Local News

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has announced the promotion of Lt. Julie Quinn to the rank of captain, recognizing nearly three decades of service and leadership within the department.Captain Quinn began her career with the agency in 1997. She served as a Field Training Officer from 1998 to 2003 before being promoted to corporal in 2003, sergeant in 2005, and lieutenant in 2010. In 2017, she t...

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday and discussed several items tied to growth, parks and the city’s greenway system.The Council approved a plan of services for a proposed annexation on Old Freewill Drive.The resolution annexes 82 acres of property. The property is expected to help connect the Candies Creek Greenway into Fletcher Park. City Manager Joe Fivas said the greenway project would ev...

The Bradley County Commission met Monday evening for a work session.During committee and district reports, several commissioners shared brief updates.Commissioner Howard Thompson encouraged residents to take advantage of early voting, noting there is still time to cast ballots.Commissioner Tommy Ledford highlighted this weekend’s Relay for Life event. Activities begin at 1 p.m., with opening cerem...

You only have four days left to early vote in the County Primary Election.The final day to cast an early ballot is April 30th.As of Saturday, about 3,600 people have voted in Bradley County, which is roughly a 4.5 percent turnout.Voters can cast ballots at the OCI on Urbane Road, the Election Office on Broad Street, the Northeast Recreation Center on Berry Street, and the Fire-Rescue Training Cent...

A 50-year-old Cleveland man has died following an incident on the Ocoee River in Polk County.Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency game wardens and State Park Rangers responded just before 1:30 p.m. after reports of an unconscious man in the water south of Ocoee Dam Number 2.Witnesses say Richard White fell from a raft while recreational paddling. He was wearing a helmet and personal flotation devic...

The Tennessee Board of Regents will meet April 30 to consider new leadership for Cleveland State Community College.The meeting will be held virtually and livestreamed at 10 a.m. Eastern time.The decision follows months of interviews, public input, and finalist evaluations.Chancellor Flora Tydings is expected to present her recommendations during the meeting.......

From Local 3 News: Heads up to drivers in Polk County.TDOT Bridge Inspection crews will be conducting scheduled inspections across the county in the coming weeks.The Polk County Road Department has been asked to close these bridges from 9:00am to 3:00pm on the following dates:Grassy Creek - Thursday, May 7Old Hwy 411 - Monday, May 11Reynolds Bridge - Friday, May 15“Please make arrangements ahead o...

New legislation aimed at boosting economic growth and protecting the Ocoee River is headed to the governor’s desk.House Bill 2425, sponsored by State Representative Dan Howell, expands how funds from the Ocoee River Recreation and Economic Development Fund can be used.The funding can now go toward infrastructure improvements, tourism promotion, and event development within the river’s management a...

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday.The event will be held from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Criminal Investigation Division on Blythe Avenue in Cleveland.Residents can safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired medications, with no questions asked.Officials say proper disposal helps prevent misuse and keeps the communi...

A bill that would have significantly expanded Tennessee’s private school tuition assistance program has failed in the state Senate.Lawmakers voted 16 to 14 in favor of the measure, falling one vote short of the number required for passage.The legislation would have expanded the Education Savings Account program by removing the cap on student participation and increasing income eligibility.Currentl...

Seventy-nine of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5 percent in February, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Most counties saw an increase compared to January, with rates rising in 87 counties, staying the same in five, and decreasing in three.Statewide, Tennessee’s unemployment rate for February was 3.6 percent, slightly h...

What’s being called the Appalachia Fire continues to burn on remote terrain in Polk County on U.S. Forest Service property near McFarland and the Hiwassee River.No structures are currently threatened in the wildfire, which has grown to more than 200 acres.Approximately 40 U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters are working the fire using both ground and air resources.Officials say the fire was f...

According to the Bradley County Election Office, after 7 days of Early Voting in Bradley County, there have been only 2,477 registered voters cast a ballot. Bradley County has 80,793 registered voters, meaning this is approximately a 3% turnout so far. Early voting for the County Primary Election runs through April 30th.Voters in Bradley County can cast ballots at four locations: the OCI on Urbane...

From News Channel 9: The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) confirmed to us Wednesday that they plan to fine a plant in Cleveland.This comes after seven people were exposed to harsh chemicals at the M & M Mars Chocolate plant in December, according to TOSHA.6 of those people needed medical attention at a nearby hospital.TOSHA says their inspection found a penalty of mo...

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A Bradley County deputy who was involved in a crash while responding to an emergency call Wednesday was treated and released from a hospital, the Bradley County Sheriff's Office says.The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.Local 3 is still working to learn more details surrounding the crash.PREVIOUS STORY: The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says one o...

From Local 3 News: Senate Bill 2040, also known as the “Freedom, Access, and Integrity in Registered Pharmacy (FAIR Rx) Act," was passed in the Tennessee legislature. Some pharmacists are concerned about potential impacts.The House passed the bill 86-7 on Tuesday, April 21. It passed in the Senate 24-9 on Monday. The bill now heads to Gov. Lee’s desk.The bill will limit how pharmacy benefit manage...

From Local 3 News: Adient, a global automotive seating manufacturer, has filed a WARN notice to permanently close its Athens facility.The company filed the WARN notice with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on Tuesday, April 21.Adient, located at 1210 E Madison Avenue in Athens, plans to permanently close on June 30, 2026.The notice says 210 employees will be affected.The...

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) released a preliminary report for the crash that happened on I-75 Tuesday morning in Bradley County, and said there were no injuries.The crash involved two 2018 Kenworth tractor-trailers, both of which were driven by men in their 50s.THP said both trucks were driving south on I-75 when one truck hit the other at around mile marker 19.2....

From Local 3 News (AP): Two Southwest Airlines planes had to take evasive action to avoid colliding Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, after an air traffic controller directed one pilot to turn into the path of the other plane.Last year, an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. That crash on Jan. 29, 2025...

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says 16 people were killed and hundreds more injured in work zone crashes across the state last year.TDOT is recognizing National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 20th through the 24th, urging drivers to move over and slow down to protect highway workers.Officials say there were more than 2,400 work zone crashes in Tennessee last year, including over 6...