Tennessee trucker, 4 from Illinois die in East Texas wreck
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (AP) - Authorities have identified a Tennessee trucker and four members of an Illinois family who died in an East Texas traffic accident.
![[Photo via AP]](https://wpcdn.us-east-1.vip.tn-cloud.net/www.wdef.com/content/uploads/2018/03/c/m/800frenchie.jpeg)
He fell a hero: French praise policeman in hostage swap
"Known for his courage and sang-froid, Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame was acclaimed by neighbors, colleagues and French authorities as a hero Saturday"
Questions for feds delay TennCare work requirement bill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee lawmakers have hit pause on their push to make many able-bodied adults work if they don't have children younger than 6 for TennCare health coverage.
Near session's end, focus on paper ballots, abuse lawsuits
ATLANTA (AP) - Thursday will mark the last day of Georgia's 40-day legislative session and several bills await action by either the House or Senate.
Mental health commissioner calls to tackle issues in schools
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's Department of Mental Health Commissioner Lynn Beshear called for mental health prevention and intervention to ensure school safety in an op-ed Saturday.
Delta helps hundreds of students fly to DC for gun protest
(AP) - Delta Air Lines has donated three round-trip charter flights that allowed hundreds of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students to participate in the "March for Our Lives" protest against gun violence in Washington.
Some fear steel tariff could hurt auto industry in the South
ATLANTA (AP) - German business leaders are expressing concerns that President Donald Trump's 25 percent tariff on imported steel could affect the auto industry in the South.
Signal Mountain residents concerned after meth discovered in elementary school
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) - Drugs are something you might never expect to just find. However, on Friday not only was methamphetamine found, but it was found in inside an elementary school. "You definitely don't want. I mean especially kids…
Government cracking down on SNAP benefit fraud
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Tennessee Department of Human Services is teaming up with more law enforcement agencies to catch people illegally using SNAP Benefits. Officials say State Law Enforcement Bureau agreements between different agencies give investigators more tools to catch business…
Attorney files federal lawsuit against drug makers
UPDATE: A national trade association reacts to news of the lawsuit. They say that prescription drug distributors aren't the bad guys in the opioid crisis. “The misuse and abuse of prescription opioids is a complex public health challenge that requires…
Mural project starts on Wilcox Tunnel
Drivers who frequently go through the Wilcox Tunnel will have to find a new route, because it's temporarily closed.
Underground Music Venue Comes to Grundy Co.
Music fans will soon have another place in Tennessee to watch artists perform deep inside a cave.
New Bradley school deputies are on duty
CLEVELAND (WDEF) - This week, Bradley County installed a new layer of security at Bradley Central and Walker Valley High Schools. Armed deputies now man a security booth at the entrance to both campuses. They keep a log of anyone…
The Latest: Tributes for Georgia's Zell Miller
Remembered for an "independent streak that was governed by what he thought was right."
UPDATE: Police confirm meth was found at Nolan Elementary
Hamilton County Department of Education say a couple Nolan Elementary students found a bag of possibly meth in the library.
Wildfire threatens multiple buildings on Sand Mountain
UPDATE: - Brush fires have disrupted traffic up Sand Mountain in Dade County this afternoon. The first reports came in after noon about fires along Highway 136. One resident told us it was started from sparks created by a chain dragging…
Two companies vying to provide water system for Signal Mountain
Residents heard from two companies vying to be the provider for the Town of Signal Mountain water system on Thursday night.
Equity Task Force created for Hamilton County Schools
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Schools is committed to meeting the needs of all students to receive a high-quality education, with equitable access to opportunities and resources. They hope to fulfill this commitment to the students by creating an…
Man reports Scam Alert in Dalton
DALTON, Tenn. (WDEF) - Dalton resident reached out to News 12 about a check scam circulating in Dalton. He says that he received a check in the mail to wrap his truck and advertise for Starbucks coffee. They told him…
Citizen Safety Coalition meets at City Hall
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The citizens safety coalition met today at the Mayor's office. This group of concerned citizens and leaders in the community is growing. They talked about crimes stats and the different things that they are working on…
Hamilton County Sheriff discusses school safety
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond discussed school safety at the Hamilton County School Board meeting on Thursday. He shared his own thoughts on possible ways to ramp up security at schools. "Guns are not the problem…
Hamilton Co. Schools create "Equity Task Force"
“Equity was a focus of the community that came through loud and clear in our listening sessions"
Student accused of leaving loaded gun at university bus stop
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - A University of Georgia student is accused of leaving a loaded handgun at a campus bus stop. The Athens Banner-Herald reports that university police say 21-year-old Jasmine Aris Starnes was arrested Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge…
Crabtree Farms takes measures to protect plants
With colder temperatures, Tennessee Valley farmers have been having to stay on top of their plants.
