What's Right With Our Schools: Dade County Project Graduation
TRENTON, Ga. (WDEF) - What is life really like in high school? If you are in kindergarten, it can seem like a million years before you'll be…
Schools closing due to sickness
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Many schools are closing around the Chattanooga area, and it's not for winter break. There has been an uptick in sickly kids and adults as covid,…
Artists wanted for redesign of Northshore street banners
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- River City Company is searching for local artists to help design their Northshore district street banners. Artists can request for qualifications until January 15, 2024. The organization will then select top artists on January 22, and…
Newly sold home burns down in Harrison
UPDATE: HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Waconda Point Road house fire ended up being worked by several agencies due to severity of the fire. Hamilton County fire officials said that crews faced high winds and a lack of fire…
Bradley County Schools will offer free meals to all students
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Bradley County Schools will offer free meals to all students starting in January 2024. All school meals, including breakfast and lunch, will be free to all students, Bradley County Schools said in a social media…
BP suspends all oil shipments through the Red Sea as attacks escalate
BP said Monday it has suspended gas and oil shipments through the Red Sea amid a surge in attacks on ships in the region from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The energy giant's decision to temporarily freeze shipments pushed up global oil…
Parenting advice YouTuber Ruby Franke pleads guilty to 4 counts of child abuse
A Utah mother of six who gave parenting advice via a once-popular YouTube channel called "8 Passengers" pleaded guilty Monday to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse for abusing and starving two of her children. Franke was originally…
Whitfield County alerts residents of recent scam
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County government is alerting residents of a recent scam going around. The scammers in this case are impersonating county employees, according to a social media post. The county says these scammers are falsely…
Annual Salvation Army Battle of the Bells at Hamilton Place Mall
UPDATE (December 18): CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Salvation Army has announced the results of the 2023 Battle of the Bells competition. News 12 came in second place in the competition, having raised a total of $1,028.57. This year's competition…
Georgia's governor says the state will pay a $1,000 year-end bonus to public and school employees
By JEFF AMY ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's government will put a little extra jingle in the pockets of state, university and public-school employees, paying them a $1,000 year-end bonus, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday. The Republican governor also said he…
Body of 22-year-old duck hunter recovered from Alabama lake
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WDEF) -- Alabama authorities found the body of a duck hunter who has been missing since Saturday. WHNT reported that the body of 22-year-old Brooks Hardie was…
Coahulla Creek student wins $40,000 scholarship
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) - One Whitfield County high schooler made some unexpected cash for her future Monday morning. Coahulla Creek High School student Alana Lopez was surprised with a…
Polk County motorcyclist dies in crash, according to THP report
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A car and motorcycle crashed in Polk County on Saturday, leaving one person dead. The crash happened at about 2:50 p.m. on December 16 in Benton. A Tennessee Highway Patrol report explained that a motorcycle…
'Wonka' waltzes to $39 million opening, propelled by Chalamet's starring role
By JAKE COYLE/AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — “Wonka” debuted with $39 million in box office sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That made it a strong start for the Timothée…
Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if they don't resemble marriage
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive…
Ballet Esprit hosts 'Alter-Nut' fundraiser on Dec. 17
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A local ballet company celebrated the holiday season with a unique twist on The Nutcracker as performances of the ballet are approaching on Saturday,…
Kitchen Incubator hosts inaugural Christmas market and parade
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The Kitchen Incubator held their inaugural Christmas market and parade which included over 20 different food trucks. "This is part of the community helping the…
Mayor Kelly delivers UTC keynote commencement address
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- UTC celebrated its 262nd overall commencement for the university on Saturday with two graduation ceremonies. Mayor of Chattanooga, Tim Kelly, gave the keynote address…
GBI asks for help in 2022 homicide investigation
PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Paulding County Sheriff's Office are asking for help in a 2022 homicide investigation. 37-year-old Joshua Mitchell was found dead in his driveway on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.…
Hamilton County woman shares her story after receiving pardon
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A local woman was pardoned on Friday, and News 12 spoke with Catrina Cabe to hear her powerful story. "I grew up in…
Man shot near homeless encampment on Williams Street
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Chattanooga Police responded to a potentially fatal shooting Friday morning in Williams Street. A person shot call came in around 11:00 a.m. in the 2400 block of Williams Street. When officers arrived, they found a 41-year-old…
Matthew Perry toxicology report reveals cause of death was "acute effects of ketamine"
Matthew Perry, the beloved "Friends" sitcom star, died from the "acute effects of ketamine," according to an autopsy report released Friday by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner Office. Perry, 54, was found unresponsive at his home on Oct. 28 "floating face…
Chattanooga firefighters extinguish apartment fire in 10 minutes
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A vacant apartment caught fire Friday afternoon but was out within minutes of firefighters' arrival. The fire broke out at City View Apartments on Citico Avenue. …
Man charged with homicide after November 29th incident
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Chattanooga woman's death from last month is now being ruled as a homicide. On November 29 around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to a call for an unconscious person in the 2600 block of Carr Street.…
