Local Sanctuary for Elderly and Severely Abused Animals
PIKEVILLE, TN (WDEF) - "He's got a lot of trust issues because you do when someone shoots you in the face," says Judy LaGrone who is President and Treasurer for Maringa Animal Shelter.…
Andy Santoro
Articles
Not Guilty Verdict in Local High School Rape Trial
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "We the jury find the defendant Romalace Williams not guilty." After five hours of deliberation, a jury of 12 found Romalace Williams not guilty of rape. The rape charges stemmed…
Alleged Uber Driver Rape Case Binds Over to Grand Jury
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - On January 15th, authorities say 36-year-old Zachery Johnson attacked an Uber driver after leaving a Chili's restaurant on Gunbarrel Road. Today he faced…
Local Reaction to American Medical Association Pushing for Accessible Narcan
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "It is something that happens almost on a daily basis that we respond to someone with a drug overdose where we have to administer Narcan," says Chattanooga Fire Department…
Public Defender on Inmate Stabbings, Hopes Sheriff Will Bring Change
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - News 12 receives multiple calls a month on our tipline from family members of inmates who say their relative has been assaulted at Silverdale Detention Center. "When we see crime happen,…
Recent Spike in Chattanooga Overdose Deaths Alarms Police and Local Rehabs
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Overdose deaths are on the rise all over the country and the startling trend is hitting Chattanooga hard. "Chattanooga is no different, we've seen quite a…
Family of Annie Shell Disappointed Following Benjamin Brown Verdict
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "I don't understand what the jury was thinking," says Annie Shell's father David Shell. A jury took two days to decide Benjamin Brown of Soddy-Daisy is guilty of criminally negligent…
Chattanooga Police Say Low Bond Fee Puts Public At Risk
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "We're not concerned about our job being easier, we're concerned about people we put in jail who are a danger to the community staying in jail," says Chattanooga Police Public Information…
Judge Scolds Car Chase Driver, Doubles Bond, For Traumatizing Daughter
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - On a busy Thursday afternoon just before last Christmas, authorities allege Randal Keeton sped past Chief Deputy Austin Garrett, driving erratically and leading him on a pursuit that began around…
Janet Hinds Sentenced to 11 Years for Vehicular Homicide of Officer Nicholas Galinger
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "And that's when Lieutenant Holloway said Barry, Nicholas is Gone." Barry Galinger is the father of Officer Nicholas Galinger who was killed in February of 2019 when Janet Hinds struck…
Local Father of Child Fighting Cancer Gains Global Awareness Through Social Media
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "I can't stop cancer," says Chad Ehlers during a Tik Tok video that has gone viral. Mia Ehlers was diagnosed with leukemia before she was even two years old in July…
Tennessee rates poorly on women’s issues
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Hundreds of women and men met at the Westin Chattanooga to address policies that impact women in Tennessee. "It's important for women across the state to understand the policies that affect…
D.A. Candidate Coty Wamp Calls Witness Tampering Accusations Bogus
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A Soddy Daisy man was arrested in January for shooting at a man and his pregnant girlfriend. Coty Wamp serves as the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Lead Counsel. She says…
Chattanooga Police Report Spike in Robberies Targeting Latino Community in Highland Park
Chattanooga police is reaching out to the Latino community within the Highland Park neighborhood following a recent spike in robberies that police say are targeting them.
Dedrick Lindsey Jr. Allegedly Stabs Man 73 Times in Prison, Adding More Charges to Upcoming Attempted Murder Trial
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Dedrick Lamont Lindsey Jr. Of Chattanooga shot a man in 2013 and 2017. Investigators say the man is the father of a child with a woman Lindsey dated. The man…
Supply Chain Issues Hit Local Auto Body Repair Shops
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "People come in to get their car fixed and we tell them it's going to be awhile until we get the parts," says Justin Thomas who is a mechanic at Econo…
TDOT Commits to Immediate but Temporary Fix to Many Chattanooga Potholes
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "This month's back to back winter storms have created several new potholes along our interstates and state routes," says Rae Anne Bradel, Community Relations Officer for TDOT. When water enters cracks…
March for Life Comes to Chattanooga as Roe v. Wade Turns 49
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Today is the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade when the Supreme Court legalized abortion. March for Lifes have been taking place all over the country and Chattanooga…
Critics Perceive Lack of Diversity Among Riverbend Headliners
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Riverbend Festival organizers say the lineup selection process is complex but involves community input. "We sent out a survey to around 30,000 people and just ask them straight up, who…
More Information on Teenage Trail Runner Rescue
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "It's kind of like a bowl of spaghetti. It just keeps going. It gets tangled up. It's really easy to get turned around." That's how local experienced trail runner Garrison…
Uber Statement and Neighbor’s Account of Alleged Attack on Driver
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Zachery Richard Johnson was booked Saturday night on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery and carjacking following his alleged attack on an Uber driver…
Local Attorney Reaction to Supreme Court Blocking Federal Vaccine Mandate
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the federal vaccine requirement for businesses of 100 or more employees but they kept the mandate for large health care providers. News 12's Andy Santoro spoke with a local attorney for some legal insight into the decision.
Foundation Offers Full Scholarship in Floor Installation Trade at Technical College in Dalton
A foundation funded by carpet industry titans is giving back in a very unique way in a first of its kind program that offers individuals training and certification in a much needed skill.
Hamilton County Commission to Vote Next Week on Nepotism Pay
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd has been leading the charge for a change in rules that currently allows local elected officials to pay a direct family member that they employ county…
Hamilton County Judge Sends Migrant Youth Worker Sexual Battery Case to Grand Jury
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Three female employees of the Baptiste Group were arrested in 2021 on various charges of sexual misconduct against minors staying at their shelter for migrants in Chattanooga. Today,…
Investigation Into Hamilton County Child Rape Crosses State Lines, Public Assistance Needed
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Ryan Andrew Meyung was arrested in December on multiple counts of child rape, aggravated kidnapping and other related charges. An arrest affidavit says Meyung was a motocross stunt rider. Meyung…
Georgia Governor Visits Lafayette Factory Hiring 600
WALKER COUNTY, GA (WDEF) - "This is just so good for our state because we're strengthening rural Georgia," says Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. "We're making sure sure people have opportunity no…
Salvation Army and Community Kitchen Open Cold Weather Shelters
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "We're getting some pretty nasty weather coming in and some of our neighbors have nowhere to go," says Major Mark Smith who is the Salvation Army's Area Commander for…
Back to School Amidst Omicron
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - COVID-19 infection rates have reached an all time high in Hamilton County. Despite the surge, public schools are open with no virtual learning option and masks are…
Local Restaurants and Food Bank Impacted by National Rise in Food Prices
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Consumer Price Index reports meat prices are up over 20 percent from a year ago. Food prices overall are up 6.4 percent. And the Chattanooga Area Food Bank says more…
Local COVID Numbers Slightly Decrease but Hospitals Fill with Other Respiratory Infections
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - While new Hamilton County COVID cases continue a slight decline following a pandemic all-time high last week, local hospitals report they are still seeing crowds. "So we had anticipated some increases…
Tennessee Highway Patrol and Local Police “Saturate” Roadways to Prevent News Years Eve Drunk Driving
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Drunk driving crashes often involve high rates of speed making the scene of an incident particularly difficult for first responders. "It's a pretty hard thing to deal with, especially hard on some of our younger firefighters in…
Signal Mountain Woman Arrested on Criminal Homicide Following Stabbing Death
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN (WDEF) - "It's a small community so word spread quickly," says land owner and developer of Wild Ridge Jack Kruesi. Signal Mountain is known for being a safe and quiet…
Ooltewah Crash Sends Three to Hospital Reigniting Infrastructure Debate
OOLTEWAH ( WDEF) - "On Snow Hill, there's no give at all. There's nothing. One move and you're either off the road or in the other lane and it's what's causing these accidents,"…
Rapid COVID-19 Tests Scarce in Hamilton County
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Late last week, the health department told the community they would have free rapid COVID-19 testing available today. In a reverse of course, they sent out a memo early this morning…
Prison Prevention Ministries Brings Christmas to Children of Incarcerated
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "What a great time of year to give these guys and these women some hope and their children some hope," says Joe Smith who is the executive director of Prison…
Mayor Kelly Returns From White House to Discuss Infrastructure Bill, Senator Hagerty Weighs In
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Mayor Kelly just returned from the White House. "When the White House calls, it's the President so you go." Kelly says of the ten new mayors invited, he represented the smallest…
City Council Approves Major Development to Transform Chattanooga Waterfront
There are big plans for the Alstom plant site along the River downtown. A Canal... a "Cathedral" like music venue... the canal will go through the Cathedral. Here is the update.
Advocates Rally for Tougher Laws in Marion County Following Dog Shooting
JASPER, TN (WDEF) - "It's just very kamikaze over here. I feel like it's the old Wild West sometimes," says April Bowden who is the Director of Operations for Marion Animal Resource Connection.…
School Board Challenges Status of $750,000 in State Funds for Howard School
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - "The state doesn't have a very good history of taking over under-performing schools and turning them around," says Hamilton County School Board member Joe Smith. The state of Tennessee proposed…