Alabama governor extends mask order
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is extending the state’s mandatory face mask order by a month.
Police say suspect tazed himself in struggle with officer
ATHENS, Tennessee (WDEF) - Athens Police report a suspect tazed himself during a fight with an officer. The incident started at 7 AM, when a Riceville firefighter reported that a man was blocking traffic in town and appeared to have…
Speaker proposes free Georgia ID cards for voters
ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) - As Georgia lawmakers consider several voting reform bills, House Speaker David Ralston is floating one idea. The Blue Ridge Republican is proposing that State ID cards should be free to all eligible Georgians. Right now, you…
COVID-19 and obesity
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Starting Monday, Tennessee will open up vaccine eligibility to many people including folks 16 years and older who have a high-risk health condition. One condition that falls under these conditions that folks might not think about…
Russell Gilbert reflects on his city service
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - City Councilman Russell Gilbert is leaving Chattanooga government following his unsuccessful run for Mayor on Tuesday. He issued this statement of his dozen years serving on the City Council. “For the past twelve years I have been…
TBI details missing children crackdown in East Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been focusing on missing children in the state over the last couple of months. They say the effort has brought home 150 missing kids across Tennessee. They targeted 240 missing…
Factors in Chattanooga's Mayoral Runoff
A close call in the race for Chattanooga's mayor means 6 more weeks of campaigning for Tim Kelly and Kim White.
Police arrest suspect in Dodson Ave. fatal shooting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have arrested a suspect for a fatal shooting in January. 28 year old Kenneth Trammell was shot on Dodson Avenue after 3AM on January 31st. Investigators have now charged 28 year old Melvin Evans with…
Police arrest suspect in summer fatal shooting
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police have arrested a suspect for a fatal shooting last summer. 31 year old Quintez Bulloch was shot on July 30th in the 2900 block of Lightfoot Mill road. Police have now charged Bronathon Carter in…
Dayton Postal Worker investigated for stealing mail
DAYTON, Tennessee (WDEF) - Rhea County investigators suspect a postal worker with stealing mail in our area. On Saturday, officers stopped a woman on Highway 60 that they believed was under the influence. But what they found in her vehicle…
Sen. Gardenhire opposes first responder residency bill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - “It’s a Memphis problem and they’re trying to solve it with a statewide bill.” State Senator Bill Kelsey pushed for a floor vote last week for a bill that would lift all residency requirements for first…
Inside look at Enterprise South Nature Park's vaccine site
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee- "What we do versus we get them settled safely and their parking space. It’s different for most people to have a drive-through experience for vaccines," said RN Donna Needham. She said it’s a different type of experience, but…
Some Catholic archdioceses urge followers to avoid J&J vaccine
(WDEF)- Roman Catholic archdioceses in St. Louis and New Orleans have requested Catholics to attempt to stay away from Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Taking the Johnson and Johnson covid vaccine could be viewed as “morally compromised" because it is…
Chattanooga teen missing, believed to be held captive by father
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) - Daphne Westbrook disappeared from Hamilton County in October of 2019 after she spent the weekend with her father. She has now been spotted in New Mexico and Colorado.” Authorities believe Daphne Westbrook’s father, John Oliver Westbrook, has…
Smokies sees more than 12M visitors despite virus closure
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced its second busiest year on record last year.
Tim Kelly & Kim White neck and neck going into runoff
15 candidate field for Mayor is down to 2.
Kim White part of Mayoral Run Off
CHATTANOOGA,Tennessee- There will be a run off for mayor between Tim Kelly and Kim White. Kim White supporters were buzzing with excitement as a late voting push lead to a run off. White trailed Kelly by less than 300 votes,…
GBI will investigate fatal shooting of suspect in Catoosa County
RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into a deadly officer involved shooting in Catoosa County. On Saturday, dispatch received a suspicious phone call. Catoosa County deputies responded to a home on Alabama Highway in Ringgold.…
Vaccines for Catoosa Educators and More
Catoosa County educators are scheduled to receive their vaccine March 8th. News 12 asked the superintendent about the rollout plan.
Chattanooga Wastewater customer searching for answers
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Brittany Murphy got a very unpleasant surprise in the mail when she received her Chattanooga Sewer bill in the mail in January. "I took my breathe away. I was really hopeless", says Murphy. To her surprise, there…
Dolly Parton posts her Covid vaccine photo
(WDEF) - Dolly Parton tweeted on Tuesday a photo of her getting her Covid vaccine with a clever caption. "Dolly gets a dose of her own medicine." The reference is to her donation of a million dollars to Vanderbilt to…
New information on deadly Whitfield chase
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - Whitfield County Sheriff's officials are releasing more information on the deadly crash last week. They says there were active felony warrants for Zachary Douglas Lumpkin. Deputies spotted him Thursday night at the Truck Stop at Connector…
Tennessee expanding vaccines to 1-C category
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - Tennessee health officials are expanding the pool of vaccines as they expect increased shipments. Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey announced the state will now include the 1-C category, adding more than a million Tennesseans to vaccine qualification.…
Golden Apple Award: Hardy Elementary Sarah Tortora
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - Music has to power transform us. It's a subject that Sarah Tortora is passionate about. She shares that passion with more than 400 students at Hardy Elementary. Robin Bambrey is the Principal at…