Hamilton County Criminal Courts Clerks Christmas contest
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- This week there is extra holiday cheer at the Hamilton County Criminal Courts Clerks office. Since taking the position in 2014, Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean…
Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis reacts to Resolute/Bowater closings
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Resolute Paper Company announced on Thursday that they are ending paper production at the old Bowater plant in Calhoun. They will continue making tissue there, but the plant will lost more than half of their…
Angel Tree pick up
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Kids will be rocking around the Christmas tree with presents under the tree thanks in large part to the Salvation Army angel tree program. Now a lot of Chattanooga Hamilton…
Hamilton County School equity plan shows racial, socioeconomic divides
In Game of Thrones, the character Lord Eddard Stark said in the first season that "Winter is coming." For Hamilton County schools, it's the winter break that approaches quickly.…
Tucker McClendon announces he's running for Hamilton County Commission
EAST RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF) - School board member Tucker McClendon says he will run for the vacant District 8 seat on the Hamilton County Commission. That's the district now represented by Tim Boyd, who recently announced he will not run…
Luke Jackson, Jr. pleads guilty to strangulation in 2019
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Luke Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty for a murder in in 2019 today in court. In March of 2019, officials could not immediately figure out how Starlin Fike died at his home on Hunt Avenue near the Eastgate…
Resolute Forest Products ending paper making at old Bowater plant
CALHOUN, Tennessee (WDEF) - 67 years of making paper in Calhoun, Tennessee is coming to an end. Resolute Forest products announce they are shutting down their Pulp and Paper operations at the old Bowater plant in Calhoun. But they will…
Gov. Lee announces Bill Dance Signature Lakes program
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - The State of Tennessee is teaming up with legendary fisherman Bill Dance for a foundation to improve lake quality across the state. They are creating the Bill Dance…
Dalton Police investigate identity and cash theft from Florida victim
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Dalton police are investigating the case of a woman who withdrew $7,500 at local banks that belonged to a woman in Florida. They believe the suspect used stolen bank account information and a fake ID…
1 dead as unusual Midwest storm brings hurricane-force winds
One person has died as a powerful storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest bringing hurricane-force wind gusts and spawning reported tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.
US home construction rebounds a strong 11.8% in November
New home construction in the U.S. rebounded 11.8% in November as strong demand continues to boost builder confidence even with the slower winter season approaching.
Towns in mourning while digging out from deadly tornadoes
Emergency response workers dig through the rubble of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Tornadoes and severe weather caused catastrophic damage across multiple states late Friday, killing several people…
Police arrest suspect from College Hill Courts shooting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have arrested a suspect from a shooting Tuesday morning in the College Hill Courts. But it wasn't the shooter. Investigators say the incident was domestic in nature. They say a male party was shot and…
Hamilton County rejects permit for 184 homes on Ooltewah-Georgetown Rd
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton County Commission voted to deny a "special exceptions" permit for a proposed housing development in the 10-thousand block of Ooltewah-Georgetown Road earlier today. Although the permit was not approved, the developer will still be allowed to…
Chip's Good Word: Giant Skillet for new Lodge Cast Iron museum
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tennessee (WDEF) - Lodge Cast Iron is celebrating 125 years in business with a new museum. The company has been manufacturing cast iron cookery in South Pittsburg since 1986.…
City Council Approves Major Development to Transform Chattanooga Waterfront
There are big plans for the Alstom plant site along the River downtown. A Canal... a "Cathedral" like music venue... the canal will go through the Cathedral. Here is the update.
Tullahoma woman charged over baby body in a storage unit
TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (AP) - Officials say a Tennessee woman has been charged after the discovery of a newborn baby’s remains in a storage unit rented 27 years ago. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports a Coffee County grand jury indicted…
NC investigators charge Georgia man with writing checks on dead person's account
MURPHY, North Carolina (WDEF) - Authorities in North Carolina have arrested a man across the Georgia state line in a fraud investigation. The Cherokee and Clay County Sheriff's offices began investigating accusations of a scam last summer. The allegation was…
Governor announces 37% salary increase for correctional officers
NASHVILLE (WDEF) - Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday announced a major salary bump for correction officers in Tennessee (this does not apply to local jails). They will get a 37% salary increase effective on December 16. That raises annual starting…
Collegedale taking donations for tornado victims
COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) - The City of Collegedale is taking donations for victims of the tornado that devastated Mayfield, Kentucky. They are partnering with the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation. Collegedale leaders realized they had things in common with Mayfield. They are…
Man found guilty of sexual abuse of stepchildren
LAFAYETTE, Georgia (WDEF) - A Rossville man has been convicted of various sexual offenses against three minor stepchildren. A jury found 48 year old Steven Brian Higginbotham guilty of 20 total counts, including rape, aggravated sodomy, sexual battery, incest and…
One arrested in Dorris Street shooting incident
A 48-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting incident that left a 74-year-old man injured. David Lester was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault. It happened at around 8 p.m. Tuesday night in the 4200 block…
Worker says she risked discipline if she left job amid storm
An employee of the Kentucky candle factory where eight workers were killed by a tornado said Tuesday that a supervisor threatened her with written disciplinary action if she went home early because storms were approaching.
Health Department to Begin Administering Pfizer Booster Shots to Ages 16 & 17, No Appointment Necessary
The Hamilton County Health Department is now offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to anyone 16 years of age or older.