News 12 reporter gets first hand experience at Soaky Mountain new water coaster
SEVIERVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF)- Soaky Mountain water park opened during the pandemic in 2020. We started to build and then the pandemic hit. We…
Brian Armstrong
Articles
South Chickamauga Greenway is officially open after nearly three decades
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-After nearly 3 decades the South Chickamauga Greenway is finally open. Trust for Public Land partnered with the City of Chattanooga to create the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway, It stretches from the Tennessee River near Chattanooga State to…
Waterfront triathlon sees over 1000 athletes compete
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The waterfront triathlon had over 1,000 athletes compete in the swim, bike, and run event. There were two different types of races at this year's triathlon, a shorter sprint event and a longer more grueling Olympic event.…
Tennessee Department of Corrections searching for two women who escaped from the Chattanooga Release Center
UPDATE: Wardlaw and Standifer were apprehended in Nashville on Sunday. They were found walking down a street and taken into custody without incident. _____________ CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The Tennessee Department of Correction is asking for the public’s help in locating…
McKamey Animal Center: Paw Palooza
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Coolidge Park had an extra dose of animals this afternoon. McKamey Animal Center had its inaugural Paw Palooza Pet Walk and Festival. A walk around the park, a water area to play in, and plenty of games…
Blood Assurance celebrates 50 years
Chattanooga, Tennessee (WDEF)- Blood Assurance is celebrating 50 Years of collecting blood to help serve the community. Saturday's celebration was meant to recognize not only the hard work of the employees but also the community giving blood to help others…
Is abortion illegal in the U.S. now? Depends where you live
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, although the timing of those laws taking effect…
HCSO Responds to Water Emergency on Dockside Drive
Hamilton County, TN – At approximately 12:35 pm, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded near the 2300 block of Dockside Drive for the report of a water emergency. Initial reports from the scene indicates a male party was attempting to…
Chattanooga protest to Wade Vs. Wade being overturned
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- A few hundred people from the Tennessee Valley area and North Georgia protested against Roe VS Wade being overturned. Chants of we will fight rang out throughout Coolidge park as they say even bough they expected Roe…
Reaction to Roe Vs. Wade being overturned
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) "It’s been a precedent for a long time and I think it’s kind of crazy how quickly everything happens since Texas," said Elliot. Jill Zemmour says she was surprised…
Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade; states including Tennessee and Alabama can ban abortion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. Friday’s outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly…
Parents weigh in on if their toddler or baby should get COVID vaccine
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved COVID vaccines for Americans younger than 5 years old to as young as 6 months. Pfizer's vaccine is a three-dose series, with the first two shots…
Catoosa County Launches advanced Emergency Alert System
CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF)- The Catoosa County Emergency Management Agency has launched a state of the art emergency alert system to notify citizens of severe weather, environmental hazards, and criminal activity. By replacing the counties legacy emergency alert system with…
Charles H Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center honors Juneteenth
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-In honor of Juneteenth, the Charles H Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and Unity Group of Chattanooga partnered up to provide special guide tours to show the history of blacks in the United state military. the…
WRES working on woods fire
Waldens Ridge Emergency Service was on the scene of a woods fire in the Forrest Park area and there were since around 5 am. in a Facebook post WRES says windy conditions and rough terrain are making it more difficult…
Busy weekend for Chattanooga Fire Department as pets perish in a fire
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Chattanooga Fire Department had a busy 24 hours, including two house fires. On Saturday at 5:18 PM, crews were called to the 300 block of S Parkdale Avenue for reports of a home on fire. On arrival,…
Two females shot near Station Street
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-On June 19, 2022, Chattanooga Police responded to a call of a person shot. The following are the preliminary facts of the investigation: Police working the area overheard a loud argument coming from a parking lot adjacent to Station…
Person Shot on Retro Hughes Road
Hamilton County, TN – On June 18, 2022 at approximately 10:30 pm, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 2900 block of Retro Hughes Road for the report of a person shot. Upon arrival, preliminary information from the scene…
US opens COVID vaccine to little kids, shots begin next week
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. on Saturday opened COVID-19 vaccines to infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The shots will become available next week, expanding the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 6 months. Advisers to the Centers for…
Bitcoin drops below $20,000 as crypto selloff quickens
NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin fell below the psychologically important threshold of $20,000 on Saturday for the first time since late 2020, in a fresh sign that the selloff in cryptocurrencies is deepening. The price of the most popular cryptocurrency…
Building collapse after fire kills 1 firefighter; 5 injured
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A building caught fire and later collapsed in Philadelphia, killing one firefighter and injuring five other people, two critically, after all became trapped early Saturday, authorities said. The fire was reported just before 2 a.m. Saturday in…
HCSO Investigates Chattanooga Police Department Shots Fired Incident
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- According to Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, on Friday, June 17, at the request of the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services personnel responded to the 700 block of North Germantown Road to…
Financial impact to another Federal Reserve interest rate increase
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- This week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point. This is the largest rate increase since 1994. "Touting recession, and the closest thing you can think…
Whitfield County EMA hold first Place of Worship Safety seminar
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF)- The Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency provided it’s first Place of Worship Safety seminar, to help people in crisis situations. Emergency Management Coordinator, Christina Byrd, says Welcome Hill Baptist Church reached out…
History of burned Highland Baptist Church
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Curator of Collections, Lindsay Stuber, with the Chattanooga Historical Society says the start of the church dates back to the 1890s. "Highland Baptist Church actually started out as Orchard…
90 year old celebrates birthday by skydiving
JASPER, Tennessee (WDEF)-Irene Hammontree, from Dalton, celebrated turning 90 this weekend by visiting the Chattanooga skydiving company. "Whenever you start on the free fall, I want you to throw your hands out and…
Signal Mountain Fire and Police open house
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee (WDEF)- Families had a day out interacting with law enforcement and the fire department, at Signal Mountain, this weekend. "We’re happy to do it this year. We haven’t been able to do it the last two years…
Two families displaced by fire
RED BANK, Tennessee (WDEF)-The American Red Cross will be taking care of two families who were displaced today by a fire. At 3pm, a neighbor called 911 reporting a duplex located at 305 Jackson Road. Red Bank Fire Department responded…
Chattanooga March for Our Lives
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Chattanooga has made national news the past two weekends due to multiple mass shootings Residents of Chattanooga and surrounding areas marched, held up signs, and said enough is enough at today's March for Our Lives. Those in…
Softball tournament for families impacted by South Pittsburgh fatal car accident
JASPER, Tennessee (WDEF)- A softball tournament was held, throughout today, to raise 5 thousand dollars for the families impacted by the last weekend's fatal car accident that killed 4 people and put a 5th in the hospital. The community has…
Mental health’s impact on shootings
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-After mass shootings, in Chattanooga, over back-to-back weekends, and other mass shootings across the country, the impact of mental health has become a focus. “We’re not being proactive. The whole city,…
South Pittsburg community mourning loss of four, one injured
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tennessee (WDEF)- The South Pittsburg community has joined together to support the families who lost their children in a fatal car accident this past weekend. Four people died, in a single car crash, early Saturday morning and a fifth…
Chattanooga residents react to weekend shootings
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Chattanooga resident Kim Rogg said she wonders when enough will be enough. “How many more family members have to go to funerals before common sense kicks in,”…
Riverbend final day
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- River Bend has wrapped up this weekend after a successful and safe music event. Mickey McCamish of Friends of the Festival stressed the importance of safety particular with the shooting occurring throughout the nation and Chattanooga. He…
Tropical Storm Alex heads toward Bermuda with high winds
Tropical Storm Alex, which became the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season Sunday, headed toward Bermuda after killing three people in Cuba and causing flooding in parts of Florida. Alex reached tropical storm force after strengthening off Florida’s…
Inflation divide: The wealthy splurge, the poorest pull back
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans at the low end of the income rung are once again struggling to make ends meet. A confluence of factors — the expiration of federal stimulus checks and surging inflation on staples like gas and…
Three dead, 14 shot near McCallie Ave
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Three people are dead after violence on McCallie Avenue in Chattanooga early Sunday morning. Two were killed by gunfire and one was struck by a vehicle while fleeing the scene. The incident had 14 victims, according to…
4 die in fatal Marion County car crash, 1 injured
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tennessee (WDEF)- Four young people died in a car crash early this morning including the driver, 20-year-old Johnathan Allen. The other deceased passengers were, 22-year-old Jayven Martin and 20-year-old Sayveon Martin, and a 16 year old juvenile. A…
Future teachers receive scholarships as potential teacher shortage looms
HIXSON, Tennessee (WDEF)- As students leave the classroom for summer vacation, some teachers may follow but won’t be returning next fall. A future teacher shortage is possible but some future and former educators feel…
Catalytic converter theft on the rise
CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF)- Catalytic converters continue to be an item stolen off of vehicles in the area. East Ridge Police and Catoosa County Law Enforcement have warned the public about an increase…