Parkridge Medical Center Fire
New details on the case of the woman who tried to light a cigarette and caught her hospital bed on fire.
State lawmakers debate ending pandemic jobless benefits
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - On July 3rd, Governor Bill Lee is ending federal pandemic unemployment benefits in an effort to get Tennesseans back to work. But not everyone agrees with the move. "I don't think it's…
Local Beautification Project receives $10,000 grant
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - An Alton Park Beautification Project has received a grant to help push their community project forward. The Grant is worth $10,000 and was supplied by the Benwood Foundation to help the Hughes project…
CDC calls emergency meeting on rare heart inflammation following the vaccine
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - The CDC announced Thursday that it will convene for an "emergency meeting" of its advisers on June 18th to discuss rare but higher-than-expected reports of heart inflammation following the second doses of the Pfizer…
Skating Rink employee charged with sexual assault of a minor
DAYTON, Tennessee (WDEF) - An employee of a Rhea county skating rink is in jail, facing a total of 17 counts of sexual misconduct. A Rhea county grand jury indicted Michael D. Napier, a supervisor at the Crystal Springs Skating…
Market Street Bridge Closed Sunday for Maintenance
The Market Street Bridge will be closed Sunday, June 13 for testing and maintenance.
Patient trying to smoke caused Parkridge fire
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga fire officials report that a blaze at Parkridge Medical Center tonight was out by the time firefighters got there. So the ventilated the halls and stopped the sprinklers. The small fire broke out on the second…
Cody Gass sentenced for wreck that killed his passenger
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Witnesses for both sides testified today at the sentencing hearing for Douglas Cody Gass in a vehicular homicide case. He admitted to driving the car that crashed after fleeing from police in 2019. As he ran from…
Rent and housing prices continue to soar and could continue to increase
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - Finding a reasonably affordable place to live continues to be a struggle for many Americans as rents and home prices continue to rise. "I jokingly say even offering your first child’s naming rights…
District Hill Cemetery in Chickamauga is being restored
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF)- The District Hill Cemetery is an African-American cemetery here in Chickamauga. It had been neglected many years. But now, family members of those that are buried here and many volunteers are working hard to…
Rhea County Child Advocacy Center has grand opening
RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Rhea County's first child advocacy center is now open to the public. There was mix of optimism and sadness in the air at its grand opening . "It was really important for…
Man convicted of child molestation in just 17 minutes
CHATSWORTH, Georgia (WDEF) - A Murray County jury took just 17 minutes ton convict Thomas Rick Barker of child molestation. They heard from ten witnesses, including three victims during the trial this week. Barker was only charged with molesting one…
My Hero Wears a Badge: 2 year old meets Deputy who helped save his life
MIDDLEY VALLEY, Tenn (WDEF) - This past week, Kyler finally got to meet his hero and thank her for saving his life. Last year, 2 year old Kyler Nerren almost lost his life when he accidentally overdosed.…
Hamilton County picks school board member to fill empty commission seat
Commission also chooses Mike Carter's widow to replace him in the state legislature
Family still can't get into home after tree fell on house
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Last week saw heavy rainfall resulting in a tree falling on top of their house. "No bruises and stuff like that so I mean I’m just glad to be alive," said Robert Campbell. "Each…
Direct Flooring giving back to the community
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) -A Chattanooga flooring company is selling rugs to helping out the areas community. After years of working with builders Direct Flooring opened its doors in April to the public. Direct Flooring’s owner Jordan Parker…
Pettyjohn cold case solved with ties to politics and organized crime
Prosecutors say William Alley was paid to execute Pettyjohn in 1979 because he knew too much about a couple of federal investigations locally.
$7.5 Million Loan Fund aims to help local minority-led businesses and small businesses grow
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - In an effort to grow and strengthen Chattanooga’s small and minority-led businesses and those that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pathway Lending is launching a new $7.5 million loan fund that…
Mayor Kelly's plans for the city
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) - Chattanooga City Mayor Tim Kelly and the city’s chief of staff had a discussion about the plans for Chattanooga’s future including an early look at who could be the new Chattanooga police chief. It was a…
Burnside neighborhood open in Chattanooga's Southside
Chattanooga’s Southside experienced a large housing and commercial revitalization with the opening of a new building.
Katie Boyd Britt officially announces run for Senate in Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Republican Katie Boyd Britt has entered the race for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat. In a Tuesday announcement video, Britt stressed her work for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and her leadership of a state business group,…
What happened to the cicada eruption?
KNOXVILLE (WDEF) - After over a decade, Cicadas have finally started to emerge again throughout Tennessee. This brood of Cicades, known as Brood X, last emerged in May 2004. But a horticultural specialist at the University of…
New law aimed at deterring catalytic converter thefts
The rise of catalytic converter thefts has alarmed both consumers and law enforcement alike. In 2020 alone, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported over 1200 converter thefts a month. But a new Tennessee consumer law hopes to…
Police charge teens with Highway 58 gas station murder
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have charged two teenagers with the murder last month at a gas station on Highway 58. 47 year old Ralph Smith was shot around 4:30 in the afternoon. Investigators have arrested two 16 year old males…