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.

Tennessee expanding highway emergency service to interstates in rural counties

by Ben Benton ·February 22, 2026

The state is expanding its fleet of Help program vehicles this spring to help stranded drivers in rural areas of Tennessee, starting with the Chattanooga region.

Tennessee Department of Transportation / Tennessee's transportation agency is expanding its fleet of highway emergency local patrol vehicles to serve rural portions of interstates between the state's four major cities, starting out in spring 2026 in the Chattanooga region.

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Man charged in fatal double shooting after flagging down deputy

by Ben Benton ·February 18, 2026

An Alabama man who flagged down a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy in Huntland, Tennessee, allegedly confessed to shooting two people on Interstate 65 in neighboring Giles County, Tennessee, and asked to be arrested.

Staff File Photo / The Franklin County Jail is just south of downtown Winchester, Tenn. An Alabama man who flagged down a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy in Huntland, Tenn., allegedly confessed to shooting two people on Interstate 65 in neighboring Giles County, Tenn.

Record expunged after 2022 not guilty verdict in Rhea County child rape case

by Ben Benton ·February 17, 2026

A Rhea County man charged with child rape in 2017 has had his case expunged following a not guilty verdict in a 2022 Rhea County jury trial.

Staff file Photo / The Rhea County Justice Center, just north of downtown Dayton, Tenn., on Rhea County Highway, is pictured. A Rhea County man's record has been expunged following a 2022 not guilty jury verdict on child rape charges.

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Athens police capture man sought in Jan. 21 stabbing

by Ben Benton ·February 17, 2026

A man who evaded capture for over three weeks after a Jan. 21 stabbing incident was arrested in Athens, Tennessee, where he's facing an attempted murder charge.

Polk County Sheriff's Office / David Rodriguez Cruz, 32. Cruz was being sought in connection with a Jan. 21, 2026, stabbing in Athens, Tenn.

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Grant to fund studies for sewer extension in Meigs County’s industrial park

by Ben Benton ·February 16, 2026

A $100,000 grant for site development at the Meigs County Industrial Park will fund preliminary studies for a sewer extension project to make the park more attractive to potential industrial and commercial tenants.

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / The Meigs County Industrial Park is in Decatur, Tenn. A $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development's site development grant program will help with early work to extend sewer service throughout the industrial park.

Marion County settles federal civil rights suit for $85K

by Ben Benton ·February 14, 2026

Original complaint sought $300K for violations under First, Fourth and 14th amendments

Staff File Photo / The federal courthouse in Chattanooga and Miller Park are seen before sunrise. A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit filed in 2024 against Marion County, the County Commission chair, the sheriff and a deputy over a man's removal from County Commission meetings while he was trying to address commissioners.

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American School for the Deaf, Bradley County system named in federal suit

by Ben Benton ·February 14, 2026

The mother of two hearing impaired sons enrolled in Bradley County schools has filed suit seeking unspecified damages over a decision by the school system and the American School for the Deaf to stop the boys' at-home classes over the mother's "eavesdropping" on instruction.

Staff File Photo by Matt Hamilton / The federal courthouse in Chattanooga is pictured. A federal lawsuit has been filed against the American School for the Deaf and Bradley County Schools over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in discontinuing two deaf students' at-home instruction because of their mother's "eavesdropping" on their instruction.

Ground broken on $10M 8,500-square-foot event center at Booker T. Washington State Park

by Ben Benton ·February 13, 2026

‘Long overdue’ project slated for completion by early 2027

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Park director Levan Gardner speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony at Booker T. Washington State Park on Friday.

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Marion County man appeals dismissal of $7M civil rights suit

by Ben Benton ·February 10, 2026

Mediation conference set in March for possible settlement

The exterior of Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati is pictured. A Marion County man whose multimillion-dollar civil rights suit against the city of Jasper and two of its police officers was dismissed in January has filed notice he will appeal the judge's ruling to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. (AP File Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Driver in Polk County chase identified. Attempted murder suspect still at-large

by Ben Benton ·February 9, 2026

Two men are being sought by authorities stemming from a police chase from Bradley County into Polk County and a stabbing in Athens, Tennessee.