Hamilton County Courts upgrade record access system
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - The public will now have easier access to court records. (more…)
Dollywood temporarily suspends park entry due to nearby wildfire
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton's Dollywood temporarily suspended entry Thursday into the Tennessee amusement park as wildfire crews on Thursday battled nearby flames. Park officials say they paused entry to allow…
Former East Ridge High School student indicted for 2022 altercation
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Hamilton County grand jury indicted former student of East Ridge High School for an altercation with a school resource deputy last year. The jury indicted Tauris Sledge on November 13, 2023. [caption id="attachment_1486020" align="alignnone"…
Fight breaks out in front of Hamilton County Juvenile Court
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A fight broke out in front of the Hamilton County Juvenile Court on Thursday. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office responded to the fight at about 1:20 p.m. at 1600 East 3rd Street. The altercation happened…
Firefighters receiving "frequent" brush fire calls
APISON, Tenn. (WDEF) -- On Thursday, firefighters were working a woods fire in Apison, Tennessee. The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department said the fire was located in the woods at…
Erlanger donates food bins to The Salvation Army
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Erlanger Hospitals recently donated food bins to The Salvation Army for their food drive. Erlanger East, Erlanger Baroness and Erlanger North made the donations on…
Santa to scuba dive at the Tennessee Aquarium
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Tennessee Aquarium is gearing up for the holiday season, and Santa is donning his scuba gear. The Aquarium's Holidays Under the Peaks celebration starts Monday, November 27 and lasts until Christmas. On Saturdays and Sundays leading…
Collette Ridge fire now more than 5,000 acres
UPDATES: Nov. 16 The Collette Ridge wildfire is now 80% contained, according to the Hiwassee Dam Fire Department. The U.S. Forest Service said crews are doing "back firing" techniques to further contain the flames. This may cause the public to…
DeKalb County man charged with burglary of church
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. (WDEF) -- A DeKalb County man is in custody after breaking into a church to commit a burglary, according to the sheriff's office. The break-in happened October 26 at Bethel Baptist Church on County Road 391. DeKalb…
TBI investigating officer involved shooting in Copperhill
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents are investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place in Polk County. The shooting was fatal and happened Wednesday afternoon. The shooting happened at 5 p.m. at a home on CC…
Chattanooga man arrested, detectives find $28,000 worth of drugs
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Chattanooga man is in custody after Hamilton County detectives found $28,000 worth of narcotics in his home. The sheriff's office arrested 29-year-old Brandon Eberhardt on Wednesday, November…
HCEMS workers honored for heroic duty
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - On Wednesday, Hamilton County Emergency Medical Service workers were honored by the people whose lives they saved. In under two weeks, Paramedic Savannah Houser was…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Chattanooga Industrial Sewing Solutions
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Scenic City is an outdoors city. That's why Chattanooga Industrial Sewing Solutions is such an important business. They take care of all of our climbing and safety needs. Let's see how they're driving our economy…
Grundy County man charged with sexual exploitation of underage girl
MONTEAGLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Grundy County man was recently charged with sexual exploitation of an underage female. TBI agents and Monteagle officers arrested 24-year-old Austin Tyler Olszewski on November 14. On November 13, Monteagle detectives contacted the TBI about…
Toyota-linked auto parts maker to build $69M plant northeast of Atlanta
PENDERGRASS, Ga. (AP) — A Toyota-linked maker of auto parts will build a third factory northeast of Atlanta to build electrical converters for hybrid vehicles. Toyota Industries Electric Systems North America said it will invest $69 million to build the…
U.S. Forestry fighting wildfire in Chattooga County
CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The U.S. Forestry service is working a wildfire on Taylor's Ridge in Chattooga County. The Chattooga County Commissioner's Office first notified the public…
National Weather Service adjusting winter weather warnings
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - It may not feel like it, but winter is around the corner. (more…)
Bethel Christian Academy expanding to non-residential students
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Bethel Bible Village in Hixson will soon embark on an expansion. (more…)
Tennessee business owner pleads guilty to tax perjury, DOJ says
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A business owner in Decherd, Tennessee pleaded guilty to tax perjury at a district court in Chattanooga recently. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 66-year-old Ross A. Rinkes pleaded guilty to making and subscribing a…
The Salvation Army needs volunteers to become bellringers
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Chattanooga's Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to serve as bellringers for the Red Kettle Campaign. The Red Kettle Campaign has been an annual holiday fundraiser…
Tens of thousands of supporters of Israel rally in Washington, crying 'never again'
Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of Israel rallied by the tens of thousands on the National Mall under heavy security Tuesday, voicing solidarity in the fight against Hamas and crying “never again." The “March for Israel” offered a resounding…
Judge denies Rep. Greene's restitution request for $65,000 home security fence
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A federal judge rejected Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's request to have an upstate New York man convicted of sending her threatening voicemails pay $65,000 for her Georgia home's security fence. Joseph Morelli pleaded guilty in February…
Alabama man charged with distributing child pornography
FORT PAYNE, Ala. (WDEF) -- A DeKalb County, Alabama man has been arrested for distributing child pornography. The sheriff's office arrested 40-year-old Bradley Ray Hancock of Fyffe. They charged…
Brush fire burns overnight in Lookout Valley
UPDATES Nov. 15, 11:33 AM: The Tennessee Forestry has released Chattanooga firefighters. Fire officials said the Forestry will be conducting fire suppression activities throughout the day. They will be using helicopter water drops on the fire until the blaze is…