James Roger Carpenter Jr
Bradley County, Cleveland, Featured, Local News

James Carpenter pleads guilty to child endangerment from Daycare fire

Investigators say he was drunk when the fire hit Little Lambs daycare during nap time
Collins Parker,

(Video from our story on Little Lambs fire last February) CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – A Daycare worker pleaded guilty today in court to charges that stemmed from the Little Lambs Daycare fire last year. The fire hit the Cleveland Daycare during naptime last February. It was called in by a neighboring business. Firefighters managed to get all of the children…

Makamey
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

CPD and McKamey Animal Shelter Looking for Suspected Animal Abuser

Nick Hill,

Asha, a dog who was abandoned and abused, currently receiving treatment at McKamey Animal Shelter. (Courtesy: McKamey Animal Shelter) UPDATE: There’s a tragic update in this story. McKamey Animal Center announced earlier Sunday afternoon that Asha has passed away from her injuries. They thank the community for the support for Asha over the weekend. They added that the investigation is…

Hope 006
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Hope Community Fridge Holds Grand Opening to Public

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- There is a new resource available for those struggling with food insecurity in our community. A new food pantry called the Hope Community Fridge held its grand opening today. It is located at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on East Brainerd Road. They had plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available at today’s opening. The founder,…

Modelcon
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Second Annual ModelCon Held in Chattanooga

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Scale model enthusiasts in our community gathered at the Chattanooga Convention Center today. The annual Chattanooga ModelCon drew scale modelers from all over the region. It was hosted by the Chattanooga Scale Modelers club. There were models of airplanes, tanks, race cars, and plenty of other vehicles. Visitors could also purchase scale model kits for them to…

Blansettmural
Featured, Local News, Marion County

Memorials Dedicated to Late Marion County Detective

Nick Hill,

JASPER, Tenn. (WDEF)- This week, two different memorials in memory of the late Marion County detective Matt Blansett were unveiled to the public. Blansett was killed in a fatal helicopter crash right off of I-24 in Marion County on August 23rd of last year. One memorial is a mural that has been painted inside of the Walmart in Kimball. It…

Img 8256
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Wreaths Across Chattanooga Asking for Volunteers for Wreath Retirements

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  Wreaths Across Chattanooga is asking for volunteers to help retire the wreaths on graves at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. There were over 30,000 wreaths placed the week before Christmas, as a sign of respect and goodwill to those who have served. They will meet at 8:30 a.m on Saturday, January 21st to begin the wreath removals. They…

Georgia Touches Down In Los Angeles
Sports - Local Sports News

Georgia Touches Down in Los Angeles Determined to Bring Home Another National Title

Rick Nyman,

Los Angeles, CA-(WDEF-TV) Georgia has touched down in Los Angeles, site of this year’s national title game. And there to greet’em was News 12’s Brian Armstrong. Brian: The defending national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs have touchdown in LAX California and they’re in Southern California they be playing at Sofi Stadium on Monday night. News 12 has been able to document…

Leevisittdot
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Governor Lee Touts New Transportation Infrastructure Bill in Chattanooga

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee made a visit to the Scenic City today. He was here to promote a piece of legislation that he hopes will transform roads across the Volunteer State. With a net increase of over 500,000 new residents in the state of Tennessee, Governor Lee believes that the Transportation Modernization Act will help Tennessee prepare…

Tractortrailer
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Tractor Trailer Flips on its Side on Riverside Drive

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Traffic had to be shut down on Riverside Drive earlier this afternoon due to a crash. Shortly before noon, a tractor trailer flipped on its side close to the Tennessee American Water Tower near UTC’s campus. Fortunately, according to Chattanooga Police on scene, the truck driver was not injured. The driver told police that something broke underneath…

Signing Day
Featured, Local News, More To The Story With Staley, UTC

More to the Story with Staley – Signing Day

Dave Staley,

Chattanooga, Tenn. (WDEF) – Before 2017, this was a stressful time of year for potential college football players coming out of high school. The signing day in early February would determine where those players were heading, on scholarship. Decisions to make. Things changed completely in 2017, when an early signing period was added in mid-December. For a young man like Cleveland…

1983 Car Sales00000006
From The Archives, Local News

From The Archives: 1983 New Car Deals

This story originally aired in the first week of January, 1983
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The models change, the technology changes and even the names change, but there is something about buying a new vehicle that hasn’t changed. And that’s looking for a good deal. Forty years ago, auto dealers started the new year out with some new financing deals. You’ll see a lot has changed. The cars are boxier and there…

Techbyte Epikos 1280x720
Local News, Tech Byte, Technology

TECH BYTE: New Volkswagen EV Featured at CES 2023

WDEF News,

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (WDEF) — CES 2023 in Las Vegas is underway. Volkswagen is back at the Consumer Electronics Show, after taking six years off. The car company is making the most of this appearance by showing off yet another electric car. The ID.7 is VW’s first fully electric sedan based on the modular electric drive matrix. VW says it’s…

Dalton State Downs Blue Mountain Christian 68 61
Sports - Local Sports News

Dalton State Knocks Off Blue Mountain Christian 68-61

Rick Nyman,

Dalton, GA-(WDEF-TV) The Dalton State basketball team beat Blue Mountain Christian 68-61 on Thursday at Mashburn Arena. The Roadrunners trailed by six at halftime before out-scoring the Toppers 44-31 in the second half to secure the win. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Blue Mountain Christian, Dalton State, local sports news

Drivingforwardchatt 1280x720
Driving Our Economy Forward, Featured, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Driving Our Economy Forward: Chattanooga Chamber Connects Employers with Students

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce not only helps boost the economy in the Tennessee Valley, but it also helps connect students with employers before they even graduate. The Chattanooga Chamber talked to News 12 about how they’re driving our economy forward. “The youth that are in our school system, that is our future,” said Charles Wood,…

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Featured, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

More To The Story with Staley – Local Woman Creates Seahorse Snacks, Sold in 50 States

Meet the woman who turned her medical crisis into a new business
Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Three years ago, Stacy Martin found out she had a genetic predisposition to stomach cancer. An 80 percent chance she would someday come down with that deadly disease. So, in a preventative move, she had her stomach removed. Changing everything in her life. Martin has to eat every two hours. One of the foods she found that…

Screenshot 20221014 165357 Google
Featured, Local News

Police charge bouncers at Boneyard after punching customer

Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police confirm that they have charged two local security guards for a confrontation with a customer. We showed you the video from the encounter last fall at The Boneyard on Station Street. It shows a fight between security guards and a customer where one of them appears to knock the patron unconscious. The other bouncer then…

Crime Scene
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Sheriff releases names of officers involved in fatal shooting

Collins Parker,

UPDATE: Chattanooga Police have now identified two of their officers who were also involved in the fatal shooting on Thursday. They are Officer Ryan Blevins and Investigator Brian McClard. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is handling the case. ___________ CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office releases the names of the officers involved in a shooting on Thursday. Last…