Hope for Mothers, Help for Babies
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - Foundation House Ministries, a Cleveland-based nonprofit, is sounding the alarm after receiving a record number of calls about babies born addicted to drugs. Executive Director Suzanne…
Robert Hanley
Articles
Students Start New School Year
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Class is officially back in session for Hamilton County students, with schools reopening today, August 6, 2025. District leaders say more than 45,000 students are returning to…
Human Trafficking Hidden in Plain Sight
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Human trafficking is a devastating and hidden crime affecting millions globally. With an estimated 27.6 million victims, traffickers operate silently, blending into everyday life. Victims may be found in…
Back-To-School Clothes Shopping Trends
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As back-to-school season begins, families are adjusting their spending habits, especially when it comes to clothing. According to the 2025 Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor™ Survey, parents expect to…
Chatt Prep Walk Welcomes Students
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga Preparatory School kicked off the new school year with a powerful tradition known as the Chattanooga 300 Walk. Students walked into the building this morning to…
Tennessee Chef Crowned Seafood King
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chef Wesley True of Inman Social in Cleveland, Tennessee, has been crowned the 2025 King of American Seafood after winning the prestigious Great American Seafood Cook-Off in…
Expert Advice for Safer Schools
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As the new school year begins, leaders from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) offered expert insight into how schools can better protect students and…
Overnight Storms Trigger Flash Flooding
Dalton, GA (WDEF) – Flash flooding swamped parts of Whitfield County late Saturday night into Sunday, August 3rd, after heavy rains dropped up to six inches in just a few hours. …
PenaVegas Help Kids Gear Up
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As students across the country prepare to return to class, many families are facing an uphill battle. For households dealing with housing instability, food insecurity, or financial…
Students Begin School Year Early
ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) - Students in Rhea County and McMinn County, Tennessee, returned to school on Friday, August 1st, but only for a half day. It’s a soft launch to the…
Mayor Meets with Local Residents
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Mayor Tim Kelly met with Chattanooga residents during Open Office Hours on July 31. The event ran from 1 to 4:30 p.m., and residents had to request…
Gordon’s Cleaners Closes After Decades
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A longtime Chattanooga family business has shut its doors for the final time. Gordon’s Cleaners, which began as a small launderette on Frazier Avenue in 1947, closed…
Proposed Policy Targets Student Phones
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Hamilton County School Board is preparing to vote on a proposal that would ban student cell phone use for the entire school day. The potential policy…
“Hydration Heroes” Visit Fire Station
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Firefighters at Chattanooga Fire Station No. 6 got a refreshing surprise Tuesday morning. As part of their “Hydration Heroes” initiative, employees with Renewal by Andersen of Chattanooga…
Summer Fun Meets Holiday Cheer
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) - Christmas came early to Hixson this weekend as Chester Frost Park transformed into a festive summer wonderland. The free “Christmas in July” event featured more than 30…
Missing Dog Sparks Outcry
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Chattanooga family is sounding the alarm after their 2-year-old Presa Canario, Saint, was allegedly stolen right from their yard. Sydne-Joie Noel says the incident happened on Tuesday,…
RAM Hosts First-Ever Fundraising Telethon
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Remote Area Medical (RAM®) is hosting its first-ever Living the Giving telethon today, Tuesday, July 29, from 2 to 10 P.M. Eastern Time. The event will stream…
Apple Simplifies Family Connection
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As families gear up for a new school year, many are turning to technology to help keep things running smoothly at home and in the classroom. This week,…
Lake Winnie Awarded Historic Plaque
ROSSVILLE, GA. (WDEF) - Lake Winnepesaukah just earned a national honor. On Sunday, July 27th, the National Amusement Park Historical Association presented the Chattanooga-area amusement park with a commemorative plaque recognizing…
Fresh Food, Families, and Wellness
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Wellpoint Tennessee, in collaboration with the YMCA Mobile Market, hosted Wellness with Wellpoint Thursday morning in Chattanooga, an event designed to support healthy lifestyles and improve food…
Including Eye Exams This Schoolyear
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As families prepare for back-to-school season, eye doctors are reminding parents not to overlook their child’s vision. Experts say comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist should be…
Protecting and Building Community Trust
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - In East Chattanooga, the fight to reduce gun violence is being led not just by law enforcement, but by neighbors. Groups like the 423 Chain Breakers and…
Free Supplies for New Teachers
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Hamilton County Schools Foundation is giving new teachers a head start by offering free classroom supplies this week. The Teacher Supply Hub will be open July…
Drawing Chattanooga’s Architectural Story
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Preserve Chattanooga is inviting the public to celebrate the city’s architecture through art. The “Taking a Pen for a Walk in Chattanooga” drawing contest is open to artists…
TN First Lady Helps Students Prepare
COALMONT, Tenn. (WDEF) - Hundreds of Grundy County students are starting the school year with brand-new backpacks and school supplies, thanks to Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee. On Tuesday, Lee…
Tennessee School Tax Holiday Returns
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Tennessee families looking to stretch their back-to-school budgets will soon get a break at the register. The state’s annual sales tax holiday is set for Friday, July…
YMCA Launches $5M Renovation Project
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A major transformation is underway at the Cleveland Family YMCA. On Monday, July 21, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga officially broke ground on a $5-million renovation project…
Grant Fuels LIFT’s Creative Growth
RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) - LIFT Youth Center is getting a creative boost thanks to a new grant from Georgia Council for the Arts. The nonprofit, which offers free afterschool programs…
Clyde Stubblefield Plaque Unveiled
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Chattanooga native made global waves with nothing but sticks, rhythm, and soul. Miller Park is now permanently honored with a plaque in his honor. Clyde Stubblefield, the…
Ten Years Remembering Fallen Five
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - On the banks of the Tennessee River, beneath a bright summer sky, the city of Chattanooga gathered Wednesday morning to mark a solemn milestone, ten years since…
Lookout Mountain Incline Reopens
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - After months of waiting, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is officially back open. The Incline is one of Chattanooga’s most visited attractions, offering a scenic climb to the…
Funding Strain on Roads
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Tennessee’s roads are under pressure. As more drivers switch to hybrid and electric vehicles, gas tax revenue, the state’s main source for road funding, is slowly drying up.…
Golden Gloves Showdown Hits East Ridge
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga is hosting some of the nation’s most promising young boxing talent this weekend. The 2025 National Junior & Youth Golden Gloves Championship kicked off…
Thrills Return to Camp Jordan
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga’s summer just got a lot more thrilling. The 2025 Thrillville carnival has rolled into Camp Jordan, bringing high-flying rides, classic fair treats, and non-stop family…
Help Shape Chattanooga Zoo’s Future
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Zoo is planning for the future and they want your help. The Zoo is developing a new 10-year master plan and inviting the public to…
New Plate Drives Organ Awareness
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Tennessee drivers now have a new way to show their support for organ donation right on their license plate. Right now, more than 3,000 Tennesseans are waiting for a life-saving…
Goats Return to Island Duty
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The goats are back on Maclellan Island, and they’re already making a big impact. Five goats and one guard dog were brought to the island three weeks…
Incline Railway Back On Track
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A Chattanooga icon is making its long-awaited return. The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway reopened this morning for a special preview ride, months after a fire brought operations…
Internship Hub Launches in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - A new local website is making it easier for students to land internships and build careers in Chattanooga. InternshipCha.com just launched as a one-stop hub connecting Hamilton…
Choo Choo Garden Gets Makeover
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The iconic Chattanooga Choo Choo is getting a much-needed facelift. Don Boutz, a longtime business owner, has operated Sweetly Southern with his wife inside the historic Choo…