Local News

From News Channel 9: A former McMinn County private school principal has been sentenced in a sexual misconduct case that drew widespread attention.Jason Kennedy, the former principal at Liberty Christian Academy, was sentenced to five years after four charges were reduced to sexual battery.Court records show Kennedy must register as a sex offender for life.The case stems from allegations involving...

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has launched a new campus safety app: Safe@UTC. The new app features quick safety tools for students and staff to feel at ease while on campus.Inside the Safe@UTC app, users have access to campus maps and parking, requests for rides from the UTC Police Department, or requests for monitoring your location when walking. Bret...

The Bradley County School Board met yesterday. Director of Schools Dr. Linda Cash highlighted several district accomplishments:Walker Valley High School held its first mock trial competition. Dr. Cash praised the students and staff and noted support from the District Attorney’s office.The board celebrated Ocoee Middle School Girls Wrestling state qualifiers. Six students placed at state, including...

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday.The council approved a resolution supporting a $25 million federal BUILD grant to help fund the Third Street Connector project. That project is estimated to cost more than $93 million, with federal and state funds expected to cover most of the cost. If awarded, construction could begin within a few years.Other Transportation updates included:Peerless Road w...

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday after several weeks of weather-related cancelations.Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis passed out a resolution for consideration at the next voting session. The resolution seeks approval to apply for a $1 million grant with a 17% county match to fund proposed turf projects at County recreation parks. If approved, the county could hear back on the grant in t...

From Local 3 News: UPDATE- Karen Martinez, 26, of Athens, Tennessee, has been found safe, police say.PREVIOUS STORY: The Athens, Tennessee, Police Department is searching for Karen Martinez, 26, who has been missing from Athens since late July 2025.Karen suffers from mental health issues, according to family members. She is 5'2", has short, curly black hair, brown eyes, and is blind in one eye, po...

The Cleveland/Bradley Co. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the American Job Center and Bradley Square Mall, will host the 2026 Winter Job Fair on Friday, February 13.The event is designed to connect job seekers with employers from manufacturing, nonprofits, and small businesses. Registration and details are available at clevelandchamber.com.......

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A Cleveland man is in custody after an armed domestic dispute that led to him barricading himself inside a home on Linda Drive SE, according to the Cleveland Police Department.Around 1:00pm on Saturday, February 7, officers say they responded to the scene after a woman called saying she had been in an argument with a man who pulled out a 9mm pistol and threatened to shoo...

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: While the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office or coroner has not publicly identified the murder victim whom former NFL player Darron Lee is charged with, a family spokesperson has identified the victim as Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo. Perpétuo's stepfather issued the following statement: "On behalf of the family of Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo, who was brutally murdered by Da...

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...