Driving Our Economy Forward: Girl Friday

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Who runs the world? Girls! Some Chattanooga women are using their organizational skills to help fellow female business owners succeed. Let’s see how Girl Friday is driving our economy forward. “At Girl Friday, we offer personal assistant and executive assistant services, primarily for female business owners and entrepreneurs in the Chattanooga area,” said Anna Steere, Owner….

District Attorney says video will be released soon of officer involved shooting

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – After demonstrators and supporters of Roger Heard Jr. demanded police videos of his shooting Friday night, the District Attorney’s office has responded. DA Coty Wamp’s office issued this statement Wednesday evening: “The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is actively investigating the shooting of a Chattanooga Police Officer that occurred on Friday, August 11, 2023. Facts and evidence are…

Not Guilty Verdict in Road Rage Case

RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) – The question in a Catoosa County murder trial was never whether Daniel Vaughn actually shot Chad Pedigo two years ago. The question was did he have the right to do so. A jury this afternoon found Vaughn not guilty on all charges from the Ringgold shooting. The case began when the two men got into an…

Canadian Jay St-Hilaire Ready to Shine Again in Second Season as McCallie Quarterback

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Canadian quarterback Jay St-Hilaire showed up to McCallie at the start of pre-season camp last year He jumped right in, earned the starting job, and nearly led Big Blue to the state title game before they lost by one point in the semifinals. St-Hilaire made the cultural transition look pretty smooth, when it had to be pretty tough. Said…

Protests Held in Wake of Chattanooga Police Shooting

A group of protestors rallying on the steps of Chattanooga City Hall in protest of the Chattanooga Police shooting death of Roger Heard Jr. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tensions were high at tonight’s Chattanooga City Council meeting. Protestors showed up and voiced their concerns over a fatal police shooting last week. Last Friday night, three Chattanooga Police Officers, named on Tuesday…

Two residents of Chattanooga’s 3D-printed shelters moved in permanent housing

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – After a month in 3D printed shelters, two people have moved into permanent housing. According to the City of Chattanooga, that is 60 days ahead of schedule. Branch Technology provided the buildings and Olivet Baptist Church provided the land. “The pilot program that we started it’s good. It is a 12-month pilot, and we moved our…

Blackburn holds Quantum roundtable, comments on latest Trump indictment

Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaking at a Quantum Network roundtable. (Courtesy: Sen. Marsha Blackburn) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Senator Marsha Blackburn held talks with leaders in the quantum computing industry on Tuesday. These talks were held with around 40 people at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga’s (UTC) University Center. Senator Blackburn said that the possibilities being created around EPB’s Quantum Network are…

Another person arrested in Walker County animal hoarding case

WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — The Walker County Sheriff’s Office has now arrested a second person in the animal hoarding case out of Lafayette. Last week, the sheriff’s office arrested 70-year-old Katheryn Marie Decker on aggravated animal cruelty and willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Deputies have now also arrested her husband, 76-year-old Dee Darren Decker. They are charging him…

Three officers on leave after Chattanooga shooting

UPDATE: The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) has placed three officers on administrative leave following the shooting. It is protocol for officers to go on paid administrative leave after being involved in a shooting, CPD said. The police department identified the three officers as Celtain Batterson, Nicholas Ayres and Christopher Dyess. Officer Batterson was shot and injured in the incident. He…

Mom to Mom – Fizzy Toilet Bomb

Today on Mom to Mom, we are making fizzy toilet bombs. Fizzy toilet bombs are super fun to make, helps keep your toilets clean in between those cleanings, and it smells really good too. So, what you’re going to need to make these guys are a fun silicone mold. You can get those anywhere. Whatever kind you like. Baking soda,…

Coaching Advice Goes With Being a Football Coach

Another season of football is upon us. Coaches are likely a little anxious ahead of the new season. The coaching profession is one of those fields where people freely lend advice. So we asked several local coaches what’s some of the best advice they ever got. And maybe…some of the worst advice. Said McCallie head coach Ralph Potter:”I guess my…

Trial Underway in Catoosa County Road Rage Case

RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) – A man at the center of a deadly Catoosa County road rage incident in September 20-21 was in court today. On September 6, 2021, a fateful encounter on Battlefield Parkway led to a fatal shooting. Daniel Vaughn is charged with two counts of murder among other charges in the death of Jack Pedigo. Cameras were not…

Hamilton County Schools Unveil Threshold for Free and Reduced Lunches

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Schools have announced the thresholds for free and reduced school lunches this year. The program, funded through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), applies to students whose families make under a set income level. For example, a family of four that makes under 39-thousand dollars a year would qualify for free lunches and any…

More to the Story with Staley: Tennessee Air Pollution

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Bad air: whether it be here, there or everywhere. Has it been a bit worse this summer than in times past? Experts say yes. “Particularly more this year. From wildfires to heat and drought conditions. All contributing to a lot of unhealthy air,” said respiratory expert Dr. Nikki Vars McCullough. But Dr. Nikki McCullough says it’s…

Victim dies from Amazon Fulfillment Center shooting

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police report the man who was shot at the Amazon Fulfillment Center has died. Police say 19-year-old Javontae Moon was shot at close range outside the Fulfillment Center on Discovery Drive in the early morning hours last Wednesday. They arrested 20-year-old D’ante Jones for the shooting. His charges are now being upgraded to first-degree murder….

Dalton Police looking for missing Philadelphia man

He checked into an Econo Lodge then disappeared

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – Dalton Police are looking for a missing man from Philadelphia. They say 45-year-old Sean Michael Currie checked into an Econo Lodge on July 29. He was last seen on August 3. But after he checked out, his car remained in the parking lot for a week. Eventually, hotel management called police. He had paid to extend…

New Restaurant announced for The Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo

Elsie's Daughter will be an Appalachian Bistro at the historic venue this fall

Elise’s Daughter at The Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo will have several outdoor spaces that evoke a sense of secluded sophistication. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The people who brought us The Rosecomb in Riverview are opening a new spot at the Choo Choo. Chloe Wright and Ryan Smith created the neighborhood bar restaurant in a cottage on Barton Avenue….

Woman charged with Animal Cruelty after 100 animals taken from her home

Kathryn Marie Decker, Courtesy of Walker County Government LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) – Investigators have charged a North Georgia woman with aggravated animal cruelty after finding more than a hundred animals in rundown conditions at her home. After trying to investigate a complaint on Wednesday, 70-year-old Kathryn Marie Decker refused to allow animal control officers to inspect her home near LaFayette….

As national gas prices rise, prices in our area are finally dropping

After 3 weeks of big jumps, gas reporting sites say prices are finally coming down in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – After three weeks of rising gas prices in our area, Chattanooga finally gets a break. Both Gas Buddy and AAA report prices have dropped in our area over the last week. Gas Buddy says Chattanooga prices fell 9.1 cents per gallon over the last week, averaging $3.34 per gallon. We still are almost 37 cents more…

Investigators release new photos of Dalton church fire

ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) – Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire commissioner has issued new photos from a Whitfield County church arson investigation. We reported last week that investigators say it happened last Wednesday night before midnight at Cove Baptist Fellowship. It is located on Carbondale Road in Dalton. “Upon investigation, a device resembling a Molotov cocktail was found in the remains…

World champion athlete looks forward to her future in wrestling

Piper Fowler UC17 73KG World Champion

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — She is the first girl in Tennessee history to win the wrestling tournament and earn a spot in the World Championships. Her name is Piper Fowler. Fowler is an upcoming junior but has had a different journey than most people her age. At just 16, she represented the nation by wrestling in the under 17 World…

Lightning strikes home and causes fire on Signal Mountain

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) — Storms continued Sunday night with another report of lightning striking a home. The house fire took place on Signal Mountain. At 7:35 p.m., a homeowner called 911 reporting lightning had struck his house. Waldens Ridge Emergency Services and Signal Mountain Fire responded to the call on 1322 Brow Estates Drive. The family of two adults,…