Former Chatt Prep teacher arrested again, now facing federal charges

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Former Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher Kenya White has Kenya White been arrested again. White is now facing federal charges, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s website. He was recently arrested on sexual exploitation and kidnapping charges from two years ago. The school is investigating why they hired him when he was already on suspension by…

Visit the Zoo but Remember to bring your old Cellphone

Zoos nationwide partner with Eco-Cell to save animal habitats

CHATTANOOGA, TN – This week on Tech Byte we took a visit to our friends at the Chattanooga Zoo where we got to meet George the Giraffe and Thor the Aldabra Tortoise.  The reason for our visit was sparked last year by a visit to the Louisville Zoo where my wife and I noticed a cellphone drop off in the…

CPD arrest a suspect for a shooting on Manor Road

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.  (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Police Department arrested 35-year-old Shamieka Courtesy: CPD Hart after a shooting on the 3900 block of Manor Road. Hart is being charged with aggravated assault, felony reckless endangerment, and unlawful possession of a firearm. On February 28, at almost 9 P.M., Chattanooga Police responded to a person shot call on the 3900 block of…

Volunteer firefighters battled Hixson house fire

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) responded to a structure fire located at 8637 Freeling Varner Road. At 11:00 pm Thursday night, a neighbor heard a popping noise, went to investigate and found a house on fire. The VFD responded to a structure fire located at 8637 Freeling Varner Road. First engine arrived on the scene…

CHI Memorial Awards $60,000 in Grants to Local Nonprofits Focused on Health and Well-being

CHI Memorial recently awarded $60,000 in grant money to three local nonprofits working to improve health and well-being in the Chattanooga area. The recipients—Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, The Lighthouse Collective, and La Paz—are each addressing different aspects of community health. Chris Sands, a grant recipient from the 20-26 Community Health Grant, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: “We are grateful…

Tivoli Theatre in Downtown Chattanooga Receives $1 Million Donation for Major Renovations

CHATTANOOGA,TN (WDEF) Downtown Chattanooga’s iconic Tivoli Theatre is undergoing a significant transformation, and the community got an exclusive update on the exciting renovations during the Rotary Club meeting today. The historic theatre, a cornerstone of Chattanooga’s cultural scene, is set to undergo extensive upgrades with a generous $1 million donation from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation. This donation will…

‘The Dream’ faces more scrutiny from Beer Board after January shootout

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Chattanooga nightclub continues to be in hot water after a pair of shootings within the past four months. The Dream on Glass Street in Avondale is facing its second round of sanctions due to these shooting incidents. A security guard for “The Dream” nightclub shooting back at a gunman with an assault rifle. Last month, they…

South Pittsburg high school students learn how to ‘arrive alive’

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. (WDEF)- South Pittsburg high school students learned about how dangerous distracted driving can be on Thursday. They took part in the Arrive Alive tour, sponsored by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. The tour allows students to step into a vehicle and simulate impaired driving by using a VR headset. The “Arrive Alive” SUV used in a program…

Thursday Throwback: 1985 Scottsboro Blackbirds

It looks like something from an old horror movie. For Our Thursday Throwback, we take a look at the bird menace of northwest Alabama 40 years ago. Flocks of blackbirds plagued a Scottsboro neighborhood making life miserable for the families their. This story did NOT have a happy ending for the birds. Here are two reports from March of 1985….

New Phone Restrictions for Schools

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A new push to ban cell phones and other personal devices during class could soon become law in Tennessee.  The state’s House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that would require schools to prohibit students from using cell phones, tablets, laptops, or gaming devices during instructional time.  The bill, known as HB 0932, was introduced by…

Man arrested in Chattanooga for shooting in Athens

ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Chattanooga man has been arrested for shooting someone in Athens, Tennessee. The shooting occurred on February 28, 2025, near McMinn Avenue. According to the Athens Police Department (APD), one person sustained life-threatening injuries. On the morning of March 5, federal authorities and Chattanooga Police took Caleb Darby into custody. He was transported back to Athens,…

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrests a man for multiple drug trafficking charges

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. (WDEF) – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit have arrested a man with multiple drug trafficking charges. The recent arrest was a development in a case that began in January 2024. Colby Brett Philips was arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine after finding 125 grams of the substance in his possession. He was issued a $400,00…

Chattanooga State Community College Celebrates Grand Opening of First-Ever Student Health Clinic

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Chattanooga State Community College celebrated the grand opening of the first-ever Student Health Clinic. The clinic offers a wide range of healthcare services to students, It’s designed to provide convenient access to healthcare right on campus and will benefit students from 16 different programs at the college. “When students feel supported, they can focus on what…

Bradley Central Claims Region Title With 79-23 Win Over Cleveland

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) Bradley Central claimed another region championship on Wednesday, as they beat cross-town rival Cleveland 79-23 in the finals. The Bearettes defense held the Lady Raiders without a field goal in the first quarter. Bradley Central’s Kimora Fields led all scorers on the night with 18 points. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Bradley Central High School, Cleveland…

UTC Women’s Basketball Team Remains Top Draw in the SoCon

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The UTC women’s basketball team may not always lead the SoCon in wins. But you can bet they’ll always lead the SoCon in home attendance. The Mocs have enjoyed great crowds at McKenzie Arena for years. Chattanooga’s home attendance is not lost on head coach Deandra Schirmer. It’s why she’s here. Said Schirmer:”The reason I wanted to work here…

Wes Moore Named New Girls Head Basketball Coach at Boyd Buchanan

(press release) —Boyd-Buchanan School in Chattanooga has named Wes Moore the Head Basketball Coach of the Lady Bucs. “We are thrilled to have Wes Moore lead our Lady Buccaneers basketball program. With Tracey Walker stepping into the role of Senior Women’s Athletic Administrator, this marks a natural and seamless transition,” said Matt Pobieglo, Director of Athletics. “His experience, leadership, and…

Mocs Dan Earl Named SoCon Coach of the Year

(soconsports.com) — Leading the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team through a historic 2024-25 regular season, head coach Dan Earl was named the Southern Conference Anton Foy Coach of the Year and highlights six total selections for the program as the league office announced the awards, voted upon by league coaches, Wednesday afternoon. In addition to Earl’s top recognition, senior forward transfer Frank Champion was…

Residents react to proposed bill that would shield carpet manufacturers from lawsuits

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- A controversial bill regarding forever chemicals was the subject of a tense hearing in Atlanta. House Bill 211, proposed by several area representatives including Kasey Carpenter of Dalton, would shield carpet companies from forever chemical lawsuits. Carpet companies like Shaw and Mohawk, among many others have been the targets of lawsuits related to forever chemicals here in…

Court appoints Aubrey Preston as conservator in Life Care Centers case

  CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) —  The legal battle for control over Life Care Centers of America has been resolved. On the morning of March 4, 2025, a Cleveland judge agreed to name Aubrey Preston as the conservator for his father, Forrest Preston. The father founded the senior aging facility chain that has now gone nationwide. 91- year old Forrest was…

North River Elementary to enter design phase

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The development of a new Hixson elementary school continues to move forward. The Hamilton County Commission approved a contract with Franklin Associates to design the future North River Elementary School. It would replace DuPont, Rivermont, and Alpine Crest Elementary Schools on the Dupont site. The project has faced some controversy from parents at those schools who do…