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Local News for Friday, February 12th

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From NewsChannel 9… A woman living in

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:

From NewsChannel 9…

A woman living in Abingdon, Virginia faces Tenncare fraud charges in Bradley County.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced Thursday that deputies in Bradley County arrested 38-year-old Lauren Cole.

A release says the charges stem from Cole allegedly living in Virginia but reporting a Tennessee residence to TennCare.

As a result, TennCare paid more than $9,150.00 in medical fees and claims for Cole.

Charges against Cole are class D felonies. The case is being prosecuted by District Attorney General Stephen D. Crump of Bradley County.

From WRCB Channel 3…

A federal utility’s board voted Thursday to increase the multimillion-dollar pay scale of its CEO, coming to the decision based on findings of an independent review ordered up after then-President Donald Trump blasted the executive as “ridiculously overpaid” last summer.

The Tennessee Valley Authority board decided to increase what CEO Jeff Lyash makes from “37% to 28% below the market median of CEO compensation” of comparable utilities, board member Kenneth Allen said during the meeting, without offering a more precise dollar amount.

Lyash’s total compensation was $7.3 million for the 2020 budget year that ended in September. Lyash is the country’s highest paid federal employee; however, the utility doesn’t use federal tax revenue and runs largely on its electricity rates.

TVA announced the review of CEO pay in August, responding after Trump earlier that month fired the former board chairman and another board member and called for Lyash’s replacement and the position’s pay to be capped at $500,000. Trump had also criticized the pay package that April.

The grievance seemed to fall by the wayside during Trump’s final months in office, which were consumed by his reelection campaign, the growing coronavirus pandemic and other issues.

From NewsChannel 9…

State officials are investigating after a school bus with children on board was involved in a crash in Rhea County Thursday afternoon.

The Rhea County Sheriff’s Department responded to the accident, which happened in the area of Highway 68 and Cemetery Road in Spring City.

There were only minor injuries reported in the crash, according to a statement attributed to Sheriff Mike Neal.

The sheriff’s department says all of the children on the bus were reunited with their families, and none of them were taken by EMS to the hospital.

The sheriff’s department did not go into detail on the circumstances of the crash, but said that the Tennessee Highway Patrol is handling the crash investigation.

And finally…

The Bradley County Schools Board of Education met Thursday. During the meeting, a resolution was presented which would aim to provide enhanced bonuses for county school employees. The resolution would include $582,000 to provide the following bonuses in conjunction with state money. All certified full-time personnel would receive a $1,000 bonus. Classified full-time personnel would receive a $500 bonus. All part-time certified or classified personnel would receive a $250 bonus. This is a one time bonus, and requires approval by the Bradley County Commission. The resolution was voted on and passed at the Board of Education level, and will now be sent to the Bradley County Commission for their approval. Director of Schools Dr. Linda Cash noted that summer learning camps are being partially funded by the state, and there will be expanded virtual options. An update was also given on the PIE Center. Work is mostly on-schedule with few non-time-threatening delays. A leasing document for the first lessee is in process. Some change orders have been made regarding plumbing, building, wall, drain, and slab issues that need to be addressed. Additional funding for these issues was requested and passed by the board.