Photo Dec 02 2025 8 55 48 Am
Featured, Local News

County leaders, state representatives discuss various topics at Hamilton County Legislative Breakfast

Nick Hill,

The Hamilton County Legislative Breakfast CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County leadership had a chance to discuss issues this morning with members of the Tennessee General Assembly. Numerous topics were brought up at the annual Hamilton County legislative breakfast. Among them, include the Education Scholarship Freedom Act and concerns over traffic, especially along I-24. Hamilton County Commissioner Joe Graham says that…

Giving Tuesday Aims To Give Back To The Chattanooga Community
Featured, Local News

Supporting Chattanooga Nonprofits This Season

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – CHAgives is a community-wide giving campaign coordinated by United Way of Greater Chattanooga, in collaboration with local partners.  The campaign brings together nonprofits from across the region on a single online platform, allowing donors to contribute to one or several organizations in one transaction. The 2025 CHAgives campaign began on November 3rd and will continue through…

Golden Apple Award
Education, Featured, Golden Apple Award, Golden Apple Award 2025-2026, Hamilton County, Local News

Golden Apple Award: Eric Barth, Hunter Middle School

Andrew Harrison,

OOLTEWAH, TN (WDEF) – Eric Barth has a gift for inspiring students both in the classroom and on the football field. The Ohio native has spent the last decade at Hunter Middle School. He’s the kind of person you hope your child grows up to be. “So, Coach Bar um has been at Hunter um I think over 10 years and…

This Morning Chattanooga Allergy Clinic
Featured, Local News

Prevent allergic reactions this holiday season with the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic

Khristine Arnold,

Dr. Marc Cromie from the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic (CAC) joins News 12’s Chip Chapman as he shares some tips on how you can keep your family safe this season through CAC’s board-certified allergists. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – It’s the holiday season and yet the allergies persist, but the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic will help you get through the season without any…

Salvation Army Invites Community To Help At Angel Tree Warehouse
Featured, Local News

Salvation Army invites community to help at Angel Tree Warehouse

Lillian Yi,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – It is that wonderful time of year again. The Salvation Army is asking for the community’s help at the Angel Tree Warehouse to make sure every child wakes up to a gift under their tree this Christmas. Major Douglas McClure, Area Commander for The Salvation Army in Greater Chattanooga, says the need is great and the…

Little Sprouts Awarded The Bright Spot Award
Featured, Local News

Little Sprouts awarded the Bright Spot Award

Lillian Yi,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Health Department recognized several community partners at its monthly meeting today for making a positive impact on public health. Among the honorees was Little Sprouts, a program known for supporting early childhood development and family wellness. The department says Little Sprouts stood out for its commitment to strengthening community health through education and…

Upcoming Giving Tuesday Supports Local Families
Featured, Local News

Upcoming Giving Tuesday Supports Local Families

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and two Chattanooga nonprofits are asking the community to step up and help families in need this holiday season.  The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga is encouraging residents to purchase 2025 Holiday Food Gift Cards.  These cards are added to a family’s presents when donors drop off gifts at the club’s…

Officer Involved Shooting Suspect Appears In Court
Featured, Local News

Hearing Set for Shooting Case

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Two Hamilton County deputies are on leave while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigates a police shooting during a traffic stop. Tadarius McDaniel, 23, faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, theft, and firearm-related charges. According to the arrest report, deputies on foot stopped McDaniel after he was allegedly driving a stolen…

Whats Right With Our Schools Food City
Chattanooga, Education, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: College Quest at UTC

Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) -The transition from high school to college is a big adjustment for most students. Knowing exactly what to expect certainly helps. That’s the idea behind College Quest at UTC. That’s a forward-looking example of “What What’s Right With Our Schools.” “So, College Quest is made for juniors and seniors in high school and their families to come…

Hope Included Hosts Holiday Fun
Featured, Local News

Hope Included Hosts Holiday Fun

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Hope Included Holiday Festival brought holiday cheer to Riverview Park today, offering a welcoming space for families of all abilities to celebrate the season.  Hope Included is a local organization focused on creating inclusive, accessible experiences for the community, and today’s event reflected that mission throughout every activity. Children spent the afternoon decorating cookies, creating…

Big Gay Holiday Market Returns
Featured, Local News

Big Gay Holiday Market Returns

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Seed Theatre hosted its fourth annual Big Gay Holiday Market today, transforming the Civic Center at the Mountainside into a vibrant and inclusive holiday shopping experience.  The Chattanooga nonprofit, known for providing safe spaces, support groups, and mutual aid programs for LGBTQ+ youth, adults, and marginalized communities, invited local artisans and small businesses to showcase their…

Gordon Lee Mansion Hosts Christkindlmarkt
Featured, Local News

Christkindlmarkt sets the stage for Chickamauga’s Christmas Ball

Lillian Yi,

CHICKAMAUGA Ga. (WDEF) – Tonight, Chickamauga stepped back in time and glided onto the dance floor as the historic Gordon Lee Mansion hosted its annual Christmas Ball. The event has become a cherished holiday tradition, bringing the community together for an evening filled with music, history and old-fashioned Southern charm. News 12 was there to get a look inside the…

Holiday Fun At Marsh Cattle Farm
Featured, Local News

Holiday fun at Marsh Cattle Farm

Lillian Yi,

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) – The Marsh Cattle Farm hosted their annual special holiday event, where children had the chance to meet Santa Claus and the Grinch. Beautiful photo settings were arranged for families to take their Christmas pictures, and the crowd favorite was meeting Baby Cow. The sweet miniature Highland calf and her barnyard friends were a major attraction for…

Gordon Lee Mansion Hosts Christkindlmarkt
Featured, Local News

Gordon Lee Mansion hosts Christkindlmarkt

Lillian Yi,

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) – Over the weekend in Chickamauga, the Christkindlmarkt was hosted at the Gordon Lee Mansion from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event was filled with Christmas spirit as vendors lined each side of the grounds with local, handmade, handcrafted, and hand-drawn items. This market is part of the larger celebration for the second annual Christkindlmarkt. One…

Christmas Season Begins In Fort Oglethorpe With Parade, Lights, And Holiday Cheer
Featured, Local News

Christmas Season Begins in Fort Oglethorpe With Parade, Lights, and Holiday Cheer

Timbrel Williams,

Fort Oglethorpe, GA (WDEF)-The City of Fort Oglethorpe kicked off the holiday season Saturday night with its annual Christmas celebration, drawing families from across the community for an evening filled with lights, music, and festive spirit. Residents bundled up against the chilly evening as decorations, glowing displays, and holiday songs set the tone for a night that felt like the…

Screenshot 2025 11 26 162946
Featured, Local News, Whitfield County

Neighbors come out against proposed neighborhood near Varnell

Nick Hill,

The proposed rezoning for a new neighborhood along Kathy Lake and Reed Roads near Varnell. (From: Whitfield County Planning Commission) VARNELL, Ga. (WDEF)- Rapid development continues to be a topic of discussion all across the Tennessee Valley. This week that conversation intensified in Whitfield County. The backlash from the Varnell community is directed at a proposed neighborhood on 251 acres…

Tech Byte How Science Is Saving Polar Bears
Featured, Tech Byte

Tech Byte – How Science is Saving Polar Bears

Russell Stroud,

You’re very unlikely to see a polar bear walking around with an iPhone, but even this fragile species can benefit from smart technology! Our Canadian friends up north are using silent, electric vehicles to study their polar bear population, which is unfortunately dying off due to melting sea ice. Military-grade radar, referred to as “Bear-dar,” detects the polar bears as…

Pxl 20251126 172139272
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, news

26th Annual Grateful Gobbler Set for Thanksgiving Morning

Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – A beloved Thanksgiving tradition returns tomorrow (11/28/25) morning at Coolidge Park. The 26th annual Grateful Gobbler gets rolling at 8 a.m. It’s a 5k. You can run it, or you can walk it. It’s a great way to build up your appetite for your Thanksgiving feast. Every dollar raised will benefit the Maclellan Shelter for families….

Sturgeon
Featured, Local News

TVA, TWRA conducts survey of Lake Sturgeon

Nick Hill,

TVA and TWRA personnel inspecting Lake Sturgeon on the Cumberland River (Courtesy: TVA) GALLATIN, Tenn. (WDEF)- The TVA and TWRA have conducted a study on the health of Lake Sturgeon in Tennessee rivers. This was conducted on the Cumberland River in Middle Tennessee. They caught 20 Lake Sturgeon to analyze their weight, length, and general health. Lake Sturgeon, native to…

Family Advocates For Pediatric Cancer Reform
Featured, Local News

Family Advocates for Pediatric Cancer Reform

Robert Hanley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Each year, more than fifteen thousand children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer, according to the CDC. For families like the Browns of Chicago, the diagnosis brings a sudden and overwhelming reality. Six-year-old Alexander Brown was diagnosed in 2023 with high-risk medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor in his cerebellum, the area controlling balance and…