Invasive Zebra Mussels Found in Certain Aquarium Products
Pet and aquarium store owners and customers are being alerted about invasive zebra mussels in products known as “moss balls.”
Special effects worker sentenced for illegal explosives on Travolta movie
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - A special effects worker has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing explosives while working on a movie starring John Travolta and Morgan Freeman. A U.S. District Court judge in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday sentenced…
Ooltewah man pleads guilty to battery of soccer official
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - A soccer player from Ooltewah has pleaded guilty to battery of an official during a soccer game in north Georgia. The case comes from a large fight during a soccer game in Dalton in June of…
Bradley County charges 3 with jail contraband scheme
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Bradley County Sheriff's Office has charged three suspects with smuggling contraband into the jail. One is a former corrections officer. Last August, the Drug Unit was tipped about an inmate and a civilian conspiring to…
Alabama Senate narrowly rejects lottery, casino bill
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Senate has rejected a proposal to start a lottery and allow multiple casinos. The proposal fell two votes short of what was needed Tuesday to clear the Alabama Senate. The proposal would have authorized…
Ex Oak Ridge Officer charged with beating suspect
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF) - A former police officer in Oak Ridge has been charged with assaulting a suspect. The TBI was asked to look into the incident from December. They found that during an investigation, then-officer Andre James Thompson…
Worker dies at Lodge Cast Iron in South Pittsburg
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tennessee (WDEF) - An employee of Lodge Cast Iron died after an accident at the manufacturing facility. It happened last night in South Pittsburg. The company says it is working with authorities to investigate. The victim's family has…
Tennessee panel votes to move Confederate bust from Capitol
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI and TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee panel has voted to remove the state Capitol’s bust of a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader. The Tennessee Historical Commission voted 25-1 on…
Golden Apple Award: Sarah Leeseberg, Soddy Elementary
SODDY-DAISY, TN (WDEF) - Keeping first graders on track is hard enough in ideal conditions. When you add a virtual element, the degree of difficulty can be staggering. Sarah Leeseberg met that challenge and more. Meaghan Moss…
Chattanooga Tourism Summit celebrates local industries
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The 2021 Chattanooga Tourism Summit kicked off at 9 Tuesday morning by Zoom, which served to give consumers and business leaders alike a look into the state of Chattanooga’s hospitality and tourism industries after being hindered…
Remembering the life of Jerry Levengood
RHEA COUNTY, Tennessee- Family, friends, co-workers and former students came to remember and celebrate the life of a Rhea County man Tuesday. "I’m going to follow your advice. I threw my papers down, I typically just talk straight from the heart…
Accelerated Bachelor's Program for Hamilton County Students
Blue Cross Blue Shield and East Tennessee State University is offering Hamilton County students a fast track bachelor's degree in computing.
Country Music Star Kane Brown teams up with Lowe's to give back to hometown
Country music star Kane Brown is teaming up with Lowe’s to help celebrate the company's 100th birthday.
Vehicle theft update
(WDEF) - One Chattanooga man has been arrested in connection to stolen vehicles according to the Chattanooga Police department. In an affidavit acquired by News 12, police said 22 year old Corey M. Fletcher, Jr. was found driving a stolen…
Tennessee National Guard troops deploying for Middle East
Soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment, are deploying for a 10-month tour of the Middle East.
Voting, citizens arrest & criminal adult age bills pass in Georgia
ATLANTA (WDEF) - Monday was crossover day at the Georgia legislature. That means that any new bill with hopes of becoming a law this year must be approved by either the House or Senate. If it passes one, then it…
Church van suspect charged for drugs in next county
TRENTON, Georgia (WDEF) - On Friday, we told you how DeKalb County investigators had put out a photo of a suspect wanted for cutting a catalytic converter off a church van. Now officials say Gregory Summers of Hixson is that…
Walker County Sheriff's Office investigates vehicle thefts at dealership
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) - “We’re in shock. We’ve been here 37 years, quiet, little town and I kind of feel like we’ve been violated,” Jenkins Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep General Sales Manager Mark Jenkins said. A Jenkins Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep…
What's Right With Our Schools: Hixson Middle School Strings
How quickly do kids forget how to play? One local school program is trying to keep young string instrument players in the game a bit longer. It's part of What's Right With Our Schools this week.
Tri-community neighbors voice concerns over lack of fire hydrants
OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) - According to the Hamilton County OEM, a family sat down for lunch at 2410 Daugherty Lane when they noticed a fire on their back porch. That’s when they exited the house and called 911. As firefighters…
Georgia Senate votes to end no excuse absentee voting
ATLANTA (WDEF) - The Georgia Senate on Monday afternoon voted to end no-excuse absentee voting in the state. The practice was first passed by a Republican legislature 16 years ago. Before, anyone who asked for an absentee ballot could get…
Walker County house fire kills 2 people
WALKER COUNTY, Ga (WDEF) - Walker County Fire and rescue responded to a report of a structure fire early Monday morning. The house located at 491 Bicentennial Trail was consumed in heavy smoke and flames when firefighters arrived. "The first arriving…
Resident complains about landfill smell
RHEA COUNTY, Tennessee- Donna Mcgainey said outside of the Rhea County Solid Waste Facility, there is usually an awful smell wafting through the neighborhood. "The debris on the road, the smell is horrendous," said Mcgainey. "Maybe we need to be…
Fully-vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says
Fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing.