Extreme heat poses deadly risk to pets
Hamilton County, Tenn. (WDEF) - As dangerous heat continues to blanket the Tennessee Valley, it’s not just people who need protection, our pets are also at risk. Local veterinarians…
Lillian Yi
Articles
Officials urge precautions as temperatures soar
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Dangerously high temperatures are settling in across the Tennessee Valley. Emergency officials are urging the public to take precautions. The Hamilton County Emergency Services say the…
EXCLUSIVE: Local K9 Teams head to Texas to help with flood recovery
RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - This evening, in a News 12 exclusive, we are hearing from two local K9 teams who have been selected…
Better Together is back in Hamilton County
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The initiative brings schools, families, and volunteers together to create safe and welcoming spaces just in time for the new school year. At Calvin Donaldson…
Pack the Bus helps everyone prepare for the school year
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Pack the Bus was in full swing this weekend, where volunteers came together to collect school supplies for local students in…
Mutts on the Mountain Foster hosts adoption day
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) - A splash of fun and a chance to find a forever friend brought smiles to the Signal Mountain Town Pool this weekend. Some…
Vacant house fire in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Early this morning, 911 received reports of a burning residence, on the 4100 block of forest acres. According to the CPD, when arriving on scene, they found it was a vacant Chattanooga home. Crews found…
The Walker County African American Museum ribbon cutting Ceremony
LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) - A special celebration took place in Walker County today as community members gathered to honor the past and inspire the future. A…
Erlanger hosts career fair to fill key positions
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - At Erlanger’s Career Fair, job seekers had the opportunity to walk in, no resume required and explore a variety of open positions across the…
Chattanooga volunteers pack 10,000 backpacks through Nehemiah Project
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - With the school year just around the corner, the Chattanooga community is making sure local children head back to school feeling ready and supported.…
Police make second arrest in connection to Read Avenue homicide
UPDATE: Chattanooga police have arrested a second suspect in connection to the Read Avenue homicide. The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) say 18-year-old Mauricio Velasquez was arrested on Monday, July 21, 2025 Velasquez is currently…
Dayton brings the Scopes Trial back to life
DAYTON, Tenn. (WDEF) - Nearly 100 years after the infamous Scopes “Monkey” Trial put evolution and education on the national stage, Dayton, Tennessee is bringing the courtroom drama…
One dead after fatal accident involving submerged vehicle
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Friday, deputies responded to the 6800 block of Highway 58 near Wolftever Bridge for the report of a vehicle crash with entrapment. According to law enforcement, when arriving on scene, deputies located a…
Honoring the Fallen Five: Healing the mind after tragedy
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As we reflect on today's ceremony honoring the Fallen Five, it serves as a powerful reminder that trauma affects not only our physical…
Ten Years Later: Chattanooga Honors the Fallen Five
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Ten years after a domestic terrorist attack shook the heart of Chattanooga, the community is coming together to remember the five servicemen who lost…
Deputies rescue driver after crash and suspected overdose
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Saturday, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy Greg Buck observed a vehicle leave the roadway at 3298 Wilcox Boulevard and crash…
Annual Peach Festival draws a crowd
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - It’s sweet, it’s sunny, and it’s all about the peaches. The annual Peach Festival brought out both locals and visitors this weekend, filling the air with…
Community rallies around young survivor Khloie
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) - A community came together today to support a young girl who’s been through the unimaginable—but continues to show the heart of a true fighter. Earlier this…
Protesters rallied in Dalton against the Big Beautiful Bill
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) - In Dalton, protesters gathered once again in front of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s office, this time to voice opposition to the Big Beautiful…
Four injured in Tyner Community Center Shooting
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - This afternoon, Chattanooga Police responded to reports of multiple people shot in the 6800 block of Ty Hi Drive. Four individuals were taken to the…
First Responder Hero Award: Luke Meeks, Grundy County EMT
GRUNDY COUNTY, TN (WDEF) - News 12 continues to recognize some of the bravest members of our community through the "First Responder Hero Award". This month's nominee's…
All Gas No Brakes: Benefit for Khloie
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) - A young girl’s strength is inspiring hearts across our region after surviving a devastating car crash that changed her life forever. On January 12, 2024,…
Red white and blueberry pie eating contest
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - During the summer months, the First Horizon Pavilion fills with locals enjoying everything the Chattanooga Market has to offer. This weekend, however, things got a…
The Peach festival is right around the corner
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Market is getting ready to go all-in on one of summer’s sweetest fruits. The Peach Festival returns next weekend, bringing fresh flavor,…
Family escapes late-night fire on Fourth of July
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Fourth of July celebration in Hixson took a frightening turn late Friday night when flames erupted at a home on Friendship Lane, sending…
Red White and Mooo event brings community together
LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) — It was a moo-velous time in LaFayette this weekend as the annual ‘Red, White, and Mooo’ event returned to Blessing Creek Farms, drawing families, local vendors, and animal…
Hixson house fire on the Fourth of July
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) - A family on the Fourth of July escapes a house fire without injuries Friday night. At 11:55pm, a homeowner called 911 reporting a garage fire located at 7307 Friendship Lane. Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department…
Fireworks & Fur: Helping pets feel safe this Fourth of July
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As the Fourth of July approaches, many families are prepping for fireworks, barbecues, and quality time outdoors. But while we enjoy…
City of Chattanooga accepts historic land donation to Protect Missionary Ridge
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly joined several city leaders to mark the official donation of land on Missionary Ridge, a move that…
Fluffy new arrival is waddling around at the Tennessee Aquarium
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Just in time for the holiday weekend, the Tennessee Aquarium is celebrating an adorable addition to its Penguins’ Rock colony: a tiny…
Chattanooga gets a taste of the Philippines at the Filipino Street Food Fest
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) - From savory skewers to sweet desserts, the Filipino Street Food Fest brought more than just food—it brought a…
Physical altercation leaves one dead in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Police Department arrested 31-year-old Joseph Tanner Smith in connection to the homicide at a residence on Lindsay Avenue. Around 5:32 a.m., CPD responded to a report of a stabbing within a residence in the…
Flash flooding water rescue at the Pocket Wilderness
SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Sunday around 5:30 pm, a heavy rainstorm produced a flash flooding at the Pocket Wilderness hiking area. This afternoon's thunderstorm in Soddy Daisy created the creek to rise rapidly. Several people were trapped on…
The Journey of Pilatus: From Chattanooga to Connecticut
Chattanooga, Tenn. (WDEF) - He’s fuzzy, he’s feisty—and he’s heading off on a new adventure. Pilatus, one of the Chattanooga Zoo’s beloved red pandas, is saying goodbye to…
Chickamauga gathers to celebrate freedom and community
CHICKAMAUGA Ga, (WDEF) - Red, white, and blue filled the streets of downtown Chickamauga as families, friends, and neighbors gathered for the city’s annual Independence Day celebration. Flags waved,…
Athens City Fire Department welcomes new Safe Haven Baby Box
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Athens City Fire Department is celebrating a new addition—not to their team, but to their mission: a Safe Haven Baby Box,…
The Chattanooga Zoo is saying goodbye to Pilatus the Red Panda
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Zoo is saying goodbye to Pilatus, the red panda, as he prepares to move to a zoo in Connecticut.…
Quantum Technology experts take over Chattanooga for UTC conference
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Experts in quantum technology are taking over Chattanooga this week, with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) serving as a central hub…
Men’s Health Awareness Month: Breaking silence and encouraging action
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - June marks Men’s Health Awareness Month, a national observance aimed at raising awareness about the health challenges men face—and encouraging early detection, treatment,…
Congressman Fleischmann weighs in on U.S. strike against Iran
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As headlines around the world focus on the United States’ latest military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, the global stage feels tense —…