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Arizona toddler declared dead after pool accident is found alive in hospital morgue
A toddler discovered in a backyard pool in a Phoenix suburb in February was declared dead before being found breathing hours later in a room that serves as the hospital morgue, according to recently released police records. Two Gilbert police…
Charges against California dad who drove family off cliff dropped after mental health treatment
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — All charges against a radiologist accused of trying to kill his family in 2023 by driving his car off a cliff along the Northern California coast have been dismissed by a judge following his completion of a mental…
57-year-old victim identified in June 30 Bradley Co. homicide
UPDATE (7/826): The victim of the June 30, 2026 homicide has been identified as 57-year-old Perry Shawn Freeman. According to Bradley County, during the investigation, Freeman was…
Former District Attorney Neil Pinkston enters no plea for Ex-NFL player Darron Lee
Darron Lee made a brief appearance virtually on July 8 in Hamilton County Criminal Court. He is charged with first degree murder in the death of Gabriella Perpetuo at…
Mayors Wamp, Kelly discuss rising anti-growth sentiment at joint appearance
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- "The growth isn't going to stop." Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp appeared together at the third annual “Chatt with…
Owners of Erlanger Park, city enter into agreement on road upkeep
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The City of Chattanooga is set to enter into a new agreement with the owners of Erlanger Park. The agreement surrounds the entrance into the ballpark area on 26th…
Hamilton County Schools announces Back to School Bash
Hamilton County Schools is inviting locals to join them on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. at Tennessee Riverpark for a day full of excitement before the new school year begins. They…
Stolen e-bike recovered in Athens
A stolen e-bike has been recovered in Athens and returned to its owner following an investigation, according to the Sweetwater Police Department. They say after following tips and investigative leads, Sweetwater detectives identified…
DNA evidence from Charlie Kirk assassination disputed by defendant’s lawyers
Lawyers for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk are expected to keep questioning the reliability of DNA testing that prosecutors said links the defendant to the suspected murder weapon when a weeklong hearing continues Wednesday. A member of Tyler Robinson’s defense…
CPD responds to shooting near East Brainerd Road and Reserve Way
EAST BRAINERD, Tenn. (WDEF) - A shooting near East Brainerd Road and Reserve Way Tuesday evening remains under investigation, and News 12 spoke with bystanders…
Catoosa County Board of Education listens to comments on property tax increase
CATOOSA COUNTY, GA. (WDEF) - Residents gathered at a public hearing Tuesday evening as the Catoosa County Board of Education heard public comments on…
McCallie's Noah Wilson Breaking Records at MLB Combine
Talk about a summer of opportunity. McCalle grad Noah Wilson already has a college scholarship to Vanderbilt. But then he went out and turned heads at the MLB combine, possibly opening doors to a future in pro baseball. Brian Armstrong…
Pirates First Baseman Ryan O'Hearn With Incredible 10 RBI's in 12-4 Win Over Atlanta
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O’Hearn has been playing baseball nearly all his life. Never has the left-handed slugger had a game quite like Tuesday’s 12-4 win over Atlanta. Not in Little League. Not in high school. Not at…
Weather Update: WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 2026
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Early showers / thunderstorms. Mostly clear / hazy, humid. Lows: low 70's. Winds: near calm. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, hot. Scattered showers & thunderstorms. Highs: around 90. Winds: W @ 5 MPH.…
Residents Rebuild After Devastating Fire
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) - A massive apartment fire in Hixson left dozens of people without homes Sunday, but residents say support from the community is helping them move forward. Investigators say…
New canoe ramp open at Camp Jordan
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.-- Camp Jordan has welcomed a new canoe launch ramp today thanks to the efforts of local non-profits and community organizations. The city of East Ridge, alongside the…
Q ’n Brew Returns Saturday Night
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Q ’n Brew returns to the Chattanooga Zoo this weekend, bringing together barbecue, live entertainment, local brews, and family-friendly activities for an evening after regular zoo…
USA Soccer Team Remains Stagnant
SEATTLE (AP) — For all the growth in American soccer over the past quarter-century, the U.S. men’s national team remains stagnant. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie fared no better at the World Cup in 2022 and 2026 than Tim Howard,…
Hamilton County Schools announces Back to School Bash
Hamilton County Schools is inviting locals to join them on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. at Tennessee Riverpark for a day full of excitement before the new school year begins. They…
Firefighters describe response as community rallies after Hixson apartment fire
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- We are learning more about the cause and response to a major apartment fire in Hixson on Sunday.…
First indoor pickleball club opens in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- With the heat wave hanging over the Tennessee Valley,…
East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra celebrates 20th anniversary at Collegedale Independence Day event
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn.. (WDEF) -- Faith and Family night has been a tradition in Collegedale for a long time, but…
Mixed reactions to the passage of Plan Hamilton
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- : After years of contentious debate, Plan Hamilton was finally adopted by the Hamilton County Commission Wednesday evening in a 6 to 5 vote. The…
Pops on the River kicks off
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Chattanooga is celebrating in a special way today at Coolidge Park. The entire nation is gearing up for the 250th anniversary…
Extreme Heat has climate scientists sounding the alarm
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- With heat advisories across the southeast, it’s downright dangerous to be outside in some places of the country.…
Hamilton County data center moratorium formally introduced
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The resolution that would formally prohibit new data centers in unincorporated Hamilton County has been introduced. Mayor Weston Wamp introduced that moratorium Wednesday…
Neal confesses to murder in forensic interview played in preliminary hearing
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF)- "I'm going to give you one…
Plan Hamilton narrowly approved by Hamilton County Commission
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Commission approved a controversial growth plan Wednesday evening. Plan Hamilton was passed by a six to five vote. It sets new…
Hunter Museum Helps Teens Get Creative
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Teens got a hands-on outlet to express…
Mayor Wamp proposes one-year moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Hamilton County
MORE: Commissioners who spoke alongside Mayor Wamp on Tuesday morning were supportive of this proposal. Commissioner Steve Highlander, who represents a lot of…
What's Right With Our Schools: ArtsBuild Tech Goes Home Program
CHATTANOONGA, TN (WDEF) - These days, being an artist takes more than paints and pencils. In their latest Tech Goes Home program, ArtsBuild Chattanooga gave aspiring…
Developers say there is plan to keep Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga for 2027 event
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Will the Head of the Hooch leave Chattanooga after this year? Since 2005, the Head of the Hooch regatta has brought thousands to the shores…
ArtsBuild unveils voter guide for upcoming elections
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- As we approach Hamilton County’s general elections, one non-profit is highlighting candidates’ stances on funding for the arts. Artsbuild has…
Bike Lane to be removed in Main Street re-striping
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) -- The stretch of Main Street that goes from Broad Street to Dodds Avenue will be re-striped by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. That…
Soccer match to be hosted at Erlanger Park for 4th of July
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- An unconventional match will be held this Independence Day. The…
Man arrested following stolen vehicle pursuit
HAMILTON COUNTY -- A man has been arrested following a stolen vehicle pursuit. According to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), on June 25, 2026, an alert was sent out for a stolen vehicle near the intersection of Campbell…
Chattanooga Firefighters defeat Tunnel Blvd apartment fire
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to an apartment fire with entrapment Tuesday night. It happened just before midnight. Multiple people were trapped by smoke…
History experience to soon open in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- "We want to tell Chattanooga’s story in a way no one ever…
57-year-old victim identified in June 30 Bradley Co. homicide
UPDATE (7/826): The victim of the June 30, 2026 homicide has been identified as 57-year-old Perry Shawn Freeman. According to Bradley County, during the investigation, Freeman was…
Bradley Co. Mayor to not veto budget with tax hike
Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis has decided NOT to veto the budget with a tax hike. Davis originally proposed a budget with no tax hike. But the county commission decided to raise taxes two weeks ago to increase the…
Man arrested after reports of objects being thrown at windshields
BRADLEY COUNTY -- A man has been arrested following several reports of objects being thrown at drivers windshields in the northeast areas of Bradley County and the City of Cleveland. A joint…
Bradley County Commission approves tax hike for first responder, county employee pay
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- "One of my sons doesn't have health insurance because we can't afford it and the county's offering isn't strong enough…
Residents debate proposed Bradley County first responder pay
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Bradley County residents are sounding off over a potential tax increase to support an increase in first responder pay. They made their cases to the Bradley…
First Baptist Cleveland donates 500 Bibles to Bradley County Jail
First Baptist Cleveland has donated 500 Bibles to the Bradley County Jail. The Bradley County Sheriff's Office says this gift will provide hope, encouragement, guidance, and spiritual support to many individuals as…
Bradley County Jail receives TCI certification
BRADLEY COUNTY -- The Bradley County Jail has received its Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) certification following inspection on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Bradley County Sheriff's Office says the inspection revealed no findings at the facility, and as a result,…
Traffic at a standstill southbound in Bradley County due to crash
BRADLEY COUNTY -- All lanes are blocked on I-75 southbound in Bradley County due to a multi-vehicle crash near mile marker 19.4, according to TDOT. We are working to learn more.
TOSHA investigating Amaero plant explosion, experts say this is reminder of dangers of lithium batteries.
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- A state agency says they are beginning their investigation into an explosion at a Bradley County plant Wednesday . TOSHA says they began that investigation Thursday morning after two people suffered severe burns from a lithium battery…
Craig Liner pleads guilty to 2025 murder of ex-wife
UPDATE: Craig Liner has pleaded guilty of the 2025 killing of his ex-wife Karen Liner and has been sentenced to life in prison. Liner…
What's Right With Our Schools: Cleveland High Best Buddy Program
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - A new organization at Cleveland High School got off to a strong star this year. The Best Buddies Club is a student…
BCSO warns of scam claiming individuals owe money for traffic offense
BRADLEY COUNTY -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is warning locals of a scam involving claims that individuals owe money for a traffic offense. They say message may include what looks like an official court document and it…
Multi-vehicle wreck causing major backups in Bradley County near MM 19
Traffic is moving extremely slow due to a multi-vehicle crash on I-75 southbound near Mile Marker 19 in Bradley County. TDOT says the southbound left lane (of 2 lanes) blocked, left shoulder blocked. Delays are expected.
Bradley County passes strict new regulations against data centers
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- "Because I care much about this child and what you guys are voting, (me speaking is for) this gal right here." Tyler Ownby, holding…
Rumored data center sparks concerns in Bradley County
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Data centers have continued to stir debate all across the country. Now, numerous residents say they are nervous that one could be coming to…
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…
What's Right With Our Schools: SE Whitfield Pawsome Program
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - Pets are our best friends, but keeping them clean and clipped can be challenging. Students at Southeast Whitfield are getting some valuable lessons…
What's Right With Our Schools: Whitfield County Financial Planning
WHITFIELD COUNTY, GA (WDEF) - Understanding money, and how to make it work for you, is a key to success in life. Students in Whitfield County are…
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office warns of scam involving incarcerated individuals
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) is warning individuals about a scam involving recent arrest information and incarcerated individuals. They say they assume that scammers are now preying on recent arrest…
Three firefighters treated for heat exhaustion in battle with Dalton house fire
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- Three firefighters were treated for apparent heat exhaustion in a Dalton fire Tuesday evening. Dalton firefighters say they responded to a home at…
Cohutta Town Council reinstates police department, tables decision on mayor's future
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Controlled underground blasting to take place off Old Tilton Road
Controlled underground blasting will take place today, Friday, May 1st, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for construction off Old Tilton Road, according to Whitfield County.
Mayor, police chief speak on resolution to Cohutta dispute
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF)- Has the controversial situation surrounding the small…
Community baby shower held in Dalton
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- Mothers in the Dalton area got to relax a…
Mediation leads to resolution in Cohutta
We have an update on a controversy engulfing the Whitfield County town of Cohutta. According to a post from the Cohutta Police Department, there has been mediation in the matter…
Underground blasting to occur off Old Tilton Road
Controlled underground blasting will take place Monday, April 27th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for construction off Old Tilton Road, according to Whitfield County.
Whitfield County employees make take-home meals for senior citizens
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- On Tuesday, April 21st, Whitfield County employees volunteered with the Senior Center to assist with the preparation of take-home meals. They say a total of 31 grocery bags were filled, each…
Meth, marijuana, cash and scales seized in Rocky Face area investigation
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- Over 300 grams of Methamphetamine and over 750 grams of marijuana have been seized following an investigation in the Rocky Face area. According to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office…
Dalton public safety board temporarily revokes license of establishment as manager questions process
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- What is the difference between…
What's Right With Our Schools, Valley Point STEM Night
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - Families at Valley Point Middle School recently came together to solve a mystery. Students used the skills they learn each day to track…
UPDATE: Man in stable condition after wife shot him multiple times
UPDATE: On April 15, 2026 at around 9 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence after receiving a call from Jeffrey Perkins, who stated he had been shot multiple times by his wife, Rita Perkins,…
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…
