Mayor Wamp launches re-election bid alongside Blackburn, other Tennessee Republicans

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The 2026 campaign is off to a start as Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp formally announced his reelection campaign at the Wamp Labor Day Picnic at Chester Frost Park. Joining him was Senator Marsha Blackburn who made her first major stop in Chattanooga for her own gubernatorial campaign. Mayor Wamp says that he is looking to…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Snack Pack Ministry East Brainerd Church of Christ

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Once a month, folks gather at the East Brainerd Church of Christ in hopes of feeding a multitude. Snack Pack Ministry is on a mission to tackle food insecurity in Hamilton County one child at a time. And that’s a fulfilling example “What’s Right With Our Schools”. Janice Robertson is the Founder of Snack Pack Ministry….

Animeverse Fest Begins in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Day one of Animeverse Fest transformed the Chattanooga Convention Center into a hub for anime and gaming culture.  Fans from across the region gathered to celebrate their favorite shows and characters. The convention floor buzzed with energy as the vendor hall opened, offering everything from collectible figures to handmade artwork.  Visitors also had the chance to…

Jerri Green Visits Chattanooga Voters

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Jerri Green, a Memphis City Council member and Democratic candidate for Tennessee governor, made a campaign stop in Chattanooga today as part of her statewide tour. Green, who is in her first term on the council, is meeting with residents across Tennessee to hear their concerns directly.  She says issues such as education, childcare, wages, and…

Parents upset with school board over Centerstone decision

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- We are hearing from parents upset with a recent decision by the Hamilton County School Board to discontinue a partnership with Centerstone Mental Health. Amanda Chenkins’ daughter is in the first grade at Battle Academy. She says her therapist, provided by Centerstone through the school, has been a huge part of her educational journey. However, that…

Law Enforcement Cracks Down Highway 58

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – As the Labor Day holiday approaches, law enforcement is teaming up to make Highway 58 safer. Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Chattanooga Police, and the Tennessee Highway Safety Office are launching Project 58 x 58: Enforcing Safety, Hour by Hour. The operation will cover the entire stretch of Highway 58, from the Georgia…

Tourism Revenue Hits Record Numbers

  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  The Chattanooga Tourism Company says tourism revenue reached record breaking figures. The Tourism Company says Hamilton County Ranked number five among the 95 counties in Tennessee. They say that Hamilton County generated a record-breaking $1.8 billion in visitor spending for the year 2024. They say those tourism dollars directly supported over 13,000 jobs in Hamilton…

YMCA Steps Up for Hunger Action Month

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  September is Hunger Action Month, and organizations across the community are stepping up. The YMCA says they want to make an impact in the community. You can help by donating food items to your local Y. Paula Irwin, Executive director of James A Henry YMCA told us, “Here at the YMCA we’re currently packing meals for…

Signal Mountain mayor blasts Hamilton County Commission over Plan Hamilton vote

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF)- The mayor of Signal Mountain had some choice words for Hamilton County Commissioners this week. This was in response to Commissioners’ recent decision to vote for a version of Plan Hamilton that increased density limits. Signal Mountain Mayor Elizabeth Baker during this week’s town council meeting said she felt this vote was a slap in the…

Verizon brings Tech to Tailgating!

CHATTANOOGA, TN – It’s that time of year, the jerseys are being sewn, the fields are being manicured and you can almost smell the barbecue in the air.  Let’s face it, in every game, half the fans didn’t get the outcome they wanted because we can only have one winner.  Verizon’s Winnie Wright stopped by to make sure that no…

The Howard vs. Brainerd Football Game is Cancelled This Year

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – High School football in our area is in full swing, but just a reminder: there is one game that will not be played tonight or this weekend. Brainerd and Howard have battled on the gridiron for decades. The two schools will not be playing Saturday. The game has been cancelled. Officials say it’s because of safety…

Signal Mountain Ready For Debut on New Turf Field

Signal Mountain, TN-(WDEF-TV) Signal Mountain has joined the growing list of high schools with artificial turf. The Eagles will debut the new field Friday night against Sequatchie Co. Signal Mountain can practice all they want on the turf without any worries. A far cry from the old grass fields that head coach Mark Mariakis had to deal with. Categories: Sports…

Collegedale Airport Expands Visitor Services

COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Collegedale Municipal Airport is rolling out a series of improvements designed to make the travel experience smoother and more enjoyable for pilots, passengers, and guests alike. One of the standout updates is the addition of courtesy transportation options.  A Kia Soul is now available during business hours for visitors who need to get around town,…

Cybercriminal group at center of campus shooting hoaxes, including here in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Who called in that false shooting call one week ago Thursday that disrupted life at UTC? Cyber security experts say it’s a cybercriminal group that has been causing problems across the globe. According to an intelligence report from the Center of Internet Security, the cyber group “The Com”, short for “The Community”, is the primary cybercriminal…

Paschall Discusses Football with Rotary Club

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Rotary Club began its weekly meeting with a prayer for those affected by the recent Minnesota school shooting. Following the opening, members welcomed longtime sportswriter David Paschall as the guest speaker.  Paschall, who has spent decades covering Southeastern Conference sports, came to discuss the upcoming football season and what fans can expect from both…

Young Professionals Rethink Home Choices

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Young professionals are rethinking what makes a community the right place to call home.  A new survey shows that safety and housing affordability rise to the top of the list, with a large majority of Gen Z and Millennials saying those factors matter most when choosing where to live. But quality of life goes beyond affordability….

Knowles Sworn In as new Chattanooga fire chief

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Chattanooga officially has a brand new fire chief. Chief Terry Knowles was officially sworn in Thursday  as the city’s 22nd fire chief. He is succeeding former Chief Phil Hyman who retired earlier this year. Chief Knowles was previously the assistant chief of special operations for the fire department, and has been with the Chattanooga Fire Department…

Big Ridge students receive donation to their Chattanooga Future Fund accounts

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Big Ridge Elementary students are getting a boost to their future plans. Dr. Dane and Sheila Boyington have donated 50 dollars to each kindergarten and first grade student’s Chattanooga Future Fund account. This program was established last school year that allows families to save money for college and other post-graduation programs. Students learning about the donation of…

DeKalb County corrections officer arrested after internal investigation

DEKALB COUNTY, Al. (WDEF) —  A DeKalb County corrections officer has been arrested following an internal investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). On August 27, 2025 the DCSO said as a result of this investigation one jail employee was arrested and another was terminated. The next day, the DCSO released more information regarding the employees. The employee who…

Chattanooga police investigating shooting near Market Street

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Chattanooga police responded to a report of a person shot Thursday morning. The call was made on South Market Street near Alton Park just before 9:00 a.m. Two individuals were seen by a neighbor being placed in cuffs. Police at the scene told us that occupants of two vehicles exchanged gunfire. One vehicle sped away, while…

Union Gospel Mission brings back their Labor Day BBQ Fundraiser for the 11th year

Rev. Jon Rector joins News 12’s Chip Chapman to invite everyone to Union Gospel Mission’s Labor Day BBQ Fundraiser. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Union Gospel Mission is bringing the community together for their 11th annual Labor Day Free BBQ Fundraiser. Community members are invited to 2020 Gunbarrel Road, in front of the Maple Street Biscuit Company, on September 1…