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Man arrested by ICE in Chattanooga dies in Louisiana in custody
A man who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Chattanooga in January of 2026 has died in ICE custody in Louisiana. 49-year-old Alejandro Cabrera Clemente was found unresponsive at Winn Correctional Center…
Brian Cole Jr., D.C. pipe bomb suspect, hit with 2 new charges
Washington — The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside of the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot now faces two additional felony…
FBI's newest "Most Wanted" fugitive has ties to Georgia, Texas, and Colorado, officials say
A new addition to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Ten Most Wanted List has ties to metro Atlanta, Texas, and Colorado,…
Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Hall receives updated equipment and trucks
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Hall has announced that it will receive new fire trucks through a combination of local community donations, fire service fees, and grant funding provided by Hamilton County. The volunteer fire hall has…
Traffic stop leads to major discovery of handguns, drugs
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A routine traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs and multiple handguns on Monday, April 13, 2026. Just before midnight, an officer saw a vehicle make an illegal turn…
Skillets at the ready for the 29th annual National Cornbread Festival
Wesley Brewer gets everyone excited for the 2026 National Cornbread Festival. As Entertainment Chair, he shares what performances to expect alongside some delicious sweet or savory cornbread. SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. (WDEF)…
Here are the Sample Ballots for the May 5th Primaries in Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Early Voting begins Wednesday for the May 5 Primary elections in Tennessee. These are for the local elections (state and federal primaries come later. "Every election is always important, and each vote will matter in having your…
Wildfire in Polk County burning 75 acres
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - US Forest Service Wildland Firefighters responded to a wildfire…
Cooper Kinney Spoils Lookouts Debut in New Stadium as Biscuits Win 2-1 in 10 Innings
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Montgomery Biscuits second baseman and Baylor grad Cooper Kinney helped spoil the Chattanooga Lookouts debut in their new ballpark, as the Biscuits beat the Lookouts 2-1 in 10 innings at Erlanger Park. [blox_vms account="WDEF" key="fcc6363db32e0297bbcfb107ad280b6bf733fae5" vtitle="Cooper Kinney Helps Spoil…
Dominic Smith Had Four RBI's in Braves 6-5 Win Over Miami
ATLANTA (AP) — Dominic Smith hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the eighth inning as part of a four-RBI night, and the Atlanta Braves rebounded from a four-run deficit to beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Tuesday. Atlanta trailed 4-0…
NFL Reporter Dianna Russini Resigns After Photos Published Of Her and Mike Vrabel
NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after published photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet. The New York…
Weather Update: Tuesday April 14, 2026
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Partly cloudy. Mild. Lows: near 60. Winds: SW @ 5 MPH, then calm. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, warmer. Highs: high 80's. Winds: S @ 5-10 MPH. Overnight: Partly cloudy. Mild. Lows: near…
Incubator Future Sparks Business Concerns
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - An announcement made by county staff at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday involved a discussion of a proposal related to the Hamilton County Business Development…
Erlanger Park hosts first Chattanooga Lookouts game
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Lookouts are officially in their new home at…
Chattanooga City council elects new chairperson
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga City Council elected a new chairperson during today’s meeting, selecting Councilman Jeff Davis for the leadership role. Davis, who represents the Hixson area, will now…
Ballpark Expected to Spur Growth
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly says the city’s new ballpark represents more than a sports venue, it’s part of a longer-term push to shape economic growth in surrounding…
History of the Lookouts
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Lookouts are a professional minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, named for nearby Lookout Mountain following a fan contest in 1909. The franchise’s roots…
Graysville Road speed limit permanently reduced
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The speed on Graysville Road between East Brainerd Road and the Tennessee state line has been permanently reduced to 30 mph following the passage of Ordinance No. 14333 by…
Erlanger Park hosts first Chattanooga Lookouts game
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Lookouts are officially in their new home at…
What's Right With Our Schools: Eastgate Library Young Authors
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Being a good writer is a great skill to have. But you need to work at it. Third through 8th grade students are…
Judge questions speed of proceedings in Rick Davis case
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Former jewelry dealer and pawn shop owner Rick Davis made…
Winn Smiles holds free dental clinic
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Dental care is something that many take for granted. With rising costs of living, personal health is something that quite a few Americans have put on the back burner. Dr. Brad Winn, dentist and owner of…
Trial in 2023 Chattanooga murder case delayed again
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The trial of an ex-Chattanooga cop charged with the murder of his girlfriend has been delayed again. Lawrence Goodine is facing a first degree murder…
Multi-vehicle crash shuts down Highway 111 overnight in Sequatchie County, HCSO vehicle involved
SEQUATCHIE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- A crash on Highway 111 in Sequatchie County has shut down that highway. News 12…
Celebration of life held for Stroud Watson, whose vision shaped downtown Chattanooga
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Launch Pad set to place free narcan box in Miller Park to combat overdoses
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-…
What's Right With Our Schools: Celebrating Dr. Ware at Howard
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Dr. LeAndrea Ware's time at Howard is coming to an end. She has accepted a leadership role with the Boys and Girls…
Chattanooga Renaissance Faire launches May 30th
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A new event will be coming to town on May 30th at Coolidge Park The Chattanooga Rennaissance Faire was announced for this year. The event will…
Union Gospel Mission Prepares for Easter Community Meal
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Union Gospel Mission is celebrating Easter differently from most ministries. Instead of a sanctuary, they’re taking their message to the people on the lawn…
CARTA pitches airport shuttle to Hamilton County Commission
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Could there soon be a free shuttle between the Chattanooga Airport and downtown? CARTA CEO Charles Frazier pushed the idea while presenting his budget request…
Urban League set to renew partnership with Hamilton County Government
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga is set to renew their partnership with Hamilton County Government. County commissioners will consider…
Study says indoor youth sports venue would generate millions for Hamilton County
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Does Chattanooga…
Hilltop Drive extension shelved after backlash, other Ooltewah projects to be studied
OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF)- A planned extension of an Ooltewah road has been shelved. Hamilton County was looking into extending Hilltop Drive from Hunter Road…
Fire damages Birchwood home under renovations
BIRCHWOOD, Tenn. (WDEF)- A home in the Birchwood area went up in flames Wednesday evening. Just before 6 p.m. first responders got a call of…
Samaritan Center Kicks off "Spring Cleaning" Donation Drive
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- With rising fuel and food costs, SNAP benefits often aren’t enough to survive. The Samaritan Center has been working to fill the gap for…
Peer city study raises concerns about poverty in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A study commissioned by the city of Chattanooga to compare our city to other similar cities raised concerns among city council members Tuesday morning.…
Sheriff Garrett defends partnership with ICE
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Sheriff Austen Garrett defended a partnership with ICE Monday. This was during a talk with the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club during their weekly meeting. In…
Golden Apple Award: Madison Limburg, Walker Valley High
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Madison Limburg is a proven teacher at Walker Valley High. Her course load incudes English Language Arts and Journalism. She has also served as…
Bradley Central High School teacher misconduct allegations prompts investigation
BRADLEY COUNTY -- An investigation is underway following allegations of misconduct by a Bradley Central High School teacher. Bradley County Schools says they became aware of allegations of serious misconduct involving…
Identity sought for man stealing cameras from Bradley County property
BRADLEY COUNTY -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is seeking the identity of a man who they say was seen removing and taking the cameras from a property. They say On…
Atlanta area woman charged in Bradley County fraud scheme
BRADLEY COUNTY -- An Atlanta area woman has been charged after a Bradley County resident became the subject of fraud. According to the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, on April 3, 2026, a…
Golden Apple Award, Jordan Reeves, E.L. Ross Elementary
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - The best teachers make learning fun. Jordan Reeves has a gift for doing just that, and her students' test scores continue to climb, and…
Bradley Co. Sheriff's Office increasing traffic enforcement near schools, bus routes
The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says it will be increasing traffic enforcement in issue-prone areas such as school zones and bus routes. "Speeding in these areas is dangerous and unacceptable. Drivers should slow down…
Golden Apple Award: Alexis Kaczor, Oak Grove Elementary
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Did you ever have a teacher who made you love going to school. For students at Oak Grove Elementary, Alexis Kaczor is that teacher.…
Bradley County Sheriff's Office warns of scam involving social media groups
BRADLEY COUNTY -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is warning locals about a scam involving social media groups. The scam is about local social media groups involving an individual claiming to need assistance…
Parkridge to be allowed to build freestanding emergency room in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- A few months ago, the Parkridge Health System announced their intentions to build a new freestanding emergency room in Cleveland. However, they faced…
Bradley County Sheriff's Office Warns of Local Scam
BRADLEY COUNTY -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is warning locals about a circulating scam that could affect individuals. The BCSO says they have received an increase in reports of scam calls where…
Bradley County Sheriff's Office Partners with Blood Assurance for Blood Drive
The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says they are partnering with Blood Assurance to hold a blood drive. The blood drive will take place Monday, February 9, 2026 from 12 to 4…
Aggravated Domestic Assault Suspect Caught with Drone Assistance
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- An individual has been apprehended following an aggravated domestic assault incident in Cleveland, according to the Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO). At approximately 5:50 a.m., deputies responded to a residence on Bent Tree Drive North West. BCSO…
Cleveland to utilize school bus cameras with AI to deter stop sign violators
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Getting kids to and from school everyday is a top priority for school districts.…
5 Vehicles Involved in Crash that Shut Down I-75 in Bradley County
BRADLEY COUNTY -- Five vehicles were involved in a crash on I-75 at mile marker 24 in Bradley County, which temporarily shut down the roadway. One person was extracted and transported to a local hospital with non life threatening…
Battle continues over proposed Bradley County emergency room
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The debate over a proposed new emergency room in Cleveland is continuing to heat up. Despite there being over 110,000 people in Bradley County, the…
Vitruvian Health petitioning against new Cleveland Parkridge emergency room
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- A battle is brewing in Bradley County over a proposed new hospital. Vitruvian Health, who operates the Bradley Medical Center, has posted a petition opposing Parkridge's plans to open a freestanding emergency room in Cleveland. They argue…
State no longer pursuing Bradley County site for mental institution
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- For months, the state of Tennessee has been searching for a replacement for the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute. (more…)
Bradley County Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Eric Wayne Helton, owner of the Aquatic Den, has pled guilty to tax evasion after an investigation by The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Helton's charges stem from his failure to remit collected…
BCSO Asks for Public's Assistance Regarding Stolen Trailer
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is asking the public for its help locating a stolen trailer. A black and silver 24-foot 2019 Formula Triumph Slope Nose…
Golden Apple Award: Kaitlyn Foulks, Charleston Elementary School
CHARLESTON, TN (WDEF) - Kaitlyn Foulks is living her dream as a Charleston Elementary School teacher. She may be new to the job, but her enthusiasm and dedication more…
Golden Apple Award: Kassie Dockery, Park Creek Elementary
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - Parents describe Kassie Dockery as a wonderful and dedicated teacher. Her students at Park Creek Elementary know that she will always be there for them.…
Whitfield Co. Sheriff's Office purchases Carter Kits
The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has shared that they have purchased Carter Kits, which can be used to assist officers during calls involving children who have autism spectrum disorders. They say…
Fuller, Harris make joint appearance at Dalton town hall on forever chemicals
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- Both candidates in the runoff election in north Georgia attended a…
Charges dropped in teen's in custody death in Whitfield County
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- Indictments have been dismissed against five former employees of the Dalton Youth Detention Center in a teenager’s death. Attorneys for the family of Alexis Sluder say a Whitfield County judge dismissed those charges this week. Sluder had…
Chatsworth man convicted of child molestation, cyber sex crime
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- A Chatsworth man was convicted of two counts of child molestation and computer pornography on March 11, 2026. Barry Alexander Gordon, 40, was found guilty in 5 minutes by a Whitfield…
What's Right With Our Schools: GeorgiaFIRST Robotics Competition
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - Creating a working robot requires a strong understanding of mathematics and mechanical engineering. Teams of local teenagers recently showed what the machines could do…
Spill from commercial motor vehicle causes lane closures on Highway 201 at I-75 exit 341
Lanes are closed at Highway 201 at I-75 (341 exit) due to a large spill from a commercial motor vehicle, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO). They say a temporary…
Golden Apple Award: Ashley Lyons, Westside Middle
ROCKY FACE, GA (WDEF) - The best teachers truly care about their students. That certainly describes Ashley Lyons. Her students at Westside Middle have a friend and mentor for…
Who will replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress?
14th DISTRICT, Ga. (WDEF) -- On January 20, the Walker County Republican Party held a meet and greet for the Republican candidates vying for the open 14th Congressional District seat in Georgia. There are 22 candidates who have qualified for…
Driver in custody following foot chase
The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) says they are on scene in the area of Eugenia Drive and Zell Drive regarding a foot chase. They say deputies stopped a black passenger car and…
Dalton man arrested for child molestation, aggravated sodomy
A Dalton man has been arrested on multiple charges, including child molestation, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO). On February 19th, 2026, Whitfield County Sheriff's Office detectives served a warrant…
What's Right With Our Schools: NWGA College and Career Academy
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - The Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy is continuing its mission to develop a 21st century workforce. They do that through focused…
Whitfield Co. Sheriff's Office Receives “Adventure Bags” to Support Children in Crisis
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) says they have been the recipient of "adventure bags" that are able to help children in crisis. They say this is a resource…
Golden Apple Award: Janet Robbins, Northwest Whitfield
TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA (WDEF) - Janet Robbins has a knack for growing things. From the endless rows of flora lining the Northwest Whitfield greenhouse to the young minds inside…
What's Right With Our Schools Northwest Whitfield AG Program
TUNNEL HILL, GA (WDEF) - Traditional classrooms are great places to learn, but sometimes students need to get their hands dirty. That's exactly what happens at the…
Whitfield County Drug Bust Leads to One Arrest
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest following a drug bust. Eric Underwood was arrested and charged with the following: • Trafficking in Methamphetamine • Trafficking in…
Theft Ring Disrupted in Whitfield County Possibly Linked to Multiple States
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- A theft ring has been disrupted in Whitfield County following the discovery of $4,000 of merchandise in a vehicle. On Monday, February 2nd, 2026, deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office made arrests involving shoplifting at…
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office to Host Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Course
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has shared they are hosting a free Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Course (CRASE). They say the CRASE training will cover: *…
Whitfield Co. Coroner's Office Identifies Pedestrian Struck and Killed on South Dixie Highway
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Coroner's Office has identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed on South Dixie Highway on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. They say the person was identified as 43-year-old Daniel…
Discovery of container leads to Whitfield County hazmat response
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- A surprising discovery led to a large police presence in Whitfield County Wednesday. Whitfield County Sheriff's…
