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

From Local 3 News: Scammers are becoming more believable, especially in McMinn County, according to the Sheriff's Office.A McMinn County resident received a call from someone posing as a Sheriff’s Office deputy, claiming she owed $5,000 in fines or would be arrested. The scammer was so convincing that she went to her bank to withdraw the money.Luckily, she called law enforcement. Officials confirm...  Read More

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