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Titans Welcome Back Two Key Offensive Linemen at Practice
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nicholas Petit-Frere is just happy to be back at practice with his six-game suspension for gambling reduced by two games. Peter Skoronski has been busy downing shakes and smoothies to add weight in recovering from an appendectomy. Both…
Braves Ronald Acuna Leading Surge in Stolen Bases
ATLANTA (AP) — The image of Ronald Acuña Jr. stealing second base and then holding the bag above his head in triumphant glory is a signature moment from the Atlanta Braves’ season. The steal did more than make Acuña the…
Local Representatives React to McCarthy's Removal
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Yesterday was a historic day in the House of Representatives. (more…)
An emergency alert test will sound today on all U.S. cellphones, TVs and radios. Here's what to expect.
UNITED STATES (CBS) -- Your electronic devices may alarm you today — but there's a reason for that. A nationwide test of the federal emergency alert system will be broadcast at approximately 2:20 p.m. EDT to cellphones, televisions and radios across the…
Local lawmakers supported Kevin McCarthy in House Speaker vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WDEF) - Local Congress members were on the losing side of the House Speaker vote on Tuesday. Representatives Fleischmann and DesJarlais in Tennessee, Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia, Chuck Edwards in North Carolina plus Robert Aderholdt and Dale…
Georgia regents choose John Fuchko as new president for Dalton State College
TIFTON, Ga. (AP) — John Fuchko is the new president of Dalton State College, Georgia's Board of Regents confirmed Wednesday. Fuchko had been named the sole finalist for the position last month, typically a prelude to be named president of…
Trial Date Set at Jason Chen Hearing in Jasmine Pace Murder Case
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - We know now the trial date for a Chattanooga man charged with first degree murder and abuse of a corpse.…
Hamilton County man arrested for having $26,000 worth of narcotics
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Hamilton County detectives arrested one man and seized more than $26,000 worth of narcotics after completing a traffic stop. Deputies attempted a traffic stop of…
Songbirds Museum leaving the Choo Choo for a new home on Main
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The changes coming to the old Chattanooga Choo Choo include the end of the Songbirds museum in their original location. Songbirds opened as a guitar museum and concert venue on Station Street in 2015. But operators have…
Sheriff's office charges Dunlap man with homicide of wife
UPDATE: The Sequatchie County Sheriff's Office has released more information on a homicide that occurred in Dunlap, including the identities of the victim and suspect. Deputies arrested 63-year-old Keith Edward Kopecky for the homicide of his wife. [caption id="attachment_1440825" align="alignnone"…
East Hamilton Beats Bradley Central For District Title
Ooltewah, TN-(WDEF-TV) The East Hamilton volleyball team claimed another district tournament title on Tuesday. They defeated Bradley Central 3-1 in the championship game at Ooltewah High School.
Rick Barnes Ready to Lead Vols Basketball For His 9th Season
(utsports.com) The Tennessee men's basketball program hosted its annual media day Tuesday, ahead of the 2023-24 season.Led by head coach Rick Barnes, who is set to begin his ninth season at the helm in Knoxville this year, the Vols boast a…
UCLA Transfer QB Chase Artopoeus Digging Chance to Play For Chattanooga
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The recruiting story for Mocs transfer quarterback Chase Artopoeus is kind of backwards. Instead of UTC recruiting him, he recruited UTC. Artopoeus zeroed in on Chattanooga when he was set to leave UCLA. While Artopoeus didn't enjoy the spotlight…
PIE Innovation Center opens new Wacker Commons
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The PIE Innovation Center opened Wacker Commons: a 14,000-square-foot, gathering space on Tuesday. This new space will hold athletic events, business events, conferences and…
UPDATE: Silver alert for missing woman ended
UPDATE: The TBI says Faye Hodges has been found and is safe. They have ended the Silver Alert. She was found in Paulding County, Georgia. EARLIER: CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Silver Alert…
Weather Update: Wednesday Morning - October 3, 2023
WDEF-TV News 12 Weather Forecast Overnight: Clear. Lows: upper 50's to lower 60's. Winds: Calm. Wednesday: Sunny and warm. Highs: mid /upper 80's. Winds: SE @ 5 mph. Overnight: Clear. Lows: lower 60's. Winds: Light to Calm. Thursday: Sunny and…
WWTA To Pay EPA Fines, Upgrade Sewer System
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Sewer customers in portions of Hamilton County will likely notice an increase in their sewer bills in the coming years. (more…)
Trial Date Set at Jason Chen Hearing in Jasmine Pace Murder Case
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - We know now the trial date for a Chattanooga man charged with first degree murder and abuse of a corpse.…
Hamilton County man arrested for having $26,000 worth of narcotics
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Hamilton County detectives arrested one man and seized more than $26,000 worth of narcotics after completing a traffic stop. Deputies attempted a traffic stop of…
UPDATE: Silver alert for missing woman ended
UPDATE: The TBI says Faye Hodges has been found and is safe. They have ended the Silver Alert. She was found in Paulding County, Georgia. EARLIER: CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Silver Alert…
WWTA To Pay EPA Fines, Upgrade Sewer System
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Sewer customers in portions of Hamilton County will likely notice an increase in their sewer bills in the coming years. (more…)
Golden Apple Award: Kevin Parsons, Central High School
HARRISON, Tenn. (WDEF) - The written word comes to life in Kevin Parsons English class. At least one of his Central High School students calls him, "the best…
What's Right With Our Schools: East Lake Level 5 Status
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - We continue our tour of local schools that have achieved Level 5 Status. At East Lake Elementary, teachers from as far away as…
Fatal Downtown Shooting Suspect had Long Rap Sheet
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - We are learning more about the suspect in a murder of a prominent Chattanooga businessman. (more…)
Baylor Alum and Chattanooga Businessman Killed in Market Street Shooting
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- We…
Erlanger Opens New Pediatric MRI Center
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Erlanger Children’s Hospital unveiled a new MRI…
Hamilton County student arrested for threats of violence
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Hamilton County school resource deputy arrested a student at East Hamilton Middle School on Friday. The sheriff's office explained that the arrest…
One driver dies in Highway 58 crash
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A fatal crash occurred on Highway 58 on Thursday, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). It happened just before 3 p.m. on the 11400 block of the highway. According to authorities, a gray…
Tribunal of Inquiry closed into Father Patrick Ryan for Sainthood
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - 145 years ago, a Chattanooga priest sacrificed his life during one of Chattanooga’s worst epidemics. (more…)
Armed robbery takes place at Heiss Mountain Road convenience store
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Hamilton County deputies are investigating after an armed robbery took place at a convenience store on Wednesday. It happened on September 27 just before 10 p.m. at the Spirit Convenience Store, according to the Hamilton…
Authorities investigating cause of East Brainerd house fire
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A home in East Brainerd caught fire on Wednesday afternoon and authorities are investigating to determine the cause. The fire happened at a house in the…
Hamilton County response agencies to receive $500,000 in additional funding
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Hamilton County officials announced funding which emergency response agencies will soon receive additional funding. The county set aside $500,000 to go toward volunteer fire departments (VFD) and rescue services. Mayor Weston Wamp's office says this…
District Attorney releases photos, 911 audio from officer-involved shooting
MORE: David Mendez Lopez was a 17 year old student at Howard High School who was at his family’s home the night of September 2.…
Should schools build a new gym at a school they may close in a few years?
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Hamilton County Commissioners will consider a proposal urging the school board to slow down spending money…
Hamilton County employee arrested for fire station thefts totaling $2,600
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) made an arrest after investigating a series of thefts at local fire stations. Those thefts happened at four…
Hip-Hop Summit to be held in October
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Aspiring musicians have a chance to learn more about the hip-hop industry in a few weeks. (more…)
Chattanooga man arrested for 2021 homicide
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Chattanooga Police recently made an arrest in relation to a 2021 homicide. Officers with the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) arrested Sadik Spence, 27, on Monday for the killing of Omar Escobar. Sadik…
PIE Innovation Center opens new Wacker Commons
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The PIE Innovation Center opened Wacker Commons: a 14,000-square-foot, gathering space on Tuesday. This new space will hold athletic events, business events, conferences and…
SK Food Group holds facility groundbreaking ceremony in Cleveland
UPDATE: CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - Back in January, one of America’s largest food manufacturers announced they were building their latest distribution facility in Bradley County. (more…)
Cleveland police investigating fatal crash
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Cleveland Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that happened on South Ocoee Street. Police say the accident happened on Thursday evening around 9 p.m. Reports show that 50-year-old Anita Jellies was struck by a…
Elementary student charged in Cleveland school threat
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - An elementary school student is in custody after Cleveland Police say he sent threatening emails to a school administrator. (more…)
Golden Apple Award: Loes Riggins, Cleveland Middle School
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Middle School can be a challenging time in a child's life. Having the right teacher can put a student on track for success in…
Driver taken to hospital by Life Force after collision
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A pickup truck crashed into a commercial vehicle Monday morning in Bradley County. The pickup truck rear-ended the commercial truck at around 11:15 a.m. on Holloway Road. [caption…
Man dies in single-vehicle Bradley County crash
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A man died in a single-vehicle crash in Bradley County on Wednesday. It happened just before 9 a.m. on the 400 block of Upper…
Suspect pleads guilty to a Bradley County woman's death
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - A suspect has pleaded guilty to the murder of a woman in Bradley County two years ago. The body of Carissa Hamby was…
What's Right With Our Schools: PIE Center Serves Up Opportunity
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Helping students hone the skills they need to land a good job is a vital part of a solid education. From…
$500 reward for identifying armed robbers in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office is searching for two men who committed an armed robbery in Cleveland. They are also offering a $500…
Rubbermaid Plant, Yarn Mill Closing in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Cleveland Plant has announced they are…
Cleveland church business manager sentenced for embezzlement
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A former church business manager has been sentenced in a federal wire fraud investigation. We first became aware of the case against David Apps when federal officers raided his…
What's Right with Our Schools: Be Pro, Be Proud
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - An interactive new exhibit could be rolling to a school near you. Be Pro, Be Proud gets middle and high school students interested…
Man points gun at semi-truck in I-75 road rage
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- In a road rage incident, a man in a silver pickup truck forced a collision with and pointed a gun at a semi-truck in Bradley County. The Bradley County Sheriff's Office is now trying to…
Cleveland wears purple for Olivia Weatherford
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- People across Cleveland, and other parts of the Tennessee Valley, wore purple on Friday in support of Olivia Weatherford. Olivia Weatherford is a fourth grader at Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School in Cleveland. She was…
Cleveland City Schools face ransomware attack
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Cleveland City Schools faced a ransomware attack this week, but it only affected a small number of devices. The school system said they became aware of the issue on Tuesday, August 15. An issue they say…
Tennessee adds more vehicles to yield for in Move Over Law
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The state of Tennessee updated their Move Over Law this year to include more types of vehicles. The Move Over Law requires drivers to change lanes…
More to the Story with Staley: Bradley BMX
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Maybe you're not a BMX-Motocross fan, but you've almost certainly heard about it. It's organized bicycle racing on a dirt track, using a kind…
Cleveland Man Makes Harrowing Discovery While Driving
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Cleveland man was driving to work last Friday when he made a startling discovery. (more…)
Wacker helps Habitat for Humanity build homes in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - Wacker helped build someone’s future today. (more…)
Georgia man sentenced to prison for Whitfield County sexual assault
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A Whitfield County judge sentenced a Georgia man to prison for sexually assaulting three women, officials said. Superior Court Judge Scott Minter sentenced 43-year-old Aaron…
Serious crash shuts down parts of I-75 south in Dalton
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A crash happened on I-75 southbound near Dalton State College on Friday morning, shutting down parts of the interstate. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) said the crash happened just before Walnut Avenue in Dalton.…
American Red Cross seeking blood donations during shortage
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- The American Red Cross is experiencing a nation-wide blood shortage and is looking for donations. The organization says they need donations from all blood types, but specifically from type O and those giving platelets. "To ensure…
Five indicted in Whitfield County juvenile in-custody death case
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A Whitfield County Grand Jury indicted five people in connection with a juvenile death that took place in their custody. A 16-year-old girl was in custody of the Dalton Youth Detention Center. The Georgia…
Whitfield County chooses the roll-back
WHITFIELD COUNTY, GA. (WDEF) - Whitfield county voted to roll back their millage rate again this year. Jevin Jensen, Commission chairman, said, "Our goal, number one, was to rollback the property…
New addiction recovery center opening soon in Dalton
UPDATE: The center officially opened on Thursday, August 15. DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- A new addiction recovery center is soon opening in Dalton. The Whitfield – Murray Conasauga Community…
Investigators release new photos of Dalton church fire
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) - Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire commissioner has issued new photos from a Whitfield County church arson investigation. We reported last week that investigators…
Georgia officials investigating Dalton church arson
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- Georgia officials are investigating an arson that happened at a church in Dalton on Wednesday. Whitfield County Fire requested assistance from the State Fire Marshal's Office…
Whitfield County holds groundbreaking for Riverbend Park playground
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- Whitfield County announced a new playground coming to Riverbend Park this fall. Officials expect the park to be completed by this September. The recreation committee…
Woman commits identity theft, steals $8,000 in Lafayette, police say
LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) -- Lafayette Police are looking for a woman who they say stole another's identity and fraudulently withdrew money from the victim's account. The Lafayette Police Department believes there are two people working together, committing the same…
Georgia man convicted of failing to register as sex offender, again
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - A jury has convicted a north Georgia man of failing to register as a sex offender. 36-year-old Jerome Walton was convicted of statutory rape in 2005.…
Chattanooga man sentenced to 21 years after high-speed chase
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Chattanooga man who sent law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase last year is now facing 21 years in prison. Judge Scott Minter sentenced…
Couple breaks into cars, makes over $900 in fraudulent purchases
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Dalton Police Department is looking for two people who they say used stolen cards to make over $900 in fraudulent purchases. The two…
Dalton Police arrest man charged with tossing kittens
UPDATE: Dalton Police arrested a man who they say is responsible for tossing kittens out of the back of a truck at the Northwest Georgia Humane Society. The police…
Chattanooga man found guilty of dangerous police chase, marijuana possession
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A Chattanooga man faces prison time after being convicted by a Whitfield County jury for fleeing from police and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. The jury found…
Cohutta officers find meth in toy during traffic stop
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Cohutta Police Department arrested two people Tuesday evening, one of which had felony warrants and the other possessed a toy with meth inside. The first arrest happened on Red Clay Road near Pleasant Valley. The…
300 Whitfield County residents receive free weather radios
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- Whitfield County Emergency Management gave away 300 weather radios Wednesday morning. Whitfield County received a grant to purchase these radios. Only Whitfield County residents…
Dalton Police arrest sex offender who assaulted 2 women
UPDATE: Dalton Police say Whitfield County deputies have arrested Aaron Terrell Tyler and have him in custody. EARLIER: DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Dalton Police Department is searching for a man who they say attacked two women and is a…
Georgia awards grants to provide more officers and equipment for our area
ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) - Our area is scoring some of the funding announced by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday. The grants are going to communities for public safety and law enforcement staffing from the pandemic. Governor Kemp says "With…
Our Town: Dalton
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Dalton is known for being nationally recognized as "The Carpet Capital of the World," but…