Library Books
Featured, Local News, Walker County

Walker Co. mother addresses school board over “vulgar” books

Parent says some books available for students are "inappropriate," contain questionable content
WDEF News,

UPDATE: News 12 Now received a response from the Walker County School Board concerning Mrs. Smeiles’ presentation at their June 20 meeting. “The Superintendent and Board members welcome and appreciate feedback from our community.  We will review the details provided in the presentation made available this evening. We currently have a procedure in place for the review of materials in…

Whats Right 1280x720 1
Education, Local News, Walker County, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: Rossville Middle School Chorus

Andrew Harrison,

ROSSVILLE, GA (WDEF) – Rebuilding a school’s chorus program can be a difficult challenge, but at Rossville  Middle School the rewards far outweighed the risk. Macy Swanson is the Chorus and Theater Director. She explains, “So Rossville Middle School, our chorus program, it’s a rebuilding. We unfortunately did not have it last year. So, this whole year has been very…

Solar Windows
Consumer News, Technology, US & World News

New tech: Solar Windows

The windows actually turn sunlight into electricity
CBS News,

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CBS) – At the headquarters of Ubiquitous Energy near San Francisco there are black solar panels on the roof. But the lights in the company conference room are being powered by the windows, which are also acting as solar collectors. “That’s kind of the problem we set out to solve with our technology, is how can you…
COVID-19, Featured, Health, Local News

Parents weigh in on if their toddler or baby should get COVID vaccine

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved COVID vaccines for Americans younger than 5 years old to as young as 6 months. Pfizer’s vaccine is a three-dose series, with the first two shots given three weeks apart and the third shot at least two months after the second. Each dose is one-tenth of the adult version. Moderna’s vaccine consists…

Parking Lot Shooting
Chattanooga, Crime, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Police investigate two women shot in Southside parking lot

Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police are investigating the shooting of two women in a Southside parking lot off of Main Street over the weekend. It happened around 1 AM early Sunday morning in the parking lot between the Choo-Choo and Main. Police officers actually heard a loud argument in the parking lot at 1400 Rossville Avenue. And as they headed…

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Featured, Health, Local News, More To The Story With Staley, Technology

More To The Story: The Tik Tok Therapist

Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Trey Tucker is a McCallie grad. Class of 1998. He’s now a licensed therapist here in Chattanooga. He’s been helping others for the past decade or so. Helping with anxiety, depression, grief, identity…..all kinds of thoughts and feelings. Just a while back, Tucker decided to enter the world of social media. On a professional level. Tik Tok to…

Chattanoogaredwolves Logo
Sports, Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - Soccer

Lady Red Wolves extend win streak to five

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — In their fifth streak win and fifth streak clean sheet, the Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves finished off the weekend with a 3-0 victory over Peachtree City MOBA. Chattanooga ends the weekend gaining six points in the USL W League standings after beating Tennessee Soccer Club Friday night. Categories: Sports, Sports – Local Sports News, Sports –…

Juneteenth Celebrations
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Juneteenth weekend celebrations: 18th – 19th

WDEF News,

Juneteenth celebrations are happening all around the scenic city this weekend. The Bethlehem Center is hosting their Juneteenth Jubilee tomorrow afternoon from one to four. This free event will have local vendors, music by DJ MCPRO, food trucks, and more. Reginald Smith is the executive director of the Bethlehem Center. He said this is a celebration of freedom and independence….

Fed
Featured, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Financial impact to another Federal Reserve interest rate increase

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- This week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point. This is the largest rate increase since 1994. “Touting recession, and the closest thing you can think of is either Covid or 2008, and that doesn’t give you the warm and fuzzies when you hear that word,” said Vandergriff. The Federal Reserve raised…

Recognition Photo
Local News, Whitfield County

Whitfield County EMA hold first Place of Worship Safety seminar

Brian Armstrong,

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF)- The Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency provided it’s first Place of Worship Safety seminar, to help people in crisis situations. Emergency Management Coordinator, Christina Byrd, says Welcome Hill Baptist Church reached out to the EMA back in March to see how they can stay safe in a crisis situation. Whitfield County EMA provided training for mass care sheltering,…

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Local News, Regional News

Truth in sentencing: TN now only state making violent criminals serve 100% of their sentence

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Friday afternoon, state and local leader ceremonially signed a bill that now makes Tennessee the state with the toughest penalties in the entire nation for violent criminals. The legislation will month will require those who commit Class A violent crimes serve the full term of their sentence. Crimes like: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, vehicular homicide resulting from…

Hpbcfire Person Of Interest 4
Chattanooga, Crime, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Highland Park Baptist Church Fire Intentional – Person of Interest Sought

WDEF News,

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – Investigators are searching for a person of interest in connection to the fire at Highland Park Baptist Church on June 10. The fire was intentionally set according to investigators. Photos from the scene show a man on a bicycle in the area around the time of the fire. Investigators seek the public’s help in identifying the…

Kiffin Goes 'crazy' With Commitment From Baylor Ol
Sports, Sports - Local Sports News

Kiffin goes ‘crazy’ at commitment from Baylor OL

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Baylor senior Brycen Sanders already has his future decided. The four-star offensive lineman committed to Ole Miss this week after receiving over 20 Division I offers. The Rebels were the first DI school to extend an offer, which came in December of Sanders’ sophomore year. Eleven SEC schools were among the offers, including Tennessee and Georgia….

Dr Justin Robertson
Education, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Resolution approved for SSO funding in Hamilton County Schools

Interviews could begin as early as next week for upcoming school year
WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County School Board met Thursday night for its monthly meeting. It was the first of its kind since the tragic Uvalde school shooting and Chattanooga mass shootings. Near the end of the meeting, a resolution was presented to the board regarding school safety and the funding to make it happen. Superintendent Dr. Justin…

Marys Bar
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Board suspends business permit of bar near mass shooting

Associated Press,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – Officials have voted to suspend the business permit of a Tennessee nightclub near the scene of a mass shooting where three people were killed and 14 others injured. News outlets report the Chattanooga Beer & Wrecker Board decided Thursday to suspend the permit for Mary’s Bar & Grill for three days for operating without a beer…

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Chattanooga, Entertainment, From The Archives, Hamilton County, Local News, Riverbend

From The Archives: 2012 Lauren Alaina closes Riverbend Festival

Collins Parker,

(CHATTANOOGA) – Ten years ago, the Riverbend scored a big homecoming show to close out that year’s festival. Country singer Lauren Alaina was just starting her professional career in Nashville. In the previous two years, American Idol made her a star and she had just recorded her first album. So her 2012 homecoming as a Riverbend headliner was a triumphant…

squad car
Collegedale, Featured, Local News

Collegedale cop cleared after controversial citation stop

Watch the police cam version of the stop
WDEF News,

COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) – A Facebook post alleging a Collegedale Police Officer had been racist during a citation has been thoroughly investigated and those claims are now proven to be false. Collegedale Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Heath said the officer’s body camera footage told a much different story than the social media post “The Facebook post made by the…