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.
Chattanooga ties its 10-year high with shootings in a calendar year
The amount of gun violence in Chattanooga in 2021 is staggering. Shootings have increased in number every year since 2018. The possibility of more shootings…
Senate votes to raise debt limit by $2.5T, avoiding default
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn voted against raising the debt ceiling today. “Democrats have demonstrated they are willing to burn through unlimited amounts of taxpayer dollars to fund their radical agenda. Today I stood up against…
Man sentenced in kidnapping mistakenly released from jail
BIRMINGHAM , Ala. (AP) - An inmate convicted of kidnapping a prominent Birmingham businessman was mistakenly released from jail because of missing paperwork. News outlets report that law enforcement officials are searching for Matthew Amos Burke who was released from…
Pres. Biden grants Tennessee emergency declaration post-tornadoes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - President Joe Biden has granted an emergency declaration in Tennessee that will make federal assistance available to nine counties damaged by this weekend’s tornadoes. Gov. Bill Lee announced the declaration on Tuesday after requesting it the…
Golden Apple Award: Amy Bufkin, Silverdale Baptist Academy
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Amy Bufkin teaches Economics and History at Silverdale Baptist Academy, but dollars and cents and past events are only a small part of her commitment to her students.…
College Hill Courts shooting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police are investigating a shooting this morning at the College Hill Courts. It happened around 10 AM on Maple Street Court. Police say a male was shot and taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Nokian Tyres plans more growth at Dayton plant
DAYTON, Tennessee (WDEF) - Management at Nokian Tyres say they will continue to grow production and jobs at their new plant in Dayton. The company says they have almost doubled their workforce there this year. They went from 175 workers…