Police warn of robbery spree in Highland Park targeting Hispanics

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police are warning the public of a spree of burglaries targeting Hispanic victims in the Highland Park area. They say the robbers are confronting victims in parking lots and driveways while they are distracted. The Police Department is increasing patrols in the area and they are advising Hispanics to be on the lookout. They also announced…

EJ Ward Gets Milestone Win as Tyner Defeats CCS 50-34

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Tyner’s E.J. Ward notched his 100th victory as the Rams head coach on Monday as Tyner defeated Chattanooga Christian 50-34. Rams were up 25-19 at halftime before pulling away for the victory. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Basketball, Chattanooga Christian School, EJ Ward, High School Basketball, Tyner Academy

State Budget Released, Education a Priority

Monday at the capitol, the legislature and other key figures in the state government gathered to hear Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State address. Taking its title from a 1965 state slogan, “America at its Best” was a largely celebratory and optimistic speech. Much of the speech underscored the fiscal stability of the state government, which has operated with…

Mayor Kelly touts his One Chattanooga plan to the public, and gets an earful

Mayor's Office holds a listening session on how to spend the city budget in 2023

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has made it perfectly clear that there are two Chattanoogas: one for the affluent, and one for the not-so-wealthy. The Mayor’s One Chattanooga Plan is up for public discussion, and the Mayor’s Office held a listening session. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has a problem, and it didn’t start with him. How does a leader fix problems…

Dedrick Lindsey Jr. Allegedly Stabs Man 73 Times in Prison, Adding More Charges to Upcoming Attempted Murder Trial

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Dedrick Lamont Lindsey Jr. Of Chattanooga shot a man in 2013 and 2017. Investigators say the man is the father of a child with a woman Lindsey dated. The man later testified against Lindsey and Lindsey was charged with attempted first degree murder. Lindsey has been in jail awaiting trial ever since. In October of 2020 while…

Jewish Federation Director defends Maus book as appropriate for 8th graders

Book shoots up Amazon book lists as the story went world-wide

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The controversy over the banning of a holocaust book in Southeast Tennessee continues to spread world-wide. And the story has pushed the graphic novel up to #2 on the overall bestsellers list on Amazon on Monday. The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga continues to attack the McMinn County School Board decision to ban the book. The school…

Local man still missing following boat fire

Search resumes Monday at Hales Bar Marina

MARION COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Local authorities continue to search for the body of a missing man at the Hales Bar Marina in Marion County. Two boats quickly caught fire Thursday night at Dock G at the Marina, where the Jasper Fire Department and the Haletown Volunteer Fire Department responded. Recovery efforts were postponed over the weekend because of the…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Hixson AFJROTC Flag Disposal

HIXSON, TN (WDEF) – When an American flag becomes tattered beyond repair, there is a proper way to dispose of it. Cadets in Hixson High’s Air Force Junior ROTC program know exactly how. Doug Burhans is a Master Sergeant with TN 081. He explains, “There’s a proper way to dispose of all flags that are become unserviceable,  worn, tattered; and…

More To The Story: The Black Bible

Dave Staley meets the artist behind the exhibit

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Charlie Newton calls himself a student of painting. He’s had many exhibits over the years. Here in America, in London, in Italy….all over many parts of the world. Over the last 30 years or so, most of his work has been inspired by the Bible. And that’s the subject matter of his latest exhibit, which is called “The…

Smoke but no fire at the Read House

UPDATE: Fire officials now say it was a malfunctioning boiler in the basement. The boiler was shut down until it can be repaired. _________ CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Can we chalk another one up to the Read House ghost? Chattanooga firefighters responded to the iconic downtown hotel after noon on Monday because of smoke. But in this case, where there is…

TECH BYTE: What is Wordle?

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A new game is taking the Internet by storm. If you haven’t heard of Wordle, you’ve at least seen other people playing it while scrolling through Facebook or Twitter. Not only is it fun to say, but it’s fun to play too. So fun, many users call it addicting. But at least it’s not a video…

Tax law changes and tips

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Tax season is here and there are some important changes to be mindful of. “Tax planning and tax strategy is not something fun to talk about. It’s not like this is the most exciting dinner conversation we can have. What allows you to do is keep more of your money which is fine.” said John Vandergriff…

Chattanooga FD looks for neighborhood help to stop firehouse burglaries

Vandals strike when firefighters are out on a call, and citizens living around firehouses can help

Emotions run high for firefighters when they go out on a call. They’ll fight a fire for hours, and then head back to the station. What they don’t want to return to is a vandalized personal car. That’s happened here in Chattanooga recently far more than you know. On Monday afternoon at the corner of Chamberlain and Holly in Highland…

Friday’s hottest high school basketball showdowns

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Friday was full of district rivalries in the world of high school basketball. With district tournaments just two short weeks away, every game matters. Red Bank shored up a district title after beating East Hamilton, 64-53. Lions started the game with a 10-0 run, which the Hurricanes were never able to answer. Baylor punched rival McCallie…

Chattanooga Fire Department asks for public help to stop vehicle break-ins

They've had a rash of burglaries in personal vehicles while firefighters are out of the station

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga firefighters are enduring a rash of vehicle break-ins while they are out fighting fires. The burglaries have happened at Fire Station 1 (downtown on Main Street), Station 9 (East Lake), Station 5 (Highland Park), Station 19 (Hixson), Station 4 (off Dodson Avenue), Station 6 (Bonny Oaks), Station 7 (Discovery Drive off Hickory Valley Road), Station 13…

Historic bridge gets new home at new Cleveland greenway

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Cleveland and Bradley County made a special dedication for a historic bridge and walking path. A steel truss bridge is the focal point on a new greenway walking-bike-jogging path. The bridge was originally built in 1878 and has now been restored. It’s the oldest documented highway steel through truss bridge built in Tennessee and, with the…

From The Archives: Chattanooga Air Pollution

Look back at the 1982 story on an air pollution milestone for the city

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga leaders like to talk about how far we’ve come as a green city. The main evidence comes from our history with air pollution. When the city was known for heavy manufacturing in the 1950s and 60s, we paid a price with extremely poor air quality. It was so bad, it even became national news, when Walter…