Child abuse cases on the rise in 2021
Officials with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lookout Mountain judicial service has already received 175 reported cases and is on pace for an all-time high of 350 compared to 260 in all of 2020.
Brian Armstrong
Articles
Chattanooga Skydiving Company went skydiving with the American flag to celebrate freedom
JASPER, Tennessee (WDEF)- The Chattanooga skydiving Company flew an American Flag to honor all those who make America’s freedoms possible. "It the closest I’ll ever get to be in a rockstar. Our songs only about 30 seconds," said…
Selfie with the ‘Declaration of Independence’
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Taking a selfie with the Declaration of Independence also took place over the holiday weekend. The first facsimile of the Declaration of Independence is on display at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor…
Hamilton County students graduate from BASF’s TECH Academy
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-Eight Hamilton County high school juniors and seniors completed BASF’s annual TECH Academy. "Getting to meet everybody. Coming in and seeing new faces and getting to see the stuff I didn’t know about," said student…
Fireworks are back in Collegedale post-pandemic
COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF)-This year will be much easier to celebrate the 4th of July as compared to last year. Last year the Collegedale commons looked a lot different than it does today as Collegedale was forced to…
CPD unveils Dragonfly Community Connect
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Police Department unveiled a new program called Dragonfly Community Connect that can address crime in real time. Dragonfly Community Connect is a volunteer program that directly links security systems owned by Chattanooga businesses…
Small business tips from ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ TV show
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- At the Chattery in Chattanooga, Suzanne Dulin used a successful wedding dress TV show as inspiration to aid Hamilton County small businesses coming out of the pandemic. "I love the show. It’s been running…
Hamilton County DA’s Office joins Baptiste Group investigation
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston has joined the investigation allegations of illegal activities involving the Baptiste Group In a statement, Pinkston said, “We will be working with CPD and will vigorously prosecute any…
Reach One Teach One and Kids Art Box teaming up for kids vacation
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee- Two Chattanooga-based organizations are partnering together to provide a unique opportunity for nearly 60 area kids. Reach one teach one and Kids Art Box are holding a fish fry fundraiser to raise money for at-risk kids.…
U.S. unlikely to reach Biden’s 70% vaccination goal due to people under 30
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- More than 70% of Americans age 30 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine Despite that the US is likely to fall short of President Biden’s goal of 70…
NOVONIX expansion, taking over former Alstom building
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - A major manufacture expansion in Chattanooga will create nearly 300 new jobs. "Those are jobs that are created that then have the potential to impact the rest of the site," said VP of Economic…
Lumber prices let up giving hope to homebuyers
RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF)- "They’re not as good as they used to be. The golden egg is broken," said Junior. Lumber such as 2x4s were viewed almost as gold over the last several months but it’s changing. "We…
Intern creates a drive for cleaning supplies for the former homeless
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) -The Homeless Services Division’s primary goal is to make homelessness in Chattanooga brief, rare, and non-recurring by locating permanent housing. "Our model is housing first. So we do have an outreach team that will…
Planned Parenthood debate at Hamilton County School Board meeting
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Several people including Calvary Chapel Pastor Frank Ramseur spoke out against potentially Planned Parenthood education coming into Hamilton County Schools. "Respectfully just know that there are a lot of people that are rightly aware and…
Walker County StormReady helping save lives in a potential natural weather disaster
WALKER COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) - Walker County has taken another step in continuing to protect its residents during extreme weather events. Walker County is now designated as a StormReady county by the National Weather Service. "We would…
Welcome home Wes Kean
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - Several hundred people lined up to welcome home Wes Kean from the hospital. A moment tough for his family and friends to describe. "It’s huge. He got burned bad 11 1/2 weeks ago.…
Owner of nursing home arrested for not providing A/C for two years
DADE COUNTY (WDEF) - "This is pitiful. I'm distraught about it. When I told my wife when I left she was in tears and it’s heartbreaking to see the elderly people treated this way," said Dade County…
Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition vaccinating the homeless
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition is providing vaccinations to those who have yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, the Hamilton County Health Department, and Olivet Baptist Church have partnered together…
Rent and housing prices continue to soar and could continue to increase
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - Finding a reasonably affordable place to live continues to be a struggle for many Americans as rents and home prices continue to rise. "I jokingly say even offering your first child’s naming rights…
Family still can’t get into home after tree fell on house
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Last week saw heavy rainfall resulting in a tree falling on top of their house. "No bruises and stuff like that so I mean I’m just glad to be alive," said Robert Campbell. "Each…
Direct Flooring giving back to the community
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) -A Chattanooga flooring company is selling rugs to helping out the areas community. After years of working with builders Direct Flooring opened its doors in April to the public. Direct Flooring’s owner Jordan Parker…
Mayor Kelly’s plans for the city
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - Chattanooga City Mayor Tim Kelly and the city’s chief of staff had a discussion about the plans for Chattanooga’s future including an early look at who could be the new Chattanooga police chief. It was a…
Burnside neighborhood open in Chattanooga’s Southside
Chattanooga’s Southside experienced a large housing and commercial revitalization with the opening of a new building.
Tivoli Foundation presents: Broadway at the Memorial Auditorium
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Broadway will be back in Chattanooga for the 2021-22 season after being unable to complete last year's show schedule. The arts have been some of those hardest hit financially by the pandemic. Fiddler on…
Teenager driving safety changes in Georgia
(WDEF) - Car crashes are the number one cause of death of teenagers between 16 and 19 according to drive SmartGeorgia.com. "A young man and his name was Joshua was killed in a car wreck and his…
Tennessee and Georgia continue to lag behind in COVID-19 vaccination rates
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) - Medical experts fear that’s states such as Tennessee and Georgia could see a surge in COVID cases as vaccination rates are still low. COVID cases in Whitfield County increased in May due to…
Two people escape injury after tree fall on their house after heavy rain led to flash flooding
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- "With no bruises or stuff like that, I mean, I’m just glad to be alive," said Robert Campbell who was in the house when the tree fell on it. Stephanie Black and Robert Campbell…
Used car prices continue to increase
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Tennessee and Georgia Car shoppers looking for a deal will be hard-pressed to find one as Used car prices continue to surge. "The highly utilized truck with a lot of flexibility and the purely…
Chattanoogan woman speaks against Planned Parenthood to city council
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- A Chattanooga woman spoke out against plan parenthood to the Chattanooga city council Tuesday. Anne Rudd asked the city council to consider what it would mean to have a Planned Parenthood brought to Chattanooga.…
Remembering Tulsa Race Massacre 100 years later
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas gathered Monday to remember when the wealthiest U.S. Black community was burned to the ground 100 years ago. 100 years ago a white supremacist group raided, burned,…
Collegedale’s Veterans Park unveils new sculpture honoring women soldiers
COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) - The mission of the Collegedale's Veterans Park is to honor all veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Now a life-size bronze sculpture of a female Army nurse has been added to…
Shepherd’s Men swim, run, and ruck for 22 hours for veteran suicide prevention
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- For Memorial Weekend an organization is dedicating 22 hours of continuous movement to honor the 22 veterans lost every day to suicide. "We’re fighting a war on our Homefront. We’re fighting a war against…
‘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,…
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…
Legal sports betting pros and cons
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- "Being able to set a limit for yourself about how much you’re willing to bet, how much you’re willing to lose a to be able to walk away when you hit that limit if…
Car emission test could soon be a thing of the past for Hamilton County
Emission tests will likely no longer be required in Hamilton County come August even though it was expected to happen much earlier.
Click it or Ticket to keep you and your family safe
EAST RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF)- Over 100 law enforcement officers from Tennessee and Georgia came together to remind drivers to fasten their seatbelts. Through 'Click It or Ticket, seatbelt enforcement will increase for the new two weeks through…
Hamilton County COVID-19 vaccine update
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- More than 35% of Hamilton County residents are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Another 40% of individuals are partially vaccinated according to the Hamilton County Health Department. Doctor Harry Severance said when fully vaccinated the…
Kids Art Box learning Van Gogh and other art history first hand
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- A Chattanooga company is helping parents with their kids' education through art. Kids Art Box is selling their commemorative Van Gogh “My Artist Box” after a request from parents due to a Van Gogh experience across the…
Truck gets stuck under bridge and causes road closure
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - A truck blocked off the road after getting stuck under a bridge Thursday. A truck became wedged under a bridge on Alton Park Blvd going towards W 33rd St. The Chattanooga police said…