Ooltewah Beats Hixson 3-1
Ooltewah, TN-(WDEF-TV) Ooltewah pulled away to win their home volleyball match against Hixson on Wednesda y 3-1. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Commissioners upset over audit report on personal travel expenses
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Some Hamilton County commissioners took offense to a report that they had inappropriately used travel funds for routine travel. Every Hamilton County commissioner is allowed $12,500 for reimbursable travel to certain events. However, a report by the Chattanooga Times-Free Press this week raised questions whether or not Commissioners were using those funds to travel from home to…
New indoor facility proposed at Howard amid HVAC concerns
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Could a new addition soon be coming to the Howard School’s campus? Over the past few years at The Howard School, there have seen a new football field built among other facility upgrades. Now, the county wants to build a brand new indoor sports facility along with other upgrades. However, there are some concerns that some other…
Ooltewah development revived by commission following developer concessions
OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF)- A development in Ooltewah that was rejected last week by the Hamilton County Commission was revived Wednesday. The Thrive Dairy Farms development on Snow Hill and Amos Roads behind Ooltewah High School had been voted against due to concerns on traffic impact and the height of the building. This development would be located near the section of…
Community Signs Erlanger Park Steel
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga residents had the chance to leave their mark on the city’s future today during a topping off and community signing ceremony at Erlanger Park. The event marked a visible milestone in the construction of the Lookouts’ new stadium. Neighbors, families, and local leaders gathered at the South Broad site, lining up to sign steel plates…
Social Security’s 90th Anniversary
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – This year marks the 90th anniversary of Social Security, one of the most influential programs in American history. New AARP data shows just how much the program continues to matter for Tennessee families. Across the state, more than 679,000 seniors rely on Social Security as their primary source of income. For many, it’s the difference between…
CHATT Foundation Receives Food Donation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) –The CHATT Foundation received a surprise donation today. Courtesy of CHATT Foundation Today, a vehicle from Renewal by Andersen arrived at the Chatt Foundation on East 11th Street This comes following an employee food drive at the company. The company said that this reinforced a shared commitment to community care and social responsibility CHATT Foundation stands for…
Blood Assurance accepting donations through Labor Day
Caitlin Stanley, the Senior Director of Blood Assurance, reminds everyone that one donation of blood can save up to three lives. They’re in need of donations and are offering gift cards to those who donate in August. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – While blood donations are always in demand, there are times when the need for donations increases, especially around Labor…
Mocs Will Showcase Plenty of Newcomers in Opener Against Memphis
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Mocs kick off their season this weekend at Memphis. UTC endured a big roster overhaul in the off-season. Time to see how all of the new pieces fall into place. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – UTC Mocs
Cracker Barrel Unveils New Logo, Sparking Conversation
WDEF- Cracker Barrel is stirring up conversation after unveiling a major brand refresh for the first time in decades. The chain has rolled out a redesigned logo, removing its iconic image of a man sitting by a barrel. The update is intended to modernize the brand while maintaining its Southern roots. Some fans have voiced disappointment on social media, while…
Sentencing hearing for former elementary teacher convicted of child sex abuse delayed
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A former elementary school teacher convicted on 15 child sex abuse charges in June, including aggravated child rape, was back in court Tuesday morning. Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp referred to the seven children who testified they were sexually abused by Duane Sanders inside of his Wallace A. Smith Elementary classroom, as the Heroic Seven. Sanders…
Flood Relief Donation Drive Continues
RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) – Families are still recovering from the flash floods that swept through just a couple of weeks ago, leaving homes and lives turned upside down. In response, the Chamber of Commerce has launched a major relief effort, extending its donation drive through the end of the week. The list of needed items is wide-ranging but focused on…
New round of school upgrades discussed
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Renovations of several Hamilton County Schools were discussed at the school board’s finance committee meeting. Thrasher Elementary, Orchard Knob Middle School, and Normal Park Magnet were discussed as schools with potential upgrades coming. This would be an additional phase of the school facilities plan. One of the schools in that first phase, Clifton Hills Elementary in…
Ribbon Cut on Special Kids Clinic
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga is celebrating a major step forward for families of children with special needs. Special Kids, a nonprofit founded 27 years ago in Murfreesboro, has officially opened its first pediatric therapy clinic in the city. For families in Hamilton County, access to therapy has long been a struggle. Waitlists can stretch as long as two years,…
Menlo man sentenced to 17 years in prison after mobile home shooting
SUMMERVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) — A Menlo man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after a mobile home shooting almost three years ago. On December 22, 2022, deputies with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a residence on Reece Street on reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, deputies located the victims involved in the incident, who identified…
Color Wheel opens class registration for the fall
Local artist, Harlan Lovestone joins News 12’s Amelia Greer as registration opens for his Fall 2025 ‘Remote Art and STEM/STEAM’ classes. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Developed through ArtsBuild’s Periscope Program, Color Wheel Learning is offering classes that combines art with STEM/STEAM. Students can start signing up now and receive a discount if they sign up before September 15. Classes will…
Game Week Arrives For the Vols
Game week is finally here for Tennessee, as they prepare to face Syracuse on Saturday at noon in Atlanta. With so many new players in the mix this season for the Vols, it led to plenty of questions for Coach Heupel and his players. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – UT Vols
Arrest in Ringgold goes viral as man at center of protest enters ICE custody
NOTE: We previously reported that Jimenez had a federal warrant. We have updated this to the wording of the jail report. RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF)- An arrest in Ringgold of an undocumented immigrant and an activist has gone viral. Elizabeth Haley says she was with her friend Jade Michalski last Monday when they noticed a man being arrested on Depot Street….
Rhea County investigating racist social media posts about Red Bank
RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Rhea County Schools say there is an active investigation into a series of racially charged social media posts. The posts came from an Instagram account called @rheaco_barstool that has since been taken down. One of the posts on the now deleted @rheaco_barstool Instagram account. There were several other posts that were racist in nature directed at…
Hamilton County launches new public records portal
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County now has a new public records request system. Hamilton County Attorney Janie Varnell says her office has entered into an agreement with the Next Request Portal system to speed up public records requests. Varnell took over the County Attorney role last month from long-time attorney Rheubin Taylor. She says that previously before implementing this new…
What’s Right With Our Schools: Bethlehem Center STEAM Camp
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Best Buy is famous for its Geek Squad. Those same big brains recently visited Bethlehem Center to teach students how to solve tech problems, and that’s a timely example of “What’s Right With Our Schools”. “So today we’re happy to have a wonderful partnership with a few local organizations and a large national one, but we have…
Mother facing child abuse charges after hitting child with car at CGLA
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A mother is facing aggravated child abuse charges after hitting her child with a vehicle at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA). On Tuesday morning, August 19, CGLA’s School Resource Deputy (SRD) responded to reports of a student being struck in the parking lot by their mother’s car. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said the…
Polk County woman charged with murder after shooting boyfriend
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Polk County woman is behind bars after allegedly shooting and killing her boyfriend. On Friday, August 22, 2025, deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to 266 Grassy Creek Road in response to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies and EMS found 39-year-old Buell Cody Thomason deceased with an apparent gunshot wound to…
Madisonville woman dies after being struck by freight train in Dayton
DAYTON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Madisonville woman is dead after being struck by a freight train over the weekend in Dayton. On Saturday, August 23, 2025, officers with the Dayton Police Department (DPD) responded to the 1300 block of Railroad Street for reports of a pedestrian struck by a freight train, Upon arrival, officers located the deceased female next to…
