From The Archives: Reaction to Sandy Hook school shooting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Ten years ago, our area was reeling after the worst school shooting our country had ever seen. For our Thursday Throwback, we share several of…
Tennessee unemployment rate remains at 3.5%
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee officials say statewide unemployment rates are continuing to hold steady heading into the holiday season. The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday that the unemployment rate for November 2022 remained 3.5% for…
Bradley County Schools are also losing Title 1 funds
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - School systems in Tennessee suddenly got a budgetary jolt when they learned that some of their Title I funding has been suddenly cut off. The federal education program provides grants to school systems with high percentages…
Health Dept. gets Pfizer version of Bivalent vaccine for kids
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton County Health Department announces they now have the Pfizer version of the Bivalent Covid 19 vaccine for kids between six months and four years. They will begin administering it on Monday at the 3rd Street,…
Angel Tree gifts picked up for Christmas
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Kids in need will once again be able to celebrate Christmas with gifts under the tree, thanks to the Salvation Army's Angel tree Program and the Chattanooga area's support. Both…
Driving Our Economy Forward: The Smart Factory Institute
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Helping teach current and future members of the manufacturing workforce how to best implement technology in their jobs is highly important. The Smart Factory Institute at the PIE Innovation…
Tennesseans misunderstand abortion law, want exceptions
By JONATHAN MATTISE Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - New Vanderbilt University polling has found that most registered voters in Tennessee want exceptions for rape or incest in the state’s sweeping abortion ban. But the poll also found that they…
More To The Story with Staley: Record Urban League gift
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga began operations back in 1982. The purpose is to shine a light on racial, social and economic equity.…
Chattanooga Police Will No Longer Respond to Minor Traffic Crashes
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Minor fender benders may not be as time consuming as they once were, thanks to a new protocol implemented by Chattanooga Police. There are eight qualifications that determine whether…
Chattanooga, Hamilton County officials approve interlocal agreement
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Both the Chattanooga City Council and Hamilton County Commission have come together to help those evicted from the Budgetel Inn one month ago. Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night…
Family Justice Center Launches Needs Assessment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center (FJC) has sent surveys out to the community asking for input on how they can better serve victims of domestic violence. Over the last year, there has been a 25%…
Raffensperger calls for end to Runoff Races for General elections
ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) - The official in charge of elections in Georgia wants to do away with runoff elections. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is taking his case to the state legislature. The last three U.S. Senate races in…
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…