Ben Benton

Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He covers Southeast Tennessee’s Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea and Sequatchie counties. Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005. Ben was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, a graduate of Bradley Central High School. He has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

Driver, vehicle suspected in Bradley County hit-and-run found

by Ben Benton ·March 12, 2026

Police: Second motorist, witness stayed at scene

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / The Bradley County Sheriff's Office is pictured. Bradley County authorities have located the driver and vehicle suspected in a fatal March 11, 2026, hit-and-run incident in the 6000 block of U.S. Highway 64.

Severe storms predicted for Wednesday night as cold front sweeps through

by Ben Benton ·March 10, 2026

A cold front sweeping through Tennessee on Wednesday will bring the potential for damaging winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain as March ushers in some of the first of its typically unstable weather.

Staff File Photo / Rain pours on a flooded section of East 11th Street. A cold front forecast to sweep through the region the night of March 11, 2026, brings the potential for high winds, thunderstorms and downpours, according to the National Weather Service office in Morristown, Tenn.

Signal Mountain Boulevard lane closures scheduled before stabilization project

by Ben Benton ·March 9, 2026

Five days of preliminary work started Monday on Signal Mountain Boulevard between Palisades Road and the top of the mountain in preparation for a slope stabilization project set to start by early summer.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Cars drive along the curves of Signal Mountain Blvd. on Monday, March 9, 2026 .

House committee advances Benton MacKaye Trail study

by Ben Benton ·March 6, 2026

Bill is step toward National Scenic designation

Staff File Photo by Matt Hamilton / Richard Harris and Brenda Harris, of Tellico Plains, Tenn., walk to an exit point of the Benton-MacKaye Trail in Polk County, Tenn. A congressional bill seeking a feasibility study to designate the Benton MacKaye Trail in the Southern Appalachian Mountains the nation's 12th National Scenic Trail was passed March 4, 2026, out of the House Committee on Natural Resources.

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Former Cleveland teacher convicted of videoing girls’ middle school locker room rearrested

by Ben Benton ·March 4, 2026

Offender found dining with unrelated minors at Ooltewah restaurant

Bradley County Sheriff's Office / Christopher Dalton Schroll, 35

State investigating in-custody death at Marion County Jail

by Ben Benton ·March 4, 2026

State investigators are looking into an in-custody death at the Marion County Jail in Jasper, Tennessee, according to state and local officials.

Staff File Photo / The Marion County Justice Center in Jasper, Tenn., is pictured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing an in-custody death involving a man arrested Monday who became ill prior to being booked into the jail and later died.

Comptroller: Pikeville nonprofit leader paid herself through fake invoices

by Ben Benton ·March 3, 2026

District attorney will not seek charges

Tennessee Comptroller's Office / The sign at the Skills Training and Rehabilitation Services facility in Pikeville, Tenn., is pictured. An investigation alleges the executive director paid herself at least $14,500 through fabricated invoices.

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Supreme Court overturns ruling favoring Grundy County in sand mine fight

by Ben Benton ·March 1, 2026

Justices: County powers act used to zone without authority

Contributed map / This map shows the Clouse Hill Sand Quarry, owned by Tinsley Sand and Gravel LLC, and its approximate proximity to nearby residential areas that lie within 5,000 feet of the operation, a distance county officials and others contend violates a county powers act passed in 2019. The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Feb. 25 in favor of the company, saying the county violated the Tennessee County Zoning Act by using its county powers act to block the company from operating.

Rossville Boulevard in line for paving project to Georgia border

by Ben Benton ·February 25, 2026

Work to begin in mid-April

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Vehicles drive along Rossville Boulevard. A state Department of Transportation contract crew will begin paving work in mid-April from the Interstate 24 overpass to the Georgia state line.

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Cleveland police start issuing citations for passing stopped school buses

by Ben Benton ·February 23, 2026

10 buses equipped with AI to detect violators