From Local 3 News: In recognition of Dolly Parton's 80th birthday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed Dolly Parton Day for January 19, 2026.Parton was born in Sevier County, TN, on January 19, 1946.As a Tennessee native, she has brought pride to the state with her numerous accomplishments as a singer, songwriter, musician, actress, producer, and entrepreneur. "Dolly Patton's generosity, hu...  Read More

From News Channel 9: Tennessee voters may soon decide whether to permanently ban the state from ever imposing a property tax.Tennessee hasn’t collected a state property tax since 1946, but the authority to do so still exists in the state constitution.A proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate that authority. It’s set to appear on the ballot in the November 2026 gubernatorial election.Supp...  Read More

From TN.gov: The 35th Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18, in Birchwood.The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and takes place at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, and Birchwood Community Center.Free shuttle service will run from the Birchwood Community Center to the festival sites, with parking available at Birch...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Human remains were found near Etowah on Tuesday, according to McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy.The remains were found around 11:30am in a wooded area near the Parkstown Community. "The discovery may resolve a case of a local man who had recently left his home in the area and had not returned," Sheriff Guy said.However, the sheriff adds that the remains will be tested to for positiv...  Read More

From Local 3 News: McMinn County High School was placed on a temporary lockdown on Tuesday, January 13, following a "concerning comment" made by a student that turned out not to be a credible threat, school officials say.The comment was immediately reported to the school administration and investigated by the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the McMinn Schools ...  Read More

One person was injured after a small plane crashed in Polk County on Tuesday, January 13, Sheriff Steve Ross says.The crash happened on Cookson Creek Road. According to Sheriff Ross, the pilot suffered minor injuries.The name of the pilot has not been released....  Read More

The Cleveland City School Board met on Monday.The board approved its FY 2027 budget calendar with a minor change allowing members to receive the budget draft earlier, giving more time to prepare for the spring retreat discussion.Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer shared updates from December, including performances by students, a community “Cocoa with Santa” event, and the annual Empty Stocking ...  Read More

A virtual public forum will be held on January 14 for the search process to find the next president of Cleveland State Community College.The forum will be held via Zoom at 10 a.m. Eastern. An 18-member search advisory committee has been appointed, including members of the Board of Regents, Cleveland State faculty, students, alumni, and local business and community leaders.The committee will review...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday. Council members approved several major zoning changes. They approved a request to annex and rezone more than 92 acres along Pleasant Grove Road for a residential development. A zoning change was also approved on Baldwin Street NE for the Cleveland Church of Evangelical Faith to use nearly 3 acres for a storage building.Two more annexation and rezoning requ...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met Monday afternoon for a work session. Bradley County Mayor, Gary D. Davis, introduced representatives from the Southeast Tennessee Development District to hold a public hearing and explain the process for applying for Community Development Block Grants. These grants, funded through the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development, provide up to $1 million for co...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in November.The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports the statewide unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, down a tenth of a point from the previous month.Over the month, Tennessee added 7,600 nonfarm jobs, with the biggest gains in education, health services, and administrative support sectors. In a year-over-year comp...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Chicago-based IB Parks & Entertainment announced on Friday, January 9 it has acquired the rights to operate Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park.The move is being called a "long-term commitment," and begins with the 2026 season, according to a release from the family-oriented theme parks and attractions operator. The founding family still owns the park.Lake Winnie re-opens on Frida...  Read More

UPDATE: A male motorcyclist was killed in a crash on Ooltewah Georgetown around 4:00am Sunday, January 11, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says.When deputies got to the scene of the single-vehicle wreck around the 6400 block of Ooltewah Georgetown Road, they found the driver dead and his bike off the roadway.HCSO has not released the victim's name.Preliminary information indicates the motorcy...  Read More

Cleveland State has announced the winners of its 2026 Community First Awards.The Alumni of the Year is Bianca Chavez Baker. JoKari Pugh, a Mars Wrigley production coordinator, was named Community Servant of the Year. Educator of the Year is Brittany Cannon, Director of the PIE Innovation Center.The winners will be honored during “An Evening with Jim McCloughan” on February 19th at the PIE Innovati...  Read More

Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks delivered his State of the City address, highlighting growth, safety, and major projects.Speaking to the Kiwanis Club, Brooks said Cleveland issued 608 new construction permits last year, totaling $220 million in investment. Since 2018, the city has added 2,640 jobs and brought in more than $1.1 billion in local investment.He praised the Cleveland Police and Fire depar...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A gun was found in a student's car on McMinn County High School's campus Wednesday morning.Administration says they were notified of "suspicious activity" in an area of the parking lot earlier that day.School officials, as well as the McMinn County Sheriff's Department K9 Unit, searched several cars.During the search, they found a gun in one of the vehicles. Deputies immediately...  Read More

The Polk County Courthouse will receive $500,000 in renovation funds.The grant comes from the Tennessee Historic Development Grants program, which supports the preservation and redevelopment of historic courthouses across the state.Projects were selected based on community need, impact, and eligibility under federal historic preservation standards.State Representative Dan Howell said in a statemen...  Read More

Jenkins Deli in Cleveland will close its doors on January 17 after nearly 50 years in business.The restaurant announced the closure on social media, thanking the community for decades of support. Customers can pick up personal photos displayed inside the deli on January 21, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.An estate sale for the remaining antique and décor items will be announced later....  Read More

From Local 3 News: An Athens man has received one of the longest criminal sentences in Tennessee history in a child sex abuse case.Kenterrius McGuffie is slated to serve 10 consecutive life sentences without parole, plus an additional 16 years in prison, according to a statement from the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office.DA General Stephen Hatchett announced the 29-year-old's sentencing by ...  Read More

According to a release from Bradley County EMS, crews responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-75 Southbound at mile marker 24 that resulted in the interstate being shut down yesterday.Five vehicles were involved in the crash.One person had to be rescued from a vehicle by the Cleveland Fire Department and was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Other drivers were evaluated ...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools has announced several leadership transitions at the end of the 2026 school year.Dr. David Stone, Director of Special Populations, is retiring after a 30-year career in public education.His wife, Dr. Stephanie Stone, Principal of Ross Elementary, will also retire at the end of the year. She’ll continue leading the school until then.Assistant Principal Zach Riggins will also r...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Bradley County Schools will begin training school safety teams this week on the use of weapons detection systems at secondary schools, part of the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance student and staff safety.Training will start Thursday, January 8,  at Walker Valley High School, followed by Bradley Central High School on Friday, January 9. During the training sessions, student...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A new report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows hundreds of people arrested for driving under the influence in 2024 later tested negative for both alcohol and drugs.According to the TBI, 419 DUI arrests statewide resulted in no detectable substances in a person’s system. Several law enforcement agencies in the Tennessee Valley area contributed to that total.Officer...  Read More

From Local 3 News: January 5 was the day former Tennessee State Representative Robin Smith was supposed to begin an 8-month sentence at an all-women's federal jail in West Virginia, but a judge re-sentenced her to a year of probation.“She was due to report this afternoon, and she was also fined an amount of $7,500, which she was required to pay,” says Ben Rose, Smith’s pardon attorney.Smith resign...  Read More