From WSMV 4: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly explored running for Tennessee governor.Sources told NBC he inquired about eligibility, with serious discussions happening in recent weeks. The Pentagon denied the report, calling it fabricated. Spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth remains focused on his role under President Trump....  Read More

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press: A federal lawsuit claims a man died by suicide in the McMinn County Jail after being removed from suicide watch.Matthew Foster was arrested the night of July 26, 2024, and allegedly attempted suicide the next day. The lawsuit says jail staff removed him from suicide alert and placed him in general population, violating policy. He was later found hanging in th...  Read More

The Bradley County Fire Rescue responded to a serious accident yesterday on Benton Pike.According to the department’s post on social media yesterday, a three-vehicle crash involved several adults and two small children, with one vehicle overturning and a patient needing to be extricated. That patient was taken to Erlanger for treatment. Despite the severity, there were no serious injuries thanks t...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help locating a stolen trailer from the Boanerges Church Rods area in Old Fort, Tennessee.The trailer is an 18' car hauler with a solid steel floor and no fenders.If you have any information, contact Detective Cody Day at 423-338-8215 ext. 1010....  Read More

From WZTV Nashville: Byron Black, a Tennessee death row inmate, has filed a petition for writ of certiorari, or a higher court review, with the United States Supreme Court, and a pause on his scheduled execution. Black's execution is scheduled for August 5, 2025, and has been the center of controversy regarding his intellectual disability and separate health concerns regarding his defibrillator.Th...  Read More

From News Channel 9: A Tennessee task force is studying how to fund education if federal dollars disappear.Five Republican lawmakers met Tuesday to examine which education areas depend most on federal support. These include child nutrition, programs for students with disabilities, and disadvantaged students. Tennessee currently receives about $1.3 billion annually in federal education funds.The ta...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: A new area code is coming to East Tennessee.Starting August 5, callers in the 423 area code must use 10-digit dialing, even for local calls. The Tennessee Public Utility Commission has approved a 729 area code overlay, which will affect areas including Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Johnson City.Beginning September 5, new phone numbers may be assigned with the 729 code. Existin...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A McMinn County man was arrested Monday evening after firing a handgun at a Sheriff’s Deputy.According to Sheriff Joe Guy, Corporal Nathan Stiles responded to a report of Stephen Goins acting erratically and shooting randomly outside his home on Highway 11 South.When Stiles arrived, Goins allegedly fired a silver revolver at him. Stiles returned fire in self-defense befo...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has announced that Elon Musk’s Boring Company will build the Music City Loop in Nashville.The underground high-speed electric transit system will be built at no cost to taxpayers and is expected to be finished by fall of 2026. The system will meet all national safety standards and aims to boost transportation, infrastructure, and economic development ...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met Monday night.Commissioners honored the Walker Valley High School Lady Mustangs for winning the 2025 TSSAA Class 4A State Championship—their first-ever title. The team finished 36–8 and went undefeated in the postseason. Mayor Gary Davis proclaimed July 28 as “Lady Mustang Softball Day” in Bradley County. The team was also recognized for academic and community serv...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday.Council members voted unanimously to move forward with purchasing and cleaning up the former 50-acre Whirlpool site, pending environmental clearance. The state has issued a comfort letter shielding the city from liability. The site could eventually become commercial space or a park.The Council also approved several zoning and annexation items:– Rezoning 1.1...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A shooting involving 11 victims took place along Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta overnight, our NBC Affiliate in Atlanta reports.Police responded to the 300 block of Edgewood Ave. around 1:30am. A 27-year-old man died during the chaos and the other 10 victims, between 18 and 29 years old, are all believed to be in stable condition.There's currently limited information on how the shoo...  Read More

From Local 3 News: We are in Storm Alert Weather mode due to dangerous heat today and tomorrow.The first part of our day will be quiet with mild temperatures in the 70s. A Heat Advisory will go into effect at Noon and continue through tomorrow evening. Highs will range from 94 to 98 degrees, with the heat index reaching as high as 108 in the valley. There is a 20-30% of a pop-up afternoon storm, w...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A 51-year-old man from Rock Spring drowned in the Chickamauga Reservoir Saturday afternoon, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) says.Local authorities responded to a 911 call around 1:15pm near Dogwood Drive. Officers learned that Randall Bradley got in the water to retrieve a piece of a swim platform that dislodged from a moving boat.He was not wearing a life jacket ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Bradley County Schools reminded students and parents of their new cell phone policy late Thursday.Applicable to secondary (high) schools, the policy requires that phones be turned off and be out of sight during the school day, from 8:15am - 3:30pm.The policy applies to wireless devices such as phones, tablets, earbuds, MP3 players.The school system explained that in the event of...  Read More

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released county-level unemployment rates yesterday. Seasonal job changes caused unemployment rates to rise in all 95 Tennessee counties in June, including several in our area.Bradley County’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5%. Polk County’s rate climbed to 4.4%. McMinn and Rhea Counties each saw an increase of 1.1%, bringing their rates to 5...  Read More

Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Division, in cooperation with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, has successfully intercepted a large-scale money scam ring that targeted a vulnerable resident.The victim had over $250,000 stolen. Investigators detained the suspect, Rinkeshkumar Patel, after he arrived at the victim’s residence, attempting to collect more money.Patel is ac...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A motorcyclist was injured Thursday morning in a hit-and-run crash on Highway 307 near County Road 364 in McMinn County, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is looking for the driver who fled the scene.Officials are searching for a 2009–2014 Ford F-150, gold or champagne in color. The truck may be missing a front plate holder and has a black bumper insert, THP says.If you hav...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Meigs County has received $97,500 in state funding for upgrades at Ten Mile Park and Georgetown’s Eastview Park.State Rep. Dan Howell says the grant will go toward new playground equipment and a walking trail at Eastview Park.The funding comes from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund and is part of over $22 million awarded statewide by the Tennessee Department of Environment...  Read More

From News Channel 9: Drivers on State Route 68 in Polk County should expect traffic disruptions through 2026 due to a major bridge replacement project.TDOT says the $11 million project involves replacing two SR 68 bridges over US 64 in Ducktown and will continue through December 2026.Wright Brothers Construction will manage the work. During construction, traffic on SR 68 will be limited to one lan...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Bradley County Fire Rescue successfully rescued a 60-pound dog named Scooby from a 12-foot well in south Bradley County today.Crews from Engine 12, Rescue 8, and Battalion Command responded and found Scooby trapped in the water well. After setting up rope rescue equipment and conducting safety checks, Lt. L. Thompson entered the well and retrieved the dog.Scooby sustained minor ...  Read More

UPDATE: The Decatur Police Department says no criminal charges will be filed after an officer shot a dog in “self-defense”.The woman who owned the dog shared the incident report by the Decatur officer.The report says a the officer responded to a report of a child being attacked by “the brown dog”.The child said the dog knocked him down and he “thought he was going to die”.The officer says in the r...  Read More

 Drivers traveling on I-75 in Bradley and McMinn Counties should be aware of an active resurfacing project that will temporarily impact traffic. Happening tonight, July 22, 2025, and continuing nightly (Sunday – Friday) from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am local time, Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will perform temporary lane closures on I-75 in both directions from mile marker 31 to mil...  Read More

Cleveland High School announced yesterday that it has been awarded a $49,932.53 Welding Workforce Grant from the American Welding Society Foundation.The grant will enhance Cleveland High’s Welding Technology program, supporting new training equipment, certification opportunities, and real-world experience for students. Instructor Michael Ritchie leads the program, which prepares students for caree...  Read More