As summer heats up, car thefts and burglaries on the rise

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – In Chattanooga, the temperature isn’t the only thing that’s rising. “If they see a car that’s sitting idly, running in a parking lot and they have access to it, they will take it,” says investigator Nicholas Hayes with CPD Auto Crimes Unit. They say that car thefts and burglaries happen more often in the Summer. “With…

The BLVD committed to improving Rossville Boulevard corridor

 CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A grassroots organization is promising better days for the Rossville Boulevard corridor of South Chattanooga. They call themselves the BLVD. The corridor they are focusing on is the 2.2 miles from I 24 to the Georgia state line. Rossville Boulevard volunteers They are working off of plans developed in a Chattanooga Regional Planning Agency study from 2004….

What’s Right With Our Schools: Summer Reach Program at Dalewood Middle

CHATANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Countless classroom hours were lost during the pandemic. Hamilton County’s Summer Reach program is designed to get kids back up to speed and even give them a head start for next year. Tasha Flowers is a Literacy Coach at Dalewood Middle. She explains, “The Summer Reach Program is a part of an initiative through Hamilton County…

Christmas in July

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF)- Christmas in July will be happening in Cleveland this year through Foundation House Miniseries. The Christmas in July event will take place at the end of the month on July 29th through the 31st. The family event will include carriage rides, petting zoo, and cookie decorating. This helps the mothers the ministry serves by increased opportunities to help…

Chattanooga soccer doesn’t lose Saturday doubleheader

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — After a couple weather delays, both Chattanooga’s soccer teams finish with favorable results Saturday night. USL League One’s Chattanooga Red Wolves took a 1-0 lead over FC Tucson into halftime, before ultimately tying with the Arizona team, 2-2. NISA’s Chattanooga FC hosted a friendly with Atletico Atlanta at Fort Finley. CFC’s Markus Naglestad scored early, and…

Hiking through Chattanooga to prevent veteran suicide

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – “I do it because I won’t be able to help others that’s why I do it,” said veteran Steve Cowart. Irreverent Warriors bring Veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent Veteran suicide. “That’s where the reference comes in for the reverent warriors. We’re trying to find humor and sadness,” said veteran Bobbi…

Get Vaccinated Chattanooga block party

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Get Vaccinated Chattanooga made a stop at East Lake park today to help more people have access to the COVID vaccine. The block party had music, food and of course the COVID-19 vaccine. Matthew Kodsi said these block parties are a way to go to the community directly and help people get access to the vaccine. He said…

Baylor’s Cooper Kinney Expected To Go in MLB Draft

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Major League Baseball Draft gets underway this weekend, and one Chattanooga player who should hear his name called is Baylor’s Cooper Kinney. The left-handed hitter is one of the most decorated players in Red Raiders history. He was recently named the Gatorade high school player of the year in Tennessee. Said Kinney’s Baylor teammate Luke Courdin:”He’s just built…

Mocs Coach Lamont Paris Excited to Field Experienced Team Next Season

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Experience makes a huge difference on sports teams, and the Mocs basketball team should have plenty of experience next season. With the return of guards Malachi Smith and David Jean Baptiste from the NBA draft process, Chattanooga will put a veteran team on the hardwood. That almost has head coach Lamont Paris doing back-flips. Said Paris:”Having so many guys…

CFC Face Unknown Opponent to Kick Off Independent Cup

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The CFC missed out on winning the NISA league title last week. This week, they’ll begin their quest for another title. The Independent Cup. Chattanooga won the Independent Cup last season. They look to defend their crown as they face three teams in the Southeast Region. The Savannah Clovers, Soda City, and Atletico Atlanta. The boys in blue play…

Northshore tenant concerned about apartment structural problems

“Given what we’re noticing, it shouldn’t be happening this quickly at such a new building.” Christa Norris is concerned about the apartment building where she lives in Northshore, after noticing several cracks, rusting and water damage. “I started noticing a few cracks in my apartment but also things like the wiring not working and then from there it began escalating…

Hamilton County health officials weight in on delta variant

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – With the Delta variant quickly sweeping the globe, Hamilton County health officials are concerned. “We’ve been a little more tolerant of letting things get bad before we intervene, and I suspect that that’s the way that this will go,” says Dr. Jay Sizemore, Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Erlanger. Although more of the country is…

Protests and the Pandemic Affect Local Police Recruitment

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A year after racial justice protests and calls for police defunding across the country, some local police departments feel the negative effects of attracting and retaining police officers. “Because of the anti-police rhetoric that has been infiltrated, through our media as well, it causes people who watch that and listen to that to decide, no, I don’t…

Smokies Get Two Homers to Down Lookouts 5-2

(lookouts.com) The Chattanooga Lookouts jumped out to a 2-0 lead but surrendered five unanswered runs to fall 5-2 to the Tennessee Smokies. With two outs in the first inning, Lorenzo Cedrola and Wilson Garcia hit back-to-back singles to put two men on for the red-hot T.J. Hopkins. Hopkins proceeded to belt a two-run double to plate Cedrola and Garcia. Tennessee…

Mocs Malachi Smith and David Jean Baptiste Enjoyed NBA Draft Process

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Mocs basketball team announced this week that guards Malachi Smith and David Jean Baptiste will return to the team next season. Both players went through the NBA draft process and elected to come back to college. The SoCon veterans explain what testing the NBA waters was like. Going through the NBA draft process, you get plenty of feedback…

Rep. Hakeem criticizes closed door hearing on Baptiste license

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee administrative law judge has denied public access to an informal hearing regarding the license suspension of a shelter for immigrant children after one of the employees was arrested following abuse allegations. The Times Free Press reports that Judge Phillip R. Hilliard handed down his decision on Wednesday over objections from attorneys representing Baptiste Group….

Bradley County Grant to Fund Free WIFI Spots

Bradley County has been approved for a grant to bring free internet access to their county. The fifty thousand dollar grant will fund free WiFi to all Bradley County schools and a handful of fire halls. The Bradley County Mayor’s Office says rural parts of the county have trouble getting high speed internet. This grant provided by the Tennessee Department…