CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – As the new year is already off to a fast start, a very slow animal is joining the Chattanooga Zoo family. Starting this week, visitors to the zoo will have the chance to meet a brand-new resident—a sloth, one of the most beloved and laid-back animals in the animal kingdom. Boysenberry, the seven-year-old, two-toed sloth, is…
An example of one of the several crashes resulting in property damage along a curve in Moore Road in Brainerd. (Courtesy: Alexus Nicholson) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Residents along a busy road in Brainerd are raising alarm bells after a series of crashes that have caused property damage. They say these have occurred in the curve just beyond Brainerd High School….
LAKESITE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Authorities in Lakesite responded to a tense situation after an improvised incendiary device attack. On January 2, 2025, a incendiary device was thrown at a vehicle in the 2200 block of Geneva Trail. The incident, which occurred around 1:45 p.m., also caused a fire on the front porch of an apartment while residents were inside….
Forget the change of presidents, the stock market or inflation. The biggest impact on your January budget is probably going to be your holiday spending. And that hasn’t changed much over the years. For our Thursday Throwback, we take you back to the nineties, where credit card debt was a looming January headache. Categories: From The Archives Tags: From The…
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- As many folks celebrated the New Year across the world, The New Year brought scare and concern to the City of New Orleans. Fellow Georgians are reacting to the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day. “I was, I was probably about four blocks, three to four blocks away from where it happened at…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A family in North Chattanooga lost everything in a house fire Thursday morning. North Chattanooga home consumed in flames of house fire / Chattanooga Fire Department Crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) were dispatched at 7:24 a.m. to the 300 block of Druid Lane for a residential fire. According to CFD, the resident was awoken…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – One Chattanooga family lost their house to a fire on New Year’s Day. The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to reports of a residential fire of a Alton Park home located at the 5200 block of Usher Drive just after 10:30 P.M. Upon arriving at the scene, flames were through the front door and back door. A…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Being one of Chattanooga’s most iconic sights to see, Ruby Falls recently celebrated 96 years of being discovered this past Monday. Located deep within Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls is a breathtaking 145-foot underground waterfall discovered in 1928 by explorer Leo Lambert. What began as a hidden gem has become a must-visit destination for millions from around…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Could the Tennessee state sales tax on groceries be going away? That’s what a new bill is looking to do. In the state of Tennessee, all purchases of grocery items have a four percent sales tax. This is in addition to any local taxes that are levied. However, a proposal to get rid of the grocery sales…
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WDEF)- A federal judge has blocked a new Tennessee law that would have gone into effect on New Year’s Day. The ruling concerns the Protect Tennessee Minors Act. This would have required users of adult websites to present valid identification in order to access them. The bill, sponsored by outgoing Representative Patsy Hazelwood, was designed to prevent children…
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- As folks prepare for the New Year, Law enforcement is making sure the roadways are safe from impaired driving. “Many people across the nation lose their lives every year in the state of Georgia, it certainly is a terrible event every year, with hundreds, if not thousands of people down on our roadways from being hit…
MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A pursuit that began in Georgia crossed over state lines and ended in Monroe County. At 11:30 p.m. December 20, 2024, Monroe County E-911 alerts Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies of a pursuit. The E-911 alert mentioned the pursuit had began in Georgia and had now entered Tennessee. According to MCSO, the pursuit was…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Deputy-Involved Shooting occurred shortly after midnight on New Year’s Eve in a Publix parking lot. The preliminary information reveals deputies were conducting a traffic stop on a subject on a motorcycle at 7326 McCutcheon Road. The suspect was identified to having outstanding warrants. The suspect refused to follow commands while deputies were attempting to…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – One person is dead after a fatal motorcycle accident on Hixson Pike. Around 1:30 a.m., December 31, 2024, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle on the 11000 block of Hixson Pike. Upon arrival, the driver of the motorcycle was deceased. The name of the person is not…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Holiday Christmas Light Train is back, bringing joy, sparkle, and nostalgia to families across the region. Every year, the Tennessee Valley Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland, with trains decked out in sparkling snowflakes, festive decorations, and a majestic holiday light display. The train ride lasts sixty-five minutes and travels across bridges and through…
The 2024 Christmas at the Courthouse concluded with a crowd favorite. For years the Orange Grove School has entertained listeners in this performance slot. They are a crowd favorite downtown at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Categories: Featured, Local News, What’s Right With Our Schools Tags: Orange Grove, What’s Right With Our Schools
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- We are hearing reaction here in the Tennessee Valley to the death of President Jimmy Carter. As Georgia’s Governor before becoming the 39th President of the United States in 1977, President Carter had an impact on the Tennessee Valley. President Carter served as governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975, and was very involved in the Peach…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Health Department aims to increase flu vaccination rates in Hamilton County during the winter season. “It is going to be another tough year for the flu. And the good thing is, the strains that we prepared for this year, at least two of them are very much covered by the flu shots that you can…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) extinguished an electrical fire Monday. On December 30, 2024 at 2:26 p.m., CFD responded to the 1700 block of Monterey Drive. According to CFD, two teenagers were inside when a neighbor alerted them of smoke coming from the residence. The two teenagers were able to evacuate and call 911. Crews responding…
MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Monroe County deputy was injured during a shooting over the weekend. Deputes with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to a tree down call at 2300 Reed Springs Road, December 29, 2024 at 11:54 a.m. It was discovered that the tree was down in front of the residence of a wanted suspect, Richard…
Hamilton County Historian, Linda Moss Mines, joins news 12’s Chip Chapman to reflect on the legacy of late former President Jimmy Carter. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Georgia native, peanut farmer, humanitarian, and a former president, Jimmy Carter left a remarkable legacy during his 100 years of life. “It was a loss for the nation and especially to those who were…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – This evening, we spoke with Representative Chuck Fleischmann about his perspective on the enduring legacy of President Carter in the landscape of American politics. Jimmy Carter was the first U.S. president to come from the state of Georgia, as a simple peanut farmer. He won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — With the year coming to an end, The Salvation Army (TSA) is encouraging community members to donate generously, so that no individual has to go without, no matter what time of year it is. TSA is known to annually help almost 24 million Americans with hardships such as poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Lil Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagy, a beloved sandwich shop in Chattanooga, has announced it will permanently close its doors on December 31. Located in Patten Square, Lil Mama’s has been a staple in the community since its opening in 2021. Known for its Chicago-style hoagies and vibrant ’90s-themed decor, the restaurant quickly became a favorite among…
