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HCSO Jail & Detention Center Graduates First 7 Inmates from MAT Program
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) has graduated the first seven inmates from the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program. The program launched in December. They say MAT Programs in jails use both FDA-approved medications and behavioral counseling…
Woman indicted after fatal Hwy 58 crash
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A woman has been indicted months after a deadly crash on Highway 58. A Hamilton County Grand Jury has charged 41 year old Ashley Nichole Talley in connection with the crash that…
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…
4 Sandy Springs massage parlors shut down during investigating into alleged human trafficking, police say
Sandy Springs police have shut down four massage businesses in the city as part of an investigation into allegations of human trafficking and prostitution. Authorities say they arrested three women during the execution of "Operation…
Injured hiker being rescued near Sunset Rock
Waldens Ridge Emergency Service (WRES) and Signal Mountain Fire Department are currently engaged in an active woods rescue for an injured hiker, the WRES says. They say WRES units are operating at the Edwards Point Trailhead. Signal Mountain Fire Department…
Montlake Road to close for roadside ditch rehabilitation
Montlake Road will be closed Monday, February 23, and Tuesday, February 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day for roadside ditch rehabilitation, according to the Office of the Hamilton County Mayor. They say the closure will be in…
Police search former Prince Andrew’s home a day after his arrest
LONDON (AP) — Police searched the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor again on Friday, a day after he was arrested and held in custody for nearly 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his friendship with the late…
Eric Dane, "Grey's Anatomy" star diagnosed with ALS, dies at 53
Eric Dane, the actor best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on the hit medical series "Grey's Anatomy," has died at the age of 53, his family announced Thursday. In…
Half-priced tickets for college students at the Tennessee Aquarium
Alison Pryor joins News 12's Amelia Greer as the Tennessee Aquarium's IMAX Theatre shows a handful of educational nature documentaries this month. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - February is a busy month…
TechByte: Space Age Tech could bring new mobility aids
Robotic components have reached a price point where you don’t have to be NASA to build something really cool. On this week’s Tech Byte we look at…
Behind the Curtain: Blood Donation at Blood Assurance
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Donating one pint of blood can save up to three lives, but how is that done? News 12's Amelia Greer goes Behind the Curtain…
Mocs Beat Western Carolina After Holding Catamounts to 36 Points
(gomocs.com) – Fans filled the Roundhouse in pink shirts as Chattanooga took down Western Carolina 52-36 on Play4Kay night. UTC coming off two consecutive defeats, locked in this game on the defensive end, as Western Carolina's 36 points is a…
Vols Introduce New Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles
(utsports.com) – Jim Knowles takes the reins of the Tennessee football defense in 2026, and he will do it with several familiar faces by his side. Knowles was one of four new defensive assistant coaches who met with the media on Thursday…
Texas A&M Defeats Lady Vols 82-74
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ny’Ceara Pryor scored 22 points and dished 10 assists, Fatmata Janneh added 17 and Lemyah Hylton put up 12 in Texas A&M’s 82-74 win over No. 21 Tennessee on Thursday night. The Aggies (11-11, 4-9 Southeastern…
Jordan Frison Helps Power Mocs Over Mercer
MACON, Ga. (AP) — Jordan Frison had 25 points in Chattanooga’s 94-90 victory against Mercer on Thursday. Frison also had five assists for the Mocs (11-17, 5-10 Southern Conference). Brennan…
President Trump endorses Fuller in Rome visit, talks other Georgia races, economy
ROME, Ga. (WDEF)- President Trump spoke for over an hour inside the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome. It was there that he spoke on a variety of topics,…
Weather Update: Friday February 20, 2026
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms developing. Lows: mid/high 50's to low 60's. Winds: S @ 5-15 MPH, gusts 20-30 MPH. Friday: Mostly cloudy with early showers. Clearing into afternoon. Highs:…
Hamilton County commission to get final say on term limits
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The topic of whether or not Hamilton County elected officials should have term limits was up for a vote at Wednesday afternoon’s commission…
McDonald Farm set to become 70th Tennessee state park
SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF)- Ever since Hamilton County acquired McDonald Farm in 2021, there have…
Victim's family sues Darron Lee for $50 million over suspected homicide
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) The family of the victim of a suspected homicide in Ooltewah is suing a former NFL player. Darron Lee is charged with first degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Gabriella Perpetuo. A Hamilton…
Playing field goes in as Erlanger Park is two months from Opening Day
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The construction of the newest stadium in Chattanooga is rounding third base. The sodding of the future home of the…
Chattanooga Tourism Company faces criticism from commission
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Tourism Company is facing some criticism from the Hamilton County Commission. They are considering a resolution to transfer some funds from the Chattanooga Tourism Company…
Lee denied bond as Wamp says she may seek the death penalty
Darron Lee standing with his public defender in front of Hamilton County Judge Tori Smith on Wednesday at his initial…
Term Limits resolution for Hamilton County mayor, commissioners, introduced
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A resolution that would create a referendum on term limits in Hamilton County government was formally introduced Wednesday. If passed, voters would get to…
Kelly, Chambers respond to criticisms levied at city over immigration enforcement
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The debate over ICE continued in Chattanooga Tuesday. This after the Chattanooga Police Department…
Brainerd High School Fight Under Investigation
HAMILTON COUNTY -- A large fight that broke out at Brainerd High School on February 9 is being investigated by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). They say the fight broke out around 10 a.m. The situation eventually got under…
Pet of the Week: Patton!
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Join us at Prime News at 7 to meet this week's Pet of the Week: Patton! Patton is a handsome young-adult hound mix with a loving temperament and a gentle demeanor-- a perfect pup looking for…
Stab Wound, Bitemark Found on Victim Allegedly Killed by Former NFL Player Darron Lee
MORE: We have also learned the identity of the…
Darron Lee Arrested on First Degree Murder Charges
MORE: Investigators were still at the crime scene late Friday evening on Snow Cone Way, which is near Ooltewah Elementary School. We are learning more about Lee's past, as he has…
Hamilton County Reports 43 Arrested with Unknown, Unlawful Citizenship Status in January
Hamilton County has reported their unknown citizen status arrests for January. They made 43 arrests, with more than half of them being Guatemalan. Eight were Mexican and all were from Latin American countries.…
Paving to Prompt Lane Closures on I-75
HAMILTON COUNTY -- Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contract crews will implement temporary lane closures on I-75 near mile marker 3 to facilitate paving work. This comes as part of Phase 2 (the second of…
Kelly comments on Watson's property tax bill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly is responding to a proposed bill in the Tennessee legislature. Senate Bill 2064, proposed by Senator Bo Watson, would cap how…
Jason Chen seeking retrial in Jasmine Pace murder case
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A man convicted in the 2022 murder of a young woman on the Chattanooga Northshore is asking again…
First project helped by Chattanooga affordable housing PILOT program breaks ground
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- For many who work in Chattanooga, finding housing can be a challenge. The city approved a new program last…
School board approves capacity expansion for Skillern Elementary amid opposition
SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County school board approved an expansion of capacity for a Soddy-Daisy charter school. (more…)
Golden Apple: Taryn Painter, Apison Elementary
APISON, TN (WDEF) - Each school day Taryn Painter walks into her third-grade classroom at Apison Elementary with energy, patience and a genuine love of teaching. Her students know she…
Courthouse site letter stirs opposition
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The federal government has been searching for a spot to place their new federal courthouse for some time here in Chattanooga. The General Services Administration says they have…
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…
Local judge reportedly assaulted in residential neighborhood
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- An arrest has been made after the Bradley County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported assault on a local judge in Cleveland,…
Bradley County firefighters push for more pay
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Bradley County firefighters are asking their county commission to increase their pay. (more…)
Man fires shots at drones assisting deputies in resolving mental health crisis
UPDATE: The Bradley County Sheriff's Office has identified the individual who shot at the drones as 47-year-old John David Possien. Possien is being held at the Bradley County Jail without bond.…
Parkridge announces plans to open new emergency room in Bradley county
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Parkridge Medical Center announced plans to build a freestanding Emergency Room in Bradley County. The ER would have 11 rooms, including…
Parkridge Medical Center plans freestanding emergency room in Cleveland
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Parkridge Medical Center has announced plans to apply for a Certificate of Need with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission to establish a new $17.4 million freestanding emergency department…
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…
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…
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…
What's Right With Our Schools: 11th Hour Theater
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - A new, non-profit performing arts organization is up and running in Dalton. 11th Hour Theater and Creative Studio is a great place for kids…
Concerns rising over reintroduction of Georgia PFAS shield law
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- As Georgia legislators prepare to head back to Atlanta next week, the Whitfield County Republican Party says they are opposing the reintroduction of a controversial…
UPDATE: Resident Suffers Burns Following Cohutta House Fire
UPDATE: A resident suffered burns in a house fire this morning in Cohutta, Georgia. It happened around 6 a.m. at a home on Chattanooga Road. The Whitfield County Fire Chief tells us the victim suffered burns to the hand…
Runners excited for Haig Mill Lake Park improvements
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- The city of Dalton is working to replace one of its primary walking trails. Their Parks and Recreation Department announced that portions of the Haig…
Two Locals Arrested for Meth Trafficking
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- Two individuals from Whitfield County were busted after the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office conducted a drug investigation on December 18, 2025. The drug investigation resulted in the arrest of Niya Destiny…
Whitfield County Man Arrested on Child Exploitation Case
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has announced they have arrested a man for child exploitation. On December 10, Trevor Lee Teasley was arrested for a child…
Neighbors come out against proposed neighborhood near Varnell
VARNELL, Ga. (WDEF)- Rapid development…
Qcells to furlough one-third of its workers at Georgia plant
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The company "Qcells" has announced they are furloughing a thousand workers at their two plants in Georgia. And one of those plants is in…
Whitfield County scam alert
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) --Whitfield County law enforcement is warning residents of several scams going around their community now. They say scammers are posing as employees of the Sheriff's Office. They say they have…
