Smokies sees more than 12M visitors despite virus closure
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced its second busiest year on record last year.
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…
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.…
Kangaroo makes its getaway in Alabama, hopping to freedom
Authorities are searching for a young kangaroo who slipped away from his keepers as he was being hauled through Alabama on its way to a new home.
Latest voting fraud investigations include Trion widow
ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) - Georgia election officials sent their third batch of alleged voting violations to prosecutors last week, including a case against a northwest Georgia woman accused of turning in a vote by her deceased husband. Investigators say the…
Alabama universities commit to in person classes this fall
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Students across the three-campus University of Alabama System will return to in-person instruction for the fall semester with no limits on class size in Birmingham, Huntsville or Tuscaloosa to guard against COVID-19. The system said in…
Tennessee Senate OKs anti-trans athlete bill
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee’s GOP-dominant Senate has advanced legislation that would ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. On Monday, 27 Republicans voted in favor of the measure while all six Democratic members…
City Of Chattanooga Buildings reopen to public
CHATTANOOGA, Ten (WDEF) - With Covid-19 cases continuing to decline in our area, several Chattanooga buildings are now reopening to the public - but that does not mean that they will be free of restrictions. Last week, Chattanooga Mayor, Andy Berke,…
Flying Fish Disc Golf Start Up
HIXSON, Tennessee - Carson Fish is creator and owner of Flying Fish Disc Golf. He started the business 4 years ago and he said it has really started to take off in the past year. “We’re really going to venture into…
Tax worker charged with filing fake returns, keeping refunds
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee tax examiner for the Internal Revenue Service has been charged with filing false returns and keeping parts of tax refunds for herself. The U.S. attorney’s office in Memphis said Thursday that Linda Williams prepared…
Tennessee: Vaccines stolen, given to children in 1 county
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee’s top health officials have revealed the state has requested federal law enforcement to investigate alleged theft of coronavirus vaccine doses in the state’s most populous county. In a Friday news conference, health official also said…
WNBA approves Montgomery's role in new Dream ownership group
ATLANTA (AP) - Real estate investor Larry Gottesdiener has been approved as the lead owner of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream following pressure on former Sen. Kelly Loeffler to sell her share of the team. Co-owner Mary Brock also sold her…
Official: 3 dead in small plane crash in northeast Georgia
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say a single-engine plane bound for Daytona Beach, Florida, has crashed after takeoff from a north Georgia airport, killing all three people aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration says the Cessna 182 crashed about two miles…
Johnson & Johnson vaccine could hit Tennessee next week
NASHVILLE (WDEF) - The new Johnson and Johnson Covid vaccine could be in Tennessee as soon as next week. On Friday, an FDA panel of experts recommended allowing the vaccine and the FDA should quickly make it official. On Friday,…
Director resigns as new allegations rise in Shelby vaccine scandal
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Vaccine scandal in Shelby County continues to grow. After a week, when Shelby County Health Department officials faced accusations over thousands of doses going bad and their decision to stockpile doses against state rules, their…
Georgia Prosecutor talks about phone call investigation
ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia prosecutor investigating potential efforts by Donald Trump to influence last year’s general election is urging people to be patient. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told The Associated Press this week that she's in “no…
Athens City Schools faculty and staff receive first dose of Covid-19 Vaccine
ATHENS, Tenn (WDEF) - One by one , Athens City teachers lined up for a shot in the arm Friday at the Athens Regional Park. When they left they had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. “We have been waiting…
University of Tennessee to name dorms for Black trailblazers
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is naming residence halls after two Black trailblazers.
$5.25 Million Fund is Key Step Towards More Conservation in Greater Chattanooga Region
An environmental group has raised over five million dollars to accelerate land conservation in the tri-state area to battle climate change. The Open Space Institute is taking a key step towards conserving wildlife and forests around the Greater Chattanooga Region…
Collegedale Public Library adapts to the Coronavirus Pandemic
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn (WDEF) - The Collegedale Public Library has had a challenging year - repairing extensive tornado damage and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic; so they’ve had to find ways to adapt. The challenges began when the Easter Sunday tornadoes…
Tennessee Covid restrictions at nursing homes ending Sunday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Tennessee Department of Health announced on Wednesday that visitation restrictions on long-term car facilities are ending at the end of Feburary (Sunday). So next week, it will be much easier to visit loved ones. The…
Whataburger chain coming to Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - A Texas-based fast food chain is finally moving into Tennessee. Whataburger will open their first location in the state in Hermitage, just outside of Nashville on Old Hickory Boulevard. The company plans to open more Nashville…
Fallout and more problems with Covid vaccines in Memphis
Thousands of doses went to waste, now officials say Shelby County has been stockpiling their supply, against Tennessee policy.
Suspects in Brutal Cleveland Street Fight Arrested
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office makes several arrests in a brutal street fight from Sunday night. Alexus Silva, Jared Grugor, Delilah Leon and Timothy Morgan have all been charged with Rioting. Timothy Morgan and a…