What’s Right With Our Schools: Cleveland Middle School’s “We the People”

CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) – Eighth graders at Cleveland Middle School recently got a civics lesson they won’t soon forget. The students marched onto the football field to spell out the first three words to the preamble of the Constitution. That’s a patriotic example of “What’s Right With Our Schools.” Ed Fickley is the 8th Grade American History Teacher at Cleveland…

Multiple agencies respond to multi-vehicle crash on I-75

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Multiple agencies responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-75 Monday morning. TDOT reported the crash at 10:02 a.m., September 22, 2025. News 12 reached out to the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) for more information regarding the crash. CPD said four vehicles were involved, and four people were transported to the hospital. All four individuals were treated…

HTeaO Opens New Hixson Location

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) – HTeaO, a Texas-based iced tea franchise, has officially opened its doors in Hixson, bringing a wide selection of premium iced teas, coffee drinks, and fresh cupcakes to the greater Chattanooga area.  The new location, owned and operated by Chris and Shelley Jones, features more than 20 handcrafted tea flavors made with 100% natural ingredients and a…

Prostate Cancer Survivor Inspires Others

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of understanding this disease and the challenges men face.  Each year, about 300,000 men in the U.S. are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and roughly 45,000 have hormone-sensitive forms. Among them is Bob Lane, a survivor who turned his second diagnosis into a mission.  Known affectionately as “Elevator…

Riders Honor Trail of Tears

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Motorcyclists from across the country are once again riding to honor Native American history during the 32nd annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride. The ride began Friday morning in Cherokee, North Carolina, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.  Riders traveled through the Nantahala Gorge and Ocoee River Gorge before stopping at Ross’ Landing…

Soddy-Daisy announces upgrades to Holly Park thanks to county contribution

SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)-  Upgrades could soon be coming to a park in Soddy-Daisy. Hamilton County is giving the city of Soddy-Daisy $250,000 towards their efforts to add amenities to Holly Park. It is a small park along Soddy Lake off Hixson Pike which currently has one boat dock. Soddy-Daisy and Hamilton County officials announcing upgrades to Holly Park Friday. City…

Vietnam Veteran honored by Hamilton County on Friday

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  A Hamilton County veteran who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War is receiving a special honor. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has declared Friday John George Sparks Day in Hamilton County. Sparks was a Specialist Sixth Class in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, where he was taken as a Prisoner of…

Day of Caring held in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Friday was a Day of Caring across Chattanooga. Sponsored by United Way of Chattanooga, there were numerous projects spearheaded by volunteers across the city. A group of volunteers working at Warner Park to build a hammock on the Day of Caring. One such project was the construction of six frames for hammocks to be placed inside of…

Voices for a Safer Tennessee discusses firearm safety advocacy efforts

RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF)-  The latest advocacy efforts on firearm safety were discussed Friday morning at the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club. The presentation was put on by Voices for a Safer Tennessee. They are an advocacy group that was created in the wake of the 2023 Covenant School Shooting in Nashville. Their main policy goals are to expand background checks…

New Tech Keeps Old Species Thriving at Chattanooga Zoo

CHATTANOOGA, TN – This weeks Tech Byte takes us behind the scenes at the Chattanooga Zoo into the bio secure area of the Hellbender Headstart Program. Most often we enjoy zoos and aquariums without taking the time to think of how do these animals survive here in the south where we might have four seasons in one day.  This is…

Friends of Special Children and Signal Centers come together for their 20th annual ABC Event

Angeline Fairchild with Friends of Special Children and Donna McConnico with Signal Centers share their collaboration with a special community event and auction. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Friends of Special Children and Signal Centers are working together for their 20th annual All aBout Children (ABC) Event fundraiser! Friends of Special Children brings recreational and support programs for children with special…

Hamilton County School Board tables Centerstone MOU

Some school board meeting attendee holding signs in support of Centerstone. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Last month, the Hamilton County School Board voted to terminate an agreement with Centerstone to provide mental health services to students. That sparked outrage in the community, leading to a packed house for Thursday’s meeting. It was a very emotional night inside of the Hamilton County…

Mocs Win SoCon Opener 4-0 Over Wofford

(gomocs.com) The Chattanooga Mocs women’s soccer team kicked off their Southern Conference schedule emphatically Thursday, securing a 4-0 shutout victory against Wofford at Finley Stadium. The win extends the Mocs’ start to the season, bringing their overall record to 7-2-1 and 1-0 in conference play. Wofford moves to 3-5-3 overall and 0-1 in league action. The Mocs’ offense exploded for…

Katie Lamb Library Reopens Doors

COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) – After months of renovations, the Katie Lamb Public Library has reopened with a community celebration. The Grand Reopening event and ribbon cutting were held Thursday, September 18th, from 4 to 6 p.m.  Guests were treated to light refreshments, a “Get to Know the New Library” Scavenger Hunt, and a first look at the building’s new features….

Hamilton County Invests in Students Futures

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Schools, UTC, Volkswagen Group of America, and the Hamilton County Mayor’s Office announced a multimillion-dollar partnership to support the upcoming Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center, set to open in the 2026–2027 school year. The investment will fund the Volkswagen Engineering Preparatory Program, a new initiative designed to introduce students to engineering concepts and technical skills…

Luxury cars destroyed in semi-truck fire at Chattanooga gas station

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A semi-truck fire in Lookout Valley resulted in several luxury cars being destroyed. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 9:45 a.m., crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) responded to the QuickTrip gas station off of Browns Ferry Road for a call regarding a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, crews found a transport trailer fully involved. According…

Athens police make arrest in fatal June motorcycle accident

ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) —  The Athens Police Department (APD) has made an arrest in connection to a deadly motorcycle crash back in June. On July 18, 2025, the APD located an arrested 53-year-old Eileen Stapler. According to the APD, Stapler was brought in for questioning and then released into the custody of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for an arrest…

Chattanooga’s newest cosmetologist making waves (and curls!)

Cosmetologist Becca Dzik joins News 12’s Amelia Greer to highlight services in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. Dzik is a part of The Strand Salon, offering quality haircare for various hair types! CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A new cosmetologist in Chattanooga shares how The Strand Salon and her work can help everyone with all hair types and help the environment….

Vols Announce Changes to Hopefully Ease Congestion at Gates of Neyland Stadium

(utsports.com) University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White announced updates for fans coming to Neyland Stadium in 2025. To ease congestion, gates will now open for all fans two and a half hours before kickoff at 10:15 a.m. Gate 20 will reopen to all fans, and students will continue to enter the stadium at the southeast corner at…