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Residents speak out at TVA board meeting about energy bills

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - With weather recently dropping into the teens and twenties, the Tennessee Valley Authority says conditions were harsh—for consumers and their power bills. TVA's proposed rate change system that they say will help reduce cost to consumers,…

US rep: Tennessee should use $29M on backup paper ballots

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper is urging Tennessee's Republican-led legislature to use $29 million-plus in federal money on backup paper ballots, citing concerns from national security experts over vulnerabilities of paperless systems to hacking from Russia…

Remembering Jay Branum from WDEF in the 1970s

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - This week, we lost another veteran of WDEF TV from the 1970s. Earl Freudenberg posted about the passing of his friend Jay Branum. He was a photographer for the station, with Jimmy Sampley & Tommy Eason. front…

Senior Matters - Elder Abuse

The definition of elder abuse in Tennessee is broad...and it includes physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and financial crimes. We could also add--exploitation, neglect and abandonment. These days the focus seems to be shifting to taking away an elderly person's financial…

3 convictions out of 4 in Pilot Flying J verdict

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Three of four former employees of truck stop chain Pilot Flying J have been convicted in connection with a rebate scam. They have been on trial since November in Federal court in Chattanooga. Former company President Mark…

CARTA drivers protest with sealed lips

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Unionized employees of CARTA walked out of a board meeting this morning, after their request to speak to the board was denied. That follows recent complaints from bus drivers over required overtime, and a short staff. A…

Black defends campaign checks, trucking emissions loophole

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Rep. Diane Black is defending efforts to extend an emissions loophole benefiting a Tennessee-based trucking company whose entities, executives and family gave her gubernatorial campaign $225,000, as The New York Times reported. Campaign spokesman Chris Hartline…

Lyerly man killed in Georgia crash

CAVE SPRING, Georgia (WDEF) - A crash this morning below Rome, Georgia claims the life of a Lyerly man. It happened around 8 AM on Blacks Bluff Road near Cave Spring. An SUV coming out of a curve crossed over…

EPA announces commitment to clean Chattanooga lead site

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will clean a lead site in Tennessee, pending federal funding. News outlets report the EPA announced its commitment Tuesday to clean the Southside Chattanooga Lead Site when funds are…

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar coming to Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A new gourmet burger chain will open its first Tennessee location in Chattanooga. Bad Daddy's Burger Bar just broke ground at a location on Gunbarrel Road. The Denver-based company actually started in Charlotte, North Carolina eleven years…

TVA controls high water levels as more rain in forecast

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The recent surge of rain has been much needed for the Tennessee Valley. But this means river levels are also surging. Hamilton County Parks and Recreation closed all piers and boat ramps at the Tennessee River…

How much will veteran taxbreak cost Hamilton County?

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton county commission on Wednesday heard some final numbers from its vote to lower property taxes for senior citizens and veterans. The commission last year adopted the state law that allows members of those two groups…

GOP-led committee unanimously votes down Tennessee gun bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Republican-led House committee has unanimously voted down legislation to let Tennessee handgun permit holders bring guns most places, including hospitals and professional sports arenas. In the Civil Justice Subcommittee Wednesday, Gov. Bill Haslam's administration, the…

Flu now closing schools west of Chattanooga

ALTAMONT, Tennessee (WDEF) - The flu outbreak is now shutting down school systems around the Cumberland Plateau. Grundy County will close schools for the rest of the week. Students were already scheduled off for a professional development day Friday (now…

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