Local High School Graduate brings home world championship title in weightlifting

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – A local Notre Dame graduate is getting international attention after an unbelievable powerhouse performance in a world competition.  18 year old Olivia Reeves just came back from the World Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan.  Reeves got silver in the snatch and took home the gold in jerk and clean and got gold overall.  Reeves has been training in…

Tips on how to have a safe and fun summer in the water

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Every year thousands of Tennesseans hit the water to cool off and have some summer fun. But in a blink of an eye that summer fun can quickly turn into a dangerous or deadly situation.  “Tragically more children drown than any other kind of common accident for children deaths. Honestly seconds can mean a lifetime,” says Sherri…

Mocs Hire Former Brainerd and Tyner Coach Tyrus Ward as New Defensive Backs Coach

CHATTANOOGA—One Chattanooga guy departs, another takes his place. Former Baylor School Head Coach and two-time Chattanooga Mocs assistant David Bibee (BIGH-bee) retired. Alum and local high school coaching leader Tyrus Ward takes his place as defensive backs coach. Ward is most recently the head coach at Tyner Academy in Chattanooga. That came after a 4-year run (2017-20) rebuilding the program…

New program addresses truck driver shortage

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Freightwaves and Trans Force Group are teaming up to tackle the trucker shortage. According to the American Driver Association, the trucking industry is expected to be short by over 100 thousand drivers by the year 20-23. Excess turnover and and candidates with little experience are their top hiring difficulties. Transforce Group says their program allows employers to…

Chattanoogan woman speaks against Planned Parenthood to city council

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- A Chattanooga woman spoke out against plan parenthood to the Chattanooga city council Tuesday. Anne Rudd asked the city council to consider what it would mean to have a Planned Parenthood brought to Chattanooga. “So please I ask you to do your research and really ask yourself if Chattanooga needs the healthcare that Planned Parenthood says they…

Federal Trial Halted by Judge after attorney violates local rule

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – A federal trial regarding a civil lawsuit over a deadly i-75 crash from 2015, has been halted by a federal judge.  The crash which killed 6 people was caused by Cool Runnings Express driver Benjamin Brewer.  Brewer was under the influence at the time of the crash and has since been sentenced to 55 years.  The civil…

TSSAA Director Bernard Childress Discusses Moving Football Title Games to Chattanooga

Chattanooga is the new home of the Tennessee high school football state championship games for the next two seasons. Back in March, the TSSAA awarded Chattanooga the bid over Cookeville, who has hosted the title games the last 12 years. At spring fling, News 12 caught up with TSSAA director Bernard Childress to discuss the football decision. Said Childress:”Coming to…

Downtown Hamilton County Jail closes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tuesday marked the end of an era for the historic Hamilton County Jail. The downtown jail located on Market Street was first completed in 1976, and at 6am the final inmate was transferred from the facility. “We have actually been going through the transition now since about January. Getting the numbers down, transferring as many as…

Remembering Tulsa Race Massacre 100 years later

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas gathered Monday to remember when the wealthiest U.S. Black community was burned to the ground 100 years ago. 100 years ago a white supremacist group raided, burned, and destroyed Greenwood, a Black-owned business district and residential neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As many as 300 African Americans were killed and thousands of…

Bradley County holds Memorial Day ceremony at Courthouse

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – It was a beautiful Memorial Day in Bradley County – and in downtown Cleveland, residents gathered for a ceremony at the Courthouse to pay tribute to America’s heroes. “We’re glad to be able to gather again and celebrate that all give some, but some veterans gave it all,” says Mary Bear, Poppy Chairman with American Legion…

Memorial Day Event honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Memorial Day is not a holiday that kicks off the Summer season.  It’s a day to reflect and remember those who defended our country but never made it home. “We are Americans, the heirs of a legacy of dreams and citizens of a nation whose people understand that freedom has never been free. We gather here today…

Lookouts Walk Off the Smokies Yet Again With 7-6 Victory

(lookouts.com) For the third time, this series the Lookouts recorded a walk-off extra-inning win. Today, Michael De Leon smacked the game-winning hit, lining a single to left-center field to give Chattanooga the 7-6 win in the 11th inning. This back-and-forth affair began in the first inning when Tennessee jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Lookouts starting pitcher Nick…

Lookouts survive Smokies comeback in extras, 5-4

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Lookouts survived a late comeback by the Tennessee Smokies Saturday. The Lookouts led the Smokies 3-0 in the seventh, when the Smokies cut the lead to one run. Both teams scored four runs to take the game to extra innings, where Yoel Yanqui walked off the Lookouts with an RBI-single. Lookouts return to AT&T…

Smokies Down the Lookouts 5-4

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Tennessee Smokies scored two runs in the top of 7th to break a 3-3, tie as they went on to beat the Lookouts 5-4 on Friday at AT&T Field. Smokies went up 3-0 after the top of the fourth before Chattanooga got off the deck. Byrd Tenerowicz hit a two RBI double to left tin the bottom of…

Fire destroys one of the old homes on Lookout Mountain

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Tennessee (WDEF) – Five different fire units responded to a residential house fire located at 206 Morrison Street on Lookout Mountain. That’s near the point of the mountain in the old neighborhood near the West Brow. Residents on Morrison Street woke up Friday morning to the smell of smoke. When they went outside they were greeted by the…

Shepherd’s Men swim, run, and ruck for 22 hours for veteran suicide prevention

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- For Memorial Weekend an organization is dedicating 22 hours of continuous movement to honor the 22 veterans lost every day to suicide. “We’re fighting a war on our Homefront. We’re fighting a war against the suicide epidemic,” said Herber. Shepherd’s Men is a group of current military and veterans and they made a stop in Chattanooga to…