Exclusive Content
Latest News
McMinn County Jury Trying $50,000,000 Lawsuit
ATHENS, Tenn. -- It was early on the morning of May 20, 2016 when Betty Begazo was at Etowah Dialysis in McMinn County, a facility owned by DaVita Dialysis. For over three years, Begazo…
Local faith leader, psychologist have simple solution for violence from 'Great Replacement' theory
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Buffalo mass shooting suspect Payton Gendron left behind a manifesto, claiming "The Great Replacement" theory motivated his alleged actions of shooting ten African-Americans. The…
Weather Update: Monday Night's Forecast - May 16th, 2022
Tennessee Valley (WDEF): Pleasantly Mild Tonight, Lots Of Sun Tuesday! Clear skies will continue through the nighttime. Pleasantly mild overnight with lows by morning in the mid to upper 50s. Lots of sunshine and great-looking weather for Tuesday with highs…
What's Right With Our Schools: $100,000 Grant for Rossville Middle School
ROSSVILLE, GA (WDEF) - One hundred thousand dollars isn't just good money, if you invest it in the right things, it can be life changing. Thanks to an award from TVA and…
Pardon Board denies clemency for Georgia inmate scheduled for execution
FORSYTH, Georgia (WDEF) - The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied clemency for Virgil Delano Presnell, Jr. He is now scheduled to die on Tuesday by lethal injection. Presnell, Jr. was convicted and sentenced to death for…
Rhyne Howard Wins Eastern Conference Player of the Week Honors in WNBA
Bradley Central's Rhyne Howard has played in the WNBA for about a week, and now she already owns player of the week honors. Howard has been named the Eastern Conference player of the week. She becomes the first rookie to…
Vols Officially Sign 5 Star Basketball Recruit Julian Phillips
(utsports.com) Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes has added yet another five-star prospect to the Volunteers roster, as five-star forward Julian Phillips recently signed an institutional aid agreement to attend UT. Hailing from Blythewood, South Carolina, Phillips currently attends Link Academy in…
Vols Scrap 2023 Football Opener Against at BYU and Host Virginia Instead in Nashville
(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee returns to Music City as the Volunteers will square off against Virginia to open the 2023 college football season on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Nissan Stadium, the two programs and the Nashville Sports Council announced Monday.…
Red Bank opens more Pickleball Courts for area
RED BANK, Tennessee (WDEF) - The city of Red Bank has added to the number of Pickleball Courts in our area. They cut the ribbon opening up the courts on Monday.…
Gov. Bill Lee visits important rural counties
DAYTON, Tennessee (WDEF)-Dayton Coffee Shop played host to one of Governor Bill Lee’s visits. Lee spoke on several topics including the importance of rural Tennessee. “My first executive order as governor.…
Huntsville gets clearance for landing spacecraft
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (WDEF) - We might sometime soon see a spacecraft gliding over northeast Alabama and come in for a landing. The FAA is paving the way by issuing a license for space landings at the Huntsville International Airport. It's…
Sand Mountain Arrest: A sharpie, a license plate and meth
POWELL, Alabama (WDEF) - Police got a bit suspicious last week on Sand Mountain when they noticed a vehicle had a license tag that looked like someone had taken a sharpie to it. The tag had a date hand-drawn on…
Detectives charge wife with fatally shooting husband
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Bradley County investigators have charged a wife with shooting her husband Sunday night. Britany M. Taylor called 911 around 10:30 to report that she had shot him during a disagreement at their home on Old Parksville…
House Fire Sends One to the Hospital on Glendale Drive
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a house fire at the foot of Signal Mountain late Sunday evening. (more…)
Shooting Reported in Bradley County Late Sunday Night
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Bradley County's Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting late Sunday evening just outside of Cleveland. (more…)
TECH BYTE: Apple to Discontinue iPod
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. After a more than 20-year run, Apple is discontinuing the iPod. Apple first introduced…
Mocs heading to Tuscaloosa for NCAA Regional
Indianapolis, Ind. (UTC Athletics) -- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team was selected to participate in the Tuscaloosa Regional, hosted by Alabama, to kickoff play in the 2022 NCAA Tournament,…
VFL Grant Williams has 27, Celtics make 22 3s in Game 7 rout of Bucks
BOSTON (AP) — Grant Williams scored a career-high 27 points and hit seven 3-pointers, Jayson Tatum added 23 and the Boston Celtics set a Game 7 record with 22 3-pointers to eliminate the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks 109-81 on Sunday…
Buffalo shooter targeted Black neighborhood, officials say
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The white 18-year-old who fatally shot 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket researched the local demographics and arrived a day in advance to conduct reconnaissance with the intent of killing as many Black people as possible,…
Youth Villages recognizes Foster Parent of the Year
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-May is Foster Care Awareness month and Youth Villages uses this month to not only bring awareness to the kids in need but recognize the work done by foster parents, including a single dad from Cleveland winning foster…
Red Bank opens more Pickleball Courts for area
RED BANK, Tennessee (WDEF) - The city of Red Bank has added to the number of Pickleball Courts in our area. They cut the ribbon opening up the courts on Monday.…
House Fire Sends One to the Hospital on Glendale Drive
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a house fire at the foot of Signal Mountain late Sunday evening. (more…)
Youth Villages recognizes Foster Parent of the Year
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-May is Foster Care Awareness month and Youth Villages uses this month to not only bring awareness to the kids in need but recognize the work done by foster parents, including a single dad from Cleveland winning foster…
Shooting- 700 East 48th Street
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-On May 12, 2022 at approximately 9:35 p.m., Chattanooga Police responded to the 700 block of East 48th Street on a report of a person shot. The following are the preliminary facts of the investigation: Upon arrival, Officers located…
East Ridge Fire
EAST RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF)-On the 1000 block of Hurst St. East Ridge TN. 37412, East Ridge Fire, East Ridge Police, and Hamilton County EMS we’re dispatched to a reported residential fire. Upon arrival heavy fire and smoke was found coming…
Volkswagen Holds Job Fair: Searching For 1,000 New Employees
Saturday morning hundreds of individuals lined up outside of the Volkswagen plant for their chance at a new career with the car manufacturer. (more…)
Report shows gun theft from cars rising in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- Recent analysis from a national non-profit shows that Chattanooga is the second-highest city in America for gun theft from cars. These numbers have been on the rise for the past decade.…
Beware I 75 work this weekend
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - TDOT warns you might want to avoid I 75 this weekend in Chattanooga. Crews will be repairing damaged concrete slabs, making bridge repairs and putting in new pavement markings for the next several weekends. This weekend, they…
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent marks first 100 days by looking ahead to the future
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Not counting weekends, Dr. Justin Robertson has been in the superintendent's office for 20 weeks. 100 days. But he isn't touting any of the successes Hamilton County Schools has…
Chattanooga Zoo gives Covid vaccines to some animals
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Humans aren't the only ones getting COVID vaccines these days. The Chattanooga Zoo has now given ten doses to some of their animals. They have inoculated two Jaguars, a Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon and three chimps. Animal Care…
More To The Story: Hard to Place Pets
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Carnell is enjoying life. We should be envious! Carnell can whack down a can of cheese whiz in no time. He loves to swim. He spends…
Hamilton County Schools addresses bullying at board meeting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- "Creating a community of belonging." This is the culture that Hamilton County Schools wants to create for its students. Dr. Marsha Drake was one of three women tonight who spoke on…
US Xpress addresses layoffs this week
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga based US Xpress is laying off workers this week. They are not releasing the exact number, but one viewer says it is more than a hundred. The news comes after a tough financial report for the…
Chattanooga Police Officers Provide Aid in Ukraine
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- Eleven weeks ago today, Russia invaded Ukraine, starting a war that would cost the lives of thousands. Like the rest of us, Chattanooga Police Sergeant Jeremiah Cook looked to the conflict…
Police looking for Dollar General hold-up suspect
EAST RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF) - Police are looking for the person who robbed a Dollar General store in East Ridge at gunpoint. It happened at around 9:30 Monday night at the Dollar General in…
Results from latest round of water testing at Hamilton Co. schools
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton County schools are sharing the results from their latest round of water testing. They've been testing water supplies at the schools for lead over the last two years. Lead generally gets into drinking water from…
Red Robin restaurant suffers second fire in 3 weeks
UPDATE: The Chattanooga Fire Department now says they believe the fire was caused by welding work and grease accumulation. _______ CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - This hasn't been a good month for the Red…
Volkswagen hosting job fair, looking to hire 1,000 new employees
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- It's an understatement to say that, right now, the folks at Volkswagen have been busy here in Chattanooga. Speculations have begun to develop that an additional corporate plant could be coming…
Boyd Buchanan School hosts Annual Physics Boat Day
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- Boats and brainiacs took to Lake Buccaneer Wednesday afternoon at Boyd Buchanan School for the Annual Physics Boat Day race. Students designed and raced homemade boats out of…
Mayor Jim Coppinger congratulates Weston Wamp on Primary win
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) - Outgoing Mayor Jim Coppinger kept quiet about the candidates running in the Republican primary to replace him. When he announced he would not seek re-election last year, businessman Matt Hullander, Commission member Sabrena Smedley and…
Detectives charge wife with fatally shooting husband
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Bradley County investigators have charged a wife with shooting her husband Sunday night. Britany M. Taylor called 911 around 10:30 to report that she had shot him during a disagreement at their home on Old Parksville…
Shooting Reported in Bradley County Late Sunday Night
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Bradley County's Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting late Sunday evening just outside of Cleveland. (more…)
Suspect charged in Charleston holdup
CHARLESTON, Tennessee (WDEF) - Bradley County investigators have charged a suspect in a violent holdup Thursday of a gas station. It happened at the BP fuel station on Hiwassee Street in Charleston around 1 PM. The Sheriff says a man…
Support Angela and Boys and Girls Club at Dancing with the Stars!
News 12's Angela Moryan is putting on her dancing shoes and will be one of the featured dancers for Dancing with the Stars in Cleveland Friday. Support the Boys…
Cleveland High announces aviation program for students
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Cleveland High School students will be able to take flight next fall. School officials announce they will offer an aviation program called Tango Flight beginning in August. They will learn multiple engineering concepts with an emphasis…
Andy Ledford charged with business robbery
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Bradley County Sheriff's Office has charged Andy Ledford with a burglary early Tuesday morning. A business owner contract the department around 4 AM that his surveillance system alerted him that a man was going through…
Two teens charged with fatal beating of dog caught on video
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - The investigation started Tuesday with several complaints to Cleveland Police about a graphic video when a young man kills a dog with a large stick. Bradley County and Cleveland investigators found it happened in the southern…
Bradley Sheriff releases report on jailer sexual harassment investigation
IA_Final_Report (Redacted) CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - A captain for the Bradley County Sheriff's Office has resigned in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against him. Captain Jerry Johnson left the force earlier…
Cleveland Police ask for information on stabbing case
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Cleveland Police are asking for the public's help in their investigation into a stabbing last week at a liquor store. It happened Thursday night around 9 PM at the Eagle Liquor Store at 1800 Dalton Pike.…
Three students taken to hospital after morning school bus crash
UPDATE: The Tennessee Highway Patrol says there were 34 children on the bus at the time. They say a juvenile was driving the car. It crossed the center line in a…
Carpenter faces new charges from the Little Lambs Daycare fire in February
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - A worker in Cleveland will face charges after all in the fire at Little Lambs Daycare in February. 27 children were evacuated, unharmed, after the fire on February 10th. But the Sheriff charged James Carpenter Jr.…
More To The Story: Giving Ukrainians a safe haven
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - In just a matter of only a few weeks, Ukraine has become a war torn country. Thousands killed in the war. Thousands leaving the country. Looking for…
Suspect turns himself in for gas station shooting
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - The suspect wanted for a shooting at a Cleveland gas station on Tuesday night, has turned himself in. Michael E. Moore faces a charge of Attempted First Degree Murder. Investigators say Moore got into an argument…
Cleveland Police identify suspect in gas station shooting
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - A gas station fight last night apparently ended with a shooting. Police in Cleveland report that two men got into the fight inside a Texaco on Dalton Pike SE around midnight. When police arrived, they found…
Chattanooga Man Under Federal Investigation for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- On April fourteenth, the FBI was seen raiding the home of David Apps on Mountain Shadows Drive. Now, federal court documents confirm that Apps is under investigation for wire fraud and money laundering. According to the affidavit…
Bradley County arrests two more suspects from Chattanooga over vehicle break-ins
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Bradley County investigators have charged two suspects in a rash of overnight auto burglaries. One caller reported seeing two suspects in hoodies walking through the neighborhood looking into vehicles. Then someone who had their vehicle broken…
Memorial wraps up Project Appleseed
McDonald, Tennessee (WDEF)- Project Appleseed concluded its weekend of revolutionary war history and rifle marksmanship with a memorial volley to remember Patriots day. The memorial has names read of the more than 40 Americans who lost their lives on April…
Karla Clausell convicted of deadly shooting at CBC Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - A Bradley County jury has convicted Karla Clausell of First Degree Homicide in a shooting more than two years ago. Miranda Stamper was killed in the parking lot of CBC Cleveland on a Friday night in…
Grand Jury indicts Blasingim on 2021 murder in Bradley County
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - A grand jury in Bradley County has indicted 43 year old Billy Blasingim for the death of a woman last year. The body of 32 year old Carissa Diane Hamby was found on a farm…
Golden Apple Award: Ritchie Stevenson, Lake Forest Middle
Good principals play a vital role in assembling a caring and professional staff for the school. Lake Forest Middle School Principal Ritchie Stevenson checks those boxes and many more earning him a Golden Apple Award.
Can you identify suspects in an Ulta perfume shoplifing case
UPDATE: Dalton Police say they have now identified the suspect. ________ DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Dalton Police are looking for a woman accused of shoplifting $3000 worth of cologne and perfume at a store. They say the thefts actually…
Rabid skunk confirmed in Whitfield County
(ED NOTE: The name of the Road has been updated by Police to Tilton Road) DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Health officials confirm that a rabid skunk was killed in southeast Whitfield County a week ago. A resident says…
Study ranks Dalton as second best city for remote workers
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - The real estate website ownerly.com ranks Dalton as the second-best city in America for remote workers. The ranking considers both the quality and cost of broadband internet, cost of living, and safety among other factors. Dalton…
USA Patriots overcoming struggles
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF)- USA Patriots formally know as the wounded warriors amputee softball team flew in from all around the country to compete in the The Sgt. Chris McDonald Warrior Classic They also…
Miracle League back after COVID-19 pause
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF)- The Miracle League is back on the diamond out in Dalton after missing the last two years due to the pandemic. The miracle league ball field had…
Dalton murder suspect arrested in Chattanooga
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Dalton Police have made an arrest in a murder from a week ago. 62 year old Kenneth Townsend was shot to death at his apartment on Selvidge Street around 3 AM on March 31st. …
Dalton Police identify shooting victim
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Dalton Police are now releasing the name of the man killed Thursday morning in a shooting. 62-year old Kenneth Ray Townsend was shot in an apartment on Selvidge Street just before 3 AM. He…
Firefighters battling blaze at Whitfield County plant
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - The Whitfield County Fire Department has been battling a blaze at a local plant The fire began at Asset Recycling on Cross Plains Boulevard off of Highway 41,…
Dalton honors two first responders who saved lives
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - The Dalton Public Safety Commission paid tribute to a pair of city first responders at this morning's meeting. The Dalton Fire Department recognized Matt Asbell as the Firefighter of the Year. Fire Chief Todd Pangle said…
What's Right With Our Schools: Dalton Academy Named AP Capstone School
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - In the hyper-competitive world of College admissions, being able to say you took the most rigorous course load your high school had to offer is crucial. At…
Sexual battery charges and lawsuit against Dalton Police officer
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - A former Dalton Police officer faces both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit involving accusations of sexual battery. The accuser in the case was an intern for the department. She says Officer Ethan Wayne Pugh forced…
Dalton man sentenced on child molestation charge
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - A Dalton man has been sentenced to 19 years on a child molestation charge. 55 year old Anthony Marshall Ponders was convicted a couple of weeks ago. Prosecutors say Ponders exposed himself to a child. A…
Veteran uses disc golf to raise money for Wounded Warrior Project
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF)-Anthony Davis is a veteran and a disc golf player. This weekend these two things became one as he ran a disc golf…
Dalton holds groundbreaking ceremony for new soccer complex
DALTON, GA (WDEF) -- "Soccertown USA" broke ground this afternoon on an impressive new sports complex to back up their game. It'll be located east of Park Creek…
Dalton woman convicted of family violence stabbing
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - A Whitfield County jury found a woman guilty for a family violence incident last May. Prosecutors say Pamela Lee Cooper attacked her boyfriend of more than 40 years. They say she hit him in the back…
Man dies in early morning Varnell wreck
VARNELL, Georgia (WDEF) - One victim died in an early morning crash in Whitfield County. Georgia troopers say two vehicles collided around 6:30 AM in the town of Varnell. They say a Nissan Frontier graveling on Main Street turned onto…
Dalton man convicted of rape and kidnapping of ex-girlfriend
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - A jury found a Dalton man guilty of rape, kidnapping and cruelty to children in a family violence case. His ex-girlfriend and mother of his children accused him of kidnapping and raping her in the spring…
More To The Story: The Teen filmmaker
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - STEP Studio in Dalton is getting ready to premiere its first ever piece of work. STEP stands for students,team, entertainment and production. Jacob Poag is the president,…
Driver dies after hitting dog on his ATV
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - The Georgia State Patrol reports that a crash between an ATV and a dog proved fatal for the driver. It happened on Bethel Church Road outside of Dalton on Tuesday evening. Troopers say 36 year old…
Golden Apple Award: Dinna Spradlin, Dalton Academy
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - Who says Math class has to be dry as toast? What if you could write the equations right on your desk? How about a comfy couch for when you…
