Local News

From the Chattanoogan: Lee University will partner with Main Street Cleveland, Cleveland High School, and the Museum and Cultural Center at 5ive Points to honor the 120th anniversary of the John Philip Sousa Band’s performance, which took place in Cleveland, on Jan. 30, 1906. This concert is in recognition of the rich and long-standing heritage of fine instrumental music in the region.  Due to inc...

From the Chattanoogan: Blood Assurance officials said they have been forced to close donor centers and cancel multiple blood drives in Middle Tennessee due to icy conditions - including several school-based drives that would have resulted in hundreds of donations."With fewer opportunities to collect in those areas, we’re urging people to donate in areas where travel is safe," officials said. "Bloo...

From Local 3 News: State officials will be coordinating welfare checks on Tennesseans who have not been heard from since ice and snow from a winter storm knocked out power across the state amid dangerously low temperatures.The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has activated its statewide 800-TBI-FIND number to coordinate welfare check requests. Coming at the request of the Tennessee Emergency Mana...

From Local 3 News: For those who want to help their neighbors, Barbara's Market in Cleveland is in need of volunteers. The organization provides food, clothing and hygiene items to Cleveland City Schools. Barbara's Market is named after Barbara Ector, a Cleveland City Schools educator who passed away last summer. "We're really thankful that we're able to assist our families in this way, and I thin...

From Local 3 News: An apartment caught fire Sunday in Cleveland, Tennessee. The fire broke out at an apartment on Stephens Road, according to the Cleveland Fire Department. Upon arrival, firefighters saw smoke coming from the building. Firefighters made an interior attack and contained the blaze to the unit. There were no injuries, according to the fire department. ......

From Local 3 News: The City of Cleveland announced that a draft of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) has been completed. The Cleveland Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Tennessee Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration are working together to complete the plan. According to the city, the LRTP is a "multimodal strategy and improvement program developed t...

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday.The council approved the abandonment of an unopened right-of-way lying between Parker Street and Trunk Street. All surrounding property owners agreed to the abandonment. City staff and the planning commission both recommended approval, noting the land has never been improved and is better suited to be absorbed into adjacent parcels.The council also held a p...

From Local 3 News: McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy is commending the bravery and efforts of one of his deputies who went above and beyond while responding to a fatal car crash after a chase on Highway 68.That crash happened shortly after Sweetwater Police lost sight of a "dangerous" suspect in a stolen truck on Friday, January 23.Deputy Kelby Liner responded to the area when he heard about the chase...

From Local 3 News: Crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) are working around the clock to help drivers on the road. At 1:00pm on Saturday, January 24, TDOT said they were seeing more incidents on the roadways as the winter storm moves through the state. TDOT HELP trucks are helping drivers and keeping traffic flowing. "As we see more slides and spin-outs, we again encourage y...

All Bradley County Government offices will be closed today, January 26, due to inclement weather.Essential services will remain operational. Officials urge residents to stay safe and avoid travel if possible.All area school systems are also closed today and tomorrow.Lee University has canceled all classes and closed all offices for today. Cleveland State campuses will be closed both Monday and Tue...

Cleveland City Schools and the Cleveland Police Department are launching Tennessee’s first school bus stop-arm safety program.The district is partnering with BusPatrol to reduce illegal passings of stopped school buses and improve student safety.The program begins with a 30-day warning period starting this week. Ticketing will begin February 23.Drivers who fail to stop for a school bus with red li...

From Local 3 News: A 32-year-old man is wanted for attempted first degree murder after a stabbing at a neighborhood community in Athens, according to the Athens Police Department.Officers say his victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was hospitalized after the incident.David Rodriguez Cruz, 32, is not believed to still be in the immediate area, but the public is urged not to approach h...

Bradley County Sheriff Steve Lawson gave an update on the Sheriff’s Office and its future needs yesterday at the Kiwanis Club meeting. Sheriff Lawson highlighted improvements made since 2018, including new in-car cameras, body cameras for deputies and school resource officers, and an SRO now assigned to every elementary school.He also reported major upgrades at the county jail, which recently earn...

Cleveland City Schools has named Mike Chai as its new Director of Student Services.Chai currently serves as principal of Arnold Memorial Elementary School and is the longest-serving principal in the district.He began his career with Cleveland City Schools in 1995 and has served in a variety of roles, including instructional assistant, school counselor, assistant principal, and district student ser...

From Local 3 News: Southern states, including Tennessee and Georgia, are preparing for the upcoming strong winter storm this weekend. Both states have declared a state of emergency to help with emergency response."As forecasts continue to evolve, Georgians should be prepared for freezing precipitation that causes dangerous conditions and the potential for damage and power loss beginning Saturday,"...

Bradley County EMS announced today that it is now carrying CYANOKIT® (hydroxocobalamin) on select response units, adding an important treatment option for known or suspected cyanide poisoning.The addition strengthens the emergency response partnership between Bradley County EMS, Cleveland TN Fire Department, and Bradley County Fire and Rescue, improving care options for both civilian patients and ...

From Local 3 News: SPCA of Bradley County will be closed until Tuesday due to the forecasted winter weather this weekend. The closure is so the shelter can prepare for the weather with a deep clean. It will reopen Tuesday, January 27, 2026. ......

Local emergency officials are also closely monitoring Winter Storm Fern.Residents are urged to prepare for snow, ice, power outages, and hazardous roads. The Cleveland-Bradley Office of Emergency Management advises having a family emergency plan and signing up for local alerts by texting “JOIN CBCOEM” to 31002.The City of Athens says road crews will begin salting on Friday. Citizens can sign up fo...

From Local 3 News: People are already preparing for the winter storm heading to our area.It's important to stock up on items early, so you are not caught in the swarm of customers at the last minute.Some outdoor/indoor essential tools include:Salt/Kitty litterSnow shovelsHandwarmersFlashlightsBatteriesIce scrapers for vehiclesIf you plan on playing outside in the snow, or even removing it from you...

A Cleveland man has been arrested after allegedly threatening a Chattanooga judge, public defender, and police officer.Michael Pearson was taken into custody in Cleveland by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force. He is charged with one count of harassment and three counts of retaliation for past actions.An affidavit says Pearson sent threatening texts, includin...