Sheriff Eric Watson statement on charges being dropped
"I have maintained my faith in the judicial system to prove my innocence."
Chattanooga Police make arrest in Rape Wednesday
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Police Department say a man is behind bars, charged with Rape. The suspect is Anthony Lebron Vance. Vance was arrested January 10th just after Noon. The arrest affidavit says that around 8 am January 3rd,…
Polk County Sheriff's Office investigating overnight fatal shooting
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting where one person died and another was injured.
TDOT warns of changes to U.S. 27 ramp configurations
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Drivers heed this warning. The U.S. 27 North layout in downtown Chattanooga changes for drivers Thursday morning. "I just want to encourage people to be patient and drive the speed limit which is 45 through the project…
Here are the next round of Hamilton Co. Schools listening sessions
“This ongoing feedback will be substantive and important toward shaping the future of our school system,
Commission debates added expenses for the Sheriff's Department
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton county sheriff's department is moving ahead with plans to use Silverdale Corrections as its primary jail. And Sheriff Jim Hammond wants to get inmates with mental issues out of his facility. But in the meantime…
Dalton middle schooler invents non-permanent LEGO glue
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- One Dalton middle schooler already has his name on a U.S. patent. Tripp Phillips invented a a non-permanent glue intended to keep your Lego creations together but designed to easily dissolve in warm water. Martha Thomason…
Dolly ditches "Dixie" from the Stampedes
PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (WDEF) - How far will the "Dixie" purge go? The company that puts on her Dixie Stampede dinners this week announced they are dropping the "Dixie" from the shows in Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach and Branson. The…
Toyota & Mazda pick Huntsville for their new plant
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (WDEF) - Toyota-Mazda officials make it official. They have chosen to build a new auto plant at a site in Huntsville, Alabama. It will build 300,000 Toyota Corollas and a new small SUV from Mazda (a Chattanooga Volkswagen…
Suspect arrested in Bradley County storage unit thefts
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office says they have made an arrest following multiple storage unit thefts.
Lawyers file appeal for Tennessee teen with life sentence
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Lawyers for a woman who fatally shot a man who had picked her up for sex when she was 16 say it's unconstitutional to keep her in prison until she's 67. The Tennessean reports Cyntoia Brown's…
Sheriff's Department will hire new intelligence officers
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton County commission on Wednesday approved a grant to hire crime intelligence officers for the Sheriff's Department. The $250,000 Justice Department grant will pay for their salaries for 4 years. The grant requires the county to…
Chattanooga Chamber Breakfast focuses on city's economic future
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - This morning many Chattanooga leaders gathered at the Chattanooga Convention Center for the annual Chamber of Commerce Economic outlook breakfast. Mayor Andy Berke and Mayor Jim Coppinger were both in attendance and spoke about the bright future…
Convenience store owners concerned about robberies
Owners of a Chattanooga convenience store say their business is targeted with crime. After being robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday, they want answers.
74 year old dies in Murray County fire
CHATSWORTH, Georgia (WDEF) - A Murray County man died overnight in a house fire. It happened at a home on Weaver Road in Chatsworth around 1 AM. The victim was 74 year old Spencer Cantrell. Investigators with the Georgia Insurance…
EPA proposes to add Chattanooga site to National Priorities List
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to include a site in Chattanooga on the Superfund Program's National Priorities List. The idea is to help clean-up the Southside Chattanooga Lead site in areas where lead was found…
Health experts give advice on how to avoid the flu
Doctors and health department experts are urging people to get the flu vaccine, if they haven't already.
Dade County building new reservoir
TRENTON, Georgia (WDEF) - The drought two years ago came close to drying up Dade county's water supply. Local leaders there are now taking steps to build a water reserve for future use which includes a reservoir. Dade County leaders…
Norfolk Southern taking responsibility for fuel spill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Officials say the 1,000-gallon fuel spill into Citico Creek originated from Norfolk Southern's DeButts Yard. Norfolk Southern is taking responsibility and has hired several remediation companies to clean-up the spill. Chattanooga Fire and Emergency Services first…
Source: New Toyota-Mazda factory to be built in Alabama
By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) - A person briefed on the decision says Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda have picked Alabama as the site of a new $1.6 billion joint-venture manufacturing plant. The plant will employ about…
R&B singer-songwriter Denise LaSalle dies in Tennessee
JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) - Singer and songwriter Denise LaSalle, whose hit "Trapped by a Thing Called Love" topped the R&B charts in 1971, has died. She was 78. Musician and producer Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, a close family friend of LaSalle's,…
US appeals court: Tennessee abortion amendment vote was OK
By JONATHAN MATTISE Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled that Tennessee won't have to recount votes for a state constitutional amendment passed in 2014 that allows tougher abortion restrictions. A 6th U.S. Circuit Court…
New chance for Georgia bill on campus sex-assault hearings
ATLANTA (AP) - A stalled proposal to impose new rules and limits on how Georgia colleges handle sexual violence cases is getting a new chance in the state legislature. The state Senate voted without debate Tuesday to move House Bill…
Crews changing Hwy 27 MLK exit, again
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Road crews will be changing the ramp configurations again in the U.S. 27 widening project. This time, the changes affect the on-ramp for 27 North from MLK Boulevard and the off-ramp to 4th street. Traffic coming up…