Update: Bell was formerly missing, but is now safe
UPDATE: Daytona Beach Police confirmed that they are in contact with Bell and that he is safe. PREVIOUSLY: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jared “Drake” Bell, an actor best known as a…
HARDY, Lainey Wilson lead ACM Awards nominees
By KRISTIN M. HALL AP Entertainment Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country artist HARDY drove the success of his hit song “Wait in the Truck” with Lainey Wilson all the way to the Academy of Country Music Awards, where he…
Poll: Among U.S. Latinos, Catholicism still largest faith
By LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Catholics remain the largest religious group among Latinos in the United States, but the number of Latinos who identify as religiously unaffiliated continues to grow. Those are among the key…
Maria Lee announces she is in remission from lymphoma
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - Tennessee's First Lady announces that she is in remission from cancer. Maria Lee posted a video on Thursday thanking people for their prayers during her treatment. The Governor's wife…
BBBS opens nominations for City of Potential Awards
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga (BBBS) has opened up nominations for their City of Potential Awards. For the second time, BBBS is asking the public to enter nominations. The public can nominate mentoring individuals…
Alabama lawmakers advance industrial incentive bills
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a package of economic development bills that will renew and expand tax breaks and other incentives the state uses to lure industries. The Ways and Means Education Committee approved the package…
Expelled Black lawmaker Pearson to return to Tennessee House
By ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The second of two Black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House will return to the Legislature after a Memphis commission voted to reinstate him Wednesday, nearly a week after his…
Judge blocks rules intended to protect nation's waterways
By SCOTT McFETRIDGE Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a federal rule in 24 states that is intended to protect thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways throughout the nation. U.S.…
As grocery prices soar, push grows to end sales tax on food
By KIM CHANDLER Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama is one of only three states that tax groceries at the same rate as other purchases. But as food prices soar — and as the state sees a record budget…
New Driving to a Cure plate design available to Tennesseans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) released a new license plate design for Tennesseans on Monday. The new plate design is meant to promote breast cancer awareness. Funds will go toward breast cancer screening services. The…
SAFE School Act introduced to U.S. House and Senate
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Representative Chuck Fleischmann introduced the Securing Aid For Every School Act (SAFE School Act) to the House on Tuesday. The SAFE School Act is a $900 million program meant to make schools safer across the country.…
Turkey season in Tennessee starts two weeks late
TENNESSEE (WDEF) -- Turkey season in Tennessee is starting soon. Starting two weeks later than usual, opening day will be Saturday, April 15. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) said they reduced the bag limit from three to two birds.…
Chattanooga man wanted for questioning in Knoxville murder
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The Knoxville Police Department is looking for a man who was last seen in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Knoxville Police said 37-year-old Duane Harris is wanted…
What we know about victims of the Louisville bank shooting
By CLAIRE GALOFARO and BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tributes were growing Monday for the five people slain in a shooting at a Louisville bank, with friends sharing details of their lives and mourners gathering at vigils.…
Judges block Tennessee move to cut Nashville council in half
By JONATHAN MATTISE Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Democratic-leaning city of Nashville's Metropolitan Council will get to keep all 40 of its seats for now, under a temporary decision issued Monday by three state judges. The ruling stymies…
Louisville bank employee livestreamed attack that killed 4
By DYLAN LOVAN and CLAIRE GALOFARO Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, killing four people — including a close friend of Kentucky's governor — while…
Nashville council votes to reappoint Justin Jones
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Metro Council voted to reappoint Justin Jones to his seat on Monday after being expelled last week. The crowd cheered after the council unanimously voted to reinstate Jones. All…
Grand jury indicts mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher
By BEN FINLEY and DENISE LAVOIE Associated Press NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A grand jury in Virginia has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her…
Police: 5 killed in shooting at downtown Louisville building
By DYLAN LOVAN and CLAIRE GALOFARO Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police say five people have been killed in a shooting at a bank building in downtown Louisville and the suspected shooter is also dead. Police say six others…
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ is a box office smash
By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Audiences said let’s go to the movie theater for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” this weekend. The animated offering from Universal and Illumination powered up with $204.6 million…
Nashville council to vote on restoring ousted state lawmaker
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville officials are poised to vote Monday to reinstate one of the two Black Democratic lawmakers expelled by Republican colleagues for their gun control protest on the Tennessee House floor after a deadly school shooting —…
Cartel-based meth distributor sentenced in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A Chief U.S. District Judge sentenced a local meth trafficker to 292 months in prison on Friday. That is more than 24 years. The U.S. Department of Justice said that 44-year-old Armando Mejia-Almazan pleaded guilty for…
States consider banning cosmetics containing PFAS
By LISA RATHKE Associated Press A growing number of state legislatures are considering bans on cosmetics and other consumer products that contain a group of synthetic, potentially harmful chemicals known as PFAS. In Vermont, the state Senate gave final approval…
Save the date: One year until total solar eclipse sweeps US
By MADDIE BURAKOFF AP Science Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Dust off your eclipse glasses: It’s only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America. On April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a…