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Featured, Local News

DA Coty Wamp finds in favor of officers who shot suspect in East Ridge

Edward Ahrens was a convicted sex offender suspected of kidnapping Knoxville girl he met online
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – District Attorney General Coty Wamp has concluded her investigation into a police shooting in East Ridge that involved officers from Knox and Catoosa Counties. She concludes that the three Knox County deputies and a Catoosa County deputy were justified in shooting and killing Edward Ahrens in a child abduction case from February. It began as an endangered…

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Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New fire code regulations subject of Ooltewah development debate

Nick Hill,

A diagram of the under construction Wellington subdivision in Ooltewah. (From: Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency) OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF)- New fire code regulations passed by the Hamilton County Commission last week are already being put to the test. These new regulations say two entrances to the same subdivision with more than 200 homes can be as close as 300 feet…

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Chattanooga, Education, Featured, Hamilton County, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: BASF Tech Academy

Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – In Hamilton County, some rising high school juniors and seniors are jump starting their technical and craft careers this Summer. BASF’s Tech Academy is underway. It guides students through hands-on demonstrations and experiments at Chattanooga State. That’s a far-reaching example of what’s right with our school. Brittany Davis is the Operations Manager for BASF. She says,…

This Morning Summer Cocktail Festival
Featured, Local News

Summer Cocktail Festival to take over Chattanooga Market June 22

Amelia Greer,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Market is getting ready to host a nostalgic event for adults just in time for summer. Following a Y2K theme, the Summer Cocktail Festival will offer a variety of alcoholic beverages that are da bomb. Travis Faucette with Rolling Oak Distillery is just one of the special local vendors highlighted at the event. The…

This Morning Chattz Coffee
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Chattz Coffee celebrates over 20 years serving community

Amelia Greer,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — An incredible local coffee company is celebrating over two decades of serving the Chattanooga area. Chattanooga Coffee Company (‘Chattz Coffee’) was founded back in 2002 and continues to provide coffee lovers a pick-me-up of quality espresso. Owner and operater, Lisa Dunny, highlighted some of their popular products and beverages on News 12 This Morning. The female-owned…

Forward Madison Beats Chattanooga Red Wolves 1 0
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - Soccer

Forward Madison Beats Chattanooga Red Wolves 1-0

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Juan Galindrez scored in the 43rd minute to lift Forward Madison to a 1-0 victory over the Chattanooga Red Wolves Saturday night at CHI Memorial Stadium. It was a homecoming for Galindrez. He’s a former Chattanooga player, who is the Red Wolves all-time leading scorer. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – Soccer Tags: Chattanooga Red Wolves, Forward…

arson, fire
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New Hamilton County fire code regulations spark concerns about growth

Nick Hill,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Every new development in Hamilton County has a series of regulations to meet before they are built. This week, Hamilton County Commission approved new fire code regulations that may affect future development. Commissioners approved the resolution by a 7-to-4 vote that lowers the distance between new entrances to subdivisions to 300 feet. Previously, this line was…

Teachers
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

7 educators win scholarships at retired teacher’s picnic

Nick Hill,

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) – Several current and future educators received big help Friday for their future careers. Seven scholarships were awarded as part of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County’s Retired Teachers Association’s annual picnic at Chester Frost Park. Around 80 former teachers attended the event. The annual Chattanooga-Hamilton County’s Retired Teachers Association’s annual picnic at Chester Frost Park. The event celebrated both…

Lineman Rodeo
Featured, Local News

Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo coming to Chattanooga

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The annual Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo is coming to the Tennessee Rivepark this weekend.  EPB is hosting this year’s event, the first for the Scenic City. “All this is the setup for the Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo,” said Grant Carriker of EPB. “It is an annual event that rotates different cities. It is in Chattanooga for…

Tasty Donuts
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Tasty Donuts celebrates National Donut Day with Salvation Army

Amelia Greer,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — ‘National Donut Day’ is celebrated each year on June 7. To celebrate, Tony McInnis with Tasty Donuts prepares to serve over 10,000 donuts. An additional 500 are being offered to civil servants across the Chattanooga community. Tasty Donuts partners with the local Salvation Army to help those in need. It goes further than giving people a…

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From The Archives, Local News

Thursday Throwback: 1982 June Jam

WDEF News,

FORT PAYNE, Ala. (WDEF) — Fort Payne is counting the proceeds from another June Jam after last weekend’s show. The country music festival saw its second comeback event since taking a 26-year break. So, for our Thursday Throwback, let’s take you back to the heyday of the Jams in the 1980s. Categories: From The Archives, Local News Tags: Alabama, From…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Councilwoman in court over residency, says she was threatened

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Chattanooga City Councilwoman testified inside of a Hamilton County courtroom Thursday as she tries to maintain her seat. The issue at hand inside the Hamilton County Circuit Court was whether or not Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod has lived in District 8 in the past couple of years. An anonymous tipster sent an email to several city…

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Featured, Local News

Home Depot grants SPCA of Bradley County $15,000 for improvements

WDEF News,

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — The SPCA animal shelter of Bradley County is closed for the next two days, but for a good reason. They are getting a generous $15,000 grant from the Cleveland Home Depot to make improvements. “Home Depot has granted us $15,000 to make significant improvements to our facility. The main thing being securing a perimeter fence, an…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Pet lovers invited to Paw Palooza on June 8

Amelia Greer,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — McKamey Animal Center (MAC) is celebrating their third annual ‘Paw Palooza’ on Saturday, June 8th. Pet parents along with those looking to adopt are invited. The event is open to all ages… and all species. Savannah Shoemaker with MAC is currently fostering two adorable kittens– “Bongo” and “Violin.” This brother and sister duo will be available…

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Business, Driving Our Economy Forward, Local News

Driving Our Economy Forward: Special Touch Landscape

Kay Blevins,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s a company whose owner believes in second chances. Learn how this business has been putting the “Special Touch” on cooperate and residential lawns since 2004.  They are driving our economy forward in a meaningful way. Mike Jones is the owner of Special Touch Landscape. The business started in 2004. “We started doing residentials first….

Consumer Prices
Featured, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

Commission votes against Hamilton County vacation rental ban

Nick Hill,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Commission finally voted on a topic of much controversy Wednesday morning: vacation rentals.  The debate over vacation rentals has been contentious for months. However, by a six to five margin, the commission voted not to change the current ordinances that would ban vacation rentals in unincorporated Hamilton County. Those against vacation rentals…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New Lookouts Stadium could break ground soon, if approved

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The final piece of the South Broad Stadium puzzle appears to be heading for a vote. If all goes as planned, Chattanooga could soon see a groundbreaking for the project.  The new financial agreement of the South Broad Stadium, or new future Lookouts stadium, has been in development for months. Commissioners, however, voiced one key concern…

Hamilton County Commission 2024
Featured, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

Was county commission oversight committee formed too quickly?

Nick Hill,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Was the newly proposed audit committee formed too quickly? That’s one question the Hamilton County Commission is now asking. This new committee would be in charge of overseeing spending and other actions of the commission. It would exist independently of existing auditors inside county government. The committee will be comprised of five members, including sitting…

This Morning The Tivoli Theatre Foundation
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Visit Tivoli Theatre Foundation during upcoming Broadway season

Amelia Greer,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tivoli Theatre Foundation is proud to present a list of shows that will make a Broadway lovers’ day. The Tivoli will host six iconic shows starting this fall. Les Misérables and Hamilton are just two fan favorites headed to Chattanooga. Along with the classics, Broadway aficionados can look forward to seeing up-and-coming acts like Hadestown and…