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.

$161 million low bid awarded for next phase of Chattanooga’s I-75/I-24 ‘split’ project

by Ben Benton ·December 1, 2022

Work to begin spring 2023

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Traffic moves along Interstate 24, early Wednesday morning, in this view, looking west, from the McBrien Road overpass. A $161 million contract was awarded Monday by the Tennessee Department of Transportation for Phase II of the I-24/I-75 Interchange Improvement project. Construction will take place between the split and the Germantown Road interchange on I-24 and on I-75 between the split and the East Brainerd Road interchange. Charleston, Tennessee-based Wright Brothers Construction Co. is the low bidder on the 4.8-mile project.

Grundy County man wrongly convicted in 2006 murder case files 12-count federal lawsuit

by Ben Benton ·December 1, 2022

Lawsuit names the county, former investigators

Staff photo by Ben Benton / Adam Braseel, freed Aug. 1 after being incarcerated for 12 years for a crime he has always maintained he didn't commit, talks Aug. 7, 2019, about his life looking forward, the long list of losses looking back and where his faith has helped him make the most of his situation as he continues the fight to clear his name.

Grundy couple pleads not guilty to charges leveled in Oct. 18 shooting of child

by Ben Benton ·November 28, 2022

Two Tracy City, Tennessee, residents have been charged on grand jury indictments in the Oct. 18 nonfatal shooting of a 9-year-old boy by another boy, also 9, but few details are available on the incident.

Catoosa, Walker counties home to sites on Georgia’s Places in Peril list for 2023

by Ben Benton ·November 26, 2022

Two of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's 10 Places in Peril for 2023 are in Northwest Georgia near the Tennessee state line.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The Yates House was photographed Wednesday. in Catoosa County, Ga. The Yates House near Ringgold was built on land Presley and Rachel Thedford Yates received in the Cherokee Land Lottery of 1832. The house is on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 10 Places in Peril for 2023. It is one of two places on the list found in Northwest Georgia.

Small Business Saturday in and around Chattanooga pushes local-first holiday shopping

by Ben Benton ·November 25, 2022

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is the day people are urged to shop local, and keeping money close to home can make a big difference for small businesses.

Staff file photo / Susan and Andy Harper walk along Frazier Avenue in November 2021 leading up to Small Business Saturday at Northshore shops in Chattanooga.

Son of Whitwell woman identified as cold case victim returns to Tennessee

by Ben Benton ·November 25, 2022

For the Terry family in Whitwell, Thanksgiving 2022 was bittersweet, a reunion drawing members together in loss as they bring the latest chapter of the "Lady of the Dunes" in Massachusetts to a close and open another one in Tennessee.

Contributed photo by the Hanchett family / From left are Richard Hanchett, Wendy Hanchett, Ken Terry, Jan Terry, Jon Terry, Marsha Terry and Jim Terry in a family photo taken in Tuesday in Tennessee.

Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama transportation departments stop road projects for Thanksgiving weekend

by Ben Benton ·November 22, 2022

State road construction projects in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama will be halted for the Thanksgiving travel holiday as AAA predicts 54.6 million people will hit the road to see loved ones this the weekend.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / With Thanksgiving colors for a backdrop, Interstate 24 traffic zips past the Tennessee Welcome Center, which sets on an island in Nickajack Lake in Marion County, on Nov. 19, 2021. Transportation departments in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama are halting most road construction for the holiday weekend.

Franklin County authorities investigating after man found shot at burglary call dies

by Ben Benton ·November 21, 2022

The investigation of a man found shot Sunday when Franklin County Sheriff's deputies reached a burglary-in-progress call has become a death probe after he died at a local hospital.

Staff File Photo / The Franklin County Jail is located just south of downtown Winchester, Tenn.

Episcopal church projects in Chattanooga, Cleveland receive grants for preservation

by Ben Benton ·November 19, 2022

Federal Historic Preservation Fund grants of $25,000 apiece will help pay for preservation work at two area churches on the National Register of Historic Places, one in Chattanooga and the other in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Christ Church Episcopal, at the corner of McCallie Avenue and Douglas Street in Chattanooga, is shown on March 22, 2019.

New Athens, Tennessee, council ends contract with longtime city attorney

by Ben Benton ·November 17, 2022

New mayor, vice mayor elected