CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Senate passed a bill that would expand the voucher program to be eligible in Hamilton County. The bill would allow eligible families to receive up to $8,000 taxpayer dollars to send their kids to private schools. Lawmakers voted on the bill this Thursday and it passed 19 to 6. Tennessee State Senator, Todd Gardenhire…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Judge Larry Ables found yesterday that there was enough probable cause to proceed in Jason Chen trial of the murder of Jasmine Pace. Chen has not bonded out of the Hamilton County Jail since being arrested, but there has been anger in the community over Chen getting a bond at all. Before Jason Chen’s…
(Video credits to Debbie Fleming) DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — With the increase in balloon-like objects over North America, people showed concern after seeing an unmarked blimp over the Dalton area today. From a distance, it may look similar to the Chinese balloon shot down earlier this month. However, it was only an unwrapped blimp, according to the Dalton Airport. Dalton…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Almost a dozen local teams gathered Friday for the 2023 Special Olympics basketball tournament. The tournament was held at the McCallie School. Special Olympics partnered with several local schools including: Hixson High School, Signal Mountain Middle and High School, Ridgeland High School and Chattanooga Christian. They also partnered with local organizations such as Orange Grove and…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s one thing to be a runner, maybe running a mile or two several times a week. Maybe every day. It’s another thing to be a runner because you have to run. And simply put, you run because your life depends on it. Dr. Josh Yother is the president of Skyuka Hall. A K-12 school in…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Today the Salvation Army began their Flowers of Hope program bringing joy and hope to Chattanooga’s under served communities. The event was created by the Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary. They gather each month to provide floral arrangements and notes of encouragement to those who need to be lifted up. The flowers are donated from local florists…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Some Hyundais and Kias are getting a free anti-theft software upgrade. This comes after too many of them were getting stolen. After some insurance companies like State Farm said they would stop offering coverage for certain Hyundais and Kias, the car companies are now stepping in. They’re now upgrading the anti-theft software on certain models made…
Red Bank, TN-(WDEF-TV) The Red Bank Lions roared to a district tournament win over Signal Mountain Thursday on their home floor. The Lions posted an 86-54 victory. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: defeat, district tournament, game. local sports, Highschool Basketball, local sports news, Red Bank High School, Signal Mountain High School, Win
(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga broke out the pink Thursday night in its Breast Cancer Awareness game and came away with a 70-63 win over Furman and sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference women’s basketball standings. The Mocs hit first and hard getting out to a 10-1 lead to start the game and led wire-to-wire. UTC kept…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hamilton County school board members voted Thursday night on a resolution that would have impacted the retention of local students based on their reading abilities. Five school board members voted in favor, and three opposed, to a non-binding resolution asking the Tennessee legislature to return decisions on the retention of its students back to the…
PIKEVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Four puppies were abandoned on the side of a road in Bledsoe County. Volunteers with Maringa Animal Sanctuary picked them up, but only one pups survived. “My first reaction is not again,” said Judy LaGrone, President of Maringa Animal Sanctuary. She says she sees animal abuse cases far too often. LaGrone went on, “We need help….
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Hamilton County school board member is under fire, and this isn’t her first time. Rhonda Thurman is known as someone who is heavily opinionated and not afraid to let her friends on Facebook know. Recently Thurman posted a Facebook status indicating that she was not a fan of our current President, stating “Joe Biden…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Another hearing was held today for the man charged with criminal homicide in the November death of Jasmine Pace. Hamilton County Judge Larry Ables had to decide today whether or not there was enough probable cause in the case of Jason Chen to proceed forward towards a grand jury. Chen is charged with criminal homicide in…
WARNING: Images may be graphic to viewers. HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — An inmate at the Silverdale Detention Center stabbed two corrections officers. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said the officers were trying to stop an inmate-on-inmate assault. The stabbing happened Thursday morning shortly before 3:30 a.m. HCSO said a corrections officer opened a cell door to deliver medication to…
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WDEF) — The Tennessee National Guard identified the two pilots killed in Wednesday’s helicopter crash. They said the accident happened during a training flight near Highway 53 in Madison County. Those killed in the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Wadham and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Danny Randolph. Wadham was from Joelton and Randolph was from Murfreesboro….
Liu Huerta. Courtesy: Sheriff Tommy Jones SWEETWATER, Tenn. (WDEF) — Wednesday night, Monroe County police arrested a suspect in the shooting of five people. Sheriff Tommy Jones released information regarding Huerta’s arrest. Liu Huerta faces three counts of attempted first degree murder, attempted aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and the use of a firearm during a dangerous felony. Tommy…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — More than 20 years ago, high school student Dustin Barnes decided that those who didn’t have a Valentine should get a special day too. So, he created Singles Awareness Day at his school. Then he took it to Mississippi State. Now, it is an unofficial holiday all over the world. For our Thursday Throwback, we take…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — According to a report from the American Jewish Committee, antisemitism throughout the country has been found to be the strongest here in the South. The AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America report is meant to survey the nation’s stances on antisemitism, both from Jewish and non-Jewish Americans. According to the AJC’s report, “more Jews in the South…
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WDEF) — A Black Hawk Helicopter crashed Wednesday afternoon near Huntsville, Alabama. CBS News reports that it belonged to the Tennessee National Guard. They said there were no survivors in the crash. CBS said the crash happened around 3 p.m. central time. It happened just off Highway 53 in Madison County. This was about 10 miles northwest of…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Valentine’s Day may be over, but we don’t need an excuse to have some good chocolate. Especially if it’s made by a Chattanooga company like Cocoa Asante. Let’s look at how they’re driving our economy forward. “Cocoa Asante is an artisan chocolate company where we handcraft chocolate bars in bonbons that are literally almost too pretty…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Thousands of people are flooding to Wilmore, Kentucky, to attend an ongoing chapel service. But what started in Kentucky has now made its way to Lee University. Lee University’s Stone Chapel is home to a 60 hour church service – one that’s still going on. “People want to hope. They want peace. They want joy in…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A suspect is in custody after being charged with criminal homicide in Chattanooga on Valentine’s Day. Police responded to the Cypress Hill Courts yesterday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. to a report of shots fired. This has left a man dead. According to the police affidavit, the incident began far before yesterday afternoon. Chattanooga Police say 33-year-old…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – At their press conference today, Chattanooga Police unveiled a new police driving training simulator. This is being housed inside of their headquarters on Amnicola Highway. The simulator allows trainees to simulate driving in emergency conditions in a variety of scenarios. It also can simulate the various types of police vehicles such as sedans, SUVs and motorcycles….
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Under the lights at Montague Park here in Chattanooga. That’s where these women gather. Twice a week. For at least two hours a session. Practicing with an egg shaped ball. The sport of rugby. It’s the ‘Nooga Queens. A club team, in only its second year of operation. And the momentum is growing! “Normally, getting a women’s…