CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Our friends at the Chattanooga Zoo are introducing their first ever mascot to the team, and his name is Finnegan. To uphold the zoo’s mission of creating a fun and interactive environment where people can learn about animals, Finnegan can be seen walking around the zoo grounds and appearing at special events, including animal feedings and…
ROSSVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) – On Saturday, a house fire damaged the home of a local family in Rossville, Georgia. Former residents say the fire claimed not only physical and irreplaceable items but also the lives of several pets. One resident says while the loss affects her husband and children, it has also impacted their ability to provide care for three…
SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Deputy Caleb LeBruno was laid to rest today. Deputy LeBruno was killed last Wednesday night in a motorcycle crash on Brainerd Road. He is remembered for dedicating his life to serving others during their most difficult moments. LeBruno began his career as a dispatcher. In 2020, he became a deputy with the Grundy County…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – With opening day less than two months away, several Hamilton County Commissioners toured Erlanger Park this week to see the progress on the future home of the Chattanooga Lookouts. During the tour, officials viewed new stadium features and historic elements preserved from the original 1800s foundry buildings. Concrete slabs and a 1936 floor made from river…
RINGGOLD, GA. (WDEF) – Firefighters responded to a large house fire Tuesday morning on The Pointe Drive in Ringgold. The Catoosa County Fire Department was called to the scene just after 7 a.m. Crews arrived to find a fire burning at a large home on the property and began working to bring the flames under control. The house was vacant…
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) – Did you ever have a teacher who made you love going to school. For students at Oak Grove Elementary, Alexis Kaczor is that teacher. She goes above and beyond to make every day a fun learning experience. She also keeps parents in the loop every step of the way. All that earned Ms. Kaczor this week’s…
Julie Scruggs and Paloma Stansell join News 12’s Amelia Greer with a reminder of what comfort they provide for newborns in the state. The TN Safe Haven Law went into effect several years ago, and has made a way for parents to safely surrender their newborn without fear of prosecution. The two women speak on the impact of their organization…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Chatt Prep is headed back to the state tournament in Murfreesboro, where they will try to capture their third consecutive state championship. The Sentinels cruised past Unicoi Co in their sub-state game on Monday by a final of 82-58. The Sentinels took charge late in the first quarter when they scored on three consecutive dunks. Categories: Sports – Local…
South Pittsburg, TN-(WDEF-TV) South Pittsburg was trying to punch their ticket to the state tournament for the first time in 40 years on Monday. The Pirates raced out to a 10-0 lead against Pickett Co, but they couldn’t h ang on. The Bobcats went on to win the game 59-38. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Darron Lee talking with deputies shortly before his arrest on February 5, 2026 in Ooltewah on Snow Cone Way. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The former NFL player accused of murdering his girlfriend last month was back in a Hamilton County courtroom this afternoon. Darron Lee is charged with the first degree murder of Gabriella Perpétuo last month at their Snow Cone…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A proposed affordable housing development connected to Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church is moving closer to construction after the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission approved a key request at its March 2026 meeting. The commission approved the zoning request for Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church’s housing development at 1107 North Moore Road, which involved lifting previous…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Another Whataburger is now open in the Tennessee Valley. The Texas-born chain officially opened its second Chattanooga location Monday, March 9, at 2332 Shallowford Village Drive, the former home of Fazoli’s. Founded in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Whataburger began as a small burger stand with a simple idea: make each meal fresh, customizable, and served…
DALTON, GA (WDEF) – Creating a working robot requires a strong understanding of mathematics and mechanical engineering. Teams of local teenagers recently showed what the machines could do at the GeorgiaFIRST Robotics competition. We visit the Dalton Convention Center for tonight’s “What’s Right With Our Schools.” “Today is the Dalton First Robotics Competition qualifier. This is one of five qualifiers…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- In response to that ongoing conflict in Iran, drivers have noticed that gas prices have continued to go up. GasBuddy is reporting that the average price of gas in the Chattanooga area have risen by 52 cents. The average gas price in Chattanooga sits right at three dollars a gallon. The cheapest prices are around $2.79, while…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga River Market is back for the season, bringing local vendors, artists, and small businesses to the Tennessee Riverfront. Some vendors make the drive from outside the area to participate, drawn by the sense of community the market fosters. As small business owner Brady Williams explained, “Without having a community you don’t really got anything…
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) – Coin collectors from across the region attended Camp Jordan Arena this past weekend for a regional coin and currency convention. The event brought together vendors and hobbyists for three days of buying, selling, and trading coins and other collectibles. Inside the arena, tables were filled with U.S. coins, world currency, paper bills, and precious metals…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Employees from CommonSpirit Health spent part of their Sunday giving back to the community by partnering with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga to pack meals for local children. More than 50 volunteers gathered to assemble over 1,300 meals, working together along an assembly line to help support families across the Chattanooga area. “The best wraps you’re…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – As the conflict continues in the Middle East, News 12 spoke with an Iranian American living in the United States who offers another perspective. She now works as a clinical psychotherapist counseling people who were once imprisoned by the Iranian government for political reasons. “I always, as a therapist, think about how desperate the Iranian people…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Since the start of the conflict following the strike in Iran, transportation for tourists and visitors has become increasingly difficult to obtain. CBS reports that officials in Israel hope to reopen the airport for limited commercial flights on Sunday. One U.S. citizen tells us she has been trapped in Israel since Saturday the 28th and is…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Saturday afternoon, Calvin Donaldson Elementary welcomed dozens of community members and local organizations to campus to help with one of the school’s Restore the Roar outdoor projects. Organizers say the effort is designed not only to benefit students but also the surrounding community. Behavior Intervention Teacher Annie Paden says volunteers gathered to improve the school grounds…
Dalton, GA-(WDEF-TV) Matt Cheaves has been the head soccer coach at Dalton for over three decades, and on Friday, he picked up an incredible milestone win. Cheaves celebrated his 500th career victory as Dalton beat Woodland 8-1. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
(soconsports.com) — Gianna Corbitt and Caia Elisaldez were dominant on Friday, powering No. 1 seed Chattanooga to a spot in the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game. Corbitt, a sophomore forward, and Elisaldez, a junior point guard and the SoCon Player of the Year, scored 29 and 28 points, respectively, in a 76–65 semifinal win over No. 4 Furman at…
(soconsports.com) – Senior forward Sola Adebisi capped a memorable game with a fantastic shot, hitting a 26-foot 3-pointer that broke a tie with under 10 seconds left and gave No. 9 seed The Citadel an 88-85 win over No. 8 Chattanooga in the opening game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Friday night at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville….
Last week, a letter from the Tennessee Republican Party said several republican candidates would be removed from the primary ballot. This letter listed several local candidates including County Mayor Weston Wamp and County Trustee Bill Hullander. Mayor Wamp says there were some key details that voters were not made aware of. Mayor Weston Wamp told us, “What that letter didn’t…