WCLE is Southeast Tennessee’s Football Headquarters. This is the first week of the TSSAA playoffs.
 
The Walker Valley Mustangs will host Lawrence County tonight. The game starts at 7:00.

You can listen to Mustang game coverage on Cleveland’s Oldies 99.1.

The Cleveland Blue Raiders will host West Ridge tonight. The game starts at 7:00.

You can listen to Raider game live on Mix 104.1. You can also watch the game live on MixTV.tv.

Download the free Mix 104.1 app and ESPN Cleveland’s app to listen to the games on your phone.

From Local 3 News & TVA: Historic flooding has devastated parts of Copperhill, Tennessee, and neighboring McCaysville, Georgia, following torrential rainfall Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The flooding has prompted dozens of water rescues, widespread road closures, and emergency evacuations.

The Ocoee River reached a record 18.05 feet in Copperhill around six Thursday morning. That surpassed the previous record of 17.75 feet and was more than four feet above major flood stage.

According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, storms dumped between eight and ten inches of rain across portions of the region. Local 3 Meteorologist Clay Smith reported one location northwest of Blue Ridge received more than eleven inches of rain in less than six hours.

Rescue crews worked throughout the day Thursday, pulling residents and pets from flooded homes and vehicles. Fannin County Emergency Management reported at least 80 people had been rescued by swift-water teams as of five Thursday afternoon.

Both bridges in Copperhill were closed, along with numerous roads throughout the region. Grassy Creek Road remains closed at Rogers Creek Bridge after a large structure broke loose from its foundation and struck the bridge. State inspectors will evaluate possible structural damage once conditions allow.

Access to McCaysville has also been restricted, including entrances along Highway 68, River Road, Mobile Road, and Blue Ridge Drive.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency activated its Emergency Operations Center to Level Four, and Polk County declared a state of emergency.

Copperhill officials have also implemented a mandatory curfew in flood-affected areas from six in the evening until six in the morning.

Flooding has disrupted several local services. The Copperhill Post Office has temporarily suspended operations, with customers directed to the Ducktown location.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway excursions have been canceled through Sunday, November eighth, while the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is adjusting upcoming Copperhill excursions.

Meanwhile, United Way of the Ocoee Region has established a Copperhill Flood Emergency Fund to assist families and local businesses affected by the disaster.

Those wishing to contribute can text the word COPPERHILL to 41444 or visit United Way’s website at unitedwayocoee.org.

Residents needing disaster recovery assistance and other community resources can also dial 2-1-1.

Although floodwaters have begun receding, authorities continue urging residents to avoid damaged roads, obey barricades, and stay away from flooded areas. 

UPDATE: 11-6-26 - As a reminder, Lee University welcomes alumni and their families back to campus today and tomorrow and Saturday for Homecoming 2026.

Today’s activities begin with a Celebration Service at 10:30 in the Conn Center, featuring an address by Lee President Dr. Phil Cook and the dedication of the David and Mary Ellen Wright School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Other events include The Grand Reunion at 5, a volleyball game at 6, and the Traditions of Lee musical showcase at 7.

Saturday’s festivities include the Homecoming Parade at 11:15, followed by a tailgate lunch. The women’s basketball team plays at noon, followed by the men’s game at 2, when the Homecoming Queen will be crowned during halftime.



Lee University is preparing to welcome alumni and their families back to campus this Friday and Saturday for Homecoming 2026.

The two-day celebration will include reunions, musical performances, athletic events, and the dedication of the university’s new School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Friday’s activities begin with a Celebration Service at 10:30 in the Conn Center, featuring an address by Lee President Dr. Phil Cook and the dedication of the David and Mary Ellen Wright School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Other Friday highlights include The Grand Reunion at 5, a volleyball game at 6, and the Traditions of Lee musical showcase at 7.

Saturday’s festivities include the Homecoming Parade at 11:15, followed by a tailgate lunch.

The women’s basketball team plays at noon, followed by the men’s game at 2, when the Homecoming Queen will be crowned during halftime.

The weekend will also celebrate the 50th reunion of the Class of 1976, along with milestone anniversaries for two campus organizations.

The Cleveland community is invited to attend the athletic events, concerts, and theatre performances.

A complete schedule is available at leeuniversity.edu.

From Local 3 News: The mayor and city council of McCaysville have officially declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing severe flooding and dangerous conditions throughout the community.

The city is closed to all unauthorized personnel effective immediately until further notice.

No individuals will be permitted to enter the city and access is restricted to authorized public safety and emergency response personnel only.

All access points into McCaysville are closed, including River Road, Mobile Road, Blue Ridge Drive and Highway 68 entering from Tennessee.

These closures are mandatory and will remain in effect until further notice.

Updates will be provided as conditions develop.

Classes have been cancelled in Fannin and Gilmer counties today due to the widespread flooding and storm damage across the region.

There will be no virtual or in-person classes in Fannin County but all directors, administrators and 12-month employees are asked to report to work at regular times if conditions are safe to do so.

Gilmer County Schools and Polk County Schools will also be closed today due to flooding and dangerous road conditions in the area.

Two Cleveland residents, one originally from Iraq and the other from France, are charged with voting illegally in federal elections, according to the Department of Justice.

Mark Adwar Odisho, 30, and Frederic Jean Rene Sicard, 50, came under scrutiny after a federal investigation, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Authorities say both suspects voted in the November 5, 2024 elections. Officials did not say for whom.

Odisho appeared in federal court on Thursday, October 29, and Sicard on Friday, October 30.

“These complaints reflect how seriously the United States views protecting the unique benefits of American citizenship,” stated federal attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “The right to vote is a fundamental privilege of American citizenship, and the theft of that privilege by a non-citizen will be prosecuted.”

No further details have been released.

The City of Cleveland has been selected to receive a $240,000 federal grant to develop a citywide roadway safety plan.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

The city will use crash data and community input to identify dangerous intersections, high-risk roadways, and other traffic safety concerns.

The total cost of the planning initiative is expected to be $300,000, including a $60,000 local contribution.

City officials emphasize that the grant will fund planning rather than actual road construction.

However, City Manager Joe Fivas says completing the safety plan could open the door to tens of millions of dollars in additional state and federal funding for future transportation improvements.

Those projects could include safer intersections, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and improved access around schools.

The federal government announced Cleveland’s selection on October 30th. The city will now work with the Federal Highway Administration to finalize the grant agreement.

The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education approved several major expenditures during Monday night’s meeting, including new school buses, replacement turf at Cleveland High School, and HVAC improvements at Mayfield Elementary.

The board approved purchasing four 78-passenger buses and one special education bus for approximately $916,000. Transportation officials say the district’s aging fleet has become increasingly difficult to maintain, with five buses currently out of service.

Board members also approved approximately $815,000 to replace the artificial turf at Cleveland High School. The new turf includes a 12-year warranty and markings for both football and soccer. The board also encouraged exploring sponsorships and other fundraising opportunities to help offset athletic expenses.

At Mayfield Elementary, the board approved up to $60,000 to replace HVAC control systems.

If you missed yesterday’s meeting, you can watch it on MixTV.tv.

From Local 3 News: Following the July 1 Tennessee law banning the sale of kratom, a crackdown on those products recently took place in Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk counties.

The 10th Judicial District Attorney General, Stephen Hatchett, asked these counties to surrender any remaining kratom products to local law enforcement on October 29.

Officials distributed informational flyers to businesses highlighting the ban on kratom products. Businesses were given 48 hours to surrender any remaining illegal kratom products.

In Bradley County, authorities visited 88 businesses and took surrendered products from two stores.

In McMinn County, authorities visited 56 businesses and took surrendered products from four stores.

In Monroe County, authorities visited 48 businesses, but did not specify if any products were surrendered.

In Polk County, authorities visited 19 businesses, but did not specify if any products were surrendered.

In all, the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force seized the following items for destruction.

• About 70 boxes of miscellaneous brands (15-30 blister packs per box) containing 1-4 tablets each
• About 78 bottles of miscellaneous brands containing 10-30 pills each
• About 107 loose blister packs of miscellaneous brands containing 2-4 tablets each

The district attorney general’s office says that products labeled, marketed, and sold as not containing kratom have been testing positive for the substance recently.

The 48-hour grace period for businesses to surrender kratom products was meant to help any stores that unknowingly purchased kratom products, but that period is now over.

Tennessee has elected its first female governor.
 
Marsha Blackburn will be Tennessee’s next Governor. Blackburn won with a razor-thin margin of approximately 45.5% of the vote.  At the time of this recording, one county had three precincts still not reporting. Democratic challenger Jeri Green conceded around 11:45 pm last night before the AP had officially called the race. Green received 42.9% of the vote. Independent David Hatley received just over 9% of the vote.

Incumbent Senator Bill Haggerty won his race over Democrat Marquita Bradshaw with just over 55% of the vote.
 
The big upset of the night in Tennessee was the loss of Republican incumbent Scott DesJarlais to Democrat Victoria Broaderick in US House District 4 race. Broaderick won by 280 votes according to the unofficial results being reported by the Secretary of State’s Office. It is unclear at this time if a recount will take place.

Republicans did win one seat long held by Democrats in the Memphis area. In the District 9 US Congressional race,  Republican Brent Taylor defeated Democratic State Representative Justin Pearson with 49.7% of the vote.
 
Republican Congressional Candidates Chuck Fleischmann, who represents our local district, Dana Harshbarger, Tim Burchett, Charlie Hatcher, Johnny Garrett, Matt Van Epps, and David Kutsoff all won their US House races for the GOP.

District 1 State Senator Adam Lowe and District 22 State Representative Dan Howell were both unopposed, and both incumbents will return to Nashville.
 
District 24 Republican State Representative Kevin Raper also won his re-election bid over his Democratic challenger, Daniel Jones, with over 68% of the vote.

Election Day is today! Polls will be open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. You may vote as long as you are in line at your precinct by 8 p.m.
 
WCLE will cover local and state election results on Mix 104.1, or you can watch the coverage on MixTV.tv starting at 7 p.m.



UPDATE: 11-2-26 - Don’t forget, Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

If you have questions, contact the Bradley County Election Office or visit Bradleyelections.com.
 
WCLE will cover local and state election results on Mix 104.1, or you can watch the coverage on MixTV.tv starting at 7 p.m.



UPDATE: 10-30-26 - Yesterday was the last day to early vote in Tennessee. 2,101 people cast their ballots yesterday in Bradley County.  

Administrator of Elections, Fran Green, reports that a total of 16,748 people voted during the early voting period.
 
Election Day will be next Tuesday, November 3rd. Polls will be open from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m



UPDATE: 10-29-26 - Today is the final day for early voting in Tennessee ahead of Tuesday’s November 3rd state and federal general election.

On Wednesday, just over 1,500 voters cast their ballots, making it the busiest day of early voting so far.

That brings the total early vote to 14,586.
 
Voters can cast their ballots at four locations in Bradley County: OCI on Urbane Road, the Bradley County Election Office on Broad Street, the Northeast Recreation Center on Berry Street, and the Bradley County Fire-Rescue Training Center on Dalton Pike.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.



UPDATE: 10-27-26 - After 11 days of early voting, 11,832 people have cast a ballot in Bradley County.

Early voting in Tennessee for the November general election continues through October 29.  

Voters can cast their ballots at four locations in Bradley County: OCI on Urbane Road, the Bradley County Election Office on Broad Street, the Northeast Recreation Center on Berry Street, and the Bradley County Fire-Rescue Training Center on Dalton Pike.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 pm.
 
For questions, contact the Bradley County Election Office at 423-728-7115.



UPDATE: 10-26-26 - Early voting in Tennessee for the November general election continues through October 29.

Voters can cast their ballots at four locations in Bradley County: OCI on Urbane Road, the Bradley County Election Office on Broad Street, the Northeast Recreation Center on Berry Street, and the Bradley County Fire-Rescue Training Center on Dalton Pike.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For questions, contact the Bradley County Election Office at 423-728-7115.



Bradley County has now surpassed 6,000 early votes ahead of the November 3rd general election.

1,123 people voted Tuesday, bringing the total to 6,308 ballots cast during the first six days of early voting.

Tuesday was the third-busiest day so far, and weekday turnout has remained above 1,000 voters every day.

Early voting in Tennessee continues through Thursday, October 29.

Bradley County voters can cast their ballots at four locations: OCI on Urbane Road, the Bradley County Election Office on Broad Street, the Northeast Recreation Center on Berry Street, and the Bradley County Fire-Rescue Training Center on Dalton Pike.

Voting hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the Bradley County Election Office at 423-728-7115.

Bradley Central High School was placed on lockdown yesterday following a report of a stabbing.

School administrators initiated the lockdown at the direction of the school resource officer.

Additional law enforcement and emergency personnel responded to the campus and found no safety concerns.
 
Detectives responded to investigate and were able to quickly identify a juvenile who was responsible for the false report. Petitions have been filed with juvenile court. The investigation is ongoing.

Two people have been arraigned on murder and abuse charges in the death of a 20-year-old Bradley County woman.

Jason Michael Bennett and Rodnie Elaine Bradford each face six felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, in the death of Erin Childers.

Court records describe Childers as a nonverbal adult with developmental disabilities and Type 1 diabetes.

Prosecutors allege the pair routinely locked Childers inside a dog crate overnight.

On May 26th, Bennett reportedly told Bradford that Childers had dangerously high blood sugar and appeared disoriented.

Bradford allegedly instructed him to leave water and crackers nearby.

Investigators say Bennett locked Childers back inside the crate that night. She died the following day.

Bennett and Bradford appeared individually before Judge Clay Collins yesterday.

Judge Collins appointed counsel to each. Bennett will be represented by the Bradley County Public Defender’s Office, while private attorney Matt Dunn was appointed to represent Bradford to avoid a legal conflict of interest between co-defendants.  
 
Bennett and Bradford remain held in the Bradley County Jail. Both are scheduled to return to court for a plea and assignment hearing on Feb. 8, 2027.

A former Cleveland Middle School teacher convicted of secretly recording underage girls in a school locker room was back in court yesterday.

Christopher Dalton Schroll appeared before a judge on an alleged sex offender registry violation.

Schroll was convicted of two counts of aggravated unlawful photographing of a minor following his arrest in 2022.

Investigators say a student discovered a hidden camera inside the girls’ locker room at Cleveland Middle School.

Police found images of at least 30 girls on the camera.

Schroll was sentenced to four years, with five months behind bars and the remainder on supervised probation.

Schroll’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 11th.

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday for a work session.

The Commission voted unanimously to amend its rules governing public comments during meetings.

The changes allow speakers five minutes to address commissioners, with additional time possible by a commission vote. The rules also require respectful behavior and allow disruptive speakers to be removed.

The commission also voted 13 to zero to approve more than $574,000 in Healthy Community Initiative grants. The funding covers 11 of 13 applications, with some receiving partial or conditional funding.

Commissioners also approved the appointment of Commissioner Terri Murray to the Regional Planning Commission.

Earlier in the day, the Finance Committee met and is preparing its legal defense against a lawsuit involving a proposed data center near Walker Valley High School.

London-based SDCL claims the county passed zoning regulations designed to block the project.

The Finance Committee voted to recommend redirecting $100,000 in unused Sheriff’s Office salary funds toward the county’s legal defense.

The commission’s next work session is November 9th at noon.

The City of Cleveland is inviting residents to experience the historic downtown freight depot in a whole new way this month.

Creative Spark: Destination Unknown takes place Thursday, November 12th, at the freight depot located at 225 Edwards Street Southeast.

The free event will feature live music, theater, visual art, and interactive experiences designed to get residents thinking about new possibilities for Cleveland’s historic spaces.

Built in 1869, the freight depot served the railroad industry until 2017 and once played an important role in connecting Cleveland to the region.

The event will feature local artists and performers, including Good Soil Theatre and Jermaine Purifory.

Two sessions are available, from 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Admission is free, but registration is encouraged through the Eventbrite link on the City of Cleveland’s social media pages.

From Local 3 News: OCT. 30, 2026 | UPDATE: A Cleveland High School student was arrested and faces charges after police found a handgun in his vehicle Friday morning.

Cleveland Police told Local 3 that a school administrator received an anonymous tip that the student took a firearm to his job on a different day.

School administration then searched the student’s vehicle and found a handgun under the passenger seat. Police say the gun was not loaded but they found a loaded magazine in the gun box.

Officers took the student into custody and charged them with carrying weapons on school property. The student was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.

Cleveland Police said the student never made any threats to students, faculty or staff.


OCT. 30, 2026 | PREVIOUS STORY: The Cleveland Police Department found a weapon in a student’s vehicle on campus Friday morning, according to a notice sent by Cleveland City Schools.

The school system says there was no indication that the student intended to harm anyone at school.

School administrators were alerted to a possible weapon on campus Friday, October 30, and immediately responded, along with law enforcement.

It’s unclear if there were any arrests or charges filed.

"We are extremely proud of our Cleveland High School administrative team for responding quickly and appropriately, and we are grateful for the continued partnership of the Cleveland Police Department," said Dr. Jeff Elliott, director of Cleveland City Schools. "We also appreciate the individual who brought this concern to our attention. This situation demonstrates the importance of communication, trust, and working together to keep our schools safe."

Cleveland City Schools encourages students, families and staff to continue sharing concerns with school administrators.

From Local 3 News: Starting on Monday, November 2, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will begin their bridge rehabilitation work on the SR 60 bridge over the Tennessee River.

In June of 2026, TDOT said the bridge was deemed safe for travel despite a TDOT report from 2022 that lists the bridge as being in “poor” condition.

At 9:00am Monday, the bridge will be reduced to one lane, with traffic being controlled by temporary traffic signals for the duration of the $6.7 million-dollar project.

Monday, crews will install a work zone barrier rail and move materials onto the project site as construction operations ramp up.

This week, TDOT contract crews began to install traffic control devices, temporary traffic signals, and message boards in advance of the upcoming work.

Wide loads will be restricted to a maximum width of 14 feet.

Drivers should plan for extra travel time when crossing the Tennessee River.

There will be no impacts to the navigable channel of the river, and marine traffic will continue uninterrupted.

The work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2028.

Don’t forget, Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend.

Clocks will fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, November 1st.

That means an extra hour of sleep Saturday night!

Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday, unless they update automatically.

The Polk County Board of Education has voted to place longtime Superintendent Dr. James Jones on paid administrative leave.

The decision came during a special-called meeting Thursday night, following a closed-door executive session.

The board approved three separate motions, including appointing Nick Radcliffe as a liaison between Jones and the board during contract negotiations.

Board members also voted to place Jones on paid administrative leave until an agreement can be reached.

In a seven-to-three vote, the board appointed Pam Hindman to serve as interim superintendent while negotiations continue or until a new superintendent is selected.

The board did not publicly elaborate on the reasons for its decision.

The move comes amid an investigation involving Jones and controversy over his use of school property.

Jones previously admitted to keeping turkeys inside a condemned building on school property for about three months.

He acknowledged that the school board was unaware of the arrangement and admitted he had violated district protocol. The turkeys have since been removed.

Jones has not been found guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.

Jones, who has served as superintendent since August of 2005, has indicated his intention to resign.

From Local 3 News: Federal prosecutors charged 24 people in an alleged Middle Tennessee drug-trafficking operation authorities say was linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

The charges were announced in Nashville Wednesday.

The 33-count indictment alleges the organization moved hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine while laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds.

Prosecutors say the money was moved through financial transactions and bulk cash smuggling to people in Mexico who supplied narcotics in the United States.

"To anyone trafficking drugs in Middle Tennessee, hear this: prison walls will not shield you from federal prosecution, and international borders will not place you beyond the reach of American law enforcement," said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek.

"Every pound, every ounce, every gram, every dosage unit of drugs seized during this investigation represents lives that may have been saved and families that may be spared the devastating impact of addiction, overdose, or economic decline,” said Mark Delaney with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “We believe this investigation has significantly impacted this criminal organization's ability to distribute narcotics throughout Tennessee and beyond."

The indictment is part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation involving federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies including the FBI, HSI, DEA, TBI, Metro Nashville Police and several Middle Tennessee sheriff's offices.

From Local 3 News: Centerstone, a nonprofit behavioral health organization, opened a new clinic in Cleveland, Tennessee, on October 29.

The clinic is located on the fourth floor of the Ocoee Corporate Center at 3855 N. Ocoee Street. Centerstone recently entered into a lease agreement for more than 8,600 square feet of space.

The grand opening took place on Thursday, October 29, at 9:00am. It included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from Centerstone leaders.

Centerstone in Cleveland serves patients from Bradley, Polk, McMinn, Meigs and Monroe counties.

“For the past four years, limited space has restricted our ability to add staff, expand services and fully meet the needs of the community,” Centerstone Clinic Manager Jessica Johnson said. “Our new, significantly larger location will remove these barriers and create opportunities for enhanced services, including group therapy and medication assisted treatment, or MAT.”

Centerstone’s outpatient clinic in Bradley County offers:

• Comprehensive therapy
• Psychiatric medication management
• Health Link service for TennCare members with the highest mental health care needs

The clinic also includes officers for school-based care and intensive in-home support providers, according to Centerstone officials.

The original Bradley County clinic opened at Heritage Place on N. Ocoee Street in 2018. It began with just one therapist, one nurse practitioner, a clinic manager and a certified medical assistant.

Due to a high volume of patients, Centerstone decided to hire more employees and lease a second suite at Heritage Place.

"With the expansion, the biggest thing is just getting them access quicker and getting them to be able to have all the services in the same building. So, when they're here, they can see their therapist. Then we can walk them over to their medic, their nurse practitioner. Then we can walk them over to case management,” said Clinic Manager Jessica Johnson.

From the Chattanoogan: The City of Cleveland in Bradley County is among the 14 Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns communities announced as recipients of Downtown Improvement Grants (DIGs) by Governor Bill Lee and Deputy Governor and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter on Wednesday.

“Our rural communities are the backbone of our economy, and I’m proud to take part in announcing these grants,” said Governor Lee. “I'm grateful for local leaders who care deeply about their communities and look forward to seeing the investments they make to ensure all of Tennessee can flourish.”

More than $3.9 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funding is being awarded to improve structures in Tennessee Downtowns and Main Street communities.

Grants were awarded to organizations that illustrated the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for building facades, wayfinding signage, gateways and streetscapes. As part of the program, each new grant recipient will be required to match 25 percent of the funding received.

“Vibrant downtowns do not happen by accident - they are built through local vision, long-term planning and collaboration. These grants will help 14 communities turn that vision into visible progress by revitalizing the places where residents gather, businesses grow and visitors experience what makes each community unique,” said Deputy Governor and Comm. McWhorter. “We are proud to partner with local leaders as they strengthen their downtowns and build even stronger local economies across Tennessee.”

Communities receiving Downtown Improvement Grants are:

Centerville, Hickman County, $300,000

Cleveland, Bradley County, $300,000

Collinwood, Wayne County, $125,000

Etowah, McMinn County, $350,000

Gallatin, Sumner County, $300,341

Henderson, Chester County, $218,466

Lenoir City, Loudon County, $225,000

Main Street Livingston, Overton County, $300,000

Main Street Union City, Obion County, $300,000

McKenzie, Carroll County, $311,250

Mount Pleasant, Maury County, $325,000

Munford, Tipton County, $350,000

Newport, Cocke County, $245,511

Paris, Henry County, $250,000

“We are very excited for these 14 communities who have taken steps to give their residents and visitors a better Tennessee experience,” said TNECD Main Street Director Kim Parks. “Our state’s downtowns possess some of the best hospitality and character of any across the country.”

To be eligible for a Downtown Improvement Grant, communities had to submit an application and be a designated Tennessee Downtowns or Tennessee Main Street community.  

From News 12: The Rhea County Commission has voted to stop pursuing a proposed nuclear energy campus following strong opposition from residents.

In September, commissioners supported beginning discussions about a possible facility that could store and recycle nuclear waste.

County leaders initially saw the project as an opportunity to create jobs and bring additional revenue to the area.

However, residents raised concerns about drinking water, farmland, wildlife, and long-term safety.

Following public comments, at their meeting this week, commissioners voted to end their pursuit of the facility, saying they didn’t have enough information to justify moving forward.

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Highway Safety Office is distributing $25 million in federal grants across the state for highway safety education and enforcement.

The grants were awarded to law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners across the Volunteer State.

Here’s what each agency was granted across the Tennessee Valley and how those funds will be used:

Bledsoe County

• Pikeville Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000
• Pikeville Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Medical Services—Extrication Equipment: $12,500

Bradley County

• Bradley County Sheriff's Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $45,000
• Cleveland Police Department Police—Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $50,000
• Tennessee District Attorney General, 10th Judicial District—DUI Prosecution: $312,000
• The 24/7 Movement—Teen Driver Safety Education: $33,500

Hamilton County

• Chattanooga Police Department Police—Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $176,000
• Collegedale Police Department Police—Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $24,000
• East Ridge Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000
• Hamilton County Sheriff's Office—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $100,000
• Lookout Mtn. Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement": $5,000
• Red Bank Police Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $29,998.05
• Signal Centers Family Forward—Child Passenger Safety & Occupant Protection: $25,000
• Signal Mountain Police Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $15,000
• Soddy-Daisy Police Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $20,000
• Tennessee District Attorney General, 11th Judicial District—DUI Prosecution: $451,000

Marion County

• Marion County Sheriff's Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $32,000
• Marion County Sheriff's Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $20,000
• South Pittsburg Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000

McMinn County

• Athens Police Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $30,000
• Englewood Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000
• Etowah Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000
• McMinn County Sheriff's Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $24,000
• Niota Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000

Meigs County

• Decatur Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000

Polk County

• Benton Police Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $16,000
• Benton Police Department—Police Traffic Services (Multiple Violations): $20,000
• Polk County Health Department—Child Passenger Safety & Occupant Protection: $5,000
• Polk County Sheriff's Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000

Rhea County

• Dayton Police Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $12,000
• Rhea County Sheriff's Department—Child Passenger Safety & Occupant Protection: $79,916.10
• Rhea County Sheriff's Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $15,000
• Spring City Police Department—High Visibility Enforcement: $5,000
• Tennessee District Attorney General, 12th Judicial District—DUI Prosecution: $374,776

Sequatchie County

• Dunlap Police Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $10,000
• Sequatchie County Sheriff's Department—Impaired Driving Enforcement: $10,000

The more than 350 federal grants come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Plus, about $3 million in media grants will be used for statewide highway safety education and public awareness campaigns.

Grants are awarded annually through the THSO for traffic safety advocates, nonprofits, emergency response agencies, law enforcement agencies, district attorneys general and others. Awardees are selected based upon specific criteria.

The goal is to help reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities.

See the full list of THSO Grant Awards for the 2026-2027 fiscal year here.

"Our distribution of these federal grant funds reflect our commitment to protecting people across Tennessee,” said TDOSHS Commissioner Jeff Long. “By supporting state and local partners through the THSO, we’re helping communities reduce crashes, prevent injuries, and save lives. These funds will strengthen the traffic safety programs and initiatives statewide that make Tennessee roadways safer.”

From Local 3 News: The deadline for students to apply for TN Promise is approaching.

High school seniors can apply for the scholarship until Monday, November 2.

TN Promise covers tuition and mandatory fees that are not already paid for by the Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship or Tennessee Student Assistance Award.

This gives students eligibility for tuition-free college through TN Promise. New this year, it also offers expanded personalized college admission offers through TN Direct Admissions.

TN Direct Admissions is now in its second year, and it has now expanded statewide to include 63 institutions for eligible high school seniors enrolled in public, private or homeschool.

TN Promise can be utilized at Tennessee community colleges, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) and some other institutions.

Students can apply for the TN Promise through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Student Portal here.

Learn more here.