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Two killed in a multi-vehicle crash on N Moore Road
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Two people were killed in a DUI related crash on Wednesday afternoon. At around 3:30 P.M., CPD officers arrived at the 600 block of North Moore Road for a multi-vehicle crash. Preliminary…
Tullahoma Beats Signal Mountain 3-1 in State Final Four
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Signal Mountain came up short in their bid to advance to their state soccer championship game on Wednesday evening. After a scoreless first half, Tullahoma got three goals in the second half to go up 3-0. The Wildcats advanced…
Baylor Clinches Spot in State Soccer Finals
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Baylor girls soccer team advanced to the state championship game on Wednesday. The Lady Raiders beat CPA 2-1 in overtime. Ayanna Hamler scored the winning goal in extra time. Baylor plays for the state crown on Thursday night…
Weather Update: Thursday October 30, 2025
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Mostly Cloudy. Cool. Showers. Patchy fog. Lows: high 40's to low 50's. Winds: S @ 5 MPH or less. Thursday. Early showers, mostly cloudy then clearing. Breezy at times. Highs: mid…
Florida Violinist Arrested For Destroying 80 Pumpkins (Worth $472) Outside Target
Aaron Thompson, a 31-year-old violinist, faces felony criminal mischief charges after destroying approximately 80 pumpkins valued at $472.14 outside a Tampa Bay area Target store. Security footage captured Thompson at 1:15 AM on October 21st "picking pumpkins out of the…
Woman Pleads Guilty To Arson After Failed Booty Call, Faces 8 Years
Taija Russell pleaded guilty on Friday to aggravated arson after setting fire to a man's apartment when he failed to answer the door for a sexual encounter. Russell had texted Curtis Stokes "hello," and he responded "Bring ya ass." When…
Ohio Deputies Spend 45 Minutes Chasing Escaped Emu On Rural Road
Guernsey County Sheriff's deputies pursued a runaway emu for 45 minutes on Putney Ridge Road last Friday evening. Deputy Leggett and Deputy A. Daymut discovered the large bird wandering loose and attempted to capture it using various methods, including a…
SeaWorld Faces $50,000 Lawsuit After Duck Collision Knocks Woman Unconscious On Roller Coaster
A woman is seeking $50,000 from SeaWorld Orlando after a duck struck her face while riding the Mako roller coaster in March, causing her to lose consciousness. Her attorneys argue SeaWorld failed to warn guests about dangerous conditions and "created…
Austrian Surfer Sets New World Record With 8-Hour Wave Ride
Maximilian Neuböck has claimed the Guinness World Record for longest time surfing a wave after riding for 8 hours, 5 minutes and 44 seconds without breaks. The Austrian surfer accomplished the feat at RiverWave in Ebenesee, Austria, using a man-made…
Dictionary.com Names “67” As 2025 Word Of The Year
Dictionary.com announced Wednesday that "67" has been selected as its 2025 Word of the Year. The online dictionary describes the annual selection as a "linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year." The term, pronounced…
Entertainment Tidbits
Adam Driver will lead Netflix’s new hostage drama series Rabbit, Rabbit. The project was written by Peter Craig, known for The Town and The Batman, and directed by Emmy winner Philip Barantini. The show centers on an escaped convict who…
Disney Completes Hulu-Fubo Merger, Creating Second-Largest U.S. Virtual TV Provider
Disney and Fubo have finalized their merger deal combining Hulu + Live TV with Fubo operations. Disney holds a 70% stake in the new company while existing Fubo shareholders retain 30%. The combined entity becomes America's second-largest virtual pay-TV provider…
Dan Brown Partners With Van Gogh Immersive Creator For Da Vinci Code Experience
Bestselling author Dan Brown has partnered with Massimiliano Siccardi, creator of Van Gogh Immersive, to develop The Da Vinci Code as an experiential event. Siccardi describes the project as "a journey through the mind of Leonardo — his inventions, his…
Elijah Wood Makes Surprise Appearance At Couple’s ‘Hobbiton’ Wedding
Lord Of The Rings actor Elijah Wood unexpectedly appeared at a couple's wedding ceremony at the Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand's Waikato region. The 44-year-old star surprised the diehard fans during their vows at the real-life Shire location, which…
Daniel Radcliffe Returns To Broadway In Solo Play ‘Every Brilliant Thing’
Daniel Radcliffe will return to Broadway this spring in the one-man show Every Brilliant Thing. The Tony Award-winning actor begins previews February 21, 2026, with opening night set for March 12th at the Hudson Theatre. The 13-week run continues through…
Sting To Perform At Super Bowl Concert Two Days Before Game
The NFL announced that Sting will headline a Super Bowl-branded concert on February 6th at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts. The show takes place two days before Super Bowl LX kicks off February 8th at Levi's Stadium in Santa…
Veterans Connect with Employers at Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) — Veterans gathered at Chattanooga State today for a special opportunity to connect with employers who value their service. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development hosted the annual Paychecks for Patriots Job and Resource Fair,…
World Stroke Day: Erlanger and EMS Raise Awareness in Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) — World Stroke Day is here, and local experts are emphasizing the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and acting quickly. Erlanger Health System and local EMS crews are teaming up to educate the community on how to…
Grier avoids death penalty, will likely spend rest of life in prison in 2016 murder case
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Andre Grier now knows his sentence after being convicted of first degree murder in the 2016 killing of…
More residents, commissioner bring up concerns about proposed deed swap
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Several residents continue to voice concerns over a potential land deed restriction swap at Enterprise South Nature Park and McDonald Farm. (more…)
County proposing making parking garage adjacent to courthouse free outside of business hours
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County may be making a downtown parking garage free after hours and on the weekend. (more…)
TBI announces Most Wanted alert for East Ridge man
East Ridge, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has released a public alert for an East Ridge man. 22-year-old Jason Sherman Brown Jr. is wanted by…
Grier convicted in 2016 murder of Bianca Horton; awaits possible death sentence
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- An Anderson County jury will decide whether or not a Chattanooga man convicted of first degree murder Tuesday will be sentenced to…
NFL hall of famer and former UTC Moc Terrell Owens returns home for a week of community engagement
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Terrell Owens is returning home to Chattanooga to inspire and engage the community leading up to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's (UTC) 2025…
Jury to deliberate Tuesday after tense closing arguments in Grier trial
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Both sides have rested in the Andre Grier murder trial. (more…)
FBI special agents analyze evidence on day four of the Andre Grier trial
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Friday was day four of the Andre Grier Trial. (more…)
Prosecutors focus on van they believed was used in 2016 Chattanooga murder trial
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Andre Grier murder trial continued into Day 3. (more…)
East Ridge City Manager J. Scott Miller retiring after 45 years of public service
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The City of East Ridge has announced that City Manager J. Scott Miller will retire in January 2026, following…
Day two of Andre Grier trial raises questions about witness intimidation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The murder trial of Andre Grier continued into day two Wednesday.…
Tennessee Aquarium set to celebrate 25th anniversary of the Lake Sturgeon reintroduction program
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Tennessee Aquarium's Lake Sturgeon reintroduction program, and a public release is scheduled to happen…
East Ridge Christmas Parade returning for 2025 holiday season
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The City of East Ridge is happy to announce its annual Christmas Parade is returning on Saturday, November 22,…
Hamilton County Health Department gives out free flu shots
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Health Department gave out free flu shots Tuesday. (more…)
Murder trial begins in 2016 killing of Chattanooga mother
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- After nine long years, the murder of a Chattanooga mother is finally being heard by a jury from Anderson County (more…)
What's Right With Our Schools: Governor's Literacy Program at Orchard Knob
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - A love of reading can take a child far in the classroom and in life. Children at Orchard Knob Elementary recently got…
Flooding, water issues discussed at Northgate TIF hearing
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The proposal to create a special tax district for Northgate Mall went through its next step Monday. (more…)
UAW issues counter offer to Volkswagen
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The United Auto Workers says they have issued a counter offer to Volkswagen amid contract negotiations. (more…)
Mayor Wamp addresses criticisms of deed restrictions swap
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp is responding to criticism over a proposed deed restriction swap involving McDonald Farm and Enterprise South Nature Park. (more…)
Gas Prices
CHATTANOOGA, Ga. (WDEF)-Gas prices are dropping. According to AAA the price of a gallon of gas could be around 3 dollars soon. It would be the first time in four years. Tennessee prices continued…
What's Right With Our Schools: Walker Valley STEM DAY
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Walker Valley students recently got to look into their possible futures at STEM Career Day. Employers from throughout our region were on…
Solid Orange Drive Thru in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) -It's Tennessee Alabama week! With both teams ranked in the top 11, the stakes could not be *any* higher for Saturday night's showdown in Tuscaloosa. More…
Bail bondsman shootout in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Cleveland Police report an arrest after a dramatic confrontation between a bail bondsman and suspects this morning. They say the bondsman from Cumberland County tried to apprehend Jacob…
SK Foods celebrates grand opening of Cleveland plant
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Bradley County’s newest…
Sheriff Steve Lawson of Bradley County announces bid for re-election
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Sheriff Steve Lawson has announced on Thursday that he will be seeking re-election as Bradley County Sheriff. "In 2018, the people of Bradley County allowed me…
Rabies vaccination baits to be dropped throughout Eastern Tennessee
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Signal Mountain Police Department said our region will be getting some help to protect people and pets from the threat of…
What's Right With Our Schools: Cleveland Middle School's "We the People"
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Eighth graders at Cleveland Middle School recently got a civics lesson they won't soon forget. The students marched onto the football…
What's Right With Our Schools: Cleveland City Schools Historic Growth
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Cleveland City Schools is extra proud of their latest TCAP testing results Students across the district reached five-year highs in math, science,…
What's Right With Our Schools Cleveland High School Welding Grant
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - In today's rapidly evolving workforce, careers in the trades are looking more attractive than ever. The American Welding Society Foundation recently awarded…
Fire crews battle house fire on Brentwood Drive in Athens
ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Athens Fire Department (AFD) worked a structure fire Monday afternoon. At 3:24 p.m., August 25, 2025, AFD responded to the fire on Brentwood Drive. Upon arrival, crews found the back…
Bradley County EMS assists with overturned truck on North Lee Highway
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A driver caught a lucky break after an accident on North Lee Highway Tuesday morning. On August 19, 2025, Bradley…
Judge tells Liner not to stall over attorney situation in murder case
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Bradley County judge is warning a man charged with the murder of his ex-wife against stalling future proceedings. (more…)
What's Right With Our Schools: Cleveland High Aviation Grant
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) -- TDOT has awarded $22,000 to Cleveland High School's Aviation Program. The money will go be used to prepare future pilots, engineers and aerospace…
Man arrested in Bradley County after authorities uncover large-scale money scam ring
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A man was arrested after authorities uncovered a large-scale money scam ring that was targeting a vulnerable resident. According to the Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), the victim involved…
Wacker confirms 90 layoffs at Bradley County facility
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Officials at the Wacker Chemical Corporation have put a number on the layoffs coming to their plant in Charleston. Last week, the…
Florida woman charged after crash kills her two children in Bradley County
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Florida woman was arrested in Bradley County after a crash killed her son and daughter. On Monday, July 14, 2025, around 11:00 a.m., a Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP)…
What's Right With Our Schools: STEM Summer Camp
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Museum Center at 5Points turned up the energy for local students. Last week, rising fifth through seventh graders dove into hands-on learning at…
TBI agents investigating officer involved shooting in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) special agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Cleveland. On Sunday June 29, 2025, at 11:23 p.m., a…
Firework shows happening across the News 12 viewing area
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The fourth of July is a week from today, and we've compiled a list of firework shows happening around our area. The list is by date, here are the following shows…
Liner says he cannot pay for attorney as murder trial date is set
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Cleveland man charged with the…
Property tax increase proposed by Whitfield County Board of Commissioners
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners have announced a proposed property tax increase. They say it would be roughly 23 percent higher than the rollback millage rate. The commissioners say…
12 kilograms of cocaine found during traffic stop in Whitfield County
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) conducted a traffic stop on I-75 in Whitfield County, resulting in 12 kilograms of cocaine…
Georgia Bureau of Investigation promotes Dalton native, Daniel Nicholson
DALLAS, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has announced that they are promoting Dalton native Daniel Nicholson to assistant special agent in charge of the…
Man fatally stabbed in Whitfield County
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- During the night of October 1st, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) responded to a call at the Dollar General on Beaverdale Road about a female covered…
Calhoun man sentenced for attempted murder after stabbing his girlfriend
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A Calhoun man will be behind bars for three decades after being convicted of attempted murder. On October 24, 2025, Terry Lee Chamlee purchased a knife from a…
Dalton parents arrested after toddler dies in car seat at home
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- Two Dalton parents have been arrested and charged after their 22-month-old son was found dead in a car seat inside their home earlier this summer. On June 5, 2025, police were…
Dalton Police searching for suspect who used counterfeit money at local store
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Dalton Police Department (DPD) is reaching out to the public in hopes of identifying a suspect who allegedly used counterfeit money to make a purchase. On Friday, August 22, 2025, shortly before 7:00…
Whitfield County authorities make arrest in New Zion Hill Road murder
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A man was arrested in connection to a murder on New Zion Hill Road. In the evening hours of August 19, 2025, deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office…
Whitfield County authorities arrest suspect in connection with armed robbery at Dixie Corner
UPDATE (8/5/2025): Authorities in Whitfield County have made an arrest in regard to the armed robbery Tuesday morning. Whitfield…
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office donates hundreds of backpacks
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office gave back to their community on Friday. Whitfield County Sheriff Darren Pierce wants the community to know that…
Early morning fire destroys vacant Dalton home, fire officials say
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- Crews with the Dalton Fire Department (DFD) responded to a house fire on Fairview Drive early Wednesday morning. DFD arrived at 500…
Whitfield County authorities arrest known gang member following major drug bust
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) uncovered, what they're calling, one of the largest drug busts in Whitfield County history.…
Fire crews knock down fire at Cohutta Dollar General
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- Fire crews responded Monday to a working fire at the Dollar General located at 4525 Cleveland Highway. Crews were able to bring the fire under control after confirming the primary search of the building…
Cohutta Police Department searching for driver in Apison Road hit-and-run
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- Police are asking for help identifying the driver of a truck involved in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday morning. The incident happened between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. on June 29, 2025…
Dalton police searching for person suspected of stealing tools from Christian Heritage School
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Dalton Police Department (DPD) is asking the public for help in identifying a man who stole tools from Christian Heritage School. Surveillance cameras first captured the suspect at 2:00 a.m., June 8, 2025. He…
Whitfield County authorities searching for wanted man
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) is asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted on multiple felony charges. WCSO says Dallas Brendel is facing several serious…
One dead in multi-vehicle crash on I-75 northbound in Whitfield County
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A woman from Dalton was killed in a two-vehicle crash early Friday morning on I-75 northbound. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said troopers responded around 6:44 a.m. on June 20, 2025 to the crash near…
Forever chemical test results in North Georgia alarm scientists
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (WDEF)- A group of environmental scientists in northwest Georgia say recent test results of forever chemicals in North Georgia have them alarmed. (more…)
GBI investigates deadly officer-involved shooting in Dalton
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- Authorities in Whitfield County are investigating an officer involved shooting in Dalton. At 10:40 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, 2025, detectives with the Dalton Police…
Authorities in Cohutta searching for wanted offender
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- Authorities in Cohutta are searching for a woman who is facing several charges. Natasha Reynolds is wanted for littering/dumping in a local park, giving false information,…
