Wamp Doubles Down on NAACP Stance

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — This morning, the NAACP filed a complaint against District Attorney candidate Coty Wamp for comments she made Tuesday night. “The NAACP has accomplished some great things in the last 100 years, but one of them is NOT the way they treat law enforcement,” said Wamp. Reverend Anne Jones Pierre of the local NAACP chapter responded, clarifying the…

More To The Story: The Painter’s Tour

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It’s a customized van. She named it “Millie.” SHE……is Christiane Palpant. Who lives in Atlanta. Christiane is a banker by trade. Well, she used to be. Now, she’s a painter. That’s because after two years of bedrest, due to open heart surgery, Palpant decided to take her painting to a new level. Accordingly, she will paint in…

Red Bank Names Assistant Ted Gatewood New Head Football Coach

(press release) Red Bank High School is excited to announce Ted Gatewood as their next head football coach.  Coach Gatewood, a Red Bank HS alumnus and the current offensive coordinator, has the extensive head coaching experience, passion and ability to build quality relationships we feel the program needs to build upon previous success. We sought input from the current coaching…

Local Missionaries Provide Aid at Ukraine Border

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Two weeks ago, missionaries Henry and Victoria Benach decided to go overseas to assist those fleeing Ukraine. “I’ve booked the tickets, got everything ready, and we’re going by faith,” said Henry. Now, Henry and his wife Victoria are in Poland, at the Ukrainian border. “I’m maybe a mile from the border, at this moment. We’ve been working…

Pictures of 30 girls caught on hidden camera in school locker room

New charge and details in the Cleveland Middle School case

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Cleveland Police have filed a new charge against the Cleveland Middle School teacher charged over a hidden camera in a locker room. It is a second count of Attempted Aggravated Unlawful Photography of a minor. Investigators say they have learned the video recording happened over a two day period, which explains the second charge. On Thursday,…

Cleveland Middle School teacher arrested

Schroll is accused of putting a camera in the girls' locker room

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — On Tuesday, March 15, a Cleveland Middle School student found an electronic recording device discretely placed in the girls’ locker room. After being notified by the student, school administrators quickly contacted CPD, who promptly began an investigation. Within 24 hours, CMS eighth grade teacher Christopher Schroll, was identified and arrested. “That’s a place where the middle…

Chattanooga gets bad news on Lookouts Stadium project

Senate Bill 2890 receives "negative recommendation;" State won't fund $20.8 million to kickstart project

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Lookouts begin their season April 8th on the road in Knoxville to play the Smokies. But each day that passes is one more day a new stadium here is needed if Chattanooga wants to keep baseball here. And the city got some bad news Tuesday with a negative recommendation on Senate Bill 2890 – a bill…

Tyner Advances in State Tourney With 66-59 Win Over Bolivar Central

Murfreesboro, TN-(WDEF-TV) The Tyner Rams advanced to the state tournament semifinals on Tuesday after downing Bolivar Central 66-59 in Murfreesboro. The Rams came out on fire hitting 71-percent of their shots in the first quarter. Keelan Jackson was deadly from downtown for Tyner connecting on 4 of 6 three-pointers. He scored 17 points with 13 rebounds, while teammate Nehemiah Bloodsaw…

Brainerd Loses 40-39 Heart Breaker to Power Center

Murfreesboro, TN-(WDEF-TV) The Brainerd Panthers saw their season come to an end on Tuesday falling 40-39 to Power Center Academy in the quarterfinals of the state tournament in Murfreesboro. Brainerd was down that pesky point with five seconds left when they in-bounded the ball in front of their own bench. Dennis Lewis Junior got the ball and drove the baseline,…

Celeste Murphy confirmed as Chattanooga’s first female police chief

She plans to visit higher crime communities as her first order of business

The Chattanooga City Council made history this evening when they confirmed Celeste Murphy as the city’s new police chief. She is the first female, and Black female chief in the city’s history. History means nothing to Murphy if she can’t get the community to stop seeing police as the enemy. Celeste Murphy was confirmed 8-to-nothing by City Council. It’s a…

McCallie Tennis Team Ranked Number One in America

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The number one ranked high school tennis team in America resides in the Scenic City. McCallie was recently voted number one in the Universal Tennis Poll rankings. The Blue Tornado captured a state title last season, and now it seems their talent has captured the eyes of the country. Even though Jeff Clark is the head tennis coach at…

Golden Apple Award: Shannon Seigel, Stem School Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – When cutting edge technology is combined with hard work and kindness, learning is sure to follow. Those qualities merge seamlessly in Shannon Seigle’s classroom at Stem School Chattanooga. Tony Donen is the Principal. He says, “Ms. Seigel is a wonderful teacher. She is what we call ‘The Science Beast’. She is a science educator of the…

Petition created at Lee University in response to student accident

Lee student was hit by car while crossing the street in February

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — More than 1,500 Lee University students have signed an online petition for safer campus crosswalks. Last month, a freshman student at the school was hit at the Medlin Hall crosswalk on Ocoee Street by a driver who told Cleveland police that “she couldn’t see the road due to heavy rain.” Junior history student Ezekiel Coventry believes…

Residents still concerned for gas prices despite price drop

Oil nationally drops below $100 a barrel for first time in two weeks

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — On Monday, U.S. oil prices fell below $100 a barrel for the first time since March 1 — more than an 8% plunge in cost. Some of Broad Street’s gas stations dropped 20 cents in price per gallon at the pump, but average prices in the city remained unchanged over the past week. For Isaac Swert, an…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Harrison Elementary Black History Museum

HARRISON, TN (WDEF) – Black History Month came to life at Harrison Elementary School. Third graders became historic figures in a living wax museum. Students and visitors both learned a lot. Kyle Powers is in charge of Student Success at Harrison Elementary. He explains, “All through February, they do Black History projects and do some research, and then they get…

City residents hope new police chief meets community members

Celeste Murphy wants to build trust in the community; residents hope she follows through

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – On Tuesday, Chattanooga will see its first Black, female police chief. While that’s something to be celebrated, the people at College Hill Courts hope it’s not just more of the same as other police chiefs. Back in September, seven women were shot along Grove Street, two of them died, in a gang-related incident. It’s six months later,…

City Continues Work on 12th St. Homeless Encampment

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – On Friday, Mayor Tim Kelly stated his opposition to building sheds for Chattanooga’s growing homeless population. According to the City, such structures would be unsafe. “The solutions that we give these people need to be safe. They need to be something that… we’re not setting them up for more problems down the road,” said Sam Wolfe, Director…

Celebrating National Pi Day with STEM Activities from Local Learning Center

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF): Today is National Pi Day! There are many ways to celebrate. You can eat pizza or pie, but the best way to celebrate is to challenge yourself mentally. Sylvan Learning in Chattanooga demonstrated Pi Day activities that the whole family can do. They emphasize the importance of STEM activities especially in young students. One demonstration is Circle…