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.

Trio of black bear cubs collared near Tennessee-Alabama state line

by Ben Benton ·April 8, 2022

Preliminary black bear study data shows Alabama's young males roam to Georgia, females stay home

Contributed photo by Billy Pope, Alabama Department of Natural Resources / An Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife official holds a black bear cub captured recently near Mentone in DeKalb County, Alabama. Officials handle bear cubs so gently they drop off to sleep.

Interchange at I-75 and Hamilton Place in Chattanooga is in TDOT’s $3.6 billion three-year plan

by Ben Benton ·April 7, 2022

The interchange on Interstate 75 at Hamilton Place mall is in the crosshairs of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's $3.6 billion three-year plan for 2022-25, with construction on new ramps expected to begin in 2023, according to a news release issued Thursday by Gov Bill Lee's office.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Interstate 75 traffic travels north, while cars take the exit, far right, to Hamilton Place Boulevard. The interchange on Interstate 75 at Hamilton Place Mall is part of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's three-year plan for 2022-25 and work should begin in 2023. The Hamilton County project was among six critical transportation projects in Tennessee.

Case against Cleveland, Tennessee, man charged in Capitol riot set for June status hearing

by Ben Benton ·April 6, 2022

Defense attorney says confidential, in-person meetings with client too difficult

U.S. Department of Justice / Joseph "Jose" Lino Padilla

Cleveland, Tennessee, man charged in Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach faces hearing

by Ben Benton ·April 4, 2022

The Cleveland, Tennessee, man charged on a 12-count indictment in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol will appear in U.S. District Court Wednesday in Washington, D.C., for a status hearing on his case.

Contributed photo / Joseph "Jose" Lino Padilla

One co-owner dead, one detained following Monday shooting at South Pittsburg coffee shop

by Ben Benton ·April 4, 2022

One of the owners of a downtown South Pittsburg, Tennessee, coffee shop is dead and another faces homicide charges after a deadly shooting at their business Monday morning.

Staff photo by Stephen Hargis / Emergency crews respond to the site of a shooting in South Pittsburg on Monday.

McMinn deputies shoot Riceville man Sunday during loud music, shots-fired call

by Ben Benton ·April 4, 2022

A McMinn County, Tennessee, man remained in critical condition Monday after being shot by sheriff's deputies early Sunday during a police call in the Riceville community.

more-charges-filed-against-mcminn-womalleged

Preparations begin for bidding phase 2 of I-75/I-24 split project

by Ben Benton ·April 3, 2022

TDOT: Winning design-build team should be selected by 'end of the calendar year'

Staff photo by Ben Benton / A three-person crew — from left, Harley McGhee and Jordan Clayton, of Chattanooga-based Tri-State Drilling, and Emily Reed, geotechnical engineer for Brentwood-based GeoEngineers — works along the left lane of North Terrace Road adjacent to Interstate 24 on March 23, 2022. The crew was drilling into the ground to take soil samples. The samples were being taken in preparation for upcoming bids on phase 2 of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Interstate 24/Interstate 75 Interchange Reconstruction Project.

Fall Creek Falls State Park holds job fair Friday

by Ben Benton ·April 3, 2022

Looking for a job with a front-row view of some of Tennessee's most scenic beauty?

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Visitors survey the inside of the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls in Spencer, Tenn., on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.

Athens, Tennessee, man sues over $54-an-hour charge for city manager to respond to records requests

by Ben Benton ·April 1, 2022

Litigant says he can prove the bureaucrat was doing other things when supposedly compiling documents

Staff photo by Ben Benton / The Athens, Tenn., City Hall is seen Jan. 20, 2022.

Chattanooga man’s bond raised, juvenile charged in Bradley County armed burglary

by Ben Benton ·March 29, 2022

Court affidavit: Detective sees four intruders on surveillance video, two with firearms