Study: Georgia sees more deadly crashes in rural areas
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) - The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) released results from a 2021 study looking into rural versus urban car crashes. More than…
Chattanooga man drives stolen car to court, HCSO says
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A man arrested for a theft was found to have also stolen a car out of Chattanooga, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). Authorities arrested Patrick Harlow, 36, while he was at the…
TDOT to close I-24 lanes in Marion County for crash cleanup
MARION COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Tennessee Department of Transporation (TDOT) will create lane closures on I-24 West in Marion County on Wednesday. Maintenance crews will close the left lane of I-24 at mile marker 165. This closure is so…
Charles Osgood, veteran CBS newsman and longtime host of "Sunday Morning," dies at 91
Award-winning journalist Charles Osgood, who anchored "CBS Sunday Morning" for 22 years and was host of the long-running radio program "The Osgood File," died Tuesday at home in New Jersey. He was 91. The cause of death was dementia, his…
See the full list of Oscar nominations for 2024 Academy Awards
The nominations for the 2024 Oscars were announced today with "Oppenheimer" leading the pack with 13 nods followed by "Poor Things" with 11. The 96th annual Academy Awards follow a year that saw the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon of "Barbie" and Christopher Nolan's…
Chattanooga City Councilwoman's brother arrested in viral video
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The brother of a Chattanooga City Councilwoman was arrested on Monday. A viral video shows a portion of that arrest. The sheriff's office then…
Former Georgia bulldog mascot Uga X dies with 2 national championships during his term
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Former Georgia mascot Uga X, whose eight-year run included back-to-back national championships, died Tuesday. Uga X, part of the line of English bulldog mascots which began in 1955, was 2 when he began his run on…
Monroe County man sentenced to prison on child rape charges
MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Tellico Plains man recently pled guilty to six counts of raping a child. Brandon Wesley Lethco, 36, pled guilty on Monday, January 22, according to District Attorney Shari Tayloe. Brandon…
Etowah man receives life sentence for murder of father
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- An Etowah man pled guilty on Monday to murdering his father, according to the district attorney. District Attorney Shari Tayloe says that 47-year-old John…
Tennessee American reports new water main break in south Chattanooga
UPDATE: Tennessee American Water has updated their estimated repair time for the water main break in St. Elmo and Lookout Valley. They expect the break to be fixed by 10 p.m. on Tuesday. "We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate…
Helton Tire and Off-Road raises money for injured firefighter
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) - Whitfield County Firefighter Ricky Pratt was driving back from Atlanta when he was suddenly shot in the leg by another driver. While…
Justin Whaley sentenced to nine years in state prison
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The former Hamilton County EMT who was convicted in October of vehicular manslaughter by intoxication, found out his sentence Monday. It was a highly…
EPA provides Chattanooga with $56 million for lead cleanup
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga leaders gathered at the Southside Chattanooga lead site to highlight their cleanup process on Monday. The Southside lead site is considered the largest residential…
HES: Pet owners report improved mental health
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee awarded the Humane Educational Society (HES) with the "Power of Pets" grant. According to HES, bonding with a pet is good…
Ron DeSantis drops out of 2024 Republican presidential race, endorses Trump ahead of New Hampshire primary
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the 2024 Republican presidential race and suspended his campaign on Sunday, posting a video on X saying he could not ask his campaign staffers to give their time "without a clear path to victory." "It's…
What's Right With Our Schools: Cloud Springs Reading Gains
ROSSVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) - Cloud Springs Elementary School recently welcomed Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods to campus. That visit came after third graders increased their reading scores by more than 20 percent! A strong foundation in reading is a rock-solid example…
Several areas face water main breaks, leaks as temperatures rise
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Several cities around the Tennessee Valley were experiencing water main breaks or other issues on Monday. Tennessee American Water and other companies…
Dalton Police looking for Walmart shoplifters
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- Investigators with the Dalton Police Department are searching for two men who they say shoplifted more than $1,500 of merchandise early Monday morning. The police department…
Dexter Scott King, son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., dies of cancer at 62
ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died…
Chattanooga-area Chick-fil-A restaurants offering free entree
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Chattanooga-area Chick-fil-A restaurants are offering a free entree all week starting January 27. Participating restaurants are offering either a free chicken sandwich or chicken biscuit. The offer can be found in the Chick-fil-A app from Monday,…
Malone's, other additions to Hamilton Place in 2024
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Several new additions are coming to the Hamilton Place Mall area, one being a Malone's Steakhouse. Malone's Prime Beef Steakhouse is slated to break ground in January 2024. Additionally, it should open in Summer of 2024…
Rhea County man admits to accidentally shooting child
UPDATE: RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Rhea County man admitted to shooting a seven-year-old boy, who died from his injuries. A Rhea County Sheriff's Office affidavit says that Chris'tion Jones admitted to accidentally discharging the gun. On January 14, Jones…
Copperhill coping with water issues because of break in line
COPPERHILL, Tenn. (WDEF) - Copperhill's water issues were improving Monday, January 22, but residents remained under a boil water advisory. The small town in Polk County has suffered through "a significant line break." The city has been posting updates on…
Jack Allen announces campaign for political office
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A local congressional candidate announced his campaign for the House of Representatives Saturday in Chattanooga. Jack Allen is campaigning to represent Tennessee's third…