US overdose deaths hit record 93,000 in pandemic last year
Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tennessee now will not acknowledge National Immunization Awareness Month
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - Reports out of Nashville on Tuesday are showing just how far the Tennessee Department of Health is going to avoid immunization controversy now after criticism from lawmakers. NewsChannel 5 Investigates has obtained documentation that the Health…
Miner killed in East Knox mine collapse
MASCOT, Tennessee (WDEF) - A collapse at a zink mine in East Tennessee has claimed the life of one miner and injured two others. It happened at the Nyrstar Mine in rural East Knox County. Officials say the other mine…
Second suspect charged with sexual battery at Baptiste facility
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have charged a second suspect with sexual battery at a care facility on Vance Avenue. 22 year old Florencia Guadalupe Renderos Morales is charged with one count of Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure. She…
Judge dismisses Roy Moore suit over Sacha Baron Cohen stunt
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed Roy Moore’s $95 million lawsuit against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Judge John Cronan dismissed the lawsuit Tuesday. Moore said he was tricked into an interview that ended up lampooning sexual misconduct…
Police say homeless man stabbed woman who gave him a place to stay
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Dalton Police have charged a suspect in a stabbing this morning. It happened at a home on Straight Street around 8:30 AM. Police say a woman had been allowing a homeless man to stay at her…
Grundy County shutting down Palmer Elementary School
PALMER, Tennessee (WDEF) - Weeks before the new school year, Grundy County's board of education has decided to close the Palmer Elementary School. Swiss Memorial and Palmer will be consolidated for the upcoming year. Director of Schools, Dr. Donald C.…
Suspect charged in Lee Highway shooting from July 2
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have arrested a suspect in a shooting over the Fourth of July weekend on Lee Highway. A 63 year old man was shot while sitting in his vehicle in the 7700 block on Friday afternoon…
Local tax experts answer questions on expanded child tax credit
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The newly expanded child tax credit is one of the largest expansions in the country's history. Val Palmer with Urban League explains what it might mean for you and your family. "That's going to…
Cause of Volkswagen Plant Fire is under investigation
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant was evacuated this morning during a fire in the body shop. A conveyor belt caught fire in a confined space. The machinery in the area was very hot at the time.…
Chattanooga artist chosen to create Thaddeus Stevens Monument
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - A Chattanooga artist is making history by creating the second sculpture in the nation of the historical figure Thaddeus Stevens. Artist Alex Paul Loza was chosen to complete this project from a nationwide search…
Firefighters Respond to Fire at Volkswagen Plant
Chattanooga firefighters responded to a fire at the Volkswagen plant at Enterprise South Tuesday morning.
School baseball coach and PTA President charged with stealing money
Investigators say the coach used a school credit card to pay for his own gas for 5 years, PTA President raided the account over the summer.
Incentives to donating blood to Blood Assurance during shortage
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - "Blood Assurance says every donation can save up to Three lives but right now not enough people are doing this," said Brian Armstrong "When you donate with Blood Assurance it stays local. We are…
Chattanooga man caught in human trafficking sting
SPRING HILL, Tennessee (WDEF) - A Chattanooga man is one of 18 people charged in connection with human trafficking in Spring Hill, Tennessee. According to the T-B-I, 28 year old Suleiman Osman is charged with patronizing prostitution from a minor.…
Defense Team for Convicted Murderer Miranda Cheatham Requests New Trial
BRADLEY COUNTY (WDEF) - The defense team for Miranda Cheatham believes justice wasn't served and wants a new trial following her 2019 sentence for murdering her husband James "Tooter" Cheatham in 2016. The victim's brother John Loach…
As summer heats up, car thefts and burglaries on the rise
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - In Chattanooga, the temperature isn’t the only thing that’s rising. “If they see a car that’s sitting idly, running in a parking lot and they have access to it, they will take it,”…
Cleveland & Sequatchie school leaders state finalists
Autumn O’Bryan from Cleveland High is a finalist for Principal of the year while Sequatchie County's Sarai Pierce is up for Supervisor of the Year
Tennessee vaccine director says she has been fired
She claims she is a scapegoat for the Tennessee Department of Health for lawmakers applying pressure on their efforts to vaccinate teenagers for Covid-19
The BLVD committed to improving Rossville Boulevard corridor
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A grassroots organization is promising better days for the Rossville Boulevard corridor of South Chattanooga. They call themselves the BLVD. The corridor they are focusing on is the 2.2 miles from I 24 to…
What's Right With Our Schools: Summer Reach Program at Dalewood Middle
CHATANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Countless classroom hours were lost during the pandemic. Hamilton County's Summer Reach program is designed to get kids back up to speed and even give them a head start for next year. Tasha…
Spiegel Family Reacts to News of Recovery in Surfside Condo Collapse
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - 18 days since the Surfside condo collapse, the family of Judy Spiegel announces her body has been recovered. Judy Spiegel, wife of former Erlanger CEO was recovered Friday, July 9th according to her…
Death toll at Miami-area condo collapse site climbs to 94
The death toll in the Miami-area condominium collapse has climbed to 94. Officials said Monday that 22 people remain unaccounted for.
Dive operations aimed at dislodging stuck riverboat in Kentucky
Dive operations were approved Sunday to assess the lake bottom for salvage operations to safely dislodge the American Jazz riverboat in Lake Barkley.
