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Local News for Friday, March 5th

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From NewsChannel 9… Lawmakers are mov

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

From NewsChannel 9…

Lawmakers are moving forward on a bill that would allow first responders to live where they choose, which would ban residency requirements for police officers and firefighters statewide.

Members of the State Senate voted Thursday to advance SB 0029, sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey.

Proponents of the bill say it will allow agencies to hire more first responders that in turn will promote safety and address a deficit of police officers occurring throughout the country.

Lawmakers point to a record-breaking 300 homicides in Memphis in 2020 and a 9% uptick in crime rates. They say an analysis shows the city is understaffed by several hundred officers, but when the number of officers increases, the levels of violent crime decrease.

The bill would not affect Hamilton County.

Also from NewsChannel 9…

Should you need a permit to carry a gun? A controversial bill making its way through the Tennessee legislature says no.

If HB 0786 were to pass, Tennesseans 21 and older would be able to carry handguns without a permit.

The bill has passed through the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee, and will now continue moving through the legislative process. But while its future is still unknown, people on both sides of the debate are making their voices heard.

Both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association oppose the bill, but Bradley County Sheriff Steve Lawson says it’s not permits that keep us safe.

Sheriff Lawson says he doesn’t think it’s constitutional to make gun safety training a requirement, but he says it’s still important.

He says the BCSO will continue to offer a gun safety class every month, whether or not the bill passes.

In news today…

Gov. Bill Lee will visit Cleveland State Community College on Friday to celebrate the grand opening of its new Health & Science Center.

The two-story facility is the first new construction on the Cleveland State campus in over 40 years. 

Lee and local media will have the opportunity to tour the Cleveland State facility following a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on the campus, 

Watch the ceremony LIVE at 10:30 a.m. this morning on Mix TV at mymix1041.com.