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…

Shuttle Service brings rideshare opportunities to Lookout Mountain

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Lookout Mountain Shuttle Service, a project designed to enhance access and ease congestion to Tennessee’s most popular tourist destinations, has officially launched.  The shuttle service comes in the wake of last year’s devastating Lookout Mountain fire, which left the area scarred and led to concerns about traffic, safety, and sustainability.  Now, the shuttle is offering…

CHI Memorial holds Topping out ceremony in Catoosa County

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- CHI Memorial has made significant progress for their new state of the art Hospital in Catoosa County.  “This is a significant milestone for our new hospital that we are building here in Catoosa County to serve Catoosa Walker and Dade County. This is a topping out ceremony, which signifies the last theme that’s going to be…

2 people found dead in JetBlue plane landing gear at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

FORT LAUDERDALE –  Broward sheriff’s deputies and a medical examiner descended on Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport overnight after bodies were found in an aircraft compartment on a JetBlue Airways plane. JetBlue issued a statement that said two people were found dead in an aircraft’s landing gear compartment on Monday night. The bodies were found during a routine inspection after the…

Chattanooga firefighters prevent major house fire, rescue pets

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Firefighters with the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) prevented the spread of a house fire Tuesday morning. Crews were dispatched to the 2700 block of Stone Trace Drive off Tyner Road in regards to a house fire. Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from the garage of the residence. According to CFD, paint cans in the garage…

Tyrese Stovall Posts Huge Double-Double to Lead Bradley Central Over McMinn Co

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) It was a banger night for Bradley Central forward Tyrese Stovall against McMinn County. He posted an impressive double-double with 32 points and 20 rebounds. The Bears needed all of it as they edged the Cherokees 64-59 in overtime. Brady Mullins paced McMinn Co with 21 points, including 6 of 9 shooting behind the arc. Categories: Sports –…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Rossville Middle School Reach

ROSSVILLE, GA (WDEF) – It’s never too early to start planning for your future. That’s a lesson a Rossville Middle School student learned at a very young age. Now, a scholarship should help him reach for the stars.   “It’s a testament to the strength and determination of our young men here at Rossville Middle School. His dedication to his…

Sexual Assault Training now required for service workers in Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A groundbreaking state law is now in effect, requiring sexual assault training for service industry workers—a move advocates say is a vital step in protecting both employees and patrons. The law mandates that all service workers—bartenders, servers, hotel staff, and others—undergo specialized training to recognize, prevent, and respond to signs of sexual assault or harassment.  Tennessee…

City Council to vote on new PILOT guidelines

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  The Chattanooga City Council will be voting on a new PILOT program structure. It was unveiled today by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. PILOT stands for Payment in Lieu of Taxes, as it is an economic incentive to attract businesses into Chattanooga by giving them certain property tax breaks. For companies to be eligible under the new…

Alzheimer’s Association provides Winter Tips for Caregivers

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Alzheimer’s Association is providing winter safety tips for caregivers.  They believe it is critical to keeping their loved ones safe all-year-round, but especially during the winter months.  Be prepared for winter weather, bundle up and be aware of slips.  “Watch the weather forecast. don’t go out, don’t take your loved one out, unless you absolutely have…

Gateway Project begins Monday near North Shore

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-Folks who are traveling through Chattanooga’s North Shore can expect road construction and changes, the next couple of months.  “Today is the start of the construction for the home road manufacturers Gateway project. So the idea is to create better connectivity between essentially highway 27 going all the way to the national archeological district that was created there…

CDOT begins milling and paving portions of Wilcox Boulevard

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Drivers who travel on Wilcox Boulevard can expect to see roadwork for the next few weeks. The milling and paving process for portions of Wilcox Boulevard began this morning. This project will come in three phases, taking place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. CDOT has provided the following timeline for the phases…

Neighbors’ reactions to a home damaged in a serious car crash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – After Green Shift companies were dispatched to the 2600 block of Waterhaven Drive following initial reports of an explosion on Saturday night, neighbors reacted to the overwhelming scene. At 6:33 p.m., CPD, CFD, and Hamilton County EMS responded to the scene. When arriving, first responders saw that a car had crashed into a house, penetrating a…