Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From the Cleveland Daily Banner… Kait
Here is your Cleveland, Tenn. | Bradley County, Tenn. news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:
From the Cleveland Daily Banner…
Kaitlin Gebby reports: Cleveland City Schools is denying that a middle-school student was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a classmate, according to a formal response filed in a $10 million federal lawsuit.
In a 21-page response, the district denies Cleveland Middle School officials knew about the repeated assaults on the student, admitting that “these defendants had knowledge of one assault” against her, in which she was “allegedly being patted on the bottom by another student at school.”
The lawsuit, filed by the student’s family in December 2020, names multiple CMS and district officials and seeks compensation for damages from the school system for $5 million, demanding an additional $5 million for punitive damages.
Filed March 15 by the school district’s attorney, Cleveland City Schools said in the response it lacked knowledge of repeated incidents aside from the student “being patted on the bottom” by her classmate on one occasion and asked for the case to be dismissed from federal court.
In the original lawsuit, the victim, listed as Jane Doe, was said to have suffered multiple injuries from being “shoved up against a locker, molested and brutalized” by another student. The filing said she spent a week recovering from one such incident and later sought counseling.
She was diagnosed with PTSD, according to the case filing, and her parents also sought counseling after the incident. The victim’s family is claiming the school mishandled the reported assault, violating Title IX requirements, failed to properly inform the parents of the reported assault and failed to protect the victim.
The response denies most claims in the lawsuit, and frequently adds “these defendants do not have sufficient knowledge or information to admit or deny the allegations.”
The response also explains that the school officials named as defendants in the lawsuit are entitled to qualified immunity under federal law, and the $5 million requested in punitive damages are not recoverable from government entities like a public school district. The school system’s response also states that “local school districts are not insurers of the safety of students while they are at school.”
From the Chattanooga Times Free Press…
Joseph Padilla of Cleveland, pleaded not guilty in federal court Tuesday to 12 charges related to his actions during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C.
Padilla, 40, is accused of assaulting a police officer and throwing a flagpole during the storming of the Capitol, an unsuccessful mob effort to block certification of the election of President Joe Biden.
Padilla originally faced six charges and was arrested by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 23 after people recognized him in videos and tipped off the FBI. Just over two weeks later, a federal grand jury indicted him on 12 charges.
On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Prosecutors have argued Padilla should not be granted pre-trial release because he “poses a clear danger to our republic.” They point to his actions — documented in videos — and his own social media statements made on Jan. 6 and the days that followed to support their argument.
As of Wednesday, he was to remain incarcerated, with a status conference scheduled for April 5.
A minor league baseball team in Tennessee has its mascot back a day after it was reported stolen from a ballpark.
The Chattanooga Lookouts announced Wednesday on Twitter that the costume for Looie the Lookout “has been returned home safe.”
Chattanooga Police spokeswoman Elisa Myzal said in an email that an employee of a nearby aquarium found the costume near the team’s stadium.
The Lookouts told authorities that the mascot’s costume was stolen from an office at AT&T Field on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post from Chattanooga police. Looie’s head looks like a big red baseball cap, with a black brim for a nose.
The Lookouts said hundreds of dollars in merchandise and equipment were also stolen. Myzal said none of that property has been returned or located. She said police are reviewing security cameras in the area.
Police are asking the public for any tips on the other stolen items or for information that could help identify suspects, saying callers can remain anonymous. Anyone with tips can call (423) 698-2525.
After a 2020 postponement (like so many large events) the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is back for its 2021 edition.
It’s scheduled for September 2-5 at the usual spot in Manchester, TN.
Headliners include Foo Fighters, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, Tame Impala, Tyler, the Creator and Lana Del Rey.
Tickets are on sale now.
