Pursuit of Happiness campaign next Friday

Organization holding a clothing drive for the homeless

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…

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

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…

New Steam Logistics building celebrated with ceremony

Developers hope to have new headquarters building complete before 2023

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…

Food City presents local nonprofit with financial gift

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

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’s Salvation Army to host Super Bowl party

Event to be held for local homeless and impoverished community

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 trial continues

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…

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

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…

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

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

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

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…

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

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…

UTC to receive new building for School of Nursing

School director hoping enrollment will increase with new facility

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…

NAACP Takes Stance Against City Council Vote

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 Police Say Low Bond Fee Puts Public At Risk

Senator Pushes Regulation

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…

Longtime Catoosa County Superintendent to retire

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

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…

From the Archives: 1992 Valentine’s Day

We look back at how we celebrated the holiday 30 years ago

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Our Valentine’s Day traditions haven’t changed all that much over the years. For our Thursday Throwback, we’re going back 30 years to celebrate in 1992. The technology for reserving flowers or taking video has changed since then. But the sentiment behind the holiday remains the same. Categories: From The Archives, Hamilton County, Local News Tags: Valentine’s Day

Gas prices impacting spending at the pump and the store

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-  According to AAA, gas prices in Tennessee are up $0.13 from last week and almost a dollar more than this time last year. “It’s just something that we have to roll with the punches and hopefully gas prices will drop at some point but I don’t think that’s gonna be any time soon,” said Mason Frierson. “I’m paying…

Mocs Offensive Lineman Cole Strange Invited to NFL Combine

Mocs offensive lineman Cole Strange got to showcase his talents for NFL coaches last weekend at the Senior Bowl. Now he gets another chance to impress NFL scouts. Strange has been invited to the famous NFL combine in Indianapolis. A total of 324 draft prospects have been invited. The combine starts March first. Categories: Sports – Football, Sports – Local…

Mocs Defense Clamps Down on Western Carolina in 65-47 Victory

(gomocs.com)HATTANOOGA (February 9) — The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team avenged its loss to Western Carolina earlier this season with a stout defensive effort and earned its third-straight victory behind a 65-47 tally on Wednesday night in Southern Conference action inside McKenzie Arena. Following the win, Chattanooga improves to 21-5 overall and remains atop the SoCon standings at 11-2. Western…

Early morning theft of catering trailer has Nooga-Q owner fighting mad

Surveillance video caught the theft; owner drove by 30 minutes later

Chris Rock once said “Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.” It was 6 a.m. Wednesday morning when a catering trailer behind Nooga-Q near Signal Mountain was taken from a parking spot behind the business. A surveillance camera nearby caught it all. A red Ford F-150 drives on to the lot, backs into the trailer, hitches it and leaves. From beginning…