Darron Lee standing with his public defender in front of Hamilton County Judge Tori Smith on Wednesday at his initial hearing. Content warning: Readers may find some of the details in this story disturbing. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A former NFL player charged with first degree murder in Ooltewah made his first appearance in a Hamilton County courtroom this morning. A…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A resolution that would create a referendum on term limits in Hamilton County government was formally introduced Wednesday. If passed, voters would get to choose whether or not both the Hamilton County Mayor and commissioners would be term limited to 12 years. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp first proposed the idea last year as a way to…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Chatt Prep running back Marquis Gardner looks to continue his incredible football career at the Naval Academy. Brian Armstrong has more on the Sentinels big play-maker. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
East Ridge, TN-(WDEF-TV) East Ridge and CSAS went down to the wire on Tuesday night with the Pioneers holding on for a 66-64 victory. The Pioneers got their lead to 11 in the fourth quarter before the Patriots started chipping away. They got it down to two with 1.5 seconds left. Patriots had a heave from the top of the…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Former CSAS basketball coach Mark Dragoo has passed away after battling an illness. He was institution at the East Third S treet school in Chattanooga. Dragoo coached the Patriots for well over 30-years, amassing over 700 career victories. CSAS even named the court in his honor for his lifetime of service to the school. Dragoo was 67. Categories: Sports…
Courtesy: Chattanooga Police Department CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The debate over ICE continued in Chattanooga Tuesday. This after the Chattanooga Police Department faced criticism over recent ICE detention data released by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. After a group of anti-ICE activists showed up at the Chattanooga City Council last week to voice their concerns about immigration enforcement in the Chattanooga…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The owner of popular Chattanooga restaurant Miss G’s has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prompting concern from longtime customers. Guillermina Solano-Chala, owner of Miss G’s Tortas and Tamales, was pulled over during a traffic stop in Walker County on January 23. Public records indicate her charges included no insurance, driving without a valid…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – With kids spending more time online, keeping them safe has never been more important. Technology is part of daily life, from apps and social media to online games and digital learning, but it also brings risks. The Better Business Bureau encourages parents to take an active role in protecting their children’s online safety. Monitoring what children…
TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA (WDEF) – Janet Robbins has a knack for growing things. From the endless rows of flora lining the Northwest Whitfield greenhouse to the young minds inside her classroom, people and plants tend to flourish under Ms. Robbins watchful eye. From the fertile soil sprouts tonight’s Golden Apple Award. “She is an amazing teacher. She does a lot…
CHICKAMAUGA, (WDEF) – The Chickamauga City Council voted 4–1 Monday night to remove Mayor James “Trey” Deck III from office following a lengthy public meeting. Four council members voted in favor of removal, while one voted against it. Mayor Pro Tem Evitte Parrish closed the meeting after the vote. “That being all the business before the council, the meeting is…
Facility dogs will now be allowed in every jurisdiction in Tennessee with a judge’s approval, a new law allows. Passed last year, any victim or witness who has to testify in a courtroom is allowed to request a facility dog to be with them during their testimony with a judge’s approval. They are often used when children have to testify,…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is partnering with 9-1-1 Cellular to launch a new safety app designed to respond to and help prevent emergencies on campus. The new app, Safe@UTC, gives students, faculty, and staff direct access to safety resources, including campus police, a safe walk feature, and an anonymous tip line. The app connects…
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) – As legal proceedings continue surrounding the effort to remove Chickamauga Mayor James “Trey” Deck III from office, the mayor’s office has released a statement claiming there is evidence certain individuals considered the case before hearing his defense. Mayor Deck addressed the situation during Friday’s meeting. “I believe ‘We the People,’ and it doesn’t operate like that…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) In a battle of ranked teams on Monday night, Walker Valley beat Tyner 60-57. Zion Pinkerton scored 17 to lead the Rams, while Zach Davis tossed in 29 for Walker Valley. The Mustangs were ranked 5th in Class 4A, while the Rams were ranked 9th in Class 2A. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
TUNNEL HILL, GA (WDEF) – Traditional classrooms are great places to learn, but sometimes students need to get their hands dirty. That’s exactly what happens at the Northwest Whitfield greenhouse. Let’s dig into their award-winning Ag program in this week’s “What’s Right With Our Schools.” “Our community is ag based even that they think about Dalton and they think about…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp spoke to members of the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club Monday, highlighting accomplishments from his first term and outlining priorities for the future as he runs for reelection. During the meeting, Wamp emphasized investing in young people across the county, pointing to expanded opportunities in technical education. He encouraged families to explore…
JASPER, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has reopened its Driver Services Center after completing a months-long remodel aimed at improving customer experience and efficiency. The center closed in May 2025 for planned renovations and officially reopened Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, resuming regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Updates…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Americans want to read more, but screens and digital distractions are making it harder to pick up a book. Surveys commissioned by ThriftBooks found that while 70% of adults plan to read more this year, 57% say the hardest part is simply getting started. Half of U.S. adults are also trying to cut down screen time…
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office MORE: We have also learned the identity of the victim in this case. According to a GoFundMe by a cousin, they say that Gabriella Perpetuo was the victim, saying she had suffered domestic violence and abuse. They say that her parents are in Florida attempting to make arrangements for her funeral as she was living…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Compassion International brought its nationwide Compassion Experience tour to Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga from February 6 through February 8. The free, family friendly exhibit invited visitors to walk through immersive rooms designed to reflect the daily realities faced by children living in extreme poverty across the globe. The experience featured interactive displays and personal stories…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Sweetheart Market wrapped up its two-day run at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic District, bringing together local vendors, live music and Valentine’s-themed shopping for the community. Hosted by Shop the Market at, LLC, the annual event featured dozens of artisans and small businesses offering handmade crafts, artwork and gift items throughout the historic district. Shoppers…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tooth pain is easy to dismiss, but dental experts say ignoring it can lead to serious consequences. Pain, sensitivity, swelling, or infection often signal problems deep inside the tooth that will not resolve on their own. Delaying care can lead to more damage and more invasive treatment later. Endodontists play a key role in treating these…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Over the weekend, Democrat Anna Golladay announced her campaign for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District. This evening, she attended a local event in Chattanooga where she met with voters and shared her message and goals for running. Golladay is seeking her party’s nomination to challenge Representative Chuck Fleischmann in the general election. Golladay emphasized that she believes…
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – Today around 1:04 p.m., the Cleveland Police Department responded to a reported domestic dispute at 541 Linda Drive Southeast. According to Cleveland Police a female caller said she and her partner got into an argument, when the male subject, identified as Michael Newman, allegedly produced a firearm and threatened to shoot both himself and her. It was…