Benjamin Brown Mugshot
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Benjamin Brown takes stand in his own defense, and admits to lying

Defendant in 2018 death of 2-year-old admits to lying to a detective; prosecution seizes on inconsistent testimony
WDEF News,

It’s time for the defense to present its case. Just a day after the jury heard from the Medical Examiner, saying a toddler was shaken so hard, blood got on her brain. Benjamin Brown took the stand in his own defense of the felony murder charge from the 2018 death of Annie Shell. After three forensic pathologists testified about the…

Mocs Face Showdown With Furman
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Face “NCAA Tournament Situation” in Showdown With Furman

Rick Nyman,

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA — After earning a thrilling 71-69 victory on national television the first time around, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team is set for its highly anticipated rematch with second-place Furman for a key Southern Conference tilt on Saturday afternoon inside Timmons Arena in Greenville, S.C. Chattanooga (21-5, 11-2 SoCon) is coming off a 65-47 victory over Western Carolina…

Former Notre Dame Standout Kareem Orr In Super Bowl
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Notre Dame Coach Charles Fant Proud to See Former Player Kareem Orr Make the Super Bowl

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Former Notre Dame and Chattanooga Mocs stand-out Kareem Orr will also be at the Super Bowl. He’s a defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams. Orr’s high school coach Charles Fant says it’s pretty surreal to have one of your former players in the Super Bowl. Said Fant:”Couple of days ago I got some pictures of him. He had…

Ridgeland's Vonn Bell Going To Super Bowl
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News

Ridgeland’s Vonn Bell Playing in Super Bowl Sunday For the Bengals

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in this Sunday’s Super Bowl. Leading the charge for the Bengals’ defense is Chattanooga’s own Vonn Bell. From Ridgeland to the Big Game, News 12’s Angela Moryan has his amazing story. Said Ridgeland head coach Craig Pritchett: “When he had the interception,(in the AFC Championship game) I started to run…

Pursuit Of Happiness Campaign
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Pursuit of Happiness campaign next Friday

Organization holding a clothing drive for the homeless
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A local non-profit will be busy next week doing its part to help our homeless neighbors. Next Friday, local nonprofit Pursuit of Happiness will be putting on its inaugural clothing drive for the homeless community located on 11th street. The clothing drive is intended to provide those living in the tent city with essentials, but organization C-E-O…

Mugshot Raw
Bradley County, Cleveland, Crime, Featured, Local News

Investigators say Daycare worker failed to evacuate kids during fire

James Carpenter faces 27 counts of child neglect, investigators say he admits to drinking on the job
WDEF News,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Yesterday in Cleveland, Little Lambs Daycare caught fire while children were napping inside. The fire was quickly visible to those in nearby businesses. “Basically, it was a pretty crazy situation that was going down. I heard a bunch of commotion in the gym, and we all ran out and saw a huge fire, so obviously we…

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Business, Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New Steam Logistics building celebrated with ceremony

Developers hope to have new headquarters building complete before 2023
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Steam Logistics held a groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon for its new downtown headquarters at 328 Broad Street. The third-party logistics company is one of the fastest-growing in the nation and expects to hire 400 employees here in Chattanooga over the next five years. The new headquarters building will be completely overhauled after it was boarded off for years…
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Food City presents local nonprofit with financial gift

The Happy Shoes Project awarded $52,000 for their service to those fighting cancer
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — The Happy Shoes Project received a generous gift from Food City this afternoon. The nonprofit was presented a check for $50,000, as well as a $2,000 Food City gift card, at the grocery store chain’s location off of Signal Mountain Road. Happy Shoes provides tote bags and backpacks to cancer patients and children battling cancer. The totes…
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Chattanooga’s Salvation Army to host Super Bowl party

Event to be held for local homeless and impoverished community
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Chattanooga’s Salvation Army is set to throw a super party for the Super Bowl as part of its Beyond Love Campaign. From 6 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 13, the local chapter will host a viewing party of the big game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals for those in the area who…

Shaken Baby Case
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Shaken Baby trial continues

Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The trial continues for a man accused of shaking a nearly 3 year old girl to death. Benjamin Brown was the boyfriend of a woman who was babysitting Annie Shell in 2018. The babysitter, Brandi Giannunzio, told officials that the little girl died from seizures after falling. She was charged with making a false report and accessory…

Dave
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

More To The Story: Airport Art Display

Dave Staley meets the local artist who picks what you see at the revolving art display at our airport
Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Local artist Carrie Pendergrass is at it again!!! Carrie’s done all of the “heavy lifting” on this new exhibit in the main lobby of the Chattanooga Airport. It went up last month. The theme this time around is “A Stilled Life.” Centering around still moments and images that represent everyday things we see and do. There are…

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Education, Featured, Government & Politics, Local News, McMinn County

Citizen protest doesn’t move McMinn County School Board to reverse ‘Maus’ action

Concerned citizens believe book removal shows district is not interested in furthering children's education
WDEF News,

ATHENS (WDEF) – One month ago, the McMinn County School Board made a decision that put it squarely in the international public eye. The McMinn County School Board says it will not review its decision to remove the graphic novel ‘Maus,’ a book about the Holocaust, from the district’s eighth grade curriculum. It’s been 31 days since the McMinn County…

Burn Awareness Week
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Health, Local News

Burn Awareness Week

Fire officials and Erlanger warn about the dangers of burns in the kitchen
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Fire Department and Erlanger Health System are working together to put a spotlight on National Burn Awareness Week. The theme is “Burning Issues in the Kitchen!”. That was selected to help prevent scald burns and distracted cooking because Nearly half of all home fires are caused by cooking. The fire department wants people to know…

Road Rage Shooting
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News

Grand Jury declines to indict shooting suspect who claimed self-defense

The matter involved a fatal shooting in a road rage case last fall in Catoosa County
Collins Parker,

RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) – A grand jury declined to indict a man in a road rage incident last fall that ended in a fatal shooting. The shooting happened last September on Elm Avenue next to the Catoosa County sports complex off of I-75. Jack Chandler Pedigo was found shot in his vehicle. Deputies took a man into custody but did…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

UTC to receive new building for School of Nursing

School director hoping enrollment will increase with new facility
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A new Health Science Building is coming to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The 92,000 square-foot building will include new classrooms, lab spaces and offices. But perhaps the biggest new addition that the building will bring … is more nurses. UTC School of Nursing Director, Dr. Christine Smith, certainly hopes that’s the case. As we were…
Chattanooga, Featured, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

NAACP Takes Stance Against City Council Vote

WDEF News,

After serving District 8 for five years, Anthony Byrd is stepping down from the City Council to become the City Court Clerk. The City Council voted on Tuesday to vacate his seat and appoint a replacement upon acceptance of his resignation. But the NAACP has expressed concern over the the council’s decision not to advise his appointed successor against running…
Chattanooga, Crime, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Chattanooga Police Say Low Bond Fee Puts Public At Risk

Senator Pushes Regulation
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – “We’re not concerned about our job being easier, we’re concerned about people we put in jail who are a danger to the community staying in jail,” says Chattanooga Police Public Information Officer Sergeant Jeremy Eames. Chattanooga Police have strong words about a bond system they say can put the public in danger. Zachary Smith was arrested on…

Denia Reece Retirement
Catoosa County, Education, Featured, Local News

Longtime Catoosa County Superintendent to retire

Denia Reese to leave after March, held position for 17 years
WDEF News,

CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) — One of Catoosa County’s own is stepping down after decades of service to countless students. Superintendent Denia Reese was honored with a luncheon this afternoon at The Colonnade in Ringgold and will retire at the end of next month. She’s also proud to be “a product” of Catoosa County, having graduated from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High…