Georgia state house removes lawmaker for not taking Covid test
Read his explanation about why he rejects the requirement to be tested.
Department store chain Belk filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The North Carolina-based department store chain Belk says it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Charlotte Observer reports that private equity firm Sycamore Partners made the announcement on Tuesday. The firm owns Belk and says it…
Covid vaccines are now more orderly in Hamilton County
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Unlike the scene three weeks ago when the Tennessee Riverpark was swamped by people wanting to get the Covid 19 vaccine, the crowd Tuesday was manageable as Chattanoogans showed up by appointment. Although the health department has…
Dalton Confederate Statue will move to new location
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Demonstrators marched against it, and supporters petitioned to keep it. Now, after months of controversy, the statue of General Joseph E. Johnston, will move from downtown Dalton. The confederate general led southern forces at the battle…
Hamilton County schools going back to class next week
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton County School District announces some changes. Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson announces school re-openings. This afternoon they gathered at CSAS. The school system is currently in phase 2. According to Dr. Johnson, starting next week K-5…
Cleveland City Schools return to in-person learning
CLEVELAND, Tenn (WDEF) - Students at Cleveland City Schools returned to in-person class five days a week on Monday. Cleveland City School officials say they have been making decisions about how students learn based on the number of COVID-19 cases in…
Are 2 masks better than 1? Doctors explain
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - Since the pandemic began, masks have been a staple in keeping us safe and healthy-but is one enough? For the last 11 months, persuading everyone to wear a mask has been a challenge. And now, with a…
Local restaurants struggle with staffing shortage amid pandemic
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Throughout the pandemic, many of Chattanooga’s local restaurants have struggled to get by. And now, nearly eleven months in, things are just as tough as ever. With indoor dining restrictions and many reliant on takeout and…
Local Churches Granted Access to Vaccine
“There is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the way that the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County goes about approaching the black churches here in Chattanooga”
Tennessee Woman charged in Capitol riot may be released pending trial
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A federal magistrate judge has ruled that the mother of a Tennessee man who authorities say carried flexible plastic handcuffs during the riot at the U.S. Capitol can be released from custody. Lisa Eisenhart is accused…
Golden Apple Award: Lori Case, Dade Elementary
TRENTON, GA (WDEF) - When graduates of Dade Elementary are asked to name a teacher they will always remember, Lori Case's name pops up quite often. She's been known to make Math more interesting by adding pumpkin tasting to the…
Chattanooga City Council to Vote on Certificate of Compliance for Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is one step closer to expanding to Chattanooga! The Chattanooga City Council will be voting on the certificate of compliance from the company tonight at 6PM. The certificate will allow Trader Joe's to sell beer and wine in…
Bradley County Mayor: Slow COVID-19 Testing, More Vaccinations
Bradley county mayor expressed frustration over the limited number of vaccines given each day. Currently, the county is doing daily COVID-19 testing half the day and the other half vaccinations. According to the Mayor, this is significantly limiting the number…
Alabama man charged with sex abuse of child
FORT PAYNE, Alabama (WDEF) - The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has charged a northeast Alabama man with sex abuse of a child under 12. The suspect is 55 year old Adan Hernandez Ballesteros from Fort Payne. Sheriff Nick Welden says…
Widespread internet outages hit northeast U.S.
Users across the northeast U.S. reported widespread internet outages Tuesday.
Hikers told to forgo entire Appalachian Trail due to virus
Hikers are being told to postpone plans to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail this year due to COVID-19.
1 dead, at least 17 injured after tornado rips Alabama town
Officials say a tornado killed a teenager who was huddling with his family in the basement of their Alabama home Monday night.
Church helps neighbors in Park Lake Apartment fire
FORT OGLETHORPE, Georgia (WDEF) - After the Park Lake Apartments in Fort Oglethorpe caught fire over the weekend, its neighbor, Brainerd Baptist linked up with Red Cross. "The Red Cross basically needed a place to be able to utilize spots that…
Taxpayers spending $200,000 for suspended insurance commissioner
“one-time funds for one filled executive position” to pay former insurance commissioner Jim Beck who was indicted soon after taking office.
International company expanding their operations in Marion County
Valmont Industries plans to bring 65 more jobs to Jasper area.
What's Right With Our Schools: West Side Elementary School
ROSSVILLE, GA (WDEF) - West Side Elementary is officially a Leader in Me Lighthouse School. It earned that honor thanks to its extraordinary impact on its staff, students and community. Robert Mountjoy is the Principal at West Side Elementary. He…
Surge in Rural Area Hunger
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank says because of Covid-19, more than 50 thousand children in Tennessee do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Covid-19 Cases and Hospitalizations on steady decline
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - According to the Tennessee Department of Health and the Hamilton County Health Department, the number of new daily cases and local hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 are in a steady decline. Just a few weeks ago, Hamilton County…
Worker bitten at East Tennessee Big Cat Sanctuary
KINGSTON, Tenn. (AP) - Officials say a worker at a big cat sanctuary in Tennessee was hospitalized after being bitten by an animal. Roane County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Phillips told news outlets that a female employee at Tiger…