Walker County Animal Shelter extends euthanasia deadline
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) - The director of the Walker County Animal Shelter says euthanasia lists are created when the shelter reaches critical capacity. She explains that many animals…
Lillian Yi
Articles
Federal student loan borrowers face wage garnishment notices
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Trump administration has begun sending wage garnishment notices to borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans. The first wave of roughly…
Walker County Animal Shelter urgently seeking homes before deadline
WALKER COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Back in December, the Walker County Animal Shelter brought in 51 animals. Out of the 30 dogs the shelter took in, they've…
Fleischmann addresses Iran unrest amid deadly protests
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Protests across Iran have taken a deadly turn, drawing global attention as citizens openly voice opposition to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian…
One week after the capture Venezuelan Tennesseans share hope
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WDEF) - A local Venezuelan family says hope is slowly returning after years of dictatorship, while emphasizing that leaving their homeland was not a choice…
Male found dead with motorcycle off the roadway
UPDATE: Christopher Swartout has been identified as the deceased victim in the fatal motorcycle crash on Ooltewah Georgetown Road on January 11, 2026. HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Early Sunday morning around 4:00 a.m., Hamilton…
City government of Collegedale announces passing of Judge Kevin Wilson
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Saturday, the city government of Collegedale announced the passing of Judge Kevin Wilson. According to city officials, he passed away Friday, January 9, 2026. Judge Wilson is described…
Knoxville couple says I Do after life changing diagnosis
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Knoxville couple says when life suddenly changed, love became their constant. After a leukemia diagnosis kept them inside CHI Memorial Hospital, they…
Fleischmann highlights local impact of 2026 Energy and Water Bill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Congressman Chuck Fleischmann stopped by Chattanooga today to highlight a major win for the region. Among the many provisions included in the…
One adult and two children escape garage fire without injuries
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - This evening around 6p.m., an off-duty Chattanooga Police officer, who lived in the neighborhood, called 911 reporting a residential structure fire in the 6400 block of Rosemary Drive. According to Chattanooga Fire Department, when crews arrived,…
TBI: Man shot and killed by park rangers after stealing truck
WILDERSVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) - TBI special agents are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding an officer-involved shooting on Friday night involving a park ranger at Natchez Trace State Park. According to the TBI, the incident began around 6:20 p.m., when…
TBI investigates Bristol Officer-involved shooting
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WDEF) - In the early hours of Saturday morning, around 1:00 a.m., officers with the Bristol Tennessee Police Department responded to an alarm at the post office on 6th Street.…
First Responder Hero Award: Noah Hobbs
ROSSVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) – News 12 is recognizing some of the bravest members of our community through the First Responders Hero Award. Whether someone is an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, or…
Congressman reacts to the capture of Maduro following a U.S. operation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Congressman Chuck Fleischmann is reacting to the capture of Nicolás Maduro following a U.S. mission in Venezuela. Fleischmann says the mission…
Forced to flee Venezuelan Americans reflect on protests and the fall of Maduro
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Continuing our coverage of the Venezuela strike, News 12's Lillian Yi spoke with two U.S. citizens who were forced…
Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. (WDEF) - Continuing our coverage of the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, News 12’s Lillian Yi spoke with former FBI undercover operative Eric O’Neill about the intelligence and…
Venezuelan Citizen speaks out following U.S. operation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Following recent events in Venezuela, News 12 connected with a Venezuelan citizen who currently lives in the country and describes taking cover during the strike.…
Chattanooga zoo welcomes special guests from Disney Animation’s Frozen
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As the New Year begins, the Asian Lantern Festival is coming to a close at the Chattanooga Zoo, giving families one last chance…
Hamilton County parent raises concerns over classroom reading assignment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Hamilton County parent is speaking out after learning her child’s class was assigned The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, saying she was…
Local election season begins as candidate qualifying opens
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The political season for next year officially begins today. Qualifying has opened for local elections that will take place next spring. Candidates now have…
Salvation Army hosts Christmas brunch for unhoused community
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Salvation Army of Chattanooga opened its doors this morning to host a special brunch for members of the unhoused community. The event served…
Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors hosts Christmas event in Miller Park
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - With Christmas just a few days away, families gathered in downtown Chattanooga for a festive holiday celebration filled with cheer, characters, and…
Local production ‘Where You Left Me’ films in Northwest Georgia
LAFAYETTE, GA. (WDEF) - Georgia is quickly becoming a go to destination for filmmakers, not only for large scale productions, but also for local storytellers bringing meaningful…
Ringgold Political event highlights Congressional and Lt. Governor Races
RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) - A political event was held Saturday night in Ringgold, Georgia, where several Republican candidates hoping to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene addressed voters and…
Teen victim dies from multiple gunshot wounds
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) is investigating a homicide that happened yesterday 7:00 pm in the 1100 block of Jackson Ave. According to the CPD, officers responded and located Wallace Milam,…
The Salvation Army distributes Angel Tree Gifts in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Salvation Army of Chattanooga is working to make Christmas a little brighter for local families as it reaches the distribution phase of…
Tennessee Bill Proposes accessible parking for pregnant women
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - State Representative Gino Bulso has filed House Bill 14-57, which would allow women in their second or third trimester, as well as those with…
Chattanooga Jewish community reacts to Hanukkah attack
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia, News 12 spoke with a local Jewish leader about the…
Memorial Hospital hosts job fair at New Ringgold location
RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) - Memorial Hospital hosted a job fair in the lobby of its new hospital in Ringgold, giving community members a chance to explore career…
Pawpaw’s Homeless Ministry hosts annual Miracle on 11th Street
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Pawpaw’s Homeless Ministry hosted its annual Miracle on 11th Street event, bringing food, fellowship, and holiday cheer to Chattanooga’s unhoused community. The holiday season…
Funding and Partnerships drive Alton Park Connector
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - City leaders and community partners gathered over the weekend for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Phase One of the Alton Park Connector, a project aimed at improving…
Red Wolves Foundation hosts Christmas Gift Program
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Red Wolves Foundation hosted its annual Christmas gift program at CHI Memorial Stadium, bringing holiday cheer to children and families from across Hamilton County.…
Driver rescued after vehicle goes off Signal Mountain
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN. (WDEF) – On Sunday, the Signal Mountain Fire Department responded to a single-vehicle accident on North Palisades Drive around 3:33 p.m. According to the Chattanooga Fire Department, several agencies worked together for an hours-long response after a…
Suspect arrested in shooting involving teen
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – On Saturday, the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) investigated a shooting that happened on December 13, 2025, around 3:33 p.m. in the 2200 block of E. 25th Street Ct. According to CPD, when police arrived, they learned…
Fiery single vehicle crash results in fatality
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – On Sunday, around 3:35 a.m., the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) responded to a single-vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality. According to CPD, police responded to 181 Interstate 24 E for…
Pedestrian struck in hit-and-run on Brainerd Rd
UPDATE 12/16/2025: Chattanooga Police Department has announced the victim of the pedestrian struck accident on 5321 Brainerd Road has died from his injuries. He died on December 15, 2025. They have identified the victim as Robbie Wimpy. The crash remains…
Donata’s Wreaths Across Walker County
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) - While the Chattanooga community gathered at the Chattanooga National Cemetery, a similar mission was taking place just across the state line at the Tennessee Georgia Memorial…
Wreaths Across Chattanooga honors fallen Veterans
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - In Chattanooga today, volunteers gathered to honor fallen service members during Wreaths Across Chattanooga. Hundreds of volunteers placed wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Chattanooga National…
Groundbreaking held for Alton Park Connector
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Today, the City of Chattanooga partnered with the Trust for Public Land for a ceremonial groundbreaking marking the start of the Alton Park Connector Phase One.…
Man killed in Rossville Boulevard hit-and-run
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run involving a man in a motorized wheelchair on Rossville Boulevard. Police say officers responded around 6:30 p.m. on December…