Monday, June 13th

State News- Tennessee government leaders have spoken out on Sunday morning’s shooting at an Orlando, FL, mass shooting at a night club. Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN, said via a Twitter post he was “Saddened by the tragedy that occurred overnight in Orlando. Praying for the victims, their families, and our dedicated first responders.” Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-TN, said his “heart goes out to the family and loved ones of those killed in last night’s horrific act of terror.” With at least 50 people killed, the massacre early Sunday morning at at the Orlando nightclub is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States. Across the United States, people are gathering at vigils honoring the victims of a shooting attack Channel 3- Aviation officials spent the early part of Sunday surveying what’s left of the single-engine plane that crashed Saturday at the Collegedale Airport. They hope the wreckage will help determine what caused the 4-seater Mooney M20-E to go down. Collegedale police now say two of the four people on board were killed. The pilot, Todd Silver from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, survived and is in critical condition at a local hospital. FAA records shows Silver purchased the aircraft last spring. Not only does he enjoy flying planes, he also enjoys working on them. He’s the owner of Todd’s Canopies. It is a business that designs and fits different kinds of aircrafts with canopies. Eyewitnesses say they saw Silver struggling to reach altitude and could quickly tell something was wrong. It’s believed the plane may have been returning to the airport immediately following take off due to some kind of issue. Silver was flying with his mother, Suzanne Silver, and his two children, a boy and girl when the crash happened. Silver’s mother and son were pronounced dead on the scene. Silver and his daughter were flown to a local hospital where they were listed in critical condition as of Saturday. The Cleveland Daily Banner- Cleveland Utilities water customers may be the biggest beneficiaries — both in rates and product volume — of a $3.725 million state funding package that will finance the final leg of a costly, 3-phase waterline project whose construction startup is expected in September. In an announcement Friday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and state Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau confirmed Cleveland is one of six communities and water/wastewater authorities approved for low-interest, fixed-rate loans from the State Revolving Fund Loan Program. “It is important for our communities to address current infrastructure needs and prepare for future needs,” Haslam said. “The funds available through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program(s) help fulfill these needs while protecting public health.” Mayor Tom Rowland, who represents the City Council on the 5-member Cleveland Board of Public Utilities, described the state announcement as, “Great, great news!” The Cleveland Daily Banner- The first buffered bicycle lane is coming to Cleveland as a part of the Tennessee Department of Transportation repaving of Keith Street. This 3-foot-wide buffer will separate the car lanes and the bike lane. It will consist of two parallel lines of striping on the roadway with intermittent chevron markings (arrow-styled lines) between them. A 5-foot-wide bicycle lane is planned for both the northbound and southbound sides of the road. David Sheely, Cleveland transportation project manager, said Keith Street had been scheduled for repaving. Along with the new design, the bike lane will have new signage to keep riders safe. Sheely said these signs will be used for the bike lane near right-turn lanes at major intersections. The project will not require widening of Keith Street in any area. The bike lane will be added to the sections on Keith Street from the intersection of Grove Avenue/Third Street to 17th Street, then the bike lane will begin again at 25th Street and extend to Mouse Creek Road. Sheely said there was not enough room for a bike lane from 17th to 25th streets.