Three Things for January 20

1. Student in custody after bringing handgun to CMS

On Thursday, Jan. 19, Cleveland Middle School administrators were told a gun had been brought to school the previous day, administrators then notified the school resource officers stationed at CMS by Cleveland police department, who verified there was no immediate threat. They took the student into custody, and is being held at the Bradley County Juvenile Detention Center after being charged with carrying weapons on school property.

During the investigation, CPD was informed that the gun was currently back at the student’s residence. CPD went to recover the gun as part of their investigation. 

"We want to let you know of a recent incident at Cleveland Middle School, and the steps that were taken to ensure the safety of our students and staff members. This morning a student informed administrators that they were shown a weapon by another student at Cleveland Middle School yesterday afternoon. Our administrators and School Resource Officers immediately responded to the situation,” said Cleveland City Schools officials in a statement. 

For more information about the investigation, click here.

2. New Cleveland food plant to bring 840 jobs 

SK Foods Group announced on Thursday, Jan. 19, it will be building a new plant in Cleveland. The plant will cost about $205 million over the next seven years, with the plant being completed in 2030.

SK Foods says there will be 840 jobs created as the plant is developed. Company President Dustin Dixon gave a press conference in which he said the plant will be 525,000 square feet, and located at Spring Branch Industrial Park. The plant will be larger than the company’s three other production plants combined. The plant will make sandwiches and other prepared foods for various brands in the United States and Canada.  This plant will be the largest new job creator since Volkswagen came into the area.

Stuart McWhorter, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, said that this is the largest-ever investment in Cleveland and the second biggest in Bradley County history.

For more information about the development, click here.

3. United States reaches debt ceiling amid partisan debate 

The United States Federal Government has a borrowing limit of $31.4 trillion, which was reached on Thursday, Jan. 19.

This comes as Republicans and Democrats have been debating the issue in the House of Representatives. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed Congressional Leaders that her department has begun using extraordinary cash measures to help stave off defaulting on the debt, which could help until June 5. 

Republicans in Congress are expected to bide their time until the emergency resources of the Treasury are exhausted. Then they will use the opportunity to introduce tax and spending cuts. In the private sector, company leaders are warning that an extended standoff without resolution could lead to increased concern in the markets and destabilize an already shaky global economy.  

Yellen warned that the June deadline was surrounded by "considerable uncertainty.” This is due to the challenge of “forecasting payments and government revenues months into the future.” 

For more information about the debt ceiling, click here