From TN.gov: Tennessee’s unemployment rate increased slightly last month but is still nearly 1 full percentage point below the national rate, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.2% in September, up one-tenth of a percentage point over the previous month. The state saw a record-low rate of 3% in...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Chattanooga Police Department is investigating a fatal crash on I-75 in which a pedestrian was killed. The call came in around 7:00am on Thursday, October 17. When police arrived, the pedestrian, a 25-year-old man, was dead. The three-car crash occurred near the Bonny Oaks Drive exit. It was one of these vehicles that hit the pedestrian, according to the press releas...  Read More

Good morning and hello Thursday! Welcome back to another week of school students and a great start to the Fall Season!Let's talk about that cold snap! We went from t-shirts to full on sweaters in the matter of a couple of days this week with temperatures dropping into the mid 30s. This weekend,  temperatures will continue to stay relatively low in between the mid 30s & the lower 60s.As Halloween c...  Read More

UPDATE: 19-year-old Conner Shannon was booked Saturday with two charges:Carrying weapons on school propertyReckless endangermentIt's unclear if he was a student at either school. PREVIOUS STORY: Shots were fired during a fight at the Tyner vs. McMinn Central football game, played at Ooltewah High School.Around 9:40pm on Friday, October 11, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department responded to the ...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools announced yesterday that Hal Taylor, Director of Operations, has been awarded the 2024 Educator of the Year Award by the Tennessee Environmental Health Association (TEHA). A statement released by the system read in part… “This honor is a testament to Hal’s extraordinary efforts to improve environmental health across our district, ensuring that our schools are safer and healt...  Read More

Early Voting began yesterday and voting locations were busy. Bradley County Election Administrator Fran Green reported to WCLE that a total of 3292 ballots were cast in Bradley County. Of that total, 2,936 were in-person votes and 356 were by mail. OCI was the busiest location with 906 ballots cast. If you compare in-person votes with the first day of early voting in the Presidential Election of 2...  Read More

From Local 3 News: An unidentified African American female with serious injuries was found by troopers along I-40 at the 341-mile maker in Roane County on October 13.The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is seeking any assistance that will lead to the identification of the woman.If you have any information about this incident or who the woman could be, contact THP Knoxville District Dispatch Center a...  Read More

Lee University will present “Songs That Touch Our Hearts” on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in The Lee Chapel, featuring beloved hymns from the Red Back Hymnal. Danny Murray will direct the program and lead the congregation in singing these cherished songs. Murray said of the event, "This event brings together the rich musical heritage of our community. A diverse array of students, faculty, and commu...  Read More

Early Voting begins today in Tennessee. In Bradley County, there are 4 early voting locations.  OCI 410 Urbane Rd. NE  Bradley County Election Office155 Broad St. NW Northeast Recreation Center264 Berry St. NE Bradley County Fire-Rescue Training Center3715 Dalton Pike SE Hours:Weekdays: 9:00 am – 6:00pmSaturdays: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm There is one exception to the normal operating hours. The Early Vot...  Read More

The Cleveland City School Board met last night.Several announcements were made during the Director’s Update:The board will have its fall retreat on October 29th. Schools will be closed on November 4 from noon to 7 p.m. for Parent/Teacher Conferences and closed the entire day on November 5 for students only for Election Day. Staff will report for a development day. Hal Taylor, Director of Operation...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday for a work session. County Mayor Gary Davis announced that the County has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ending in June 2023 from the Government Finance Officers Association. It is the highest form of annual recognition. 3rd District Commissioner and Finance Committee Chairman, Milan Blak...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) is fighting a vegetation fire next to a power line cut out in Red Bank Monday evening.Firefighters have been working several hours to put the fire out, having to drag hoses to the top of a steep hill.Fire officials estimated that 1/4 acre is burning right now.There are no injuries or structural endangerment, CFD says....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says counties severely impacted by Hurricane Helene will soon be able to access a new $100 million loan program designed to help clear debris and repair damaged water systems.Lee announced the program, dubbed the Helene Emergency Assistance Loan or HEAL program, on Thursday. The Republican says the no-interest loans will go toward communities while they w...  Read More

UPDATE: The student that was killed in the Haunted Hilltop tragedy has been confirmed to be a student at the Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts. The school has created a GoFundMe to honor the student, as well as support his family during this time. PREVIOUS STORY: The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and the Highway 58 Fire Department responded to a call at the Haunted Hilltop that a child ha...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Gunfire broke out among a crowd near Tennessee State University's homecoming celebrations, killing one person and wounding nine others, police said.A crowd that gathered earlier Saturday for homecoming events was thinning out when people in two groups near the campus began shooting at around 5 p.m., said Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron. Shell casings indicate that ...  Read More

Update, 10/13/24- Dayren Lopez-Roque was extradited back to Tennessee by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and is currently in custody at the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Justice Center, awaiting trial for First Degree Murder in the death of Dayana Garcia, age 25. Previous Story:In just less than 24 hours, first-degree murder suspect, Dayren Lopez Roque, 41, was located and arrested at approx...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) says a death investigation has led to at least one person being taken into custody on Thursday.Deputies were called to a home in the 8200 block of Thrush Hollow Lane near Standifer Gap Road at around 12:40pm.Details are limited at this time.No names, including the suspect's, have been released.The HCSO says there is no threat to the co...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Ferrari caught on fire while being fueled at a Signal Mountain gas station on the evening of Thursday, October 10.The car caught on fire at Citgo/Hill-Top Market, the Signal Mountain Fire Department says.The car sustained major damage, as well as damage to the fuel pump and canopy above the car.Fuel pumps were shut off due to the incident. No injuries were sustained by the dri...  Read More

From Local 3 News: In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated homes and businesses across Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is urging residents to avoid swimming or boating near dams.TVA spokesperson Scott Fiedler emphasized that the water conditions remain hazardous due to fluctuating water levels and debris from upstream.“Currently, we are s...  Read More

Happy Fall Break to students and educators in Bradley County and Cleveland schools as well as Lee University students! I'm sure this break was needed for a lot of us this week, so congratulations! You made it!This weekend we're waking up to some chilly mornings at 43 degrees and warming back up in the afternoon with temperatures in the upper 80s. That means that we can finally break out those swea...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, bringing powerful winds, deadly storm surge and potential flooding to much of the state.Milton drew fuel from exceedingly warm Gulf of Mexico waters, twice reaching Category 5 status.The cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) when it roared ashore in Siesta Key, Florida, ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A safety audit for Snow Hill Road and Hunter Road is in the works, the Hamilton County Mayor's Office said.Findings from recent road studies coupled with public safety concerns on the two heavily-trafficked roads have highlighted the need for an audit.Gabe Lowe, a senior at Ooltewah High School, believes that Snow Hill Road presents too many dangers for new and young drivers."As...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee's corrections chief said Wednesday that the department expects to unveil a new process for executing inmates by the end of the year, signaling a possible end to a yearslong pause due to findings that several inmates were put to death without the proper testing of lethal injection drugs.“We should have our protocols in place by the end of this calendar year or at the fi...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: TBI special agents are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Hamilton County, leaving one person dead.The preliminary investigation shows that members of the U.S. Marshals Service Smokey Mountain Fugitive Task Force were attempting to locate a wanted person in an apartment complex on North Germantown Road.While questioning differen...  Read More