McDonald Farm set to become 70th Tennessee state park

McDonald Farm (Courtesy: Office of Mayor Weston Wamp) SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF)- Ever since Hamilton County acquired McDonald Farm in 2021, there have been a lot of discussions about how to best utilize that land in Sale Creek along the Hamilton-Rhea county border. Initially, the county acquired the property to industrialize it. However, many residents wished for the land to…

Chattanooga Carriage Company hosted its Valentine’s Day event

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Today in Chattanooga, horse carriages gently trotted through the streets as the Chattanooga Carriage Company hosted its annual Rides and Roses Valentine’s Day event. News 12 visited the company workshop to learn how the business began and what makes the Valentine’s Day tradition special for the community. The Chattanooga Carriage Company offered romantic and family friendly…

Mocs women and men fall in Valentine’s Day double header

GoMocs-(WDEF)-The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team fell behind early and put together another strong second half run, but ultimately fell short during an 81-76 loss to Western Carolina in Southern Conference action on Saturday evening inside McKenzie Arena. Following the defeat, Chattanooga falls to 10-17 overall and is now 4-10 inside SoCon play while sitting ninth in the league standings….

Walker Valley Edges Chatt Prep 62-61

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) In a battle of two teams with state title aspirations, Walker Valley edged Chatt Prep 62-61 on Friday night. The Mustangs entered the contest ranked 5th in Class 4A, while the Sentinels are number one in Class 2A.   Categories: Sports – Local Sports News

Mocs Win Game One of Chattanooga Challenge on Walk-Off Homer Before Losing Game Two

(gomocs.com)  The Chattanooga softball team split a pair of games Friday at Jim Frost Stadium on the opening day of the Chattanooga Challenge. The Mocs picked up a 5-3 walk-off win over Bellarmine in the first game before falling 7-1 to Ohio in the nightcap. GAME 1: Chattanooga 5, Bellarmine 3 Mia Leone smashed a two-run walk-off homer to deep…

Attorney argues removal of Chickamauga mayor was unconstitutional

The interior of the Walker County Courthouse during a hearing regarding the removal of Chickamauga mayor Trey Deck. LaFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF)- On Monday evening, the Chickamauga City Council voted to remove Mayor James “Trey” Deck by a vote of four to one. This was over alleged incidents of sexual harassment and a recording where the city’s counsel claims he used…

Conversations continue over Meigs County Jail

DECATUR, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Meigs County Commission is still trying to figure out what to do with their county jail. This is after a state decertified the jail due to overcrowding and other issues back in December. Meigs County Mayor Eddie Jewell presented two potential options. One would be to expand the current jail with an additional pod. Another option…

The hills are alive in the Scenic City with ‘The Sound of Music’

Cayleigh Capaldi and Kevin Earley

News 12 This Morning: The hills are alive in the Scenic City with ‘The Sound of Music’ rolling through town this week. Cayleigh Capaldi (‘Maria’) and Kevin Earley (‘Georg von Trapp’) join News 12’s Amelia Greer as they don the lead roles of the hit musical. The duo share what it means to portray these historically-renowned characters and how the…

TechByte: Teens Increasingly using AI as “therapist”

Mental health awareness is certainly an important topic, but it’s important you get help from a qualified source. On this week’s TechByte we give you an example of what not to do. A recent report in The Journal of the American Medical Association found about 13-percent of young people now use AI chatbots for mental health advice. And in a…

First Responder Hero Award: Detective Wallace Cunningham

DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) – News 12 is recognizing some of the bravest members of our community through the First Responders Hero Award. Whether someone is an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, or police officer, this award honors their unwavering dedication to keeping our community safe. When danger strikes, these men and women are the first to respond. Now, it is our turn…

Kori Atkins Honored as Chattanooga’s 2025 Youth of the Year

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A local teen is receiving recognition for leadership, academics, and community service. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga named Brainerd High School student Kori Atkins as its 2025 Youth of the Year during a ceremony held at The Westin Chattanooga. Along with the title, Atkins received a $5,000 scholarship to support her future goals. Speaking…

Rising Flu Activity Forces Schools and Workplaces to Adjust

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)— Rising flu cases are forcing Grundy County students to move to virtual learning this week. With schools and offices seeing increasing absences due to illness, several districts in the region are temporarily shifting to online instruction. Hospitals across the Chattanooga area report higher-than-usual numbers of patients with flu-like symptoms, highlighting how quickly the virus is spreading through…

Chattanooga Tourism Company faces criticism from commission

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Tourism Company is facing some criticism from the Hamilton County Commission. They are considering a resolution to transfer some funds from the Chattanooga Tourism Company to the recently created Sports and Events Board. This board was created last summer to bring new events to Chattanooga and Hamilton County. However, commissioners say that the relationship between…

Mobile Pantry Supports School Families

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Orchard Knob Elementary hosts a School Mobile Pantry distribution in partnership with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank serves a 20-county region across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia and operates School Mobile Pantry distributions at select campuses. Orchard Knob Elementary, listed on the food bank’s distribution calendar as “Orchard Knob Community,” hosts…

Rhea County Education Center Ribbon Cutting

DAYTON, Tenn. (WDEF) – Students and state leaders gathered Wednesday for the ribbon cutting of the Rhea County Higher Education Center, a new facility focused on technical education and workforce development in Tennessee. While the ceremony marked a major milestone, the building is not yet officially open.  Crews are still finishing the interior with equipment and furniture, with the formal…

Last minute Galentine’s Day hosting ideas with The Kennedy Curate

Rachel Leonard Kennedy (@thekennedycurate) joins News 12’s Amelia Greer with a handful of DIY ideas for your next girls’ night. Whether you’re hosting a Galentine’s Party or just want some activities to elevate your next gathering, Rachel has you covered! CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and before the ladies can celebrate with their boo…

ETSU Defeats Chattanooga 73-61

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Jordan McCullum had 24 points in East Tennessee State’s 73-61 victory over Chattanooga on Wednesday. Chattanooga had won the last five meetings against the Bucs in Johnson City. McCullum also had six rebounds for the Buccaneers (19-7, 11-2 Southern Conference). Cam Morris III scored 11 points to go with six rebounds and three blocks. Jordan…