Local News

From Local 3 News: Law enforcement in Polk County, Tennessee, are searching for an armed and dangerous suspect in the Benton area, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.Authorities say David Rodriguez Cruz is wanted in connection with an assault on a law enforcement officer and on murder charges.The sheriff’s office is urging residents in the Parksville and Highway 314 area to stay indoors...

From Local 3 News: Several students are facing charges after a fight at Cleveland High School on Tuesday, February 3.The Cleveland Police Department tells us the School Resource Officer charged seven students with disorderly conduct and one student with disorderly conduct and aggravated assault since he threw a chair that hit another student.There were no injuries reported to officers.Disciplinary...

According to a statement released on social media, Bradley County Fire and Rescue crews had to battle two structure fires at the same time yesterday morning.Bradley County Fire Rescue requested a mutual aid response for additional manpower.Tri-Community VFD, Chattanooga Fire, Athens Fire, and Englewood Fire responded to the scenes.WCLE will keep you up-to-date on additional information as it is re...

From Local 3 News: The United Auto Workers union and Volkswagen have reached a tentative deal after nearly two years of negotiations.A group pushed to decertify the union last fall following a union vote to authorize a possible strike.The agreement includes:- 20% wage increase- More affordable healthcare - Cost of living adjustments- Protection against outsourcing, job cuts, and favoritism- Enforc...

From News Channel 9: A new report shows how immigration enforcement unfolded in Tennessee counties last year.In our area, Hamilton County had the highest number of immigration-related enforcement reports with 514.Bradley County filed 111 reports, and Rhea County submitted 104.McMinn County had 38, and Meigs and Polk counties each filed one.The data, compiled by the Tennessee District Attorneys Gen...

From Local 3 News: You may be eligible for part of a million-dollar settlement after Tennessee reached a deal with two drug companies.The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office says Lannett and Bausch Health have agreed to pay nearly $18 million to resolve allegations of price gouging. State officials claim the drug manufacturers illegally worked with competitors to collectively raise prices on certa...

From Local 3 News: New cameras placed last week on 10 Cleveland City Schools buses have already caught 39 drivers illegally passing buses.The stop-arm cameras, which use AI to detect when a driver is illegally passing, are part of a partnership between the district, the Cleveland Police Department and BusPatrol. A state law passed in 2023 allows for cameras on the exterior of buses and requires co...

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the State Attorney General have issued a joint statement about insurance claims following the recent winter storm that hit Middle Tennessee.They say their offices are committed to ensuring insurance companies fulfill legal obligations and treat policyholders fairly.Tennesseans affected by the storm are encouraged to file complaints if their in...

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a community blood drive with Blood Assurance on February 9th.The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office on Blythe Avenue SE. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be made online at: bloodassurance.org/bradley.......

From Local 3 News: Cigna Healthcare says CommonSpirit Health, formerly known as CHI Memorial, officially left its network on February 1st after contract negotiations failed.In a statement, Cigna called the decision “disappointing,” saying Memorial Hospital, now called CommonSpirit Health, already one of the most expensive hospital systems in the region, requested significant price increases that w...

From News Channel 9: Some Tennessee lawmakers are aiming to put the death penalty on the table for those convicted of child rape, even after those behind a 2024 law intended that to be the case.It comes after a Signal Mountain man was convicted on dozens of charges related to the sexual assault of a child.According to court documents, Stephen Rapaport was indicted on 52 counts related to the assau...

From Local 3 News: A failing environmental health inspection has been circulating around the Benton Elementary School community, causing alarm for many parents and families.The inspection, which took place on Wednesday, January 21, noted several violations, like:Exposed cracked piping and strong sewage odor in boys bathroomKindergarten restroom overflowing when flushedPre-K restroom with collapsin...

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivered his eighth and final State of the State address on Monday evening.In the address, Governor Lee presented budget and legislative priorities for the upcoming year to a joint session of the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans.To read Governor Lee's full speech, click here.A Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget overview can be found here.Lee’s propose...

From the Chattanoogan: A Cleveland firm, Danfoss Power Solutions, says it will lay off 100 employees between April 1 and October.The company has filed an official WARN Notice with the Tennessee Department of Labor.The plant is located at 1750 Hardeman Lane, and workers there are not part of a union or eligible for bumping rights.A state rapid response team has been notified to coordinate services ...

Bradley County Government offices will be closed today.City government offices will be on a 2-hour delay, opening at 10 am.Cleveland City, Bradley County, Polk County, McMinn County, Athens City, Meigs County, Rhea County, and Dayton City Schools are all closed today.All Cleveland State Campuses will also be closed today.......

From Local 3 News: A local community is in mourning after the unexpected death of a Bradley Central High School student on Friday, January 30.The high school announced Andrew Carroll's passing in a social media post. The Chattanooga Fire Department confirms it was due to a car crash.Carroll is described by his football team as being more than a teammate, but a competitor, a brother, and a young ma...

From TN.gov: Gov. Bill Lee has asked President Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration for 23 Tennessee counties impacted by Winter Storm Fern.The request seeks both FEMA Public Assistance and Individual Assistance to help with storm recovery.State officials say the expedited request is aimed at delivering federal resources quickly.If approved, FEMA aid would help families with housing, repa...

All but four Tennessee counties recorded unemployment rates below 5% in December, according to new state data.Ninety-one counties had jobless rates under 5 percent, and unemployment dropped in most areas from November.Williamson and Cheatham counties had the lowest rates at 2.6 percent.Maury County had the highest at 5.7 percent. In our local area:- Bradley’s unemployment rate came in at 3.5 perce...

Cleveland Police Chief Mark Gibson gave a New Year's Report to the Kiwanis Club yesterday.Chief Gibson said overall crime in Cleveland has decreased by 22% over the last three years.Gibson also reported a 100% homicide clearance rate since 2015.He credited the department’s new Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) with helping to solve cases faster and more efficiently.The CIU uses license plate reader...

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a community blood drive with Blood Assurance on February 9th.The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office on Blythe Avenue SE. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be made online at: bloodassurance.org/bradley.......