Mason Edwards

Mason Edwards is a criminal justice reporter with a focus on the courts at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, where he started as an intern in August 2024 before being hired full-time to cover breaking news in June 2025. Originally from Dayton, Tennessee, Mason is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he earned a degree in Communication with minors in Criminal Justice and Rhetoric & Professional Writing.

Contact courts reporter Mason Edwards at medwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6409.

Chattanooga singer with ‘America’s Got Talent’ appearance charged with murder after 4-year-old dies

by Mason Edwards ·September 3, 2026

Police say child spent about 9 minutes underwater before civilian pulled him out

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / Deshundre Vinson, 22.

Chattanooga council members question 911 agreement amid stalled dispatcher raises

by Mason Edwards ·September 1, 2026

Several Chattanooga City Council members proposed Tuesday reviewing the municipality's longstanding multimillion-dollar contract with the Hamilton County 911 center.

Staff photo by Mason Edwards / Jeff Carney, executive director for Hamilton County 911's district, speaks to Chattanooga's City Council in a strategic meeting Sept. 1, 2026.

Deputies seize 15 homemade explosives, up to $60K in alleged stolen property from Hixson man

by Mason Edwards ·September 1, 2026

Defendant facing over $600K total bond across about 30 pending cases

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / James Robert Bowman, 52.

Hamilton County sheriff to pause about 70 Flock, Motorola license plate readers

by Mason Edwards ·September 1, 2026

Sheriff cites concerns over public data and potential misuse

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton/ Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett speaks at the Pachyderm Club meeting on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Tennessee American Water customers to receive nearly $12 PFAS settlement credit

by Mason Edwards ·August 31, 2026

Utility’s second payout brings total returned per account to over $71

Staff file photo / Tennessee American Water company provides water to about 425,000 people in Tennessee and North Georgia.

Restaurant president calls teen fryer violations ‘honest mistake’ after $62K in child labor penalties

by Mason Edwards ·August 28, 2026

A Cleveland, Tennessee-based restaurant franchisee paid about $62,000 in federal child labor penalties that the company president called "way over the top."

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / A sign for Captain D's is seen in Cleveland, Tenn., on Aug. 28, 2026. The U.S. Department of Labor found a Cleveland Captain D's in violation of child labor laws.

Lawsuit alleges dog attack during Hamilton County shelter adoption meeting

by Mason Edwards ·August 27, 2026

A Hamilton County man is suing a local animal shelter, alleging a pit bull mix named Diesel bit him in both arms during a prospective adoption meeting.

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / The Humane Educational Society is seen Aug. 26, 2026. A Hamilton County man is suing the nonprofit following an alleged biting incident during a meet-and-greet with a dog.

Former South Pittsburg running back receives judicial diversion

by Mason Edwards ·August 27, 2026

A former South Pittsburg High School running back originally charged with rape received judicial diversion after a plea agreement reduced his case to three misdemeanor assault charges.

Staff file photo by Mason Edwards / A former South Pittsburg High School running back, Ja'Mychal Buckner, prepares to leave a Marion County courtroom on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, following a hearing tied to a rape allegation.

New Hixson elementary school with YMCA partnership breaks ground

by Mason Edwards ·August 27, 2026

Hamilton County officials broke ground Thursday on a roughly $50 million Hixson elementary school that will combine three existing school zones and share a campus with the North River Family YMCA.

Hamilton County Mayor's Office / Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp speaks during the groundbreaking of North River Elementary School, which is a first-of-its-kind-for-Tennessee partnership with the YMCA.

Chattanooga man gets three years prison in plea deal after partial mistrial in fatal shooting case

by Mason Edwards ·August 25, 2026

A Chattanooga man pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless homicide and received a three-year prison sentence months after jurors acquitted him of first-degree murder and hung on other charges.