'Operation Hands Free' brings awareness to distracted driving
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) - Tennessee law enforcement kicked off Distracted Driving Awareness Month with Operation Hands Free. "April is an important month for us. We are hitting…
Tennessee fires Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper after 5 seasons
By TERESA M. WALKER/AP Sports Writer Tennessee has fired Kellie Harper as the Lady Vols coach after five seasons. Athletic director Danny White announced Monday that Harper would not return. White said he told Harper the university was making a…
On last day of Georgia legislative session, some bills pass and others die
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's two-year legislative session ended early Friday, after lawmakers stayed past midnight on Thursday pass some bills and reject others as the term ended. Lawmakers rejected legalizing sports betting, but agreed to tighten rules on law enforcement…
Georgia joins states seeking parental permission before children join social media
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia could join other states in requiring children younger than 16 to have their parents’ explicit permission to create social media accounts. Lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to Senate Bill 351, which also would ban social…
Georgia bill aimed at requiring law enforcement to heed immigration requests heads to governor
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would require local jailers to check the immigration status of inmates and work with federal immigration officials instead of sheltering people who are in the country illegally.…
Authorizing sports betting in Georgia may lack needed votes from lawmakers
ATLANTA (AP) — There's still a chance Georgians could vote on authorizing sports betting in November, but the odds may be poor. The House Higher Education Committee on Thursday passed out both a proposed state constitutional amendment and authorizing legislation…
Settlement reached in lawsuit between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' allies
UPDATE: ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney reached a settlement agreement Wednesday in a state court fight over how Walt Disney World is developed in the future following the takeover of the theme park resort's…
Tennessee bill would require free menstrual products in schools
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Tennessee lawmakers have proposed a bill that would provide free feminine hygiene products to girls in school. House Bill 2207 proposes the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act. If passed, it will give girls access to feminine…
Tennessee bill seeks to ban chemical-based weather modification
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Tennessee lawmakers have introduced a bill that would ban the release of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter temperature, weather or sunlight intensity. Several news outlets have targeted this bill, claiming it relates to a conspiracy…
Florida’s DeSantis signs one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will have one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors — if it withstands expected legal challenges — under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday. The bill will ban…
The government says to destroy these invasive, fuzzy mud-looking masses. Here's why.
The Department of Agriculture is seeking the public's help to destroy an invasive species that looks like spongy mud and is growing outdoors. With spring's official arrival, the agency says "smashing and scraping" will be an essential tool in keeping…
Death of Missouri student Riley Strain appears accidental, police in Tennessee say
UPDATE: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The death of Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who went missing in Tennessee’s capital for nearly two weeks, appears to be accidental, police said. Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Kris Mumford said a…
Truck driver who went missing in Monteagle found dead
UPDATE: MONTEAGLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Authorities have found the body of a man who went missing last month in Monteagle. Jalen Allen was found deceased on Friday, March 22. The Marion County Sheriff's Department shared this information on their social…
Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner pleads guilty to fraud
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- Former Georgia State Insurance Commissioner, John W. Oxendine pleaded guilty to a health care fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. It said Oxendine pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The…
Driving our Economy Forward: Adelle's Creperie
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A young woman in Chattanooga is using her love of crepes to serve up some amazing meals in the scenic city. Adelle Pritchard started her business at just 12 years old. The creperie serves fresh and…
A Tennessee fisherman reeled in a big one. It turned out to be an alligator
MAYNARDVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — A fisherman at a lake in northeast Tennessee caught a surprise at the end of his line when he pulled up a 3- to 4-foot long alligator. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said their Union County…
Texas immigration law blocked again, just hours after Supreme Court allowed state to arrest migrants
UPDATE: Hours after the Supreme Court gave Texas officials permission to jail and prosecute migrants suspected of crossing the U.S. southern border without authorization, an appeals court late Tuesday blocked the state from enforcing its controversial immigration law known as SB4. In…
Judge clears way for Trump to appeal ruling keeping Fani Willis on Georgia 2020 election case
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and SUDHIN THANAWALA Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — The judge overseeing the Georgia 2020 election interference case cleared the way Wednesday for Donald Trump and other defendants to appeal a ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney…
Georgia plans its first execution in years. Lawyers say the inmate is intellectually disabled
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia man convicted of killing his former girlfriend three decades ago is scheduled to be put to death Wednesday in what would be the state's first execution in more than four years. Willie James Pye, 59,…
Police search for a University of Missouri student in Nashville
UPDATE: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Authorities said Riley Strain's bank card has been found, but he is still missing. The card was found on the steep embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River. Metro Nashville Police said crews are…
Georgia Sen. Ossoff introduces bill to detect fentanyl at border
ATLANTA (WDEF) -- Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff proposed a bill to help deploy scanners at the southern border to identify contraband, specifically fentanyl. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection spent millions of dollars…
Crossville man arrested for aggravated child abuse
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Crossville man has been arrested for aggravated child abuse, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. The Department of Children's Services (DCS) contacted Cumberland County investigators about an injured baby on December 16, 2023. DCS…
Prosecutor leaves Georgia election case against Trump after relationship with district attorney
UPDATE: By KATE BRUMBACK and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER/Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — A special prosecutor who had a romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis formally withdrew Friday from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump after…
Georgia House bans Trenton's Colton Moore
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) - A controversial lawmaker from Northwest Georgia has just been banned by his own party. Colton Moore represents Dade, Walker and Catoosa counties in the State Senate. But he has…