President & CEO of Ruby Falls, Hugh Morrow joins News 12’s Chip Chapman as they get ready to celebrate the 10th annual Battle Below the Clouds BBQ fundraiser benefiting Lana’s Love Foundation. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Ruby Falls’ Battle Below the Clouds event reaches a milestone as it returns for its 10th year in a row to benefit Lana’s Love…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tennessee continues to battle a deadly wave in the opioid epidemic, driven largely by the rise of fentanyl. Often lurking in counterfeit pills and street drugs, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid so potent that just a speck can cause a fatal overdose. In response, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has launched…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Stroke is one of the most serious medical emergencies in the United States, striking without warning and often leaving a lifetime of impact. It’s the fifth leading cause of death and the number one cause of long-term adult disability. But the good news is, stroke is treatable and, in many cases, preventable. The key is recognizing…
Big Orange caravan tour kicked off its ‘spring-swing’ through the Volunteer state on Tuesday. First stop. Memphis. Meet and greet with Vols fans has to be far more relaxing for head coach Josh Heupel than dealing with the portal and NIL. Tennessee of course saw quarterback Nico Iamaleava transfer to UCLA this month. And then the Vols got Bruins quarterback…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Adison Wallington hit a 3 run homer in the top of the 9th inning to give Baylor a 7-4 win over CCS on Tuesday evening at Chattanooga Christian. Both teams entered play with unbeaten records in region play. Baylor jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Chargers scored four runs in the fourth inning to tie it up….
Gov. Bill Lee with TDOT workers and local state representatives in front of the Apison Pike construction project. COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Much of Chattanooga’s main roads continue to be a construction zone. However, state officials are saying there is an end in sight for many of those projects. Two years ago, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee passed the Transportation Modernization Act…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A jury has convicted a man of murdering his girlfriend more than two years ago. Hamilton County Prosecutors say 21 year old Jose Ramirez strangled his girlfriend, Oliva Pena in August of 2022. He said he choked her and then fell asleep. When he woke up, she was unresponsive. But District Attorney Coty Wamp says the murder…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police have arrested a suspect in a January shooting on Glass Street. Investigators say 24 year old Reginald Siler, Jr. began shooting towards a group of people at the Dream nightclub. A security guard returned fire and hit the suspect, who was hospitalized. A grandy jury this month indicted Siler on charges of Attempted First Degree…
Meet News 12’s Pet of the Week, Bear! Bear is six and a half years old, and one of the Humane Educational Society’s sweetest seniors. He has a mellow personality most of the time, but there are times where the puppy in him comes out and he’s ready to play. Bear has experienced living with children, and did well with…
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF)- The city of East Ridge is considering the impact of rising costs of CARTA’s Care-A-Van service. The service specifically serves those with disabilities in Chattanooga, Red Bank, and East Ridge who cannot otherwise use CARTA’s fixed bus routes or their own transportation. Each city, including East Ridge, subsidizes the service as riders pay a flat fee…
Sonia Desai with Clean Your Dirty Face joins News 12’s Amelia Greer to talk about the various services they offer to promote skin health and wellness. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A facial from Clean Your Dirty Face will leave your skin flawless without all the toxic chemicals in most commercial skincare products. Clean Your Dirty Face opened in Chicago in…
SCOTTSBORO, Al. (WDEF) — A man has been arrested in Scottsboro for attempted assault in the first degree. At 8:35 p.m. on April 27, 2025, the Scottsboro Police Department (SPD) was dispatched to the 700 block of Windsor Drive on reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found a victim who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. According to SPD, the victim was transported…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Baylor and CCS wound up playing to a 1-1 draw on Monday night. It was the first time the Chargers didn’t win a match all season, as their record falls to 15-0-1. But the tie was still good enough for Chattanooga Christian to win their region title. CCS took the field without head coach Tyler Robertson who has resigned….
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Chattanooga gang member charged with the murder of a mother set to testify against his fellow gang members was back in court Monday. Andre Grier is charged with first degree murder in the 2016 killing of Bianca Horton. Horton was set to testify in a separate murder case involving Cortez Sims after her baby daughter Zoe…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The vibrant world of art is taking center stage in Chattanooga this week. Inside the Convention Center, nearly 250 artists have gathered from across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for a unique two-day experience. Imagine being able to learn from your favorite art teacher and finally meet them in person—alongside hundreds of other…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Imagine explaining to your child that he or she has cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 15,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with the disease each year in the United States. One Chicago family with roots in Chattanooga experienced this diagnosis firsthand. Meet 6-year-old Alexander Brown, his sister Charlotte, mom…
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – At Cleveland High School, Room 901 is home to more than just desks and textbooks. It’s where dreams take center stage. What started as a simple classroom challenge has turned into a powerful tradition, thanks to government teacher Kyle Gilpin. His “Wall of Dreams” proudly displays acceptance letters from seniors heading to college, the military, and…
SODDY DAISY, TN (WDEF) – A new initiative is coming to Sequoyah High School that promises to open up a world of opportunities for students. The North River Future Ready Center aims to equip students with the skills they need for college and in-demand careers. This is another perfect example of “What’s Right With Our Schools”. Big changes are coming to…
SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A joint undercover operation targeting human trafficking in Soddy Daisy has resulted in the arrest of five individuals. The effort, led by TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit and the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, took place on April 26, 2025. According to the TBI, agents posted decoy advertisements on websites known for commercial sex activity,…
RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) — A Hamilton County man has pleaded guilty to several charges, including shooting at a police officer and being in possession of meth. On May 26, 2024, Travis Downie fired several shots at a responding Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit. He then fled the scene and was later discovered by a K-9 officer, hiding nearby. According…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – There’s something worth celebrating at the Chattanooga Zoo, a baby boom among one of the world’s most endangered primates, the pied tamarin. The zoo recently announced that Daphne, one of its resident pied tamarins, gave birth to a single baby, while Carly, another female, welcomed twins. This rare event is significant for a species facing a…
CHATTANOGOA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Seafood lovers from all around the region flocked to downtown Chattanooga this weekend for the annual Seafood Bash, an event that brings the flavors of the coast right to the Scenic City. This year, the event moved to Ross’s Landing after outgrowing Coolidge Park in just two years. By request of the city, the festival took…
GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Saturday was National Drug Takeback Day, as numerous organizations across the Tennessee Valley are looking to curb drug addiction. However, the situation has become urgent in Grundy County. Despite recent tragedies, that community says the only way to overcome a crisis is to come together. Grundy County Constable Kyle Collins said, “Over the past 45 days,…
The Annex Cafe on fire Saturday morning. (Courtesy: John Hargis) TRACY CITY, Tenn. (WDEF)- An historic restaurant in Tracy City has been deemed a total loss after a morning fire. The Hargis family, who own The Annex Cafe, which has been in operation since 1935, says it caught on fire Saturday morning. They say a grease fire started around 6…