More to the Story with Staley: Welcome Home of Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Death is not something that people normally like to talk about. But for one Chattanooga organization, it’s starting up a new program that deals specifically with the subject of dying. Welcome Home of Chattanooga is an organization that provides comfort and care for those who are terminally ill, and need help. The facility offers a wide…

TECH BYTE: AAA Offers EV Buying Tips

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Electric cars are becoming a lot more popular these days, but how do you know if they’re right for you? AAA is helping drivers decide. The Auto Club Group is out with a Used EV Buyer’s Guide to help drivers see if going electric is right for them. AAA found more consumers are looking for cars…

Lee Basketball Splits Games With Union

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) The Lee women’s basketball team lost a tough one to Union on Thursday night at Walker Arena falling 62-58. With the loss Lee and Union are now tied for first place atop the Gulf South Conference standings. The Lee men posted a 72-55 win over the Bulldogs. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: college basketball, game. local…

Kane Brown to Co-Host 2023 CMT Music Awards

AUSTIN, Texas (WDEF) — Tennessee Valley native Kane Brown will be the star of the show at the 2023 CMT Music Awards once again this year. Kane will be co-hosting again with Kelsea Ballerini. He’ll also be performing with his wife, Katelyn Brown. They’ll be singing their multi-week #1 hit single, “Thank God.” The show airs on Sunday, April 2…

Behind the scenes of the new Tennessee Aquarium exhibit

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Aquarium will be unveiling a new exhibit next week. Crowds will certainly be lined up to see what they have in store, but the story starts much earlier. Manager of Exhibit Services, Jeff Worley, said that planning for the Ridges to Rivers Exhibit started over 2 years ago. “The process started about brainstorming, trying…

Two controversial Tennessee bills have passed

Bills will criminalize public cabaret/drag performances, gender-altering surgeries for minors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two Tennessee bills concerning minors passed on Thursday. House Bill 01 and House Bill 09 both sparked a lot of controversy. Tennessee House Bill 01 will make it a crime for healthcare providers to perform gender altering services to minors. In addition, Tennessee House Bill 09 will criminalize public cabaret performances. Tennessee House Bill 01 /…

Chattanooga’s Orange Grove Center hosted kickoff event celebrating 70th anniversary

The non-profit discussed some big plans they have for the 2023 calendar year.

Orange Grove Center celebrates 70 years.Orange Grove Center celebrates 70 years with high-five.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga parents and community leaders started Orange Grove Center back in 1953 to assist those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During their event hosted at Miller Plaza today, the group announced some exciting new ventures their organization will take on for 2023. One planned…

From The Archives: Honoring Cleveland’s Rhyne Howard

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Bradley County Commission started the ball rolling this week on honoring a local sports hero. They passed a proposal to rename a stretch of South Lee Highway after Bradley Central basketball star Rhyne Howard. It still must be approved by the city of Cleveland and the Tennessee legislature. Rhyne is still climbing the heights of…

Chip’s Good Word: Tennessee sayings

Take our quiz over regional sayings from across the country

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Like most southerners, we’ve got a few expressions in East Tennessee. Do you know someone who is feeling “puny?” Well, they don’t in other parts of the country. The folks at Writing Tips Institue have been checking out our regional sayings and they put together a little quiz to see how travelled your vocabulary is. See how…

Man arrested after dog attacks child at school

The man arrested was also stalking a school employee

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A man was arrested in Chattanooga after his dog attacked a child at Bright School. The attack happened on Wednesday. Burton Webb was on school property when his dog attacked and bit a child. The child was with their parents when the dog attacked. School officials said the student will be fine and return next week….

Nokian Tyres to hire more than 100 employees

The Dayton factory will employ 125 new team members

DAYTON, Tenn. (WDEF) — Nokian Tyres announced on Thursday that they have started hiring a substantial number of employees. The company said they will hire 125 new employees at their Dayton factory. The increase in hiring is due to their goal of doubling production by 2024. Nokian Tyres said the positions are now open, and those interested can start applying….

Fatal motorcycle accident on Hixson Pike

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A motorcycle crashed into a camping trailer being hauled by a pickup truck Wednesday night, HCSO said. Hamilton County Police said the motorcycle rider was unresponsive upon their arrival. The accident took place on Hixson Pike around 7 p.m., according to police. Officers said they immediately started CPR on the motorcyclist. Once Hamilton County Emergency…

UT System will launch Grand Challenge initiative for Tennessee

KNOXVILLE (WDEF) – University of Tennessee System President laid out his vision for the five universities in the system, including UTC, this morning. He identified Three Grand Challenges for the state that he thinks the universities can help tackle. Later this spring, he will unveil a “Challenge Grant” program to harness ideas with the university system. The issues are substance…

Mocs Take Samford Down to the Wire Before Falling 75-70

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA – In a back-and-forth battle that featured 20 lead changes, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team dropped a tough 75-70 contest to Southern Conference leader Samford on Senior Night inside McKenzie Arena on Wednesday. Following the loss, Chattanooga moves to an even 15-15 overall and 7-10 inside league play with one game remaining. The Mocs are locked in a…

Mocs Football Coaches React to New Proposals to Speed Up the Game

Chattanooga, (WDEF-TV) Do college football games last too long? The NCAA football rules committee is considering some new rules to speed up the game, although it’s falling under the umbrella of player safety. Perhaps the biggest consideration, the clock will start after an incomplete pass as soon as the ref spots the ball. How do Mocs coaches feel about the…

NC boy rescued with drones from Hamilton, West Polk Counties

Hiwassee Dam Fire Chief says technology left him "impressed," staved off large manhunt

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N. Carolina (WDEF) — The Hiwassee Dam Fire Department in Murphy, North Carolina, rescued a juvenile with special needs earlier this week after he had gone missing in the nearby mountains. However, it’s the way the youth was saved that still has the department excited. On Monday, a juvenile reportedly with special needs in Cherokee County wandered away…

Driving Our Economy Forward: Serious Health

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s important to take our health seriously. And that’s where one Chattanooga business gets its name – Serious Health. Let’s look at how they’re changing elder care in America. It’s one way they’re driving our economy forward. “What we do is we place elders and people with intellectual disabilities into homes of nurses,” said Gideon Thomas,…

Shogun Japanese Steakhouse on Gunbarrel bulldozed

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Construction crews bulldozed the Shogun Japanese Steakhouse on Gunbarrel Road Wednesday. This is just four months after the announcement of two new restaurants being built at the site. The site was formerly home to the Shogun and a Golden Corral, just in front of Target and Whole Foods. Two fast food chains will be taking the…

New apartments and retail buildings to be developed in Red Bank

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Red Bank Commission has approved the developments of new apartment and retail buildings. Rise Partners came before the commission last night with plans to build on the properties near 2101 and 2119 Dayton Boulevard. Plans currently include a 200-plus unit apartment complex and a 7,000 square-foot retail building. The retail building will be multi-level and…