Local News for Monday, January 18th

Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From the Cleveland Daily Banner… Rick

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

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Rick Norton reports: A second member of Bradley County’s legislative delegation has been reappointed to chair a powerful committee for the 112th session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

State Rep. Dan Howell (R-Cleveland), who represents the 22nd Legislative District, was named Friday by House of Representatives Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) to again lead the strategic work of the Transportation Committee.

Howell also chaired the select 19-member group in 2020 in one of the beefiest assignments of his legislative career. The retiree whose broad career includes serving as a Chattanooga TV news anchor, as well as a former executive assistant to Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis, was first elected to the Tennessee Legislature in 2014.

A day before Howell’s leadership assignment was announced in the House, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally — who serves as speaker of the Senate — confirmed that state Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville), who represents the 9th Senatorial District, had been reappointed chairman of the influential Judiciary Committee in that state chamber.

In an odd twist on the House Transportation Committee, Howell will lead the group flanked on one side by yet another member of the Bradley County delegation. State Rep. Mark Hall (R-Cleveland), who represents the 24th Legislative District, will serve as vice chairman of the transportation group.

In news today…

On Friday around 5:30PM, the Cleveland Fire Department responded to a small roof fire at the Bradley County Schools’ PIE Innovation Center. The fire was quickly controlled and no significant damage or injuries were reported. The PIE Center is currently in the construction phase, and the fire was located on the northwest corner of the building, in a section that was already scheduled to be torn down in the coming weeks.

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press…

Tennessee teachers would get a 2% pay raise from Jan. 1 through June, then another 2% boost July 1 under a proposal by Gov. Bill Lee, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Legislation filed by legislative leaders and backed by the governor would allocate more than $42 million for additional compensation for educators in the current fiscal year that ends on June 30. That amount would cover both state and local contributions to immediate salary increases for teachers and other certified education staff.

If the retroactive raise is approved, the governor plans to ask the legislature for another 2% hike for next year, said spokeswoman Laine Arnold. Lee is expected to present his proposed budget to the legislature in February for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Teacher pay is one of the key issues that lawmakers are expected to take up beginning Tuesday during a special legislative session on education.

In news today…

Dream Weekend 2021 is underway and will climax tomorrow (January 18) in Downtown Cleveland with the 2nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March. The march will begin at 9 a.m. at the Bradley County Courthouse. Social distancing will be in place and all participants will be required to wear a face mask.

Everyone wishing to take part will begin gathering at the Bradley County Courthouse between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. The walk should last approximately thirty minutes. The event has become an annual celebration in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

The Dream Weekend 2021 Service was released over the weekend and is now available to view online.

The musical selections for the event are courtesy of the Cleveland Community Choir as recorded during Dream Weekend 2020. The Dream Weekend 2021 service, as well as additional information on the weekend, can be viewed at Facebook.com/DreamWeekend2021.