TDOT Commits to Immediate but Temporary Fix to Many Chattanooga Potholes

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – “This month’s back to back winter storms have created several new potholes along our interstates and state routes,” says Rae Anne Bradel, Community Relations Officer for TDOT. When water enters cracks in the roadways and then freezes, it expands causing pavement to weaken and crack. The result is roadways filled with holes which has been the bane…

Suspect faces 22 charges after chase through Red Bank

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – An escapee from Middle Tennessee faces 22 charges in Hamilton County following a chase early this morning. The Sheriff’s Office says a deputy spotted the vehicle speeding and driving recklessly on Highway 27 in Soddy Daisy. But when he tried to stop it, the vehicle sped away, recklessly. However, the deputy chose not to pursue for safety…

Titans turnovers squander away divisional game

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans had the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage along with Derrick Henry making a return just in time for the postseason. Once again, playing in Music City just wasn’t enough for this franchise. Not with all the mistakes the Titans made Saturday in losing their AFC divisional game to Cincinnati 19-16. Left tackle…

Bearettes blast through LFO, 69-41

FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. (WDEF) — The Bradley Central Bearettes had no problems with North Georgia’s best girls basketball program this season Saturday. Bearettes blasted through LFO, winning 69-41. Categories: Sports, Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Basketball, Bradley Central, High School Basketball, Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School, LFO

March for Life Comes to Chattanooga as Roe v. Wade Turns 49

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Today is the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade when the Supreme Court legalized abortion. March for Lifes have been taking place all over the country and Chattanooga had one of its own, taking off from Coolidge Park. Hundreds of pro-life people took to Chattanooga carrying signs to rally against legalized abortion. “It’s awesome to be here…

Friday Night High School Hoops

Our News 12 Now cameras caught three high school basketball games on Friday evening. McCallie defeating CCS  54-21.  Tyner knocking off Walker Valley 60-49. And LFO beating rival Ringgold 67-48 Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: High School Basketball

Reddit Post Targets Two Chattanooga Hospitals

UDPATE #2: Scott Quiner passed away Saturday at a hospital in Houston. UPDATE: Since the airing of this story, the post has been deleted, and moved to a subreddit channel where you would need the link to access it. ________________________________________________________________________________________ CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Reddit is a place where you can find information on just about anything: from recipes to…

Chip’s Good Word: Soap Box Derby stories

2 champs from Athens, TN tell their stories on Saturday.

ATHENS, Tennessee (WDEF) – If you have ever considered getting your kids in on the Soap Box Derby racing circuit, we’ve got a good entry point for your on Saturday. Two champions from last year’s race in Athens will share their stories at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum Saturday at 11 AM. Zeke Hembree and Juliet Couch will be…

Early Childhood Education survey

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The local coalition Early Matters launched a new survey yesterday for people in Hamilton County. The topic? Early childhood education. The survey takes about nine minutes to complete. It’s intended to find out what young families feel their children need during their earliest years. Jennifer Andrews tells us “This survey is a more board stroke for the whole…

CCS Football Coach Mark Mariakis Steps Down

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) After seven seasons as the head football coach at CCS, Mark Mariakis has announced his resignation. Mariakis took the Chargers to the post season six times during his tenure. He said he decided to leave for family reasons. Said Mariakis:”My wife and I took my mom in when my dad passed five years ago. So becoming primary care-givers. Just…

Critics Perceive Lack of Diversity Among Riverbend Headliners

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Riverbend Festival organizers say the lineup selection process is complex but involves community input. “We sent out a survey to around 30,000 people and just ask them straight up, who would you want to see,” says Mitchell Hall, Director of Operations for Friends of the Festival. Hall says spreadsheets are used to narrow that list of artists…

Omicron Surge Continues in Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – With 670 new cases reported in Hamilton County today, Chattanooga continues to face yet another surge of COVID-19. Driven by the Omicron variant, this new wave comes with a high positivity rate. “We have high transmission. Positivity rate is over forty-six percent. That means half of those tests that we get reports on, that are reported, are…

Hooked On Science – Musical Straw

SCIENCE SAFETY PLEASE follow these safety precautions when doing any science experiment. • ALWAYS have an adult present. • ALWAYS wear the correct safety gear while doing any experiment. • NEVER eat or drink anything while doing any experiment. • REMEMBER experiments may require marbles, small balls, balloons, and other small parts. Those objects could become a CHOKING HAZARD. Adults…

East Hamilton 6’10 Forward Cade Pendleton Packs Deadly Shot Behind the Arc

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) According to East Hamilton basketball coach Andy Webb, Cade Pendleton had 23 rebounds in a game for the Hurricanes this season. Not too surprising for a 6’10 guy. What you don’t expect from someone Pendleton’s size is his three point shooting. Pendleton can really dial it up from downtown. Who knows…someday he may get 23… three’s in a game….

UTC Women Down Western Carolina 55-48 For Program’s 900th Career Victory

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga battled back from a nine-point halftime deficit for its third straight win, beating Western Carolina 55-48 at The McKenzie Arena Thursday night in Southern Conference women’s basketball action. The win was the 900th in program history for the Mocs, 39th best in NCAA Division I history. The Mocs improve to 5-14 overall and 3-1 in…

Governor Visits Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WDEF) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is making his appearances throughout the state, taking time on Thursday to visit the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring Hill. His first time at the plant became less of a photo opportunity and more of a State of the State address. While the governor was able to see all the…

Nine Hamilton County Schools go Virtual

UPDATE: Hamilton County added 5 new schools to the virtual learning list late Thursday:   School Dates Battle Academy 1/21-1/25 Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts 1/21-1/25 East Brainerd Elementary School 1/21-1/25 Lookout Valley Middle High School 1/21-1/25 Wolftever Creek Elementary School 1/21-1/25 All after-school and extracurricular activities, including athletics, are canceled. ____________________ CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Following widespread illness among staff,…

More Information on Teenage Trail Runner Rescue

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – “It’s kind of like a bowl of spaghetti. It just keeps going. It gets tangled up. It’s really easy to get turned around.” That’s how local experienced trail runner Garrison Wheeler describes the miles of trails, with cliffs and waterfalls, that two Chattanooga teenagers got lost on Wednesday night after separating from another group of runners. “The…