Cleveland School officials explain their mask mandate
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - Mask mandates are in effect, or going into effect in many parts of the country. Add the Cleveland city school system to that list. As News 12's…
Police: man trying to recover stolen property was shot
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Police believe a confrontation over some disputed property lead to a shooting Thursday night in Bonny Oaks. The incident happened after 9 PM at a home on Stockton Drive off of Bonny Oaks. They say…
Nurse practitioner convicted of unlawful opioid distribution in Manchester
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A jury in Chattanooga this week convicted a man of unlawfully distributing prescription opioids. 64- year old Mark Daniel Allen was a nurse practitioner at a clinic in Manchester that he owned. Prosecutors say he…
Keith Urban's tour production manager, 72, dies from fall
PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio (AP) — The longtime tour production manager for country star Keith Urban has died after falling from a stage before an Ohio concert. Randy “Baja” Fletcher, 72, died on Aug. 27 at a hospital after falling the previous…
Fired Tennessee vaccine director files federal lawsuit
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The terminated vaccine director in Tennessee has sued the state in federal court and says she wants to clear her name. Michelle Fiscus was fired after Republican lawmakers objected to her promoting COVID-19 vaccinations for teenagers.…
Gov. Lee: No plans to take up Texas abortion law
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Republican Gov. Bill Lee says he has no plans to introduce anti-abortion legislation similar to what Texas adopted earlier this year. Lee told reporters on Thursday that the state is awaiting a ruling on the state's…
Dunlap Fire Chief Hospitalized with Covid 19
DUNLAP, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Dunlap Volunteer Fire Department reports their chief has been hospitalized with covid 19 complications. Chief Norman Hatfield was admitted on Wednesday. The post says doctors are treating him for a lung infection. It says he…
Chattanooga Fire Department Cadets participate in Live Burn Training Event
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - The Chattanooga Fire Department’s newest firefighters are getting ready to graduate from their six-month-long fire academy and all of the skills they’ve been learning have been put to the test…
Father pleads guilty to shooting his 15 year old son
(Video is story from 8/20/2018 on the original crime) CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Michael McElrath pleads guilty to murdering his 15 year old son. Dylan McElerath was a sophomore at Hixson High. In August of 2018, 46 year old Michael McElrath…
Labor Day Holiday Weekend causing concerns for Health Officials
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - The severity of the surge can clearly be seen in America’s Hospitals - where the number of covid patients is the highest it's been since last winter -…
Fire officials optimistic in fight against Lake Tahoe fire
The huge California wildfire near Lake Tahoe resort communities has calmed down significantly and was growing at the smallest rate in two weeks.
After Ida soaks Northeast US, cleanup and mourning continues
At least 48 people in five states died as storm water cascaded into people's homes and engulfed automobiles, overwhelming urban drainage systems never meant to handle so much rain in such a short time.
Bald River Falls Bridge Replacement pushed back again
TELLICO PLAINS, Tennessee (WDEF) - The U.S. Forest Service announces that the project to build a new bridge at Bald River Falls is getting postponed again. This time they are blaming "challenges in the contracting marketplace." Some road and trail…
September is National Preparedness Month
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- National Preparedness Month is observed during September to stress the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. "Do you know of evacuation routes? If…
Pharmacies slammed by patients, too
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - When it comes to your local pharmacy, the people on staff are almost assuredly just as busy as anybody else working in the medical profession. And they say it's all COVID-related.…
Woman who claimed to have "maybe an ounce" of marijuana takes amazing mug shot
JACKSON, Tennessee (WDEF) - A West Tennessee woman will face a grand jury after a visit from a drug task force to her farm this week. The 15th Drug Task Force in Jackson says they have been investigating the case…
Flights resume, some power restored in New Orleans after Ida
Commercial flights resumed in New Orleans and power returned to parts of the business district Thursday, four days after Hurricane Ida slammed into the Gulf Coast, but electricity, drinking water and fuel remained scarce across much of a sweltering Louisiana.
Chattanooga native serves aboard USS Iwo Jima
Millington, TN (Press Release) – A Chattanooga, Tennessee, native is serving aboard USS Iwo Jima, a U.S. Navy Wasp class amphibious assault ship. Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Nabors is a 2017 Soddy Daisy High School graduate. Today, Nabors serves…
National Guard aids Erlanger hospital
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - The National Guard arrived Today to aid Erlanger With COVID Overflow. Senior Director of Emergency Management Robbie Tester said the National Guard has already been extremely helpful.…
Latest on Therapist stabbing in Ringgold
RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) - The Catoosa County Deputies and Ringgold Police ask for your help to track down the person who murdered a therapist. Joeli Poole has more on what we know so far. Poole "Local authorities are working around…
40% of Tennessee Covid cases now children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The state Department of Health says the number of children contracting COVID-19 now makes up 40% of all of Tennessee’s cases. Tennessee is confronting a steady rise in hospitalizations that mirror the drastic numbers from the…
Grundy County Schools Closing for a week
ALTAMONT, Tennessee (WDEF) - Grundy County Schools have decided to shut down for a week because of rising Covid cases. The closure begins immediately, on Friday. It extends through all of next week. Administrators expect to return to class on…
District Attorney rules police shooting of suspect was justified
CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia (WDEF) - The Northwest Georgia District Attorney rules that an officer involved shooting in Chickamauga last year was justified. Officers shot and killed a suspect who was only armed with a stater pistol. But after reviewing the case,…
Hamilton County Schools closing Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor Day
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn (WDEF) -Hamilton County schools announced Wednesday afternoon that all schools in the district will be closed on Tuesday, September 7th, and Wednesday, September 8th. The Schools were already closed on Monday, September 6th for Labor Day. Hamilton…