Robert Hanley

Reporter

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Robert Hanley was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is a recent graduate from the University of North Texas where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a concentration in Broadcast and Digital Journalism.

He enjoys singing in his free time and even has written and performed songs of his own. Many of his other hobbies include collecting sports cards and watching/playing sports including soccer, basketball, and disc golf.

Articles

Scenic City Gem Show Wraps

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The 2025 Scenic City Gem and Mineral Show wrapped up today at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge.  Over the past three days, visitors explored a stunning…

A Taste of Cornbread Culture

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. (WDEF) - The streets of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, are packed this weekend for the National Cornbread Festival. Today, visitors played games, rode carnival rides, and browsed booths filled…

Robot Calf Protests Leather Industry

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Downtown Chattanooga recently saw a futuristic protest take to the streets, as a robotic calf made an unexpected appearance to raise awareness about animal cruelty and environmental impact. Charli XC…

Hemp Bill Sparks Industry Backlash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A proposed bill at the Tennessee Capitol is putting small hemp businesses on edge.  House Bill 1376 would shift the regulation and taxation of hemp-derived products, like THC-A, to the…

Cicadas Return After 17 Years

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Get ready, Tennessee, because millions of 17-year cicadas are about to make their grand entrance.  Brood Fourteen, last seen in two thousand eight, will emerge when soil…

IRS Extends Tax Filing Deadlines

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, don’t worry, you might have more time than you thought.  Folks in Georgia and Alabama impacted by recent storms automatically get an extension…

Kemp Signs Major Tax Relief

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Tuesday, Governor Brian Kemp signed two major tax relief bills into law during a ceremony in Cobb County, delivering over a billion dollars in financial benefits to Georgia…

Big Plans for South Broad

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A major new development could soon reshape part of Chattanooga’s South Broad Street corridor.  The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission Meeting took place today to discuss further…

All Aboard for Thomas Fun

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Thousands of families rolled into Chattanooga over the past two weekends to celebrate a very special birthday and today marked the final stop.  It was all aboard…

A Step in the Right Direction

PIKEVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) - Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee visited Bledsoe County today as part of her ongoing mission to uplift the state’s most vulnerable communities.  At Pikeville Elementary School, she partnered…

Data-Driven Fight Against Overdoses

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -Local officials are now using a new strategy, surveillance systems that track overdoses in real time.  The Hamilton County Health Department is monitoring tools like O-D-MAP and ESSENCE, databases that show where and when overdoses happen. These…

Storm Hits Grundy County Overnight

GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Severe storms swept through Grundy County last night, leaving a trail of destruction. High winds and heavy rainfall caused significant damage across the area, affecting homes,…

UTC Mocs Make Historic NIT Final

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team has made history by advancing to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) finals for the first time.  This marks their deepest…

Hamilton County Data Breach Debate

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A reported data breach in Hamilton County is raising concerns, not only about the security of personal information but also about how the county handled the situation.  Commissioners debated the…

Cracking Down on Distracted Driving

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and today, law enforcement hit the streets for Operation Hands Free—a statewide effort to crack down on distracted drivers and…

Veterans Court Offers Second Chance

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Hamilton County is making strides in supporting local veterans who find themselves in the criminal justice system.  At today’s Pachyderm Club meeting, Judge Gary Starnes of the…