1 dead, 1 critical, 1 charged in crash involving National Guard vehicle

GSP is charging Pennsylvania driver who pulled out in front of a humvee

TUNNEL HILL, Georgia (WDEF) – One person was killed and another seriously injured in a crash this morning in Catoosa County. It happened on Highway 41 near I-75 around 8:30 AM. Three vehicles were involved, including a National Guard vehicle. Georgia State Troopers say a Ford Fiesta pulled onto the highway from a business and was hit by the military…

Hamilton County Board of Education approves fiscal budget

Board chair expresses concerns over infrastructure damage in county schools

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton Board of Education met tonight to approve its next fiscal budget, but a different conversation tonight that took over the meeting. It’s never easy to ask for money, but this is exactly what Chairman Tucker McClendon proposed in tonight’s meeting. To him, Hamilton County’s schools are falling apart, but he believes the County…

Hamilton County Republicans proud of election results; warn more needs to be done

John Allen Brooks calls out opponent for District Attorney, Coty Wamp, for Silverdale issues

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Republican Party’s group in Hamilton County, the Pachyderm Club, held its first meeting since last Tuesday’s election. What was said in the meeting was last week’s results were just a start. This is where the real races begin. Weston Wamp defeated two challengers for the nomination for County Mayor. His sister Coty beat incumbent…

Zach Wamp has a message for fellow Republicans

He attended the Pachyderm Club today after his children won two big primaries last week

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – In political news, the Pachyderm Club held its first meeting after the Hamilton County elections today. They are the leaders of the Republican Party in the county. State Representative Greg Martin was the keynote speaker. He mentioned that the party needs to get into the hearts and minds of younger people, and the father of Coty and…

Bahamas calls on US labs to help solve deaths of 3 tourists

Couple was from Maryville, Tennessee

By DÁNICA COTO Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Officials say samples extracted from three tourists from Tennessee and Florida who died at a resort in the Bahamas under mysterious circumstances have been sent to a U.S. lab to expedite results and help authorities understand what happened. Bahamas Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said Monday that officials also collected…

What’s Right With Our Schools: CSLA Robotics Team

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – The World Series of Robotics is going on in Dallas, and a team from Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts is competing! Win or lose, it’s a great learning and networking opportunity. Scott Rosenow is the Lead Robotic Trainer for Hamilton County Schools. He explains, “May 3rd begins VEX World’s 2022; the largest robotics competition in…

Gas prices go up, Again

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-According to a survey, conducted by GasBuddy, prices have risen by 17 cents per gallon in the past week. This is $1.35 a gallon higher than this time last year. “Global demand has been going out for crude oil and now, at the same time, we’re taking Russia’s oil out of the global market,” “I think back about…

Middle Valley Elementary SSO recovers a gun from ten year old’s backpack

Investigators say it was left in the backpack over the weekend

MIDDLE VALLEY, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office reports a ten year old brought a gun to Middle Valley Elementary Monday morning. They say it was left in the child’s backpack at aftercare over the weekend. The firearm was recovered this morning by the school safety officer. The officer then turned it over to the sheriff’s office. Here…

More To The Story: Choo Choo Distillery

Dave finds a great cocktail being distilled at Gate 11

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Bill Lee spent his younger years in the field of chemical engineering. And biofuels. His wife, Wanda, was a school teacher. Then they moved full-time into the world of distilling spirits. Boy howdy, has that worked out well. They founded Gate Eleven. It’s a small distillery in the Choo Choo complex. One of only two distilleries here in…

TECH BYTE: Apps for Plant Parents

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s finally feeling like spring, so it’s time to take up gardening again. Not everyone has a green thumb, but it is possible to keep your plant or plants alive and well. If you’ve ever wanted to become a plant parent, some smartphone apps are helping to make those dreams a reality. Sometimes the biggest hurdle…

Thousands Pack Finley Stadium for Kane Brown Hometown Show

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Fifteen thousand people packed Finley Stadium Saturday night to welcome Kane Brown back home to Chattanooga. The Tennessee Valley native and country music star told News 12 last month to expect an action packed show with lots of special effects. Brown definitely made good on that promise. There were plenty of flashing lights, lasers, fire, and even…

“Lime Green Wedding Cake” comes to Sculpture Gardens

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A new sculpture has been added to the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park. IT’S Titled “Lime Green Wedding Cake.” the sculpture was pieced together with layers of metal and was designed by Austin Collins, a Sculpture professor at Notre Dame University. The sculpture was sponsored by Food City. With the addition of “Lime Green Wedding Cake,” Montague Park…

73rd Annual Armed Forces Parade was one of our biggest

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The 73rd annual Armed Forces Parade happened in downtown Chattanooga this morning. This was the largest Armed Forces Parade in Chattanooga history with 121 total entries in the parade. News 12’s Chip Chapman emceed the event. Every high school band in Hamilton County marched in the parade. Other organizations represented were the golden wives club, the american red…

Students race electric cars in the Green Prix

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Not a grand prix, but a green prix. Students from all over Hamilton County built and raced their own electric vehicles. Local non-profit Greenspace and E-P-B teamed up to provide building materials to various schools in the Tennessee Valley. Kids who chose to participate built and designed their own team car and logo. Madison Rowlings, the director…

Chattanooga Police Face Unique Challenge Pursuing Indictments for Drug Overdose Deaths

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Second degree murder, facilitation of second degree murder, criminally negligent homicide — these are some of the charges on which fourteen people were indicted yesterday. These charges were in connection to nine overdose deaths, but, as CPD Captain John Chambers explains, that can present a unique challenge to investigators. “Whenever you’re investigating overdose death cases, you don’t…

More To The Story: “You Have No Idea”

When the pandemic shut her business down, she decided to write a book

RED BANK, Tennessee (WDEF) – It’s a locally owned business on Chattanooga’s Main Street. Merchants on Main. This is the owner, Missy Steiner, flipping through the pages of a book. More on that book in a moment. As for the store, it’s an eclectic place. Steiner rents out space to various merchants. Then they set up their own little shop….