Round one of the Best of Preps basketball round up
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF)- Boys: Red Bank 75, Notre Dame 53 McCallie 66, Ooltewah 30 Boyd Buchanan 72, Signal Mountain 39 Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Artificial Womb could save premature babies
Premature babies could have a better chance of survival – and be healthier long-term – all thanks to this new technology, and it’s all right here on this week’s tech byte. Doctors are developing an artificial womb that tries to replicate the conditions inside the mother’s body. This could save the lives of very premature babies. The technology, known as…
Countdown to Fun at the Creative Discovery Museum
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Families packed the Creative Discovery Museum to celebrate the new year a little earlier than usual during the annual New Year’s at Noon event. The family-friendly tradition has been part of the museum for 30 years, giving children a chance to celebrate without staying up until midnight. As the ball dropped, balloons rained down over the…
January Sees Peak Gym Memberships
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – As a new year begins, gyms and fitness centers nationwide experience measurable changes in membership activity, including community organizations such as the YMCA. Industry reports show that about 12% of all new gym memberships nationwide occur in January, a proportion higher than in most other months of the year. Attendance trends also indicate that roughly half…
New Option for Rare HPV Disease
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Adults living with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, or RRP, have long relied on surgery to manage this rare HPV-related disease. Caused by chronic infection with HPV 6 or HPV 11, RRP leads to the growth of benign tumors in the airway, which can cause severe voice changes, breathing difficulties, and, in rare cases, cancer. For many patients,…
Battle continues over proposed Bradley County emergency room
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The debate over a proposed new emergency room in Cleveland is continuing to heat up. Despite there being over 110,000 people in Bradley County, the Bradley County Medical Center operated by nonprofit Vitruvian Health remains the only emergency room in the Cleveland area. They are petitioning against the addition of a second emergency room from Parkridge Medical…
Apple Watch Flags Hidden Hypertension
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Millions of Americans live with chronic high blood pressure and don’t realize it, often because the condition shows few noticeable symptoms. Now, a new Apple Watch feature could help bring those hidden risks to light. Apple’s latest software update introduces a health metric that analyzes heart-rate data collected over time to detect patterns associated with hypertension. …
Flu Activity on the Rise Across the Tennessee Valley as Hospitals Prepare for Busy Winter
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF)-Flu activity is increasing across the Tennessee Valley, with local hospitals preparing for a particularly busy winter season. Erlanger Health System reports a rise in patients showing flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches. Health officials warn that the flu spreads easily through respiratory droplets, especially in schools, workplaces, and crowded indoor spaces during the…
Domestic violence registry to launch Thursday in Tennessee
Savanna Puckett, the Robertson County corrections deputy who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2022. State lawmakers named Savanna’s Law after her, creating a domestic violence registry. (From: Robertson County Sheriff’s Office) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tennessee is set to make history when the calendar flips to 2026 this week. A tool to hold those convicted of domestic violence accountable. In…
Northshore Businesses Parking Struggles
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Local businesses in the Northshore district say traffic, accessibility, and rising operational costs are creating challenges for both employees and customers. Richard Hardin, owner of Stone Cup Cafe, said employee parking costs are significant. “I’m not a city planner, and I’m in no way affiliated with the city government however, I would think that when you’ve…
Local Singer Finishes Second Nationally
LAFAYETTE, GA. (WDEF) – A North Georgia singer with decades of experience is gaining national attention after a strong showing on the first season of the CBS music competition “The Road.” Channing Wilson, who hails from LaFayette, Georgia, emerged as a finalist on the show, which followed artists from city to city as they performed in front of live audiences…
Taconooga Closes After 12 Years
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A restaurant on Chattanooga’s North Shore has closed its doors for good. According to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page, Taconooga shut down on December 26th. The announcement did not include a reason for the closure. Taconooga first opened in March of 2014 and served the North Shore community for nearly 12 years. The restaurant…
What’s Right With Our Schools: East Ridge Middle School Pioneers
HAMILTON COUNTY — Take a listen to the East Ridge Middle School Pioneers sing at the courthouse where they spread holiday cheer. This is an example of What’s Right With Our Schools. Categories: Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, What’s Right With Our Schools
Virtual Reality Expands Beyond Gaming
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Virtual reality technology continues to grow beyond its gaming roots as device use expands into broader entertainment and media experiences. Industry reports project that the global VR market will reach approximately $20.8 billion in 2025, up from about $16.3 billion in 2024, with a forecasted surge in value over the next decade as applications diversify and hardware improves. …
Holiday Christmas Lights Train Returns
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Holiday Christmas Lights Train is a seasonal evening excursion offered by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga from December 26, 2025, through January 11, 2026 This relaxed after‑Christmas experience lets riders enjoy softly illuminated displays and classic railroad charm aboard heated vintage railcars. Passengers can book tickets for 5:00 PM, 6:30 PM, and on select evenings, 8:00 PM departures, giving families…
Gun safety, mental health of first responders highlighted following tragic Walker County Christmas shooting
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- We’re learning more about a shooting Christmas morning that left a toddler in critical condition. Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson confirmed the child survived surgery Thursday. What should have been the most fun morning of the year quickly became tragic yesterday in the Rock Spring area of Walker County on Tarvin Road shortly before 10 am….
Post-Holiday Shoppers Hit the Mall in Search of Deals
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – Even though Christmas has passed, shoppers returned to the mall Monday, taking advantage of post-holiday sales and exploring bargains across stores. From the moment the doors opened, walkways filled with people moving from store to store. Many retailers offered discounts on clothing, shoes, and accessories, giving shoppers more opportunities to browse after the holiday. One shopper,…
Quantum Computers and Why the Government Wants One
Computers are only getting faster as time goes on, but what if there was a new kind of computer that changed the game forever? Researchers across the globe are racing against each other to create a functional “quantum computer,” theorized to be several times faster than what is currently the fastest computer in the world. Even right here at home,…
Top 10 High School Football Plays of the Year
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Before we unwrap presents this Christmas, let’s unwrap our top ten high school football plays from this past season. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Santa Claus is coming to News 12!
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – This Christmas Eve, News 12’s Chip Chapman has an in-depth conversation with Santa Claus where he asks the real questions like how to get off the naughty list and the true meaning of Christmas. Santa Claus made a very special visit to the News 12 Studio before he heads out to deliver gifts to all the…
Hamilton County parent raises concerns over classroom reading assignment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Hamilton County parent is speaking out after learning her child’s class was assigned The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, saying she was not informed or asked for consent and believes the book contains content inappropriate for students. According to Kelly Hubbard, the issue came to her attention after her son brought the book home and…
FDA Approves First Obesity Pill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first daily pill designed to treat obesity, marking a major milestone in weight loss care. The newly approved medication is an oral version of Wegovy, produced by Novo Nordisk. It contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in the injectable versions of Wegovy and Ozempic, as well…
Curbside Compost Pilot Expands
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The City of Chattanooga is expanding its curbside compost and glass recycling pilot program to three additional neighborhoods. The Department of Public Works announced Monday the program will now include Missionary Ridge, Ridgedale, and Highland Park. While sign-ups are open now, collection for the expanded zones will not begin until January 2026. The pilot is currently…
Start the new year off with a scary good time at Dread Hollow!
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – While the holiday season features lots of merry moments and holiday cheer, it doesn’t hurt to change up the holiday routine with a great fright! The best haunted house in Chattanooga, Dread Hollow, is bringing back their New Year’s Nightmare special event which features a haunted house and a terrifying escape room. On December 27 and…