Six years later, son indicted for setting fire to kill his mother
(video from 2016 story on fire) CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A grand jury has indicted a Chattanooga man for setting a fire that killed his mother. 32 year old Joshua Wells is accused…
Tennessee audit: Agency failed to protect vulnerable kids
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A newly released audit has found that Tennessee has repeatedly failed to thoroughly investigate sexual abuse allegations in the facilities that house the state’s most vulnerable children. The release of the…
Golden Apple Award: Rhonda Wells, Calhoun Middle School
CALHOUN, GA (WDEF) - Calhoun Middle School is home a teacher who's lovingly referred to as Mama Wells. That's because she treats every child in her class as if they were one of her…
Parkridge drops hospital appeal, Catoosa officials celebrate
CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) -- The Hospital Wars in Northwest Georgia are officially over. Some residents and local government officials are even declaring "victory" for their community. Parkridge Health System announced Monday…
Chattanooga voting on financial contribution to Budgetel families
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- The Chattanooga City Council will vote Tuesday night on a resolution that would further aid families who were evicted last month from the Budgetel Inn. Should the resolution pass, the city would contribute $50,000 to the city's…
Chattanooga Named Top Winter Destination for Domestic Travel
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - TripAdvisor has named the Scenic City as the top trending winter destination this season, beating out seasonal travel hot-spots Orlando and Miami. The Chattanooga Tourism Co. continuously promotes the city…
Salvation Army Gifts Christmas to Local Kids
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - For the last four weeks, volunteers at the Salvation Army have been dedicated to bringing Christmas to our local children. More than 3,000 children and 1,400 families will have gifts to unwrap Christmas morning thanks to the…
Cleveland Body Resolves 5 year old Kentucky murder mystery
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Cleveland Police say the body they found last week is part of a Kentucky murder case. The body was discovered on Sunday, December 4 in a wooded area near I 75. Investigators have since identified the…
Class Action Federal Lawsuit Filed in Budgetel Evictions
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Yesterday, Hamilton County Judge Boyd Patterson issued a court order giving the Budgetel in East Ridge a path to reopening. (more…)
Christmas Shop Gives Sharp Discounts For Low Income Families
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- With many families feeling the brunt of inflation and other economic hardships, buying presents Christmas morning might be difficult to impossible. (more…)
Mayor Kelly vetoes tow truck rate rise for Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Mayor Tim Kelly has vetoed an ordinance that would have more than doubled the cost of a tow in Chattanooga. Last week, the City Council approved a new maximum rate of $250 for a passenger vehicle during…
Cybertip leads to arrest of local man for Sexual Exploitation of Children
TRENTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Georgia authorities have made another local arrest based on tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). 59 year old Donald Rudolph Moore has been arrested in Dade County. He faces three counts…
Dade County man arrested on child exploitation charges
A Dade County man has been arrested and charged on child exploitation charges. 59-year-old Donald Moore is facing three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children by the GBI's Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. Authorities say the unit began investigating…
Man and woman suffer serious injuries in domestic shooting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police believe a double shooting this morning was a domestic situation. A man and woman were found shot on Fourth Avenue around 6:30 AM. They both had multiple gunshot wounds.…
What's Right With Our Schools: Howard's Connect Program
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Students in the Howard Connect Program wanted to see what life is really like in a television station. Naturally, News 12 welcomed them right in. Lorissa Canon is…
Silverdale Jailer fired accused of having sex with an inmate
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Hamilton County Sheriff says he has fired a corrections officer accused of having sex with an inmate at Silverdale. Samuel Horn was indicted for the incident that occurred in September. The Sheriff says he…
Police: Man shot during robbery attempt
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police say a man was shot this evening in what looks like a robbery attempt. It happened before 6PM in the 2300 Block of E 18th Street Place near the foot of Missionary Ridge. The victim…
Local Jewish community launches campaign against antisemitism
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- In light of recent local and national accounts of antisemitism, the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga has had enough. The federation is joining JewBelong and Shine a Light in a nationwide…
Student arrested for marijuana, firearm possession
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- A Brainerd High School student was arrested today after being found with drugs and a firearm on campus. The student has been charged with Carrying a Firearm…
Budgetel to get Second Chance with Court Order
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The second hearing in the Budgetel nuisance case went before a Hamilton County judge today. (more…)
Health Department Holds Discussion on Opioid Abuse
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The opioid epidemic has stretched its deadly tentacles into every aspect of our society. (more…)
TSU director of football ops arrested on assault charge
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee State's director of football operations and on-campus recruiting has been charged with aggravated assault and vandalism in an encounter involving a football player. Court documents show 22-year-old Ariel Escobar was arrested Dec. 3 after a…
Parkridge drops challenge to new Ringgold hospital
RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) - Officials at Parkridge Health System say they have dropped their appeal of the certificate of need ruling for a new hospital in the Ringgold area.…
Brainerd student charged with having both gun and marijuana in school
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Sheriff's officers say a Brainerd High student faces charges after they found him with a gun and marijuana. They say it started this morning when a teacher smelled marijuana on the student. The teacher called an administrator,…