Signal Mountain man arrested on child rape charges

  SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Signal Mountain man was arrested on Thursday on child rape charges. Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a residence on Signal Mill Lane for a report of child rape. HCSO reported that the child’s mother had contacted authorities about this incident. She stated that her husband had raped their…

Country music star Pam Tillis coming to the Walker Theatre

Calling all country music lovers! Get ready to hear award-winning musician, Pam Tillis, at the Walker Theatre this weekend! CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – County music enthusiast can stay warm and entertained this weekend with a special acoustic performance from the award-winning Pam Tillis. Coming to the Walker Theatre on January 11, Pam Tillis is bringing fan favorite hits like “Memphis”…

UNCG Beats Chattanooga at the Buzzer 78-75

(gomocs.com) – In a back-and-forth thriller, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team suffered a 78-75 buzzer-beating defeat to UNCG during Southern Conference action on Thursday evening in front of 2,867 fans inside McKenzie Arena. Chattanooga (9-7, 1-2 SoCon) tied the game, 75-75, after Honor Huff connected on his first triple of the game with just 3.1 seconds on the clock. UNCG (10-6,…

PawPaw Ministry Provides for Less Fortunate During Frigid Weather

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – PawPaw’s Ministry, a community-driven organization, is on a heartfelt mission to ensure that no one faces the cold unprotected.  In the heart of Chattanooga, PawPaw’s Ministry is more than just a charitable organization—it’s a lifeline for those braving the harsh winter weather.  Volunteers distributed warm clothing, blankets, warm meals and other essentials to the city’s most…

Thursday Throwback: 1980 Ice Storm

Winter arrives on Friday with a snowy forecast. But snow isn’t always the worst thing that winter can throw at us. For our Thursday Throwback, we’ll show you what a major ice storm did to the city 45 years ago. Categories: Featured, From The Archives Tags: From The Archives, Thursday Throwback

Study: Chattanooga has second worst traffic in Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA , Tenn. (WDEF)- It’s not just the feeling you have, but data says Chattanooga’s traffic has gotten worse. A study by INRIX, a transportation analytic company who releases a yearly traffic report of hundreds of cities around the globe, has found that Chattanooga has the second worst traffic in Tennessee. We are only beaten out by Nashville. Their data…

Marion County man arrested on outstanding warrants, several firearms found

MARION COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Marion County man was arrested on outstanding warrants after a SWAT standoff Wednesday night. Kyle Colston was wanted on several active warrants including parole violation, evading arrest, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Colston is also the suspect in several investigations out of the Jump Off area including, thefts, burglaries, and arson….

Two repeat offenders arrested on gun and drug charges

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —   Two repeat offenders have been arrested on multiple weapons and drug charges after an operation led by the Chattanooga Police Department’s (CPD) Gun Team. One of the offenders was out on bond for the following: Second Degree Murder 14 counts of Auto Burglary 5 counts of Firearm Thefts 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm during…

World of Wheels is rolling in to the Chattanooga Convention Center

Amy Coffey joins News 12’s Chip Chapman to talk about the revving event coming to the Chattanooga Convention Center, the World of Wheels. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Convention Center is readying their engines for this weekend’s 57th annual World of Wheels. The family friendly experience features over 150 vehicles from iconic cars like the cars, trucks, motorcycles and…

Mocs Welcome National TV For SoCon Home Opener Against UNCG

(gomocs.com) After a three-week hiatus, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of McKenzie Arena Thursday evening with its Southern Conference home opener against UNCG. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. Chattanooga (9-6, 1-1 SoCon), who welcomes undefeated UNCG (9-6, 2-0 SoCon), is coming off its…

Driving Our Economy Forward: TVFCU Idea Leap Grant

Startup capital is essential for any new business. For 9 years, TVFCU has provided that funding through its Idea Leap Program. Marcus Cade-Johnson, the Director of Corporate Engagement at TVFCU, said, “IDEA LEAP small business loan program is the Credit Union’s effort to support small and startup businesses in our 17 County service area. So, a quick backstory on that,…

City officials urge folks to prepare for the winter storm

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Snow is expected to hit the Tennessee Valley later this week.  City officials are urging folks to plan ahead before the winter storm arrives! “We figured that as closer as the the actual time of the event, we just want to make sure that we are prepared ahead of time. Our highway departments are out grinding…

New court costs to be considered to build Chattanooga community mediation center

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- There are several tools that have been created to help those going through a variety of domestic disputes. However, Chattanooga is the only city that does not have one of those tools. A community mediation center is designed for parties in a domestic dispute who cannot afford private mediation efforts, or are ordered to seek mediation by…

County to give Humane Education Society funds to pay property taxes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Humane Educational Society will likely receive some help to pay off over $250,000 dollars in property taxes. A new resolution was presented Wednesday morning at Hamilton County Commission to give HES the funding needed to pay taxes that have accumulated on their new property on Randolph Circle. They say even though they are a non-profit, previous…

Hamilton County attorney vote delayed again

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  The push for a new Hamilton County attorney has taken a turn. The Commission will consider a vote to appoint attorney Janie Parks Varnell as a “special advisor” next week. She is Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s pick to replace current county attorney Rheubin Taylor at the end of his contract in June. This special advisor role…

A fatal house fire claims 5 lives in Cohutta

UPDATE (1/8/2025):  We’re learning more about the fire that claimed the lives of 5 in Cohutta, Georgia. After speaking to the Whitfield County Fire Department Fire Chief, Paul Patterson, we’ve learned that the 911 call came in from one of the victims. When crews arrived, they found the victims trapped inside, and the house was filled with smoke. Three of…

Basement fire causes around $50K in damages

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – At 7:40 P.M., the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded to 1829 Coffeetree Lane for a Courtesy: Chief Markus Fritts, Dallas Bay VFD residential fire in a basement. Upon arriving, there were no visible fire on the outside of the home. Once evacuating the family from the home, firefighters found the basement fire had traveled…

Experts tell how Alabama’s bill could impact couples if passed

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – In Alabama, State Senator Smitherman has pre-filed a bill requiring couples to attend one conflict resolution class before getting married. The proposed legislation, AL SB33, was developed in response to alarming domestic violence statistics. Summary of AL SB33: “The bill mandates that couples seeking to marry in Alabama must jointly complete a premarital conflict resolution class…

Novonix to build second Chattanooga plant at Enterprise South

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A prominent electric vehicle battery manufacturer is looking to expand their presence in Chattanooga. Novonix is planning to build a new plant on what they call their “First greenfield site” on 812 acres at Enterprise South Industrial Park This new plant at Enterprise South will expand the capacity of Novonix to produce synthetic graphite in Chattanooga, an…

Italian manufacturer chooses Hixson for new plant

Courtesy: Microtex CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- An Italian manufacturer has announced they are building their first U.S. plant in Hixson.The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced Tuesday morning that Microtex Industries is setting up shop here. Microtex creates structural composites for customers in the automotive and aerospace industries, which essentially are the parts of cars, airplanes, or rockets that…