Missing Since 2019, Daphne Westbrook Found Safe
Daphne Westbrook who had been missing since 2019 has been found safe according to The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
'America First Tour' makes stop in Dalton
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF)- Georgia Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene and Florida congressman Matt Gaetz made a stop in Dalton Thursday on what they are calling the American First Tour. "And we are the most hated, most talked about,…
Rossville man gets life sentence for 2018 stabbing
LAFAYETTE, Georgia (WDEF) - A Rossville man gets a life sentence for the killing of an old friend. Police says Steven Lewis Whittaker and Buddy Hankins had been friends for years. But that ended in August of 2018. They were…
CPD announces staffing changes to address gun violence
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - “With the increase of gun violence, not just in the city of Chattanooga but across the nation, I think this is the right move,” says Chattanooga City Councilman, Chip Henderson. Starting July 2nd,…
Remembering Former Walker County Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell
LAFAYETTE, Georgia (WDEF) - Walker County is mourning the loss of a former leader. Former Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell has died at the age of 81. She lead the county from 2001-2016. But before that she worked for the previous…
Tennessee lawmakers introduce the Migrant Resettlement Transparency Act
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Lawmakers in Tennessee have been asking the Biden Administration for clarity when it comes to migrant children entering in the state. On Wednesday, Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, along with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, introduced a…
Local State Parks & Preserves Preparing for Busy Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends for parks across the U.S. Our local parks and preserves here are preparing for the crowds. "We're having all hands on deck, it's going to be a very…
Fatal shooting in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Cleveland Police are investigating a fatal shooting. It happened at 1017 3rd Street SE in East Cleveland just before 2 PM. Officers found a man at the scene with a gunshot wound. The victim died at…
Memorial Day Travel Surge Expected
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - With relaxed mask mandates, vaccinations, and a little freedom from the CDC, experts expect more than 37 million travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend. According to AAA, last year's travel volume was the lowest…
Bear Safety During Late Spring with TWRA
It's that time of year to be more bear aware! A bear was spotted in East Ridge just a few days ago. Young black bears often wander during the late spring when they are leaving their mothers…
Kane Brown will also perform with Chris Young on CMT Music Awards
NASHVILLE (WDEF) - Not only will Kane Brown host the upcoming CMT Music Awards, he'll get a prime performance slot too. CMT announced performers for the show on Wednesday. The Tennessee Valley native had already been announced as a co-host…
Gov. Kemp surprises Ringgold woman by reading his declaration in person
RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) - A Ringgold woman got a special surprise, after her brother was laid to rest last weekend. The young army corporal was killed in the Korean War in 1950, but his body was just…
Woman arrested after driving vehicle through vaccine tent in Maryville
MARYVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - A woman has been arrested after driving her vehicle through a Covid vaccine tent in Blount County on Monday. Deputies say they saw her drive into the tent at Foothills Mall while health department and national…
Will Alabama push back 3rd grade reading requirement?
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is weighing whether to delay next year’s high-stakes requirement to hold back third-graders who aren’t reading on grade level. Ivey has through Thursday to sign legislation by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Birmingham…
Police say one of the Coolidge Park shooting victims is actually a suspect
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have charged a suspect in the shooting at Coolidge Park ten days ago. But there is a plot twist. Originally, officers found one shooting victim at the park and then learned that…
Asst D.A. pleads to asking for sex to expunge a woman's record
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A former assistant district attorney in Tennessee has pleaded guilty to soliciting a sexual bribe in exchange for expunging a woman’s criminal charges. The eastern district U.S. Attorney's Office says William E. McManus Jr. entered his…
How to keep yourself safe during tick season
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) - These warming temperatures and upcoming summer vacations are leading to more people being outside. At the same time, ticks are becoming more active. "A tip on not getting bit by ticks when…
Jason Isbell, Amythyst Kiah lead Americana music awards
By KRISTIN M. HALL AP Entertainment Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Singer-songwriters Jason Isbell and Amythyst Kiah are both up for three nominations at this year's Americana Honors and Awards show, which will resume in-person after the pandemic forced the…
Chattanooga Zoo announces birth of a Blue Deuiker
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Zoo has a new baby. "Poppy" gave birth on Tuesday morning. She is a Blue Deuiker, or a tiny Antelope species from Africa. Adult Blue Deuikers only weigh between 10-20 pounds. So their babies weigh…
Chattanooga Police reorganize to deal with gun violence
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police are re-organizing to deal with gun violence. They are moving five positions from the Gang Unit to join the CPD Gun Team in July. This will give the Gun Team nine investigators, two sergeants and…
Youth & Family Development Center Preparing to Reopen After a Year
The city of Chattanooga will reopen its Youth & Family Development centers June 1st. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly made the announcement Tuesday. Warner Park Pool will also be opening this weekend at seventy - five percent capacity. Summer camps will begin…
Bonny Oaks DMV temporarily closed
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - The Bonny Oaks Driver Services Center is temporarily closed. The Department of Safety and Homeland security’s communication director says the DMV is closed due to a shortage of personnel due to health reasons. They said they can’t…
Will we need a Covid-19 Vaccine Booster shot in the future?
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - In the case of COVID-19 vaccines, it remains unknown just how long immunity lasts, but vaccine developers and health officials know that it won’t be forever — and that emerging variants could escape immunity.…
Patten Towers Residents Return
Arriving to a warm welcome from property management, almost 2 hundred residents returned home Wednesday.