Gov. Lee says Tennessee school voucher bill done for the year
UPDATE: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Throughout the past few months, Gov. Bill Lee has pushed to expand school vouchers across the state of Tennessee. Dubbed…
Bill allowing parents to be fined for child's criminal offenses heads to Tennessee governor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A proposal that would allow parents to be fined for their child's criminal offenses is headed to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's desk for his approval. The GOP-dominant House on Monday approved allowing judges to levy up…
A man gets 19 years for a downtown St. Louis crash that cost a teen volleyball player her legs
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for causing a downtown accident that resulted in the amputation of the legs of a teenage volleyball player from Tennessee. Daniel Riley, 22, was…
Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, dies at 47
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album ‘Overcomer’, has died. She was 47. A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the singer…
Man sets himself on fire near court where Trump's criminal trial is underway
Emergency crews rushed away a person on a stretcher after a fire was extinguished outside the courthouse where jury selection for former President Donald Trump's trial is taking place. Witnesses say they saw a man pour liquid over his head and…
Get a free cold brew at Dunkin' for National Cold Brew Day
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- National Cold Brew Day is coming up on Saturday, April 20, and Dunkin' is giving out free drinks. Dunkin' Rewards members can get a free medium cold brew with any purchase through the Dunkin' app on…
Gov. Kemp signs bill speeding up income tax cuts in Georgia
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill into law on Thursday accelerating the state's largest income tax cut. The governor signed HB 1015 into law with First Lady Marty Kemp, the General Assembly and others at…
Resident shoots gun at snake, Calhoun Schools go on lockdown
CALHOUN, Ga. (WDEF) -- Calhoun City Schools in Georgia went on a lockdown on Thursday due to nearby gunfire. After investigation, authorities determined a resident near the schools was trying to kill a snake with a gun. The gunshot went…
Pat Summit Foundation grant recipients announced
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Pat Summitt Foundation announced its 2024 grant recipients. Some of those recipients serve Rhea, McMinn and Monroe Counties in Tennessee. The foundation gave more than $200,000 worth of grants, reaching more than 50 Tennessee counties.…
TBI: Corrections officer found with child sex abuse material
ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- An Anderson County corrections officer has lost his job and been arrested on several charges, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. One of those was having child sexual abuse materials. The TBI began investigating…
15-year-old Tennessee boy faces criminal homicide charges
LEWIS COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a 15-year-old boy is being held by authorities for a fatal shooting. One person died and one other person was injured from the shooting on April 12. It happened…
It's Tax Day. And your refund may be big this year
By FATIMA HUSSEIN/Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — On this Tax Day, refunds are looking a bit bigger for taxpayers. According to the latest IRS statistics, the average income tax refund so far this…
Knoxville police believe non-custodial mom took her kids
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Knoxville Police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued two endangered child alerts on Wednesday. The TBI said authorities are looking for 20-month-old Jaisy Hollins and 4-year-old Joshua Hollins, Jr. From left, Jaisy Hollins, Joshua Hollins…
GOP’s Marjorie Taylor Greene delivers fresh threats of ousting Speaker Johnson in scathing rebuke
BY LISA MASCARO Updated 12:52 PM EDT, April 9, 2024 WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is escalating her criticism of House Speaker Mike Johnson, blistering his leadership in a lengthy letter to colleagues and renewing threats of a snap vote that…
Maps show where trillions of cicadas will emerge in the U.S. this spring
Trillions of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground this spring, bringing with them their loud buzzing and molted exoskeletons. Here's where you will be able to see cicadas in the U.S. When are the…
Woman shoots interstate drivers, says God told her to because of the eclipse, Florida police say
BONIFAY, Fla. (AP) — A woman checked out of a Florida hotel and told staff that she was going on a God-directed shooting spree because of the solar eclipse, then shot two drivers on Interstate 10 before being arrested and…
Former Atlanta chief financial officer pleads guilty to stealing money from city for trips and guns
ATLANTA (AP) — The former chief financial officer for Atlanta pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing money from the city for personal travel and guns and trying to cheat the federal government on his income taxes. Jim Beard, 60, pleaded…
Leading sock maker in Fort Payne announces layoffs
FORT PAYNE, Alabama (WDEF) - A Fort Payne plant should begin laying off workers this week. Renfro Brands makes socks and legwear. They have filed notice of plans to lay off a hundred workers over all. The company says they are…
Morgan Wallen arrested on felony charges in Nashville after allegedly throwing chair from bar rooftop
Country music star Morgan Wallen was arrested on felony charges after allegedly throwing a chair from a bar rooftop in Nashville on Sunday night, police said. Wallen, 30, faces three reckless endangerment charges and one disorderly conduct charge following an…
What time the 2024 solar eclipse starts, reaches peak totality and ends today
The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible across North America today. As the moon's position between the Earth and sun casts a shadow on North America, that shadow, or umbra, will travel along the surface from west to east at more than 1,500 miles per hour…
Anti-union group attacks UAW in video
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- An anti-union organization has issued a new video attacking the United Auto Workers, which is trying to organize Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant. The video was created by the group “Center for Union Facts.” It tells the story of…
Man is arrested in Easter brunch shooting in Nashville that left 1 dead and 5 injured
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police arrested a Tennessee man who is suspected of opening fire during Easter brunch at a Nashville restaurant, killing one person and injuring five more. Anton Rucker was taken into custody Tuesday in Princeton, Kentucky, after…
'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…