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Chattanooga, Featured, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

Tamara Steward appointed city’s first-ever Chief Equity Officer

The Chattanooga native looks to create further equity,opportunities in local government, community
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Tamara Steward is Chattanooga’s first-ever Chief Equity Officer — a key role in Mayor Tim Kelly’s plans to help inclusivity thrive in both local government and the community. She’s “deeply honored” to take the job, which she says is made up of two sides. “The first side is making sure that we remove barriers of access and…

Gas Price Jolt
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Financial analyst believes inflation will end

Chattanoogans experiencing rising gas, food prices
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Inflation continues to ravage the local economy here in the Tennessee Valley. 40-year highs for inflation are still impacting critical resources for Chattanoogans on everything from gasoline to food. Inflation is only expected to get worse due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis overseas and the new sanctions imposed on Russia by President Biden. However, local financial analyst Chris…

Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, US & World News

Local Ukrainian Professor Gives Opinion on Russian Conflict

WDEF News,

As Russia moves further into her native country, Dr. Khmelko has watched the situation progress with heartbreak. “For me personally, it’s absolutely heartbreaking, and I do feel helpless, having my family, having my friends… I could never imagine there would be tanks rolling, Russian Tanks.” Khmelko has maintained contact with her friends in Ukraine. One of them told her that…

More To The Story: Prayer Walk
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

More To The Story: Prayer Walk

Dave Staley learns about a different kind of prayer walk... this one is about ideas
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Jon Rector has done rescue mission work for some 21 years. He’s the executive director of Chattanooga Outreach. You probably know it as the Union Gospel Mission. It’s a faith based organization that helps the homeless. And those with life controlling issues. Money comes mainly from individual donors. Next month, the mission will hold it’s first ever…

COVID-19, Featured, Health, Local News

Mask guidelines changing

Brian Armstrong,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF)- According to reports, the CDC will soon advise people to still wear masks indoors in counties with high levels of meaningful COVID-19 cases such as hospitalizations and deaths as compared to the total number of cases. “We’re starting to see more and more people around the country, anyway, relaxing their Covid restrictions. In this county, we’re at…

Chattanooga Red Wolves Prepare For Preseason Opener
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - Soccer

Chattanooga Red Wolves Prepare For Opening Preseason Match

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Red Wolves play their first match of the new year on Saturday. The Chattanooga gang will travel across the Volunteer State to face Memphis 901 in a preseason match. It’s one of four preseason matches before the Red Wolves open the regular season at home on April 2nd against Forward Madison. Head coach Jimmy Obleda is anxious…

Gas Price Jolt
Business, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, US & World News

Expect to see a gas price spike from the Ukraine invasion

Steve Ray predicts it will last two or three days
Collins Parker,

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee (WDEF) – One far-reaching consequence of the conflict in Ukraine is the fluctuation of local gas prices. As Russia invades its neighbor, the price of gas is expected to rise in the United States. And Tennessee is no exception. Midnight Oil owner Steve Ray predicts “I think consumers can realistically expect prices, in the next two to three days,…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Local Community Leaders Push for Flooding Legislation

WDEF News,

RED BANK, Tennessee (WDEF) – In response to Tennessee’s risk for flooding, local elected officials, business owners, and citizens have formed the coalition Flood Ready Tennessee. According to the group, communities such as Red Bank could face serious economic and personal costs in the event of a flood. “Our main thoroughfare on Dayton Boulevard is built along and in some…
Sports - Local Sports News

Murray Co. sends off Lady Indians to second round

WDEF News,

CHATSWORTH, Ga. (WDEF) — It was party time in Chatsworth Thursday. The town gathered for a big send-off for the Murray County girls basketball team. The girls boarded the bus for Augusta, where they will face Cross Creek in the next round of the state tournament. Cross Creek is the defending state champs with a 24-1 record this season. But…
Business, Education, Hamilton County, Local News

U.S. Xpress agrees to teach trucking skills to Chattanooga State studetnts

They will put a Future Ready Institute at their headquarters
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Supply Chain 101 will soon be in session at Chattanooga State Community College. Trucking giant U.S. Xpress is working with Chattanooga State Community College to add a Future Ready Institute at the company’s headquarters in East Brainerd. The company is planning to convert some of its facility into a training ground for students to learn more about…

1992 Stars Photos
From The Archives, Local News

From The Archives: 1992 stars

We combine 3 stories from February of 1992 about 3 people in our spotlight that month
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – We couldn’t pick just one star for you in tonight’s Thursday Throwback. So we came up with three. Our stars come from the fields of music, politics and the Winter Olympics 30 years ago. And they were all on our minds in February of 1992. One was Olympic skater Christopher Bowman. His father was born in Chattanooga, so…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Not Guilty Verdict in Local High School Rape Trial

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – “We the jury find the defendant Romalace Williams not guilty.” After five hours of deliberation, a jury of 12 found Romalace Williams not guilty of rape. The rape charges stemmed from an incident that allegedly happened at Brainerd High School when Williams was 17 and the accuser was 14 in 2018. “I’ve been practicing law for over…

Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, US & World News

Military retirees express concerns over Russia-Ukraine crisis

Former Naval officers disappointed, believe Putin is taking advantage of President Biden
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — On Thursday afternoon, President Biden imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. However, retired two-star Admiral Vance Fry said he believes Putin does not see Biden as a threat and that the sanctions mean “nothing” for the Russian president. “Putin senses a weak President,” Fry said. “Significant changes and penalties and…

Cpd
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Health, Local News

Chattanooga Police Department program assisting in mental health calls

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Chattanooga Police Department has launched a new program to provide an additional tool in its belt to help serve the community. Lt. Tim Tomisek, with the Chattanooga Police Department, says the department responds to 35-45 mental health-related calls a week.  C.P.D. has launched a Co-Response Unit (CCRU) to assist with mental health calls. CCRU pairs a Crisis…

Luella Knocks Off Northwest Whitfield
Sports - Local Sports News

Luella Eliminates NW Whitfield 64-61 in the State Tournament

Rick Nyman,

Tunnel Hill, GA-(WDEF-TV) Northwest Whitfield could not hold onto a 14 point halftime lead on Wednesday as they lost to Luella 64-61 in the state tournament. The Lions turned the tide in the third quarter with their pressure defense. They out-scored NW Whitfield 27-8 in the third period. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Basketball, High School Basketball, Northwest…
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Capture SoCon Title With 83-77 Win Over ETSU

Rick Nyman,

(gomocs.com) JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (February 23) — Sophomore Grant Ledford scored a career-high 25 points and knocked down seven three-pointers to help lift the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team to its second Southern Conference regular season title since 1994 behind an 83-77 road victory over rival ETSU on Wednesday night inside Freedom Hall. Following the win, Chattanooga improves to 23-7…

DA Neal Pinkston
Chattanooga, Featured, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

“Karma’s a …”: Comptroller report on DA Pinkston has Boyd calling for his resignation

County Commissioner Tim Boyd says he's vindictive, but doesn't want a DA in office that violates the law
WDEF News,

The state comptroller’s office wrapped up an investigation into the hiring and continued employment of relatives in the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office. The conclusion? D-A Neal Pinkston violated the state’s nepotism policy. When the comptroller’s report found its way to our inbox this afternoon, there were already several statements that followed: from D-A Neal Pinkston’s office to his opponent…

Candy Johnson
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

State of Black Chattanooga report released

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga brings attention to disparities among Black residents in city
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga delivered its inaugural State of Black Chattanooga report this afternoon revealing critical data for Black residents in the city. The report revealed various gaps in equality for Blacks in Chattanooga, specifically economics, education and health. Rev. Dr. Ernest Reid of the Second Missionary Baptist Church stressed the importance of knowing Black…