead o...  Read More

New legislation aimed at boosting economic growth and protecting the Ocoee River is headed to the governor’s desk.House Bill 2425, sponsored by State Representative Dan Howell, expands how funds from the Ocoee River Recreation and Economic Development Fund can be used.The funding can now go toward infrastructure improvements, tourism promotion, and event development within the river’s management a...  Read More

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday.The event will be held from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Criminal Investigation Division on Blythe Avenue in Cleveland.Residents can safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired medications, with no questions asked.Officials say proper disposal helps prevent misuse and keeps the communi...  Read More

A bill that would have significantly expanded Tennessee’s private school tuition assistance program has failed in the state Senate.Lawmakers voted 16 to 14 in favor of the measure, falling one vote short of the number required for passage.The legislation would have expanded the Education Savings Account program by removing the cap on student participation and increasing income eligibility.Currentl...  Read More

Seventy-nine of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5 percent in February, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Most counties saw an increase compared to January, with rates rising in 87 counties, staying the same in five, and decreasing in three.Statewide, Tennessee’s unemployment rate for February was 3.6 percent, slightly h...  Read More

What’s being called the Appalachia Fire continues to burn on remote terrain in Polk County on U.S. Forest Service property near McFarland and the Hiwassee River.No structures are currently threatened in the wildfire, which has grown to more than 200 acres.Approximately 40 U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters are working the fire using both ground and air resources.Officials say the fire was f...  Read More

According to the Bradley County Election Office, after 7 days of Early Voting in Bradley County, there have been only 2,477 registered voters cast a ballot. Bradley County has 80,793 registered voters, meaning this is approximately a 3% turnout so far. Early voting for the County Primary Election runs through April 30th.Voters in Bradley County can cast ballots at four locations: the OCI on Urbane...  Read More

From News Channel 9: The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) confirmed to us Wednesday that they plan to fine a plant in Cleveland.This comes after seven people were exposed to harsh chemicals at the M & M Mars Chocolate plant in December, according to TOSHA.6 of those people needed medical attention at a nearby hospital.TOSHA says their inspection found a penalty of mo...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A Bradley County deputy who was involved in a crash while responding to an emergency call Wednesday was treated and released from a hospital, the Bradley County Sheriff's Office says.The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.Local 3 is still working to learn more details surrounding the crash.PREVIOUS STORY: The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says one o...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Senate Bill 2040, also known as the “Freedom, Access, and Integrity in Registered Pharmacy (FAIR Rx) Act," was passed in the Tennessee legislature. Some pharmacists are concerned about potential impacts.The House passed the bill 86-7 on Tuesday, April 21. It passed in the Senate 24-9 on Monday. The bill now heads to Gov. Lee’s desk.The bill will limit how pharmacy benefit manage...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Adient, a global automotive seating manufacturer, has filed a WARN notice to permanently close its Athens facility.The company filed the WARN notice with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on Tuesday, April 21.Adient, located at 1210 E Madison Avenue in Athens, plans to permanently close on June 30, 2026.The notice says 210 employees will be affected.The...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) released a preliminary report for the crash that happened on I-75 Tuesday morning in Bradley County, and said there were no injuries.The crash involved two 2018 Kenworth tractor-trailers, both of which were driven by men in their 50s.THP said both trucks were driving south on I-75 when one truck hit the other at around mile marker 19.2....  Read More

From Local 3 News (AP): Two Southwest Airlines planes had to take evasive action to avoid colliding Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, after an air traffic controller directed one pilot to turn into the path of the other plane.Last year, an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. That crash on Jan. 29, 2025...  Read More

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says 16 people were killed and hundreds more injured in work zone crashes across the state last year.TDOT is recognizing National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 20th through the 24th, urging drivers to move over and slow down to protect highway workers.Officials say there were more than 2,400 work zone crashes in Tennessee last year, including over 6...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday to consider proposed changes to zoning regulations for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. The subject drew a large crowd.The public’s concern grew in the community over the sale of a 251-acre property in the Charleston area for $22 million to England-based developers, SDCL.Rumors have circulated on social media suggesting the site is bein...  Read More

Celebrate Earth Day in Downtown Cleveland with Keep Cleveland & Bradley County Beautiful and Terra Running Company!A community Earth Day event is set for today, Monday, April 20th at 5:30 PM in downtown Cleveland.The event will include a free group run and trash cleanup, with participants encouraged to walk or run while picking up litter along the route.Supplies like trash grabbers, gloves, bags, ...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission will meet today at noon to consider proposed changes to zoning regulations for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations.The meeting will take place in the Bradley County Commission room at the Bradley County Courthouse. You can livestream the meeting at noon or watch it later at mixtv.tvThe discussion comes as concerns grow in the community over a 251-acre pr...  Read More

Concerns are growing in Bradley County over rumors of a possible AI data center development.County officials say there are currently no confirmed plans for a data center, despite speculation tied to a 251-acre land purchase by a British investment company last year in Charleston.Recent social media posts have encouraged residents to attend an upcoming Bradley County Commission meeting to oppose a ...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee’s unemployment rate remains below the national average, according to new data from the state.The February unemployment rate came in at 3.6 percent, slightly higher than January and the same time last year.That is still below the national rate of 4.4 percent.State data shows Tennessee lost 6,400 jobs over the past year, with the largest declines in trade, transportation, and ...  Read More

From Fox 17: The Tennessee House has passed a bill that would ban the use, sale, and distribution of kratom.Kratom is a plant-based substance often sold as a supplement, but lawmakers say it carries serious health risks, including addiction and effects similar to opioids.The bill is named in honor of Matthew Davenport of Chattanooga, who died in 2024 after a deadly interaction between kratom and p...  Read More

From WSMV: The IRS is expanding tax relief efforts for Tennesseans impacted by January’s ice storm.Originally, only certain counties qualified for an extended filing deadline, but the relief now applies to all 95 counties across the state.If you missed yesterday’s deadline, you now have until June 8 to file federal individual and business tax returns and make payments.Those needing copies of previ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A federal jury ruled that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated antitrust laws, siding with Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and a coalition of 33 states, according to the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General.After a five-week trial, jurors found the companies had unlawfully maintained monopoly power across the live event industry. limiting competition among tick...  Read More

Volkswagen says it is implementing a global cost-cutting and efficiency program that is affecting some salaried and administrative positions in its U.S. operations, including some jobs in Chattanooga.In a statement, Volkswagen said the restructuring is part of a broader effort at its core brand aimed at improving performance and reducing costs worldwide. The company emphasized that the changes app...  Read More