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'Ketamine Queen' gets 15 years in prison for selling Matthew Perry the drugs that killed him
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A federal judge on Wednesday handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling “Friends” star Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in 2023. U.S. District Judge…
Cherokee County man arrested on multiple drug charges
CHEROKEE COUNTY -- A Cherokee County man has been charged with multiple drug charges following an investigation, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). They say a search warrant was executed…
Animal cage heating lamp causes around $5,000 in damages following fire
A heating lamp is to blame for a fire that occurred under a carport and eventually spread to a nearby golfcart and lawnmower around the 7700 block of Pinetree Lane on April 8, 2026. The Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire…
British pastor charged with manslaughter after man drowns at baptism
LONDON (AP) — A British pastor was charged with manslaughter Wednesday in the drowning of a 61-year-old man at a backyard baptism ceremony. Cheryl Bartley, 48, faces one count of gross negligence manslaughter for the death of Robert Smith on…
Long Island architect Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to murdering 7 women and admits he killed another
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) - A Long Island architect who led a secret life as a serial killer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to murdering seven women and admitted he killed an eighth in…
Parents charged after toddler slips into wolf area and gets hurt at Hersheypark zoo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The parents of a toddler who suffered a minor injury at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after squeezing through a fence near a wolf enclosure and making contact with one…
The Bend Project Update Delayed
UPDATE: Urban Story Ventures has provided a statement in regard to the April 7, 2026 City Council meeting. They share The Bend has been in compliance with the One Westside TIF…
‘Ketamine Queen’ to be sentenced for selling Matthew Perry the drugs that killed him
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman who admitted to selling Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him is set to be sentenced Wednesday. Jasveen Sangha will be the third defendant sentenced of the five people who have…
Try some delicious burgers for a low price at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - It's Chattanooga's Burger Week and many local restaurants are offering mouth-watering deals to discover the best burger in town, and Bad Daddy's Burger Bar is confident…
There will be no June Jam concert this year in Fort Payne
FORT PAYNE, Alabama (WDEF) - The June Jam will not be returning to Fort Payne this year, after all. The Jam was an all-star country music festival that originally highlighted the hometown of the group “Alabama.” The festival was re-booted in…
Clay Fuller, Republicans celebrate congressional hold in District 14 Special Election
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Weather Update: Wednesday April 8, 2026
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Mostly clear, chilly. Lows: mid 40's. Winds: NE @ 5 MPH. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, dry, warmer. Highs: low 70's. Winds: SE @ 5-10 MPH. Overnight: More clouds, dry. Chilly. Lows: mid…
Vols Fine Tuning Secondary Under New Assistant Coaches
(utsports.com)– Tennessee football completed its 12th practice of the spring Tuesday, continuing to make strides in the secondary under new assistant coaches Anthony Poindexter and Derek Jones. With spring practice nearing its conclusion, both coaches pointed to growing confidence, competition and cohesion within the…
Utah court rules Taylor Frankie Paul can’t have unsupervised visits with 2-year-old son
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Taylor Frankie Paul, one of the stars of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” can’t spend unsupervised time with her 2-year-old son due to concerns about the volatile behavior she displayed during confrontations between her and the boy’s…
Schools Honored for Academic Achievement
RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) - Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods visited Catoosa County Public Schools on Tuesday, April 7, to recognize 11 schools for academic achievement. During the visit, Woods presented…
Forest Kindergarten Equipment Stolen
ROCK SPRING, GA (WDEF) - Saddle Ridge Elementary and Middle School in Rock Spring, Georgia, reported that its forest kindergarten basecamp was damaged over spring break. Items taken or destroyed included hammocks,…
Former FedEx driver pleads guilty to killing 7-year-old girl after making delivery at her Texas home
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former FedEx driver accused of killing a 7-year-old girl after he said he accidentally struck her with his van while delivering a Christmas gift to her Texas home, and then strangled her during a fit of…
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…
Chattanooga Company Lodestar introduces new firearm safety mechanism
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A local Chattanooga firearm company is taking firearm safety seriously, and they’ve added a technological twist. The Lodestar LNK 9 is a 9mm handgun…
Walnut Street Bridge restoration over halfway complete
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A little over a year ago, the Walnut Street Bridge was…
Code orange air quality advisory
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. -- Wildfire smoke is causing elevated levels of fine particles in the air across our region, which has put our area under a code orange air quality advisory, according to the Hamilton County Health Department. They say…
TSA agents continue working at Chattanooga Airport despite federal gridlock preventing their pay
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The battle continues inside of the federal government over the funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This is causing issues at…
Erlanger Hospital announces plans to revamp Children's Emergency Room
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Erlanger Hospital announced plans to makeover their Children’s Emergency Room at a press conference Wednesday. They made the announcement at the Kennedy Outpatient…
Lookout Mountain Conservancy plans to add new property to roster
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Lookout Mountain Conservancy signed a contract that will allow them to preserve a massive parcel of land. The land on Hawkins Ridge sits just behind…
Soddy-Daisy students get to simulate skilled labor as leaders hope they will fill jobs
SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)- How will companies across the…
Missing endangered adult found via drone
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. -- A missing endangered adult has been located following the use of drone technology. On March 23, 2026, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputies responded to a missing endangered…
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…
Bradley County Firefighter Pay Increases
TENNESSEE -- Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis has redirected a total of $76,000 in vacancy savings to firefighter salaries, prompting an increase in pay. This adjustment increased pay for…
Chemical Exposure at M&M Mars Facility Prompts Emergency Response
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Around 9:00 a.m., a chemical exposure at the M&M Mars facility prompted an emergency response on December 5. Bradley County EMS and the Cleveland Fire Department responded to the incident. Seven individuals…
Bradley County woman arrested after dog reportedly shot
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Bradley County deputies responded to a residence after a report of a dog had been shot on November 23, 2025. Witnesses reported that Crystal Palmer got a firearm and shot multiple rounds at the dog. The dog…
Single-engine aircraft incident leaves one uninjured
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. -- Bradley County EMS responded to a single-engine experimental aircraft after it experienced a hard landing after performing a touch-and-go maneuver. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without…
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…
