From the Chattanoogan (Read the full story here): State Representative Dan Howell says Tennessee’s reliance on gas taxes is no longer sustainable for funding transportation infrastructure.Speaking to the Pachyderm Club, Rep. Howell explained how gas tax revenues have been declining due to more fuel-efficient vehicles and less per-person gas consumption.Tennessee’s gas tax is currently 26 cents per...  Read More

From the TN Dept. of Finance & Administration: Tennessee tax revenues exceeded budget estimates for June by $173 million.The state collected $2.36 billion in taxes last month, with strong sales and corporate tax receipts leading the increase.Sales taxes were up slightly from forecasts, while corporate taxes beat estimates by nearly $151 million.Year-to-date, Tennessee revenues are about $81 millio...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Chattanooga police are looking for the suspect(s) responsible for a shooting at the Tyner Recreation Complex Saturday afternoon.Four victims who were standing nearby a fight when the shots rang out were hospitalized with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.Investigators are working to collect evidence and determine what exactly led up to the shooting.If you have any info...  Read More

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press (Read the full story here): Two major road projects in the region were officially opened on Tuesday.The $98 million Apison Pike improvement project in Collegedale and the $54 million Highway 60 widening project in Cleveland were both marked complete with ribbon-cuttings.Apison Pike’s new segment links to East Brainerd Road and includes new bridges, sidewalks, ...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met Monday.Doug Berry with the Industrial Development Board presented a proposal for a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) program for Lindy Incorporated, which plans to build an air separation unit near Exit 33 to supply liquid oxygen to TVA facilities. The PILOT program will be placed on the next voting session’s agenda. A plumbing contract for the Juvenile Center has ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) says the I-75/I-24 expansion project is now expected to be finished by spring of 2026.In an update released on Tuesday, TDOT spokesperson Rae Anne Bradley says all the new lanes and ramps on I-24, including the I-75 northbound to I-24 westbound ramp, should be open by the fall of 2025, as originally predicted.Bradley says...  Read More

Dr. Phil Cook officially took office as the 18th president of Lee University on July 1.Cook returns to Cleveland after previously serving in multiple roles at Lee, including vice president for enrollment. He succeeds Dr. Paul Conn, who served as president for 34 years and now resumes the role of chancellor. Cook and his wife Tonya, both Lee alumni, say they’re excited to be back and committed to s...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday and approved a 3.16-cent property tax increase to fund construction of an elementary school, a transitional housing facility, an aquatic center, and the widening of Mouse Creek Road.The measure passed 4-3, raising the 2025 certified tax rate to $1.2632 per $100 of assessed value. Council members Marsha McKenzie, Bill Estes, Tom Cassada, and Ken Webb voted i...  Read More

From News Channel 9: Crews responded to a serious multi-vehicle crash in Cleveland Monday afternoon.The Cleveland Fire Department says the crash happened near mile marker 22 on I-75 south.The crash temporarily shut down the interstate.A helicopter was also on scene for medical transport.We are working to learn more about victims and injuries....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Several individuals from the Chattanooga and Atlanta areas were indicted for various charges related to methamphetamine, ketamine, and firearms.The investigations that began in 2024 also led to the indictment of one individual believed to be a drug cartel member in Mexico."This case shows what can happen when local, state, and federal agencies work together for a common goal,” s...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: An employee of Nyrstar East Tennessee Mines was killed in an "underground incident" on Saturday, July 12, the company says.The details surrounding the incident at the Young Mine are currently unclear, but an investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is ongoing."We extend our deepest sympathy and are providing support to the family, friends and col...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Some changes are coming to the way you call local numbers.Beginning August 5, 2025, you must dial 10 digits (area code + 7-digit telephone number) on all local calls, including calls within your same area code. On and after this date, if you dial just 7 digits your call will not be completed, and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again, including the area code.Th...  Read More

The 13th Annual International Cowpea Festival and Cook-off is set for Saturday, September 13 in Charleston.The Cleverlys, a comedy bluegrass group and Grand Ole Opry regulars, will headline the festival at Hoyt Berry Park. Admission is $5 for adults; kids 15 and under are free.The event will feature live music, arts and crafts, food vendors, a petting zoo, and the Whirlpool Cowpea Cook-off. The fe...  Read More

From Local 3 News: No cost medical clinics are being hosted in Rhea County, Bledsoe County for Operation Healthy Tennessee between Friday, July 11 and Monday, July 21 for everyone over the age of 3. The clinics will be held at the following locations:Bledsoe County High School877 main Street, Pikeville8:00am - 4:00pm (CT)Rhea County Middle SchoolEagle Lane, Evensville8:00am - 4:00pm (ET)Both clini...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A retired Cleveland State Community College nursing instructor is helping elevate the nursing profession in West Africa.With more than 40 years of nursing experience, including 16 years teaching at Cleveland State, Nancy Thomas traveled to Chinguetti in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.The school highlighted her work in a recent Facebook post.Chinguetti is home to a medical tr...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A retired Cleveland State Community College nursing instructor is helping elevate the nursing profession in West Africa.With more than 40 years of nursing experience, including 16 years teaching at Cleveland State, Nancy Thomas traveled to Chinguetti in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.The school highlighted her work in a recent Facebook post.Chinguetti is home to a medical tr...  Read More

Cleveland Middle School just announced that its Beta Club students brought home top honors from the 2025 National Beta Convention (BETACON), held in Orlando, Florida.Competing against students from across the country, the CMS Beta Club earned a 1st place national title in Project Proposal, along with 2nd place in Robotics and several other Top 10 national recognitions.The Project Proposal team ear...  Read More

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press (Read the full story here): Three West Tennessee residents are charged in a $28.7 million health care fraud case involving fake prescriptions.Federal prosecutors say Kossie Simmons, Katina Simmons, and Tritia Townsend billed the government for medications never dispensed through their Memphis-based businesses, MedPartners and SarJo Pharmacy. Between 2018 and 2...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Bradley County will host a symposium raising awareness for domestic violence and abuse on Saturday, July 26 at Redemption to the Nations Church in Cleveland."No one should suffer in silence," writes the Bradley County Sheriff's Office in a Facebook post. "Whether you're experiencing abuse, know someone who might be, or simply want to learn how to help, this event is for you."The...  Read More

From TN.gov: Preliminary numbers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol show a major drop in traffic fatalities over the Independence Day holiday.Four people were killed in crashes this year, down from 18 last year.The enforcement period ran from the evening of July 3 through early July 7. Troopers investigated 132 crashes, responded to 49 with injuries, made 99 DUI arrests, and helped more than 750 dr...  Read More

From News Channel 9 (Read the full story here): The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve arrested the man they say stole a hay truck and trailer from a hardware store.Roy B. Perdew Jr. is charged with theft of property over $10,000 and vandalism over $2,500. He is being held without bond in the Polk County Jail.The truck, trailer, and hay cargo were all recovered. The theft happened around 6:...  Read More

From Local 3 News: TDOT crews will be closing one of the I-24 on ramps from Germantown Road for at least two months.TDOT spokesperson Rae Anne Bradley said on X that the on ramp from Exit 183 at Germantown Road will close on the westbound side at midnight on Tuesday, July 8.Bradley said the exit is expected to be closed for eight weeks so that noise walls can be built.Drivers traveling on North Te...  Read More

From Local 3 News: One man is dead after being shot during a dispute on Peakland Road in Decatur, TN around 3:30pm Sunday, July 6.The homeowner revealed to investigators that he and the man who was killed, 46-year-old Jason Burnett, were in a dispute, according to District Attorney Russell Johnson.Johnson said Burnett went to a man's trailer against the occupant's wishes, and when he trying to ent...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan (Read full story here): Governor Bill Lee has launched a year-long America 250 celebration and unveiled a commemorative poster titled “Tennessee: The Original Frontier.”The poster features iconic people, places, and events in Tennessee history and will be available at events across the state.Governor Lee will visit all 95 counties, beginning July 1 with a Farmland Preservatio...  Read More