Robertson talks teacher pay, student progress at State of the System
RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Schools held its annual “State of the System” presentation Monday. It functions as the district’s State of the Union, and was…
Mackenzie Johnson
Articles
Chattanooga Nightclub Trial Reaches Verdict
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The trial of Melvin Evans concluded this week in the 2021 fatal shooting of Kenneth Trammell Jr. outside a Chattanooga nightclub, bringing more than five years of…
What's Right With Our Schools: Dr. Ware Leads Howard
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Leadership is a vital part of any good school. Dr. LeAndrea Ware led Howard for 8 years wonderful. During that time, the school…
March Madness Viewership Off to Record Start
NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA Tournament is off to its best start on record. The tournament averaged 9.8 million for the first three days (the First Four on Tuesday and Wednesday along with Thursday’s first round) according to Nielsen, a 5% increase from…
Vols Spring Football Game Set For 2pm Kickoff on April 11th
(utsports.com) -- Tennessee football will culminate the spring with the 2026 Orange & White Game on Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m. ET in Neyland Stadium. Admission is FREE. utsports.com has more info on free tickets. All open sections of…
Braves Starter Spencer Strider Starting Season on Injured List With Oblique Strain
NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will start the season on the injured list because of a strained oblique, the team announced Monday. Strider had been scheduled to start in Monday’s spring training finale against Pittsburgh…
Metro Atlanta man arrested for part in California "murder-for-hire" killing, police say
A Brookhaven man is in custody facing multiple charges after investigators say he took part in a "murder-for-hire" killing in California. Jerry E. Wheeler is facing charges of murder, murder for financial or other…
Trump administration ready to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, asks judge to lift block
The Trump administration said it is ready to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia and asked U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis to dissolve her order blocking that from happening. In a motion filed Friday, the Department of Homeland Security said the…
Walker County landfill to host Strawapalooza
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. -- In celebration of the first full week of spring, the Walker County Landfill says they will host “Strawapalooza” on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24 & 25. There won’t be any musical…
As warming climate brings bears out of hibernation earlier, backyard care is key to coexistence
Vermonters usually put out bird feeders to attract winged visitors who fill their yards with song and color. But they could attract a far less dainty visitor: black bears. As bears emerge from their dens in early spring, they’re on…
Man who fled trial in DeKalb County caught more than 2 years later in Alabama, deputies say
A DeKalb County man who officials say went on the run during his kidnapping trial is back in custody after he was caught in Alabama. Brian Tripp had been named the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office's most wanted fugitive. According to…
Seahawks, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba agree to 4-year, $168.8 million deal, AP source says
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba have agreed to a four-year, $168.8 million contract extension, with $120 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal…
Kendra Duggar, wife of Joseph Duggar, charged with child endangerment after husband's arrest
Kendra Duggar was arrested for misdemeanor charges including endangering the welfare of a child and false imprisonment, according to online records. The charges come a day after her husband Joseph Duggar was charged with molestation. Online records from the Arkansas Washington County…
Trump says US is talking with an Iranian leader as he extends deadline for striking power plants
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. was talking with a “respected” Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline…
Floyd County Historic Courthouse catches fire, employees evacuated
FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. -- The Floyd County Historic Courthouse was evacuated after a fire was discovered in the building around 2:20 p.m. on March 23, 2026. They say all employees inside were safely evacuated, according to Floyd County Manager…
Trump heads to Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, a detour during Iran war and airport turmoil
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump, who for years has played Elvis Presley’s music at his campaign rallies across the country and who has often compared himself to Presley, said on Monday he’s heading to the King of Rock…
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from longtime Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed who has sought to test crime-scene evidence that he says will help clear him. The justices left…
Bill banning cellphones in Georgia high schools sent to Gov. Kemp after passing Senate
A bill that would ban Georgia high school students from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day is now heading to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk to become law. On Monday, senators voted 52 to 0 to pass House Bill 1009. The ban would…
The cost of owning a pet has skyrocketed. Here are some tips to trim rising expenses
The cost of caring for your pet is skyrocketing. One in five pet owners carries at least $2,000 in pet-related debt, according to a study from MetLife Pet Insurance. For Jeanne Warsaw, who has two…
Trump says Iran has agreed they won't have a nuclear weapon
President Trump said on Monday that Iran has "agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon." "They want to - they want peace," Mr. Trump said of Iran. "They've agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon you know ecetera,…
Police find cocaine worth $12M on drug-smuggling boat off Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in Puerto Rico on Monday seized cocaine worth an estimated $12 million off the island’s north coast. A police statement said officers intercepted a 26-foot long (eight meter) boat without identification in waters off the…
Fentanyl found inside Barbies sold at Missouri discount store, police say
Fentanyl was found inside Barbie doll packages being sold at a discount store in Missouri, police said on Saturday. The Independence Police Department said in a social media post that they were contacted by security at Cargo Largo, a local discount store,…
Phase two of One Westside breaks ground
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The next phase of the Chattanooga Westside redevelopment broke…
Dow soars as many as 1,000 points and oil prices fall sharply on hopes for an end to the Iran war
NEW YORK (AP) - Relief is ripping through financial markets Monday after President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to their war. Oil prices are easing, and stock prices are jumping on…
36-year-old arrested on drug charges following traffic stop
SCOTTSBORO -- A 36-year-old man has been arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop in Scottsboro. On March 20, 2026, officers conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Elm St and…
Defending champion Florida eliminated from March Madness by tougher, more physical Iowa team
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A dominant frontcourt helped Florida earn another No. 1 seed and positioned the defending national champion Gators for a chance at a repeat. They ran into a more physical team.…
Social worker killed in shooting at Georgia VA clinic remembered for love of helping others
Family and friends gathered over the weekend to honor the life of a Georgia Department of Veterans Affairs employee who…
Historic Hawaii floods leave 2,000 people without power
More than 2,000 people remained without power Sunday afternoon after Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years when heavy rains fell across the islands. Heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours…
Jury finds Elon Musk liable for misleading investors during Twitter purchase
A jury has found Elon Musk liable for misleading investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price in the tumultuous months leading up to his 2022 acquisition of the social media company for $44 billion. But it absolved him of some fraud…
Oil prices ease and stocks jump after Trump says Iran is talking with the US, despite Iran's denials
NEW YORK (AP) - Relief is ripping through financial markets after President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to their war, despite Iran’s denials. Oil prices are falling sharply, and stock prices…
Savannah Guthrie renews plea to Arizona community for clues in mother's disappearance
Savannah Guthrie is renewing pleas to neighbors, friends and residents of Tucson, Arizona, to jog their memories in the hopes of sparking new leads in the disappearance of her mother, Nancy.…
Chattanooga State names Dr. Karen Eastman Vice President of Academic Affairs
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Chattanooga State Community College has selected Dr. Karen Eastman its new Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Eastman joined ChattState in 2003 as an adjunct faculty member before becoming a…
US won't strike Iran's power plants for 5 days, extending Trump deadline on reopening Hormuz strait
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - President Donald Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, saying Monday that the U.S. would hold…
No burning allowed on March 23 due to unfavorable conditions
No burning is allowed on March 23, 2026 due to dry and windy conditions, according to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau. Burning in these conditions could cause blazes to get out of hand and spread quickly.
4 ambulances from Jewish group set on fire in London in suspected antisemitic hate crime
An aerial view shows fire services monitoring the scene after four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire overnight next to Machzike Hadath Synagogue, on March 23, 2026 in the Golders Green area of London. Police said…
Federal immigration agents seen at Atlanta airport after Trump order amid during partial shutdown
ATLANTA (AP) — Federal immigration officers have been seen at an airport in Atlanta after President Donald Trump said he’d deploy agents to supplement the Transportation Security Administration during a government shutdown that has caused long…
2 pilots killed as plane and fire-rescue truck collide at New York's LaGuardia Airport, officials say
Two pilots were killed and dozens of people were injured at New York's…
Red Tails part of the ground displays at Wings Over North Gerogia
ROME, Georgia (WDEF) - You won't have to always look up at Wings Over North Georgia. There will also be flying displays on the ground. One is a multi-faceted educational tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. You…
Air Canada flight collides with a Port Authority vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport
ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) - An Air Canada regional jet struck a firetruck on the runway of New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, crushing the front nose of the plane, according to authorities and…