Local News

Unemployment rates fell in all 95 Tennessee counties in September, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.The statewide unemployment rate held steady at 3.4% for the third consecutive month, remaining below the national rate of 4.2%.Ninety-three Tennessee counties reported unemployment rates below 5%.Locally, Bradley County’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, down f...

From News Channel 9: Cleveland Police are reminding drivers that they must stop for school buses, even on four-lane roads, unless a physical median separates traffic.The warning comes as police report more than 1,200 school bus stop-arm violations since enforcement efforts began.Under Tennessee law, drivers traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and st...

From Local 3 News: A senior firefighter from the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) is no longer employed after being arrested in McMinn County for aggravated assault and other charges.On September 29, the Athens Police Department responded to a domestic incident at Joseph Millsaps’ residence.In an affidavit obtained by Local 3, the responding officer then spoke to a woman at Millsaps’ residence.Sh...

Bradley County Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Morgan is calling for major reforms to Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services.In a letter to Governor Bill Lee, Morgan says he recently removed two children from juvenile justice sentences because of threats and a lack of appropriate services.Read the full story HERE.......

From Local 3 News: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, October 24. Chattanooga-area residents can dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medications at several locations across the Tennessee Valley.Safely dispose of the following items:Prescription medicationsOver-the-counter medicationsVape pensOther E-cigarette devicesSeveral locations will act as free drop-off spot...

From Local 3 News: A panel of judges has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s expanded school voucher program, allowing the Education Freedom Scholarship program to continue, according to NBC affiliate WSMV.The lawsuit was filed by a group of parents and taxpayers against Governor Bill Lee and other state officials.The plaintiffs argued that the Tennessee Constitution prohibits the state fr...

From News Channel 9: Two scams circulating in Rhea County have prompted a warning from the sheriff’s office, which says residents are reporting calls designed to steal money and personal information.In one scheme, scammers contact people and claim they have won a vehicle.The callers may ask for money or personal information before allowing the person to claim the supposed prize.The Rhea County She...

The City of Cleveland is inviting families to celebrate the fall season at Autumn on Inman this Friday, October 23.The event will take place at Johnston Park in downtown Cleveland from 6 until 9 p.m.Activities will include hayrides, carnival games, a petting zoo, kids’ crafts, pumpkin painting, and more.The event is designed to bring families and friends together for an evening of fall fun.......

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 ...

From Local 3 News: The Polk County School District has announced that schools in the Copper Basin area will be closed on Wednesday, October 21.This is due to a boiler malfunction at Copper Basin High School.......

A Cleveland man is facing charges after police say he struck two pedestrians on Wildwood Avenue Southeast Friday and drove away.Read the full story HERE.......

From News Channel 9: Polk County Schools Superintendent Dr. James Jones admits he violated district policy by keeping turkeys inside a condemned building on school property.The situation came to light after a Facebook video showed the animals inside the building, raising concerns among residents.Jones says a district employee gave him the turkeys, and he kept them in the building for about three m...

The Bradley County Commission approved two zoning changes and renewed employee health insurance during its latest voting session yesterday. All 14 commissioners voted to rezone property on Waterlevel Highway for general commercial use, and property on Benton Pike for rural residential use.The Benton Pike proposal raised concerns about traffic and crowded schools. An engineer said the zoning change...

From Local 3 News: “Let me take a break from the real news to share a little bit of personal news.Some of you have watched this channel, and perhaps me on this channel, for a long time.We may have even met on a news story, or a book signing, or even in a store or restaurant.The connection we share has been a true highlight of my life. And that's why I want to let you know that I'll be leaving Loca...

From the Chattanoogan: Lee University's School of Music will host the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Brass Quintet on Friday, Oct. 23. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall, in the Humanities Building."The School of Music is excited to welcome the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Brass Quintet to campus," said Dr. Jesse McConnell, director of music events at Lee. "We're gra...

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union's annual Idea Leap grant applications are now open.But they won’t be open for long.Every year, the TVFCU gives small businesses in 17 counties a chance to win a grant to help their business grow.Vice President of Marketing at TVFCU, Kim Gunter, explains the contest.“The way it works is every eligible business- and that's any business tha...

From News Channel 9: A Cuban native will spend the next 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of a 25-year-old woman whose body was found inside a Cleveland home.On Oct. 9th, 2026, Dayren Lopez Roque pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Dayana Garcia Cuba and was sentenced to 25 years in prison to be served at 100%.The case began on Sunday,...

From Local 3 News: An officer was involved in a shooting on Friday, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has begun a probe into the incident.At around 3:15pm on October 16, Monroe County sheriff’s deputies and Madisonville police officers responded to a “disturbance” on Glenlock Road in Sweetwater, according to the TBI.Authorities responded to reports that a man was armed with a rifle a...

From TN.gov: Tennessee’s unemployment rate held firm at 3.4% for the third month in a row, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was unchanged from the previous two months and down one-tenth of a percentage point from a year ago. Before July, the last time Tennessee posted an une...

From News 12: President Donald Trump is scheduled to return to North Georgia today, October 16, and the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office has released details about road closures and parking restrictions ahead of his visit.Whitfield County Sheriff Darren Pierce announced that a portion of Airport Road will be completely closed to traffic during the president’s visit to Dalton Municipal Airport.The...