BJ’s Wholesale Club Opening Preview
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - BJ’s Wholesale Club is preparing to open a new location at 401 Northgate Mall Drive, marking the company’s sixth store in Tennessee. The warehouse club will officially…
Robert Hanley
Articles
Former Hamilton County Teacher Sentenced for Abuse
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A former Hamilton County teacher, Duane Sanders, was sentenced today for multiple counts of sexual abuse of children following a lengthy investigation. Sanders was found…
Airport Sets New Passenger Record
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Airport broke its all-time passenger record in 2025, serving 632,384 travelers, a 14 percent increase from the year before. Airport President and CEO April Cameron…
Electric Crews Answer Extra Call
SEQUACHEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - After completing power restorations in their own service area Sunday evening, crews from Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative answered a request for help from other electric cooperatives…
Whataburger Expands Across Tennessee
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) - Whataburger, a fast-food chain founded in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950, continues expanding its footprint across Tennessee with the opening of a new location in East Ridge. …
New Tax Rules for Tipped Workers
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Tax season has arrived, and new federal tax changes could impact how many Americans file their 2025 tax returns, particularly people who earn tips or overtime…
Hard Freeze Raises Black Ice Risk
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - After nearly 48 hours of rain, falling temperatures could create hazardous driving conditions across Hamilton County overnight and into the morning commute. Forecasts show temperatures dropping…
Winter Storm Could Disrupt Deliveries
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - With a winter storm moving into the Tennessee Valley this weekend, icy and slushy conditions could make travel difficult and disrupt local deliveries. Snow, sleet, and freezing…
Food Pantries Expand Winter Assistance
FORT OGLETHORPE, GA. (WDEF) - St. Vincent de Paul/Gabriel’s Hope Food Pantry in Fort Oglethorpe provides ongoing food assistance through regular food drives and pantry services. In addition to its routine…
Honor Roll Celebration Uplifts Students
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Orchard Knob Middle School honored academic excellence with a special celebration recognizing 90 students who earned a spot on the honor roll, bringing families, educators, and community…
Red Cross Reports Critical Blood Shortage
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The American Red Cross is reporting a critical blood shortage as hospitals across the country request more blood than is currently available. The organization says its…
Preparing For Extreme Cold Weather
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A cold snap is expected across the Tennessee Valley this weekend, and residents are being reminded of ways to preserve energy and stay warm indoors. Sealing doors…
Community Convenes on Homelessness Solutions
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A community meeting was held today at OddStory Central in Chattanooga, hosted by Atypical Place for Transformations, to discuss challenges facing unhoused residents and explore ways to…
Lookout Wild Film Festival Highlights
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The 14th annual Lookout Wild Film Festival wrapped up this past weekend at UTC’s Fine Arts Center, celebrating adventure, conservation, and storytelling in the outdoors. Over 100…
MLK Youth Leadership Symposium
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The MLK Youth Leadership Symposium took place today as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances in Chattanooga. The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga hosted the event…
MLK Day Parade and Program
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga came together to honor Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday with events highlighting his legacy of service, equality, and community engagement. The 56th annual MLK Day…
Providing Comfort During Foster Transitions
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - When children are removed from unsafe homes, it can be one of the most traumatic moments of their lives. In Cleveland, the Isaiah 117 House works to…
Avian Influenza Hits Poultry Industry
WALKER COUNTY, GA. (WDEF) - The Georgia Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at a commercial poultry operation, marking the first confirmed case in…
Proposed Law Expands Child Rape Penalties
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Tennessee lawmaker has introduced legislation related to the death penalty for the rape of a child. Republican State Representative Greg Martin of Hixson filed House…
Families Explore School Options
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Families across Tennessee have access to a wide range of K–12 education options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning programs,…
Tips To Prepare for Cold Weather
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Hamilton County is forecast to experience a stretch of cold weather this week, with overnight lows dropping below freezing in several areas. These temperatures can pose…
Planning America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - On July 4, 2026, the United States will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In Hamilton County, local organizers are preparing a…
Spring Home Show Draws Crowd
DALTON, GA. (WDEF) - The Dalton Spring Home Show wrapped up this weekend at the Dalton Convention Center. Attendees spent three days exploring exclusive show-only deals, watching live demonstrations of the…
Classic Cars, Customs & Community
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The 58th Annual World of Wheels custom auto show took place January 9–11, 2026 at the Chattanooga Convention Center, bringing one of the Southeast’s largest indoor automotive showcases…
Faith Groups Learn Housing Initiative
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Faith leaders and community development organizations gathered today to learn about the Enterprise Faith-Based Development Initiative’s new technical assistance cohort. The initiative is designed to help houses of worship and formally affiliated organizations explore affordable housing…
Research Examines Drinking and Moderation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Every January, millions of adults rethink their relationship with alcohol. Some commit to Dry January, while others aim for moderation. Mixed headlines about the risks and benefits…
Notre Dame HS Marks 150 Years
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Notre Dame High School marked the kickoff of its 150th anniversary celebration with a Jubilee Mass held at the Michael and Eleanor Miller Theater. The Mass…
Hotdog on Wheels Bring Smiles
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - You might have spotted something hot dog-shaped rolling through town this week! The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is in Chattanooga through Monday, bringing smiles, fun, and a playful…
Flu Cases Increase This Winter
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Flu activity is rising this winter, with local hospitals reporting higher-than-normal infection rates. The Erlanger Center for Infectious Disease says influenza A, including H1N1, is spreading rapidly,…
New Partnership Expands Housing Affordability
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Invest Chattanooga is partnering with American South Capital Partners to fund new mixed-income housing projects in Chattanooga. The nonprofit, operating for just six months, provides early, lower-cost…
Protest Held Over Venezuela Conflict
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Demonstrators gathered at Miller Park on Sunday in response to the ongoing conflict involving Venezuela and the United States. The gathering followed recent international developments involving the…
Countdown to Fun at the Creative Discovery Museum
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Families packed the Creative Discovery Museum to celebrate the new year a little earlier than usual during the annual New Year’s at Noon event.…
January Sees Peak Gym Memberships
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As a new year begins, gyms and fitness centers nationwide experience measurable changes in membership activity, including community organizations such as the YMCA. Industry reports show that…
New Option for Rare HPV Disease
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Adults living with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, or RRP, have long relied on surgery to manage this rare HPV-related disease. Caused by chronic infection with HPV 6…
Apple Watch Flags Hidden Hypertension
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Millions of Americans live with chronic high blood pressure and don’t realize it, often because the condition shows few noticeable symptoms. Now, a new…
Northshore Businesses Parking Struggles
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Local businesses in the Northshore district say traffic, accessibility, and rising operational costs are creating challenges for both employees and customers. Richard Hardin, owner of Stone Cup Cafe,…
Local Singer Finishes Second Nationally
LAFAYETTE, GA. (WDEF) - A North Georgia singer with decades of experience is gaining national attention after a strong showing on the first season of the CBS music competition “The Road.”…
Taconooga Closes After 12 Years
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A restaurant on Chattanooga’s North Shore has closed its doors for good. According to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page, Taconooga shut down on December 26th. …
Virtual Reality Expands Beyond Gaming
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Virtual reality technology continues to grow beyond its gaming roots as device use expands into broader entertainment and media experiences. Industry reports project that the global VR…
Holiday Christmas Lights Train Returns
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Holiday Christmas Lights Train is a seasonal evening excursion offered by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga from December 26, 2025, through January 11, 2026 This relaxed after‑Christmas experience…