Chattanooga Zoo invites community to name Emperor Tamarin babies
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Zoo is celebrating the arrival of two new additions to its animal family and inviting the community to help choose their…
Lillian Yi
Articles
Better Business Bureau warns of GLP-1 weight loss scams
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As many people begin the New Year with resolutions focused on health and wellness, scammers are taking advantage of those searching for weight…
MLK Day of Service brings fire safety outreach to neighborhoods
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Fire Department spent Monday morning giving back to the community through its annual smoke alarm drive, helping make homes safer…
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. honors Dr. King through service
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated came together Monday with a mission rooted…
Fleischmann says Tennessee can lead in AI and Quantum Computing
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - News 12 spoke with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, who is pushing for more investment in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. He says the…
Two-vehicle crash cause vehicles to roll multiple times
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Early Sunday evening, first responders responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 southbound near the 29-mile marker. According to the Bradley County EMS, they say a pickup truck with a single adult occupant and…
String of auto burglaries solved after search of suspect’s vehicle
OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Friday morning, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) responded to a string of auto burglaries near the 8300 block of Front Gate Circle in Ooltewah. According to the sheriff's…
Two-vehicle crash resulted in two adults trapped inside
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Saturday, multiple agencies responded to a two-vehicle crash on Paul Huff Parkway in front of Lowe's. According to Bradley County EMS, one vehicle came to rest on its side with two adults trapped inside.…
Structure fire results in total loss
CHARLESTON, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Saturday afternoon, just after 1 p.m., the Bradley County Fire responded to a structure fire in Charleston, Tennessee. Bradley County Fire and Rescue says crews arrived to find the residence already fully involved. Firefighters confirm…
Brides and Grooms to be explore options at Tennessee Valley Bridal Fair
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) - News 12 hosted the annual Tennessee Valley Bridal Fair today, bringing together brides and grooms to be for a one…
Police investigate shooting involving teen suffering from gunshot wound
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) is investigating a shooting that happened on Friday, January 16, around 9:30pm on the 1000 block of Sheridan Ave. According to CPD, when officers arrived on scene, they located a 19-year-old…
One man shot after striking an officer and stealing a police vehicle
Hamilton County, Tenn. (WDEF) - The TBI is investigating the indictment of a Dunlap man in connection to an officer-involved shooting that took place in December. According to the TBI, on December 28th,…
One man shot after arming himself and advancing toward officers
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WDEF) - TBI special agents are investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened early Saturday morning in Bristol. According to the TBI, just after 11:00 p.m., on Friday evening, the Bristol Police Department responded…
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…
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…