Heights Wellness Retreat Opens
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Heights Wellness Retreat, formerly Massage Heights, officially opened its doors in Chattanooga on March 26th with a grand opening event for the community. The ceremony included a ribbon…
Heritage Landing Road Fully Restored
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Heritage Landing Road is officially open to traffic following a restoration project that addressed a subsurface collapse at the entrance to the Heritage Landing neighborhood. The closure…
Memorial Hospital Awards Health Grants
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital awarded nearly $220,000 this morning to six local nonprofit organizations as part of its community health improvement program. The funding will support programs aimed…
Walnut Street Bridge restoration over halfway complete
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A little over a year ago, the Walnut Street Bridge was…
Bill that would require sheriff departments to join ICE programs advances
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Controversial partnerships between local sheriffs and ICE agents may soon be a requirement across the state of Tennessee. A bill is looking…
Fani Willis calls Georgia bill that would remove party labels from local races "unconstitutional"
A controversial elections bill that would remove party labels from several key local races in metro Atlanta is drawing sharp backlash from prosecutors as it moves forward in the Georgia legislature. House Bill 369, which recently passed the Georgia Senate,…
USPS to add temporary fuel surcharge, raising some postage prices as transportation costs jump
The U.S. Postal Service is temporarily hiking postage prices to account for surging fuel costs caused by the Iran war, the agency announced on Wednesday. The USPS said it will impose an 8% surcharge on select postage prices, beginning April 26,…
Family pet dies in house fire on Huff Avenue SW
A family pet passed away as a result of a house fire on March 26, 2026 on Huff Avenue SW, according to the Cleveland Fire Department (CFD). Six other fire companies responded to the blaze as well. CFD says…
Weather Update: Thursday March 26, 2026
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Mostly clear, mild. Hazy. Lows: around 60. Winds: SW @ 5 MPH. Friday: Mostly sunny. Dry. Hazy. Windy at times. Scattered afternoon/evening showers. Highs: low 80's. Winds: W @ 5-10 MPH,…
Minnesota elections office subpoenaed in federal criminal probe over whether non-citizens are on state voter rolls, sources say
The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office has received a grand jury subpoena ordering it to turn over certain individual voter records, as part of a federal investigation into whether non-citizens are registered or have unlawfully cast ballots, sources with direct…
Missed paychecks and airport delays: Pressure mounts on Congress to end the funding shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressure is mounting on Congress to end the funding shutdown that has resulted in travel disruptions, missed paychecks and even warnings of airport closures, but lawmakers have yet to resolve the underlying issue of reining in President…
Average US long-term mortgage rate leaps to 6.38%, the highest level in more than 6 months
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in more than six months, driving up borrowing costs during what’s typically the busiest time of the year for prospective home buyers. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate…
Alleged Hezbollah member on U.S. terror list is arrested in Ecuador
Ecuador has arrested a Syrian man identified as a terrorist threat by the United States for belonging to Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, authorities said Wednesday. The arrest came as the government of Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa, an ally of U.S.…
Amputee sea turtle being tracked at sea from space
Juno Beach, Fla. — The veterinary staff at a Florida sea turtle hospital is getting help from space to monitor the animals they've rehabilitated. They're particularly interested in amputees. Using satellite tracking devices in a…
What ICE officers are doing at airports
ICE officers who are helping TSA at airports that are struggling with long passenger lines are helping with things like crowd control and verifying passengers’ identities using TSA equipment, according to a DHS spokeswoman. “After receiving standard TSA training curriculum,…
TSA forced to consolidate lanes, may have to close small airports as funding deal stalls
The TSA's top official says the situation at U.S. airports could get even worse if the partial government shutdown that has frozen officers' paychecks continues. "We are being forced to consolidate lanes and may have to close smaller airports if…
Trump says oil prices haven't been nearly as bad as he thought they would be
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, President Trump said Thursday that he thought oil prices would be higher and the stock market would fall further than they have as a result of the war in Iran. "Frankly, I thought the oil…
U.S. strike on alleged drug boat kills 4 in the Caribbean Sea, military says
The U.S. military said it carried out a strike Wednesday on a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, killing four people, as the Trump administration pushes forward with a monthslong campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America…
US filings for jobless aid tick up last week to 210,000 but remain at historically healthy levels
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for jobless aid inched up last week as employers continue to retain workers despite a labor market that has weakened considerably in the past year. U.S. applications for jobless aid for the…
Blue Bell announces Brookie À La Mode ice cream
Blue Bell has announced a new flavor of ice cream: Brookie À La Mode, which is a combination of a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie. The new flavor is available in the half gallon…
Vols announce new mascot for upcoming football season
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - There will be a new Smokey in town this fall for UT football. The University of Tennessee will officially introduce Smokey XII at the spring football game in a couple of weeks at Neyland Stadium. Smokey…
Juvenile arrested following vehicle pursuit on Dayton Pike
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. -- A juvenile has been arrested following a vehicle pursuit on Dayton Pike at Sequoyah Road. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) says a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed…
EPA approves sale of higher ethanol fuel to try to lower gas prices
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it would temporarily allow widespread sales of a higher ethanol gas blend in a move that they hope will tamp down consumer prices that have soared since the Iran war began. The…
Lawmakers approve removing THC limits for Georgia's medical marijuana program
A bill that would change how Georgia medical marijuana patients can use cannabis for treatment could now become law if it is signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. This week, the Georgia House of Representatives voted 144 to 21 to approve…