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.

Son of man beaten to death in 2018 at McMinn County jail files $25 million wrongful death suit

by Ben Benton ·February 26, 2025

The son of a man beaten to death in the McMinn County Jail after a 2018 DUI arrest has filed a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit.

Staff Photo by Abby White / The outside of the McMinn County Justice Center at 1319 South White Street, Athens, Tennessee. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. A $25 million wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court over a February 2018 attack at the county jail that left a local man dead.

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3 Collegedale police officers cited after giving woman choice of ride to Cleveland, Tennessee, or jail

by Ben Benton ·February 20, 2025

Three Collegedale police officers were found to have neglected their duty when they drove a woman apparently in distress and dropped her off at a truck stop in neighboring Bradley County.

Collegedale Police Department / Members of the Collegedale Police Department took part in an intruder drill in 2023 at Wolftever Creek Elementary School. Cleveland, Tenn., officials sent a letter to Collegedale, Tenn., officials asking them to stop "courtesy rides" from one city to the other after Collegedale officers transported a woman to a Cleveland truck stop on Dec. 9.

Meigs County officials deny wrongdoing in $100 million suit filed over 2024 in-custody drowning

by Ben Benton ·February 20, 2025

Meigs County officials deny any wrongdoing in response to a $100 million federal lawsuit over the drowning of a woman handcuffed in a patrol car.

Staff File Photo / The southern end of Blythe Ferry, once used to shuttle Cherokee people across the Tennessee River during the Cherokee Removal, was home to a longtime vehicle ferry between Meigs County and Rhea County. Meigs County government lawyers have answered federal lawsuit filed over the drowning of a woman who was in handcuffed in the backseat of a patrol car when a Meigs County sheriff's deputy inadvertently drove it into the Tennessee River at the Blythe Ferry boat ramp Feb. 14, 2024.

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Bird flu blamed for 125-150 sandhill crane deaths in Southeast Tennessee

by Ben Benton ·February 14, 2025

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is taking a toll on migrating sandhill cranes and other waterfowl as the deadly virus spreads through wild species and continues to pose a risk to agricultural poultry producers, according to state officials.

Contributed photo / A dead sandhill crane rests on the edge of the water at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Rhea County, Tennessee, in a photo taken by photographer Kathleen Greeson on Feb. 4, 2025.

Note: An earlier version of this caption mistakenly said the carcass was in Meigs County

State climate office says 2024 Chattanooga’s warmest year on record

by Ben Benton ·February 7, 2025

Last year in Chattanooga was the warmest since weather information began being collected, with a record-breaking average temperature of 64.6 degrees, according to the Tennessee Climate Office.

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / A person walks past dry leaves and grass Oct. 25, 2024, at Camp Jordan in East Ridge. The Tennessee Climate Office reports 2024 was the warmest year on record for Chattanooga.

Lane reduction Friday, traffic shift Tuesday set for I-24 east

by Ben Benton ·February 6, 2025

After a week of preparation and work to relocate concrete barriers, state transportation officials announced lanes will be reduced Friday on Interstate 24 east.

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Traffic on Jan. 31, 2025, flows slowly on Interstate 24 in Chattanooga at the interchange with Interstate 75. Lane closures start Friday at 9 p.m. as the contractor prepares for an upcoming traffic shift on Tuesday morning, weather permitting.

Woman indicted on charges of financially exploiting older adults

by Ben Benton ·February 5, 2025

A Jasper, Tennessee, woman has been indicted after allegedly exploiting four residents of a health care facility out of thousands of dollars between May 2022 and July 2024.

Staff Photo / The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's headquarters in Nashville is shown in 2015. The state agency investigated irregular financial records at a health care facility in South Pittsburg, leading to exploitation and forgery charges being filed against a Jasper, Tenn., woman who was a former business manager at the facility.

Lawsuit in Meigs drowning case now seeks $100 million

by Ben Benton ·February 4, 2025

The family of a woman who drowned handcuffed in the back of a Meigs County deputy's patrol car is seeking $100 million in damages in a new wrongful death suit.

Office of District Attorney Russell Johnson / Meigs County Deputy Robert John "R.J." Leonard is seen in a police academy graduation photo, left, and Tabatha Smith is seen in a social media photo.

Ben Carson named speaker for Bryan College program dinner in April

by Ben Benton ·February 1, 2025

Appearance first of two in Southeast Tennessee in 2025

Dr. Ben Carson speaks Oct. 21, 2024, at a faith event at the Concord Convention Center in Concord, N.C. Carson is the featured speaker at an upcoming fundraiser at Bryan College. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Lane closures start Sunday on I-75, I-24 for barrier relocation

by Ben Benton ·January 31, 2025

Work to prep for traffic shift next weekend