From Local 3 News:  A new Tennessee law aims to combat bullying by targeting teenagers where it may hurt the most: revoking their ability to drive. The legislation, which took effect Tuesday, allows courts to suspend for up to a year the driver’s licenses of minors found guilty of bullying or cyberbullying.“Bullying can cause long-term harm that results in mental health problems later in a person’...  Read More

From Local 3 News: AAA is preparing to assist nearly 700,000 drivers during the Independence Day weekend.The Tow To Go program is a free service for impaired drivers and their vehicles to enure a safe ride home.“By offering Tow to Go, AAA helps ensure there's no excuse for impaired driving,” said Stephanie Milani, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Plan ahead, but if your plans change, w...  Read More

From TN.gov: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is once again participating in Operation Dry Water (ODW), a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) and enforcement campaign. ODW’s heightened awareness and enforcement annually takes place around the July 4th holiday and this year is July 4-6.The July 4th holiday means an increase in boater activity, and the TWRA will be on heighten...  Read More

From WATE: President Trump has named four people to the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority.The nominees include Tennesseans Lee Beaman, Mitch Graves, and Jeff Hagood. Randall Jones, from Alabama was also appointed by Trump. All must be confirmed by the Senate. TVA provides electricity to 10 million people in seven states and has its largest office in Chattanooga....  Read More

From Local 3 News: All seven nuclear reactors owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public power provider, were at full power Monday for the first time in nearly a year.TVA experienced unplanned outages at all three nuclear plants during the year -- Browns Ferry in Alabama and Sequoyah and Watts Bar in East Tennessee -- as it balanced routine maintenance and re...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met Friday afternoon.The commission approved the $229 million 2025-2026 budget, which includes a 3% raise for all full-time county employees but does not raise taxes.The new certified property tax rate was set at $0.9922 per $100 of taxable property, a decrease from the previous rate of $1.4392.Major allocations include $700,000 to E-911 emergency services, $370,000 e...  Read More

An officer-involved shooting occurred late Sunday night at the Speedway on Westland Drive in Cleveland.A Cleveland Police officer spotted a vehicle tied to Samantha Burd, who has active warrants. When the officer attempted to arrest her, the driver—Johnny Broglin—drove off, dragging the officer through the parking lot.The officer shot Broglin, who fled but was later found, treated at Erlanger, and...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will hold two public meetings to discuss the proposed Interstate 24 project in Hamilton County.The meetings will give residents a chance to learn more about the project and provide feedback.The proposal is to widen a 10-mile section of Interstate 24 from the interchange with Interstate 59 eastward to the junction with US-27 in do...  Read More

The Cleveland Police Department is asking for the public’s help to find a missing teenager.Pamela Gosselin, 16, has been missing since May 25 and was last seen near Faith Memorial Church. She’s described as 5’3” tall, 100 pounds, with long black hair. Anyone with information is asked to call Bradley County 911 or Detective Zach Kilby at (423) 790-7811. ...  Read More

A new state law taking effect July 1 will toughen penalties for drunk drivers in Tennessee.The new law lowers the threshold for aggravated DUI charges from a blood alcohol content of .20 to .15 in cases that result in death or serious injury. Vehicular homicide under these conditions will now be a Class A felony, and vehicular assault will be a Class C felony if the offender has a prior DUI or BUI...  Read More

From TN.gov: Road construction lane closures will be suspended across Tennessee for the July 4th holiday.TDOT says closures will pause from noon on Thursday, July 3, through 6 a.m. on Monday, July 7. This is to ease travel for an expected 1.5 million Tennesseans hitting the road.Long-term closures will remain in place, and work zones may still have workers present. Drivers are reminded to slow dow...  Read More

From TN.gov: According to data released from the Tennessee Department of Labor, every Tennessee county reported an unemployment rate of 5% or less in May.Williamson County had the lowest rate at 2.6%, while Hardeman County had the highest at 5%.Locally, Bradley County’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%, the only local county to see a decrease from April. Polk County rose to 3.6%. McMinn, Rhea, an...  Read More

UPDATE: TVA spokesman Scott Fiedler says that Unit 1 is back online, while troubleshooting continues on Unit 2.The two reactors at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant were taken offline early Tuesday, the same day the TVA asked the community to lessen energy use during the heat wave.PREVIOUS STORY: TVA spokesman Scott Fiedler tells Local 3 News that the TVA has determined the causes which led to both react...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has returned from an economic development trip to France.Governor Lee joined other U.S. governors at the Paris Air Show, meeting with aerospace and manufacturing companies to bring jobs and investment to Tennessee.During the event, Howmet Aerospace announced a second expansion in Morristown, creating 217 new jobs. The governor also met with leaders from Sch...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Sanel Durakovic has been indicted and arrested for the 2020 murder of Patrick Godwin in Ooltewah, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) says.Godwin, a local hairstylist, was shot and killed in the 8500 block of Horseshoe Bend Lane on January 7, 2020.Durakovic was previously charged, but the case was dismissed in 2020 for further investigation, HCSO says.Following a five-ye...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The two victims in a deadly Dunlap plane crash have been ID'd. Wendall Trimble, 79, died. The second person in the Piper J3C-65, Ashnish Sircar, 55, was seriously injured, Dunlap Police Chief Randy Phillips says.NTSB Aviation Accident Investigator Ryan Enders says the plane was attempting to land when it crashed. The right wing had substantial damage, but the cause of th...  Read More

The legal teams of the owner of Poole Funeral Home, Brian Poole, and the former owner of the business, Ralph Buckner Jr. were in court yesterday. As we previously reported, Poole Funeral Homes has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and a lawsuit claiming Buckner misrepresented the business’s value at the time of the sale. Brian Poole says he paid $12.5 million for Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and relat...  Read More

From News Channel 9 (Read the full story here): TVA is asking homeowners to reduce electricity use due to the high power demand.Tips include setting thermostats to 75–78 degrees, using microwaves instead of ovens, and avoiding the use of large appliances. Customers are also encouraged to close window blinds, turn off unused lights and appliances, and use fans to stay cool.The Tennessee Department ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Remote Area Medical, or RAM, will hold a free, one-day medical clinic on Wednesday, June 25 in Madisonville, TN.All medical services will be free, but will be limited to a medical-only clinic. No dental or vision services will be offered.No ID is required and services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.The clinic will be at the Cora Veal Senior Center at 144 College...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A former Rhea County teacher has filed a lawsuit against the school system, claiming that she faced harassment from upper management.Martha McClendon claims in the lawsuit, filed on June 17, that she was bullied during her time at Spring City Elementary.The suit claims they retaliated against McClendon when she reported issues about her disability accommodations to the administr...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday.City Manager Joe Fivas shared updates on multiple development projects. At the Cleveland Jetport, construction of 10 new hangars will begin in July, with future taxiway expansion also being planned.At Jim Sharp Park, work continues on extending the Greenway under the bridge and adding restrooms. A $940,000 bid was approved for upgrades at Tinsley Park, incl...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Bradley Square Mall will remain closed on Tuesday, June 24, due to problems with the air-conditioner.Belk, AMC, and Dunham’s Sports have their own entrances and HVAC systems and are open regular hours.PREVIOUS STORY: Bradley Square Mall will remain closed on Monday, June 23, due to problems with the air-conditioner.On Facebook, the mall said conditions will be evaluated ...  Read More

From TN.gov: Drivers in Polk County should expect delays on US 64 near the Ocoee River next week due to road work.TDOT will reduce traffic to one lane near Cloud Branch from today, June 16, through Wednesday, June 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.Crews will resurface the roadway, and flaggers and police will be on site to direct traffic. Work is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled.TDO...  Read More

What was supposed to be four days of lively music, vibrant crowds and nonstop fun is now a muddy field with debris scattered where stages once stood."It was pretty wild-looking,” says Thomas Trouy, manager of The Gear Closet. He says what was left were "dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of items—anything you could imagine basically still out there—coolers, chairs, tents, everything.”Due to r...  Read More