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.

South Pittsburg marks 150th anniversary in 2023

by Ben Benton ·February 19, 2023

South Pittsburg, Tennessee, is marking its 150th birthday in 2023, and officials and the community are holding a yearlong celebration.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / South Cedar Aveneue in South Pittsburg becomes the boardwalk during the final day of the National Cornbread Festival in 2017.

Meigs County woman charged in Anderson County rehab clinic fire

by Ben Benton ·February 15, 2023

A Meigs County, Tennessee, woman has been charged in an Anderson County arson and vandalism case stemming from a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe into a Feb. 11 fire at a Norris rehabilitation clinic.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation / Tiffany Pearl Extine, 32, of Decatur, Tenn.

Haletown Fire Department in Marion County, Tennessee, establishing annual fee for service

by Ben Benton ·February 14, 2023

Nonsubscribers to be charged response fees

Staff Photo / The Haletown Volunteer Fire Department is in Haletown, Tenn., is shown in this 2015 photo.

TBI investigating shooting of inmate by Sequatchie County corrections officer

by Ben Benton ·February 13, 2023

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting of an inmate by a Sequatchie County correctional officer after the man allegedly attempted to flee a medical facility in Bledsoe County on Friday.

Cleveland man set for trial in Capitol breach case could face up to 20 years in federal prison

by Ben Benton ·February 12, 2023

New York defendant sentenced to 10 years got the most jail time to date while many got probation

U.S. Department of Justice / Joseph “Jose” Lino Padilla, of Cleveland, Tenn., is shown in federal court filings. Padilla faces multiple charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Six-week closure on south side of Ringgold Road-McBrien Road intersection starts Monday

by Ben Benton ·February 10, 2023

Construction to impact traffic headed to East Ridge High, Middle schools

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Talley Construction crews work Jan. 5 on East Ridge's multimillion-dollar project to install a 10-foot-wide multimodal path on the south side of Ringgold Road and a 5-foot path on the north side. Starting Monday, McBrien Road on the south side of Ringgold Road will be closed for the next six weeks as crews reach the end of the project footprint.

Pair accused in prisoner van carjacking, chase appear in Marion County court Wednesday

by Ben Benton ·February 8, 2023

Bonds set at $500,000 and $350,000, respectively

Bill seeking to return 76 acres of Cherokee homeland in Monroe County to tribe unanimously passes House, again

by Ben Benton ·February 7, 2023

Bill needs Senate sponsor, passage to make it president’s desk

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / A soggy path through the reeds leads from the interpretive trail at the Chota Memorial near Vonore, Tenn., to this spot on the banks of the Little Tennessee River, photographed in 2015. The memorial is part of a Cherokee town site about 12 miles south of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.

Marion County authorities investigating alleged teacher-student assault at South Pittsburg Elementary

by Ben Benton ·February 7, 2023

Authorities in Marion County are investigating a report of an assault on a student at South Pittsburg Elementary School in late January by a physical education teacher, according to school officials and law enforcement.

I-75, Hamilton Place Boulevard interchange work to bid by summer

by Ben Benton ·February 5, 2023

No start or completion dates yet