Local News

AI and Healthcare: UTC Professor Gary Wilkerson Explores Revolutionary Changes in Virtual Panel

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  In a world where technology has rapidly reshaped every industry, artificial intelligence has made major waves in healthcare. U-T-C Professor Gary Wilkerson recently joined a virtual panel discussion titled “AI and Health Care: What Works & What’s Ahead.” “What’s happening here right now with artificial intelligence and machine learning is revolutionary. I think the technological advances…

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Local News

County Commission wants student success in Hamilton County

WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Commission looks to provide additional maintenance aid to Hamilton County Schools.  The Commission will award Hamilton County Schools more than 31 million dollars in bond funds.  Though the resolution has been approved, Hamilton County Commissioners would love to see better grades.  They say it is vital that the education system succeeds. “They are not…

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Featured, Local News

Hamilton County approves new County Attorney

WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Commission officially approved Janie Parks Varnell as the next County Attorney.  Varnell will succeed current County Attorney Rheubin Taylor.  Mayor Weston Wamp chose Varnell to work alongside Taylor until his contract expires.  Varnell says she will use her role as County Attorney to build relationships with County Government.  .  “I wil be going to…

Fatal Crash
Featured, Local News

Chattanooga Police investigating fatal crash on Apison Pike

Rainey Randolph,

  APISON, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Chattanooga Police (CPD) are investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Apison Pike early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the 8000 block of Apison Pike for a traffic crash with injuries at 1:00 a.m., January 15, 2025. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals inside a GMC Envoy with non-life-threatening injuries, and one with life-threatening injuries….

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Featured, Local News

Firefighters battle apartment fire in Harrison

Rainey Randolph,

HARRISON, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Firefighters in Harrison battled an apartment fire this afternoon. Crews with the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department (H58VFD) responded to 7560 Short Trail Springs Road at 12:35 p.m. Upon arrival, crews found a single story structure fire with flames showing through the roof. According to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management, no injuries were reported…

Bill
Featured, Government & Politics, Regional News

TN Gov. Bill Lee announces Special Session on Jan. 27

WDEF News,

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Wednesday that he will call for a special session with the Tennessee General Assembly on Monday, January 27. This special session will be held to address three bills The following are the three bills, and what all they intel via the Governor’s Office: Education Freedom Act Gov. Lee and legislative leadership introduced the…

This Morning Brothers Bagel
Featured, Local News

Celebrate National Bagel Day with Brothers Bagels

Khristine Arnold,

The newest rising star in baking, Brothers Bagels, is celebrating National Bagel Day with a special promotion. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Two parents’ idea to create a family business for their boys to grow into becomes a beloved local bagel spot in a short time frame. Joshua and Sara Pratt wanted their three little boys to grow into a business…
DeKalb County, Featured, Local News

Officer Involved Shooting in DeKalb County

Khristine Arnold,

UPDATE (1/15/2025):  We’ve learned more information about the officer involved shooting that occurred in DeKalb County, Alabama. Both the male and female victims involved in this incident both sustained non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured during the incident as well. It is suspected that the suspect and the female victim were in a dating relationship, but this has yet to…

Blood Assurance Is Asking For The Community's Help
Featured, Local News

Chattanooga’s Blood Assurance is critically low on donations

Lillian Yi,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga’s Local Blood Assurance is asking for the community’s help, as they are critically low on blood donations. Due to the wintry weather this past weekend, many blood banks were forced to close their doors. By having to shut down, the organization was not able to replenish its stocks of donations. Caitlin Stanley, Senior Director of…

Walker Valley Beats Bradley Central 66 58
Sports - Local Sports News

Walker Valley Downs Rival Bradley Central 66-58

Rick Nyman,

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) Walker Valley used a strong second quarter to help knock off Bradley Central 66-58 on Tuesday evening at The Corral. The Mustangs outscored the Bears 26-7 in the second period to build a 14 point cushion at halftime. Walker Valley is ranked 7th in the initial high school state rankings for Class 4A. Categories: Sports – Local Sports…

Free Library Parking
Featured, Local News

Chattanooga Public Library reminds the community about free parking

Lillian Yi,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Public Library has recently announced new initiatives to make accessing literature easier by removing several financial barriers, including parking fees. With their new Start Smart Initiative, which provides free library cards to children aged five and under and a free parking option, they hope the community will take advantage of these opportunities. Will O’Hearn,…

Notre Dame's Gaas Herman Continues To Prove He's One Of The Top Players In Chattanooga
Sports - Local Sports News

Notre Dame’s Gaas Herman Continues to Prove He’s One of the Best Players in Chattanooga

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Notre Dame senior guard Gaas Herman is turning into one of the top players in the Chattanooga area this season. He scored over 30 points Monday night against Calhoun, and he’s averaging a slick 25 points, and ten rebounds a game. When Matt Matoh took the Notre Dame job last May, he couldn’t believe he was gifted a talent…

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Featured, Local News

Chattanooga community rallies together against School Voucher Proposal

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A day of deliberation regarding Governor Bill Lee’s controversial school voucher bill has continued to draw sharp criticism from education advocates.  The voucher program, a key component of Governor Lee’s education agenda, allows public tax dollars to fund private school tuition for select families.  Directly extracted from the School Voucher proposal, “For the 2025-2026 school year,…

Golden Apple Award
Chattanooga, Education, Featured, Golden Apple Award, Hamilton County

Golden Apple Award: Alexandra O’Reel, Calvin Donaldson Elementary

Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOONGA, TN (WDEF) – Most people never forget their first-grade teacher. Alexandra O’Reel pours her heart and soul into making sure her students have a solid foundation in learning and leadership. We pay a visit to Calvin Donaldson Elementary school in this week’s Golden Apple Award. Jennifer Brownlee is the Principal at Calvin Donaldson. She says, “Miss O’Reel is one of…

Parkridge
Featured, Local News

Parkridge Medical aims to lower risk of Norovirus

WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Parkridge Medical Center aims to raise caution and lower the spread of Norovirus in Hamilton County. “We have been seeing an Influx. And, you know, influenza, we’ve actually seen some occurrences of COVID cases. And then, you know, is it influenza? Sometimes we have the actual intestinal challenges in our virus. In particular, it is a…

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Catoosa County, Education, Featured, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: Catoosa College and Career Academy New 9-1-1 Computers

Andrew Harrison,

RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) – When the Catoosa County College and Career Academy needed new computers for their 9-1-1 center, they knew right where to look. Students on that same campus immediately sprang into action. That’s a great example of what’s right with our schools. Scott Czerneski is the I-T Director for Catoosa County. He remembers, “The 911 Center here at the…

Water Main Break
Featured, Local News

Water main break repairs on Shallowford Road delayed a day

Rainey Randolph,

UPDATE (1/15/2025):  The closure of 24 Shallowford will remain ongoing until tomorrow. This portion of Shallowford Road will remain closed until Thursday, January 15, at 5:00 p.m. According to CDOT, the road will reopen before rush hour if not sooner. CDOT will send additional announcements if a delay occurs or declaring the roads reopening. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A water…

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Pet Of The Week

Pet of the Week: Eve

WDEF News,

Meet News 12’s Pet of the Week, Eve! Eve / Humane Educational Society Eve is a dog ready to be adopted at the Humane Educational Society (HES). HES says Eve is nothing but pure love, which is why her nickname is Lovebug. Eve loves pets, toys, and especially cuddles. She lives in a foster home with a dog and a…

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Crime, Featured, Local News, Whitfield County

Whitfield County man arrested hours after fatally stabbing woman

Rainey Randolph,

WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. — A homicide suspect was apprehended early Tuesday morning, hours after a fatal stabbing on Richardson Road claimed the life of a local woman. Deputies from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) responded late Monday night, January 13, 2025 to reports of the stabbing. Upon arrival, they found the victim with a stab wound. According to WCSO,…

Boil Water Advisory For Lafayette, Ga
Featured, Local News

Boil water advisory for LaFayette, GA

Khristine Arnold,

  LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) – The City of LaFayette, GA has issued a boil water advisory on January 13 due to high turbidity in the water supply. This has caused high turbidity that pauses water treatment.  The problem first occurred on December 30th. The city is working to identify an advanced filtration solution that will address the issue. While plans…