From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A bill that would adopt new restrictions on cannabis sales in Tennessee has been approved by the Senate, just days before 4/20, the unofficial marijuana holiday.HB1376/SB1413, introduced by State Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), places extensive restrictions on Tennessee's hemp industry. This includes a recent amendme...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Rhea County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of former Sheriff Paul Smith. Smith was born and raised in Spring City, according to the Sheriff's Office. He served Rhea County as Sheriff for 2 years, from 1974 to 1976, and again for another 4 years from 1982 to 1986. He also served for two years as a member of the US Army in the transportation corps.When he finished there...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The second driver who died in a crash in Walker County on Tuesday, April 15, has been identified as Cassiddy Mitchell, 19, of Rock Spring, according to Georgia State Patrol.The passenger who was air-lifted was her little brother, Cooper Mitchell, 15, of Rock Springs. He remains in the ICU.A Meal Train has been created for the Mitchell family. You can donate restaurant or...  Read More

From Local 3 News: An East Tennessee pastor has been rescued after a shootout with police resulted in the death of three kidnappers, according to the South African Police Service. The pastor was abducted by four armed and masked men as he preached a sermon on Thursday, April 10 in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. Police say they held him for ransom.The South African Police Service said Hawks,...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Traffic is back to normal on I-75 North in Bradley County after a multi-vehicle crash yesterday. The wreck happened just after noon on Wednesday, April 16, near mile marker 27.8—north of Paul Huff Parkway. According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the crash had temporarily blocked the right lane and shoulder....  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A bill that would allow schools in Tennessee to base enrollment off students' immigration status continues to move forwards.The bill was scheduled for action before the House Finance Ways and Means Committee on Monday morning.It comes with a fiscal cost that is not currently accounted for in the state budget.This bill was placed "behind the budget" without debate or a vo...  Read More

A juvenile has been taken into custody in Bradley County following a reckless paintball incident earlier this month. On April 5, deputies responded to a call after a driver reported being hit in the chest by a paintball shot from a passing vehicle on Eureka Road near Lower River Road.Deputies met the victim at a gas station on Georgetown Road, where they observed yellow paint on the victim, inside...  Read More

Bradley County emergency crews responded swiftly Tuesday after a fire broke out in the kitchen area of the Bradley County Jail. The Cleveland Fire Department arrived on scene promptly and quickly brought the fire under control. Crews remain on site working to ventilate the affected area.Thankfully, there were no injuries reported—no inmates, staff, or first responders were harmed, and all individu...  Read More

In preparation for increased holiday travel, TDOT will suspend all interstate construction work requiring lane closures starting Thursday, April 17th at 6 p.m. through Monday, April 21st at 6 a.m.Some long-term closures will remain in place, and drivers may still see workers on site. TDOT urges drivers to obey posted speed limits in work zones and always move over for HELP units and emergency resp...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday for a work session.Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis honored the Bradley Central High School girls basketball team for winning their third consecutive state championship.Kimora Fields was recognized for being named Miss Tennessee Basketball, and April 14th was declared “Kimora Fields Day” in Bradley County. Coach Jason Reuter was named TSSAA 4A Girls Coach...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council also met yesterday.During the meeting, it was announced that Cleveland will receive a new Safe Haven Baby Box. The box will be from the same company that supplied the box in Hamilton County where a newborn was surrendered last month. According to state law, a mother can surrender a baby legally by leaving it in a safe baby box location. The boxes are temperature controll...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Republican lawmakers in the Tennessee House passed HB1376, a bill transferring authority over hemp-derived cannabinoid products from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.An amendment made by Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood) added on Wednesday that would prevent the sale of hemp containing a total THC content over 0.3%.As most of t...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A mutual aid response was required for a single-engine plane crash in Polk County's Cherokee National Forest Friday afternoon, April 11.Crews responded to a call from the McGee Tyson Airport Air Traffic Control reporting a small plane had disappeared from the radar.Brian Nightlinger with West Polk County Fire and Rescue says they were given coordinates of the crash and responded...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: After five days of searching, Loudon County officials say they have located a second body in their search for two missing teens who jumped into the Tennessee River on Wednesday to evade police."Sheriff Jimmy Davis and the Loudon County Sheriff's Office that the second missing teenager has been found dead," said the LCSO on Sunday, April 13. "The teen was recovered this a...  Read More

Yesterday, school resource officers and administrators at Cleveland High School received information about a possible threat to the school.Officers quickly began investigating and identified a 9th-grade male student as the source of the threat.The school then requested assistance from the Criminal Investigations and Crisis Intervention teams.The student was taken to the Bradley County Juvenile Det...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board met last night and approved a custodial services contract with Pritchard Industries valued between $1.8 and $2.2 million. The final amount will depend on whether the board opts for full service or a hybrid model.In addition, the board approved a resolution for each educator in the system to receive a $2,000 bonus through the recently passed Education Freedom Scholar...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general in warning nine voice service providers to stop routing illegal robocalls. The letters accuse these companies of continuing to transmit scam calls, despite prior warnings.If they don’t take action, the companies could face legal consequences. The coalition is already pursuing one suc...  Read More

Lee University’s Small Jazz Ensemble will perform next Wednesday, April 16th at 7:30 p.m. in the Dixon Center.Led by instructor Shawn Perkinson, the concert will feature classic jazz pieces.  The event is free and open to the public, and a live stream will also be available at leeu.live....  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Cleveland elementary school unveiled the "Oak Grove Community Garden" on Wednesday.Oak Grove Elementary School received a $5,000 grant from TVA to make the student-based garden possible.The community garden is aimed at providing opportunities for Problem-Based learning, but also giving chances to turn student work into serving those in need, Bradley County Schools says.Food pr...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Cleveland woman is speaking out after she was shot with a paintball gun while driving on a local highway, leaving her injured and her car damaged.Bionca Ross recounted the frightening moment from Saturday, April 5, during an exclusive interview with Local 3 News.Ross is now calling for justice and has vowed to hold the individuals responsible accountable.Ross was driving when ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Hamilton County woman has filed a lawsuit against Massage Envy Hamilton Place, its franchise owner, and a massage therapist, claiming she was secretly recorded during a session — and that dozens of other women may have been, too.Cieera Davenport, the plaintiff, says she was contacted by Chattanooga Police after a still image of her, taken without her knowledge, was discovered ...  Read More

Bradley County authorities are warning residents about a recent surge in scam phone calls. These scammers are pretending to be deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, falsely claiming that the person on the line missed a court appearance and now faces civil and criminal charges. The scammers then demand payment over the phone to avoid jail time.In a concerning twist, the scammers are directing victims...  Read More

A report of a burglary early Monday morning ended badly for the bad guys when the McMinn County Sheriff's Office deputies caught them with the stolen items.On April 7, deputies were dispatched to a report of a theft in progress at Sweetwater Airsoft on County Road 275, according to Sheriff Joe Guy.The previous night, the same business had been burglarized.When the McMinn County deputies arrived, t...  Read More

At last night’s Cleveland City Schools Board meeting, Director of Schools Dr. Jeff Elliot received high marks on his annual evaluation, scoring 3.83 out of a possible 4.The board also approved a construction amendment at Arnold Elementary, where hazardous walkways between buildings will be repaved. Plans had to be revised after underground piping was discovered, increasing the cost between $10,000...  Read More