Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announces new work-release program as a pathway to success

The first inmate to come through the program, Phillip Richard, is a success story at Southern Spear Ironworks
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announces a new work-release program with Southern Spear Ironworks to help inmates to a new pathway to success. Phillip Richard looks like just about every other employee at Southern Spear Ironworks. Handles a welding tool properly. Uses safety gear. He just has one more piece of equipment most don’t have. He wears…

Utc Marching Band 2
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley, UTC

More To The Story: UTC Band program

Dave Staley finds out why the marching band at UTC is growing so much these days
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – 61 year old Randall Coleman took over the reigns as UTC Band Director back in July. Coming from Tuscaloosa. After 14 years as assistant band director at Alabama. Coleman says he was looking for one last career challenge. In this, his 40th year of teaching band. But he was shocked to find out that the Mocs marching…

Earth Day
Chattanooga, Environment, Hamilton County, Local News

Earth Day field day

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-Workforces, in Chattanooga, celebrated earth day through team bonding activities that educated them about the environment. EPB partnered with Green Spaces to put on several training and team building exercises that not only built team camaraderie but also educated people about recycling and how bees pollinate. Green Spaces Director of sustainability and events, Madison Rawlings, says the city…

Chatt State Baseball Coach Greg Dennis Celebrates 1,000th Career Win
Sports - Local Sports News

Chatt State Baseball Coach Greg Dennis Celebrates His 1,000th Career Victory

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Chatt State baseball coach Greg Dennis notched his 1,000th career win Wednesday. Dennis has been winning ever since his high school days at Notre Dame where he captured a state championship. One-thousand career wins. Yeah kind of hard to believe for Greg Dennis. Said Dennis:”It kind of boggles my mind a little bit because a thousand. When you stop…

East Ridge Unveils New Football Locker Room
Sports - Local Sports News

East Ridge Unveils New Football Locker Room

Rick Nyman,

East Ridge, TN-(WDEF-TV) East Ridge unveiled its brand new football field house on Thursday. The alumni association raised over $200,000 to help with the cost. The facility includes a state of the art weight room, locker room, showers and laundry facilities. The ribbon cutting was an emotional day for coach Tim James, whose father Raymond was a legendary Pioneers coach….

Tamarion Johnson
Chattanooga, Crime, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Tamarion Johnson convicted of lesser charges; prosecution still sees case as a win

Johnson is convicted of 2nd degree murder and aggravated assault; original charges were 1st degree felony murder & especially aggravated robbery
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Two days of testimony ended in a conviction for 21-year-old Tamarion Johnson, but it wasn’t for the original charges the prosecutors sought. The prosecution still sees it as a win. Judge Don Poole: “In regard to the first count submitted to the jury, would you read your finding please?” Jury Foreperson: “We find the defendant guilty of…

Blackhawk
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Blackhawks help pitch National Guard recruiting at UTC

Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Army National Guard landed two Blackhawk helicopters on Chamberlain Field at U-T-C, today. According to service members, the landing was a demonstration of some of what the national guard does. The demonstration was also intended to catch the eye of any students who might be considering service in R-O-T-C or the national guard. Staff Sergeant Jacqueline…

Hamilton Co. Mayor Race
Elections, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

Why have attack ads hit the county mayor’s race?

Weston Wamp defends himself from accusations by his opponents that his campaign is getting dirty
Collins Parker,

CAHTTANOOGA (WDEF) –  The three Republican candidates for Hamilton County Mayor are raising the stakes, now that supporters of Weston Wamp are running their own commercials. Statements from Matt Hullander and Sabrina Smedley are complaining about what they call “attack ads” from Wamp’s camp. These ads have appeared on flyers and radio spots. However, Wamp told us today that Hullander…

Kane Emily
Entertainment, Featured, Local News

Kane Brown talks about his homecoming show in Chattanooga

He tells our Emily Cassulo that he has a special debut for local fans
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Country music star Kane Brown is bringing his “Blessed and Free” Tour back to his roots in Chattanooga next month. Representatives from Finley Stadium believe the concert will sell out, and expect between 18,000 and 22,000 people to be there on May 7. Kane Brown tells News 12 he’s thrilled to come back home. He’s already…

Living Wage Snip
Chattanooga, Education, Featured, Jobs & Economy, Local News, UTC

UTC United Campus Workers Demand Fifteen Dollar Minimum Wage

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — This morning, the United Campus Workers Union and its allies presented UTC Chancellor Steve Angle with a 500 signature petition for a $15 dollar minimum wage.” “We do not think that fifteen dollars and hour is a crazy ask, at all, especially since that’s what UTK offers — I believe the University of Memphis offers that —…

George Thacker
Featured, Local News, Rhea County

Rhea County executive pleads guilty to wire fraud

George Thacker faces a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced
Collins Parker,

UPDATE: The Rhea County Herald reports that Thacker has resigned as County Executive.   _______   CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The County Executive for Rhea County has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud.   George Thacker faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in September.   There was no other sentencing requirement…

Cornbread 1
Entertainment, Hamilton County, Local News

News 12 Now This Morning Cornbread Cook-off

National Cornbread Festival coming to South Pittsburg this weekend!
Kay Blevins,

Dave Staley and Kay Blevins spent the morning in the kitchen.  The anchor team made cornbread recipes to celebrate the return of the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg Tennessee.  Kay made a berry cornbread, while Dave cooked up some breakfast cornbread.  See who Amy Rogers, from the National Cornbread Festival, picked as her favorite below plus check out their…
East Ridge, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

East Ridge Sued Over Alleged Civil Rights Violations, Malicious Prosecution

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — This morning, local attorney Robin Flores filed a lawsuit against the City of East Ridge and two of its police officers on behalf of Ronald Cummins. The lawsuit alleges six counts of civil rights violations, one count of battery, one count of assault, one count of civil conspiracy, and one count of malicious prosecution. In July of…

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Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

More To The Story with Staley: New Red Bank Park

Dave takes a look at the new and improved playground in town
Dave Staley,

RED BANK, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Joe Glasscock Red Bank Community Center certainly has a new look! With Red Bank’s city leaders making it official! Cutting the tape on the new and improved community playground. There wasn’t really much to this community center for quite awhile. Just an old pavilion and a beat up swing set. But not anymore!!! Bright, shiny…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Growing food delivery app shines light on local farmers

CEO, local farmer hope to see next generations stay on the farm
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — With prices still rising from inflation, one food platform with a local branch in Chattanooga believes it can provide a solution to aid struggling small farms. The service’s mission? Lead locals to a wide selection of fresh food growing right in the heart of the community. Nick Carter is a fourth-generation farmer. He’s also the CEO of…

Tennessee Titans Logo Primary
Sports - Local Sports News

Titans Report For Voluntary Workouts Trying to Forget Last Year’s Miserable Ending

Rick Nyman,

The Tennessee Titans are more like the Tennessee Volunteers right now. That’s because voluntary workouts have begun, and a couple of veteran players addressed what’s happening with the team. Even though the Titans are starting anew, it’s still hard to forget that stinkin’ home playoff loss last January to the Bengals. Said safety Kevin Byard:”More tough because just dealing with…
East Ridge, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Chattanooga attorney drafts complaint against East Ridge city, police officers

Former police officer says pair of East Ridge cops used "excessive force" on client
WDEF News,

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) — The NAACP is raising questions over a police tasing incident in East Ridge last week. Video surfaced on Youtube that appeared to show three officers tasing a man while trying to arrest him. In a separate case, a local attorney has drafted a complaint against the city of East Ridge and two of its police…

Austin Dillon
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - Racing News

NASCAR Driver Austin Dillon Discusses His Racing Roots in Chattanooga

Rick Nyman,

Bristol last weekend. Talladega this weekend. We’re in the heart of NASCAR season. Driver Austin Dillon is getting very close to his first win of the season. News 12’s Angela Moryan talked to him about momentum and his ties to Chattanooga, in an exclusive interview. Austin Dillon might be the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress — but…