Four local elementary schools have received funding through a Tennessee Valley Authority program supporting youth robotics.

TVA awarded a total of $700,000 to 187 schools and nonprofit organizations.

Local recipients include Arnold Memorial and Mayfield Elementary Schools in Cleveland, along with Prospect and Valley View Elementary Schools in Bradley County.

Arnold Memorial plans to establish a robotics club for students in grades three through five, while Mayfield will use its funding to expand robotics materials and FIRST LEGO League opportunities.

Prospect Elementary plans to launch a robotics program using VEX equipment, and Valley View plans to purchase kits for LEGO competitions while working with older robotics and mechatronics students as mentors.

The programs are designed to give elementary students more opportunities to learn coding, robotics, problem-solving, and teamwork.

From Local 3 News: STEM opportunities will be expanding for students across the Bradley County Schools district with the opening of three new Volkswagen eLabs this fall.

Students will receive hands-on opportunities to design, build, create, prototype and solve real-world problems using industry-relevant technology at the new labs at Bradley Central High School, Charleston STEAM Academy and Ocoee Middle School.

The VW eLabs are part of Bradley County Schools' larger vision to expand STEM learning and provide students with more opportunities to develop the creativity, technical skills, collaboration and problem-solving abilities needed for their futures.

Each VW eLab will also become an official FabLab, connecting Bradley County students and educators to the global FabLab network established through the Fab Foundation at MIT. This connection will expand opportunities for innovation, collaboration and hands-on learning both inside and beyond the classroom.

"We want students across Bradley County to have opportunities to discover, create, and see themselves as innovators," said Dr. Linda Cash, Director of Bradley County Schools. "These VW eLabs and FabLabs are an exciting step as we continue expanding STEM experiences throughout our district."

The expansion into Bradley County Schools was made possible with the support of Volkswagen Group of America and Public Education Forward.

From Local 3 News: Tennessee has seen the largest property tax increase in the nation over the past six years, according to a new report from the Beacon Center of Tennessee.

The report says Tennessee is the only state where property taxes increased by more than 75 percent during that period.

The Beacon Center says 46 states have some form of property tax cap, while Tennessee does not.

A proposal to establish a cap was introduced in the Tennessee legislature last year but did not make it to a vote.

The Beacon Center says the lack of a cap leaves Tennessee homeowners more vulnerable to significant increases in property taxes.

The Bradley County Commission honored three longtime county officials during its meeting Monday.

County Clerk Donna Simpson, Register of Deeds Dina Swafford and Trustee Mike Smith are all leaving office at the end of August.

State lawmakers presented resolutions recognizing their service, while Cleveland and Bradley County issued proclamations in their honor. Monday was declared Donna Simpson Day, August 31st will be Dina Swafford Day, and Bradley North Ballpark is being named Mike Smith Park.

Commissioners also approved several updates to their rules of procedure, but left current rules for public comments unchanged.

The commission also announced that $590,000  is available through the county’s HCI grant program for projects that improve health, wellness and quality of life. Applications are due September 24th.

Thirteen commissioners attended Monday’s meeting, with Commissioner Goins absent.

From News Channel 9: An investigation into the theft of communication lines across three states has led to three arrests.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says it received reports in June of wires being cut and removed from utility poles in western Cherokee County, North Carolina.

Investigators determined similar thefts had also occurred in Polk County, Tennessee, and Fannin County, Georgia.

Perry Chinn, Andrew Morrow, and Isaac Scarlett have been charged with injury to public property. Scarlett is being held in Georgia pending extradition to North Carolina.

Investigators believe sections of telephone and communication lines were stolen and later sold for scrap.

Authorities say the thefts disrupted telephone and internet service and could have interfered with access to emergency communications.

From Local 3 News: Due to extreme heat indexes, Polk County Schools will dismiss early  Monday, August 17.

Students will be dismissed at noon as the district takes precautions amid dangerously high temperatures.

From Local 3 News: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that auto manufacturer Chrysler is recalling 1,271,295 model-year 2019-2026 RAM 1500 vehicles for a seat belt issue.

The NHTSA says that the second-row seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. Because of that, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Dealers will inspect and attach the seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure as necessary, free of charge.

Notification letters to owners are expected to be mailed August 18, 2026, but owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Chrysler's number for this recall is 67D.

From the Chattanoogan: The Cleveland Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint later this month.

The checkpoint is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. in the area of Keith Street and Raider Drive.

From the Chattanoogan: Tennessee tax revenues came in well above budget estimates for July.

Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson says the state collected $2.2 billion in tax revenue for the month. That was more than $418 million above the budget estimate and nearly $338 million more than July of last year.

Sales taxes were about $69 million above estimates, while corporate franchise and excise taxes exceeded estimates by nearly $336 million.

For the fiscal year from August through July, Tennessee tax revenues finished about $1.2 billion above budget expectations.

Bryson says strong consumer activity and corporate tax collections helped drive the increase, but state officials will remain cautious because some of the growth was tied to inflation and corporate tax payments can vary significantly from month to month.

The City of Charleston will hold a public open house Thursday, August 27, to get feedback on recommendations from a transportation study.

The open house will run from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the Hiwassee River Heritage Center on Hiwassee Street.

The study includes U.S. 11, also known as Lee Highway and Hiwassee Street, between Market Street and the James S. Varnell Junior Bridge.

It also covers Water Street between U.S. 11 and the TVA boat ramp.

The city is encouraging residents to attend, review the recommendations and provide feedback.

The Bradley County School Board approved several major items Thursday night, including a new technology use plan and the Bradley Central High School track project.

The board unanimously approved a technology guide aimed at reducing screen time in classrooms.

The district is working toward a 70-30 approach, with about 70 percent of classroom time focused on teacher-led instruction, paper-and-pencil work and student interaction, and about 30 percent using technology.

School officials stressed that Chromebooks and other devices are not being eliminated, but should be used purposefully to support instruction.

The board also approved a nearly $ 1.75 million contract with Baseline Sports Group for a new track and multi-use infield at Bradley Central High School.

The project came in under the $ 1.8 million allocated by the Bradley County Commission after changes were made to reduce the original bid.

The new facility will include an eight-lane track meeting TSSAA standards, along with a turf infield designed for soccer, lacrosse, band, ROTC, and other activities.

District officials say they hope to hold a groundbreaking in September.

From News 12: A Bradley County judge has reduced bond for two 19-year-olds charged in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Aiden Darity in Cleveland.

Darity was killed two weeks ago. Cleveland Police say Haydon Land and Jayson Maxwell brought Darity to Bradley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.

Investigators say the two told police the shooting was an accident.

Land is charged with reckless homicide. Both Land and Maxwell are charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.

Police say the two threw a gun from their vehicle on 25th Street. A Hamilton County K-9 officer was brought in to search for and recover the weapon.

On Thursday, a Bradley County judge reduced Land’s bond from 200-thousand dollars to 75-thousand dollars. Maxwell’s bond was reduced from 100-thousand to 50-thousand dollars.

As part of the agreement, the District Attorney’s Office agreed not to hold preliminary hearings, sending the cases directly to a Bradley County Grand Jury.

After the cases go before the Bradley County Grand Jury, they are expected to move to Bradley County Criminal Court, with hearings expected to begin next month.

From WSMV Nashville: Some Tennessee travelers are running into problems at airport security because their driver's licenses are not being read by TSA equipment.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says it is aware of a small number of licenses affected by the problem.

Some travelers have reported missing flights because their licenses could not be read.

State officials are investigating the cause. Anyone who experiences the problem can receive a free replacement license at a Driver Services Center.

Officials say travelers can also bring another federally accepted form of identification, such as a passport, as a backup.

From the Chattanoogan: Cleveland State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Athens will launch a new program next Tuesday aimed at helping technical college graduates earn an associate degree.

The Accelerate Program allows graduates of eligible TCAT Athens programs to receive 30 credit hours toward an associate degree in General Technologies at Cleveland State.

Eligible programs include automotive technology, collision repair, computer information systems, cosmetology, diesel and heavy equipment, industrial maintenance, machine tools and welding.

Students could complete the remaining requirements for their associate degree in as little as nine months.

The program is funded through a grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents. Cleveland State and TCAT Athens were one of only three college partnerships in Tennessee to receive the grant.

Twenty-six area high school students have been selected for the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Cleveland Class of 2026–2027.

Students were selected from Bradley Central, Cleveland and Walker Valley high schools, along with Tennessee Christian Preparatory School.

The program gives students a closer look at local government, businesses, nonprofits, and the economy while developing leadership and teamwork skills.

Participants will take part in community tours, volunteer opportunities, and leadership retreats throughout the school year. They will also organize a fundraising project benefiting a local nonprofit.

This year’s participants are:
Akhil Balaji, Naomi Brown, Kinna Bryson, Avery Collins, Tarver Cook, Georgia Crawford, Kenley Dew, Jake Farrar, Emma Hakes, Eva Joffrion, Joseph Meir, Katie Neely, Brooke Nix, Caroline Ready, Laeton Reed, Alex Rodas, Lorin Sentell, Kaylee Simpson, Elijah Smith, Savannah-Claire Starkey, Clara Sutter, True Waller, Reagan Weiss, Addison White, Lilly Winters, and Shaden Zboun.

From News 12: The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says video visitation is currently unavailable because of technical difficulties.

The service has been down since yesterday and will remain unavailable until further notice while the issue is addressed.

The Sheriff’s Office apologized for the inconvenience and said it understands the importance of video visitation for inmates’ families and friends.

From Local 3 News: Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant may soon start production of a new vehicle. Volkswagen plans to launch a new pickup truck, a vehicle it does not currently sell in the U.S.

Reuters and German newspaper Handelsblatt report that the trucks will be built in the United States, and the company’s only U.S. auto manufacturing plant is in Chattanooga.
VW's Altas Tanoak pickup truck.

Volkswagen plans to launch the pickup truck by 2030. The company released designs of the concept truck in 2019.

It’s part of the company’s plans to revamp its U.S. strategy. Audi’s former head of sales, Marco Schubert, is moving to the U.S. to replace Kjell Gruner, who is leaving the company.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen suddenly ended production of its ID.4, which was manufactured in Chattanooga, due to declining sales. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union said in a statement that all employees would keep their jobs while changes were made.

In the announcement, the company said it would prioritize its second-generation Atlas SUV, which was scheduled to be available in dealerships this fall.

UPDATE: From News Channel 9: (8-11-26) Copperhill residents can once again use their water normally after more than a week of water problems.

Copperhill Utilities announced Tuesday that testing results came back clear and the city’s boil water advisory has been lifted.

Flooding earlier this month disrupted water service in Copperhill and neighboring McCaysville, Georgia, leaving residents relying on bottled water.

Crews repaired a transmission line leak and restored water service, but the boil water advisory remained in effect until required testing confirmed the water was safe.

Copperhill officials thanked residents for their patience during the disruption.



UPDATE: After flushing water lines and collecting samples for testing, Copperhill Utilities said on Sunday, August 9, that the water samples did not meet required standards.

The boil water advisory continues. The City of Copperhill reminds residents to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it.

Officials say it is not safe to use ice made from the tap water during the advisory.

While the water can be used for bathing, residents should avoid getting it in the mouth or eyes.

Residents are urged to use bottled water or boiled water for washing dishes. In dishwashers, officials recommend using the hottest setting and allowing dishes to completely air dry. They also say residents should use bottled or boiled water for handwashing.

“DO NOT assume that because the water looks clear or smells normal that it is safe to drink. Contamination cannot necessarily be seen, smelled, or tasted.”

Copperhill Utilities says its crew is “continuing to address the issues within the system.”
Follow-up testing will be completed before the boil advisory is lifted.

Copperhill residents have been without access to clean water for one week. Flooding covered the downtown area, damaging water lines on Sunday, August 2.



UPDATE: (8/6/26) From Local 3 News- Copperhill Utilities in Tennessee is asking customers to continue conserving water as crews work to locate and repair a leak that is causing low water pressure throughout the distribution system.

Officials said conserving water is critical to maintaining system pressure, helping crews identify the leak, and preventing another widespread loss of water service. Residents are encouraged to use water only for essential needs, postpone laundry and dishwasher use, take short showers, and avoid unnecessary water use until the system stabilizes.

The utility also says the boil water advisory remains in effect. Customers should continue boiling water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, and food preparation.

Officials say the water system has not yet stabilized enough to begin the bacteriological testing required before the advisory can be lifted. The advisory will remain in place until adequate water pressure and tank levels are restored.


UPDATE (8/4/26): Copperhill residents are continuing to clean up after flooding swept through the area Saturday night into Sunday morning.

The community remains under a boil water advisory as recovery efforts continue.

Tarver Distributing will hand out bottled water again today at 10 AM at the former Piggly Wiggly in Ducktown for people affected by the flooding.

WCLE will continue to keep you updated on recovery efforts.



Copperhill Utilities is asking customers to conserve water because of leaks in water lines serving the city and the surrounding area, along with problems involving the city’s water tanks.

Copperhill Mayor Greg Barker told WCLE the community is under a boil water advisory and expects that advisory to remain in effect for several days.

Residents should boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food.

The Copperhill Brewery has water and some basic food items available for people in the area. Tarver Distributing is expected to deliver additional water this morning, with another shipment possible this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

Crews expect road repairs to continue for several days, while debris cleanup could take weeks.

From Local 3 News (AP): Read the full story here: Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma plan to execute inmates Thursday in what would be the first time in nearly 16 years that three people are put to death on the same day in the United States.

Tennessee plans to execute Anthony Darrell Hines three months after the attempted lethal injection of another inmate was called off because of problems inserting an IV. The aborted execution put a spotlight on issues states have sometimes had in establishing IV lines during lethal injections.

Hines was convicted of stabbing Catherine Jean Jenkins to death in 1985 while the 54-year-old was working as a motel maid in Kingston Springs. He was sentenced to death in 1986, won an appeal for a new sentencing hearing, and was again sentenced to death in 1989.

Alabama is scheduled to execute Jeremy Williams, 42, by lethal injection for the 2021 rape and murder of a 5-year-old Georgia girl.

Oklahoma is scheduled to execute Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, for the 2003 murder of his girlfriend.

UPDATE: From Local 3 News: City officials in Athens, TN, held a golden shovel ceremony Tuesday afternoon to break ground on a new fire station.

City of Athens, TN

Members of the Athens Fire Department, city officials, project partners and community members gathered at 300 Elizabeth Street to commemorate the beginning of construction on the new facility.

The city says the new fire station will expand the fire department's service area, ensuring that emergency personnel can respond more efficiently to fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents and other incidents.

The city's third fire station will be staffed by nine firefighters, including three new positions approved in the city budget this year.


PREVIOUS STORY: The city of Athens will officially break ground on its new fire station during a golden shovel ceremony today at 1:30 p.m.

The event is at the future home of the facility on 300 Elizabeth Street.

The city says the new fire station will expand the Athens Fire Department’s service area, which will help firefighters reach emergencies more quickly and improve response times for residents throughout the community.

The station will be staffed by nine firefighters, including three new firefighter positions approved in the city’s fiscal budget for the year.

According to social media reports, a mid-morning crash on Dalton Pike resulted in two people being taken to the hospital.

Witnesses say Life Force was called to transport one patient to a Chattanooga hospital, while Bradley County EMS transported a second patient.

The conditions of the two patients are not known.

WCLE will keep you up to date as we learn more.

From Local 3 News: (Watch the video HERE) A political parody posted on TikTok has led to controversy in Rhea County and the resignation of the county’s tourism director.

The video, posted by Erin Wright, showed her husband Justin pretending to be former county executive candidate Adam McRorie. The parody imitated campaign videos McRorie had called “table talks.”

The controversy began after the official Rhea County Department of Tourism TikTok account reposted the parody and commented with laughing emojis.

Some residents criticized the government account’s involvement, saying it should remain professional and politically neutral.

The tourism department later said it did not intend to target or belittle anyone.

Alex Fine, the now-former Rhea County Director of Tourism, confirmed she reposted and commented on the video. Fine said the intent was not to bully or mock anyone and announced she was resigning effective immediately.

The Rhea County Department of Tourism says it plans to release a statement addressing the controversy.

From News Channel 9: UPDATE: A suspect wanted in a McMinn County shooting that left a victim critically injured is now in custody after deputies say he turned himself in Monday morning.

Kobe Jackson surrendered to sheriff's officers around 11:30 a.m. at a relative's home in Etowah, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said on his Facebook page.

Deputies had been searching for Jackson since a shooting Friday on County Road 435.



From Local 3 News: UPDATE: As of Saturday, August 8, deputies have located a vehicle in connection with a shooting in McMinn County, according to Sheriff Joe Guy.

The two suspects have not yet been located.

This follows a shooting that happened Friday afternoon, leaving one person critically injured.

The McMinn County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for two suspects, one of whom was identified as 25-year-old Kobe Maurice Jackson.

Anyone with information should contact Sheriff Guy on social media or call McMinn County Dispatch at 423-745-3222.


PREVIOUS STORY: The McMinn County Sheriff's Office is searching for two suspects following a shooting Friday afternoon that left one person critically injured.

The shooting happened at a residence on County Road 435 near Englewood, according to Sheriff Joe Guy. The victim was taken to a Chattanooga hospital and is currently in critical condition.

One of the identified suspects is 25-year-old Kobe Maurice Jackson. He is described as a Black male, 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds, with brown eyes and brown dreadlocks.

Investigators are also searching for a 2011 blue four-door Ford Fusion with the Tennessee license plate 638BHXH.

A second unidentified Black male is also wanted in connection with the shooting.

The sheriff’s office says the suspects are considered armed and dangerous and warns the public not to approach them.

Anyone with information about the suspects or vehicle is asked to contact McMinn County Dispatch at 423-745-3222 or message Sheriff Guy through social media.

The Cleveland City School Board met yesterday and approved dozens of policy updates, including several changes directly affecting students, parents and employees.

One policy requires parents to be notified by the end of the day when a classroom has to be evacuated because of disruptive behavior, unless there is an ongoing emergency.

Another requires a school safety plan within five days when an order of protection involves two students at the same school.

For younger students, the district will prioritize in-person, teacher-led instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade and prohibit students in those grades from accessing social media through the district’s internet.

Other changes add age-appropriate instruction on child trafficking awareness and prevention in grades K-through-12 and prohibit grading floors for high school courses.

The board also changed its rules for public appearances. Groups coming before the board with the same concern will be required to select one representative to speak for the group.

Employee changes include reducing annual sick leave for professional personnel from ten days to eight, while employees will have five personal days.

The district also provided a staffing update. Cleveland City Schools has 889 employees and currently has only one to two unfilled certified positions.

Officials say Cleveland ranks fifth among Tennessee’s 147 school districts for beginning teacher pay and 25th for maximum teacher pay.

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday and heard an update on a proposed annexation plan and several possible changes to commission rules.

County Mayor Gary Davis said property owners are requesting the City of Cleveland annex about 385 undeveloped acres near Exit 33 behind the Love’s Travel Stop for future commercial development.

Davis stressed the annexation was requested by the property owners and not the City of Cleveland. The property is within the urban growth boundary, and the decision will go through the city’s planning process rather than the County Commission.

Davis also addressed speculation the property could eventually become a data center. He said he has no information indicating that is the case, and the proposed commercial zoning does not currently allow data centers.

The commission will also consider several rule changes August 17, including moving some meeting start times from 7 to 6 p.m., clarifying the county attorney’s role, and setting two-minute increments for additional public-comment time.

Most recommendations passed unanimously in committee, while the public-comment change passed 3-to-2.
 
The next Commission voting session will be on Monday, August 17th.