David Perdue
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News

Gubernatorial Candidate David Perdue speaks in Catoosa County

Perdue vows to remove state income tax, fix voting system, if elected
WDEF News,

CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) — Former Georgia Senator David Perdue received a standing ovation from local voters Thursday afternoon at a meet-and-greet in Catoosa County. In his discussion, Perdue was critical of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on several regards, including illegal immigrants and safety in the state. “We have more illegal immigrants in Georgia today than Arizona,” Perdue said. “Murders…

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Featured, From The Archives, Local News, Walker County

From The Archives: 1987 Sunrise Service

We look back at an Easter morning tradition from 35 years ago
Collins Parker,

  COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) – An Easter tradition is returning to Collegedale on Saturday after a two year break for Covid. The SonRise Resurrection Pageant begins at 9 AM and continues til 3 PM. But the tickets have already been distributed online. The Pageant is a one mile walk depicting the final days of Christ before the crucifixion. The case…

Dude With Laptop Snip
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News, UTC

Do You Have the Right to Be Forgotten?

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — According to a survey from virtual private network company NordVPN, forty-seven percent of those polled would stop using the internet, if they could. To see how this is reflected in Chattanooga, News 12 asked social media users at UTC about their habits. “I know a lot of people who have issues with some content that they see…
Business, Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Middle class being outpriced in housing market

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-Vicki Trapp is a managing broker with Crye Leike. She says the median house price in the Chattanooga area is almost $350,000 which is pricing more people out of being able to afford a home. “That’s what the problem is, those are the people who are not able to buy at this point. Those in your first-time homebuyers…

Riley
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Woman who filed suit against deputy over baptism found dead at her home

Shandele Marie Riley filed a federal lawsuit against the deputy who pulled her over 3 years ago
Collins Parker,

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee (WDEF) – A woman who had an active lawsuit going against a Hamilton County Deputy was found dead at her home in Soddy Daisy last night. Shandele Marie Riley was involved in the infamous “baptizing” case against Deputy Daniel Wilkey in 2019. No one is saying how she died at this point. The TBI says the Hamilton…

Stuff Truck
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Stuff-The-Truck To Help The Chattanooga Community Kitchen

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-The Chattanooga Community Kitchen is getting some aid from the community through a stuff the truck campaign. Crown Subaru is completing its stuff a truck with all the donations going to assist the Chattanooga community kitchen. The Chattanooga community kitchen provided a list of items that they were in critical need of including 5-pound bags of grits, sports…

Handguns are seen at Metro Shooting Supplies on November 16
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News

Catoosa County residents respond to new permitless carry bill

Law signed into effect by Governor Brian Kemp on Tuesday
WDEF News,

CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) — On Tuesday, April 12, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 319 into law, allowing Georgians to immediately exercise permitless gun carry in the state. This makes Georgia the tenth state to legalize a concealed carry law in the past two years. Governor Kemp said the bill “makes sure that law-abiding Georgians can protect themselves…

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

More To The Story: The bird mural

Dave finds out why they are painting birds on the outside of a building at Reflection Riding
Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It’s an old building with a new look. The bright mural on the side of the Motus Tracking Station at the Reflection Riding Nature Center was unveiled just days ago. The tracking station itself has been here for awhile now. In a nutshell, the station tracks birds. Bird banding has been around since the 1800’s. As we…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

TDOT celebrates National Work Zone Awareness Week

Department hopes to spread awareness of safety for work zone personnel to state's motorists
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — TDOT told us that there were 4,034 crashes in work zones throughout the state’s roads last year. In the past, numerous TDOT employees have been severely injured or killed due to distracted or negligent driving. This week, the state department is hoping to reach out to Tennessee drivers to reduce accidents and increase safety awareness. National Work…

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

State senate passes bill to exclude transgender females from competing in athletics

SB2153 was amended to expand to collegiate athletics and intramurals
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The state senate is making things harder for transgender females to participate in college athletics. Two bills were passed yesterday, specifically because of a transgender swimmer’s win just a couple weeks ago. Lia Thomas’s historic win in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming Championships in Atlanta a couple weeks ago set off a firestorm of controversy….
Featured, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Inflation Soars to 39-Year High

WDEF News,

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States’s inflation rate is eight point five percent higher than it was one year ago. “The eight point five percent increase in year over year prices is the highest rate of inflation in forty years,” said Financial Analyst Chris Hopkins. According to Hopkins, there are three primary reasons why this is…

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Chattanooga, Education, Golden Apple Award, Hamilton County, Local News

Golden Apple Award: Nikki Varnell, CSLA

Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Being the new kid in school can be intimidating. Nikki Varnell is great at helping new students fit right in at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. That’s just one of the qualities that earned Ms. Varnell the Golden Apple Award. Laurie Clifton is the School Counselor at CSLA. She says, “She (Varnell)  just supports every…
Chattanooga, East Ridge, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

We look back at the Easter Tornadoes that hit two years ago

Recovery: "it's challenging, it's a slow process"
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Today marks the two year anniversary of the tornadoes that came through the Tennessee Valley on Easter weekend. An EF-3 Tornado caused devastating damage to the East Brainerd community that is still recovering. “There was a loss of life and a large loss of property and it came at a really inopportune time because right in the…

Vehicle Arson Chamberlain Road
Catoosa County, Crime, Featured, Local News, Walker County

3 charged in auto break-ins that included burning one of them

Collins Parker,

LAFAYETTE, Georgia (WDEF) – Investigators charge three young men in north Georgia with vehicle break-ins and the arson of one of the vehicles.   The crime spree happened overnight between March 7th and 8th.   Authorities in Catoosa, Walker and Chickamauga investigated a series of auto burglaries that night.   One of the cars was found burning the next morning…

Consumer Prices
Hamilton County, Jobs & Economy, Local News, Ooltewah

Gas station owner says consumers will drive down prices even lower

Despite price gouging by oil companies
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine over a month ago, Americans have seen a substantial rise in gas prices. Drivers here in the Tennessee Valley are no exception. However, prices at area pumps have been on a downward trend. According to Triple A, the average cost per gallon in the state is $3.89. That’s nearly 24 cents…

Whats Right 1280x720 1
Chattanooga, Education, Hamilton County, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: Hamilton Sing

Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Hamilton County is large, diverse and packed with humanity. Music has a way of blending all those elements together. Hamilton Sings is a melodious example of what’s right with our schools. Emma Mullins is a teaches music at Red Bank Elementary. She exclaims, “We’re back, and we are making music again together, and it’s wonderful. I…