Mayor Tim Kelly’s Chief of Staff speaks on the process of potential CFD pay increase

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee- Under previous city mayor Andy Burke the Chattanooga Fire Department had an independent study was done that showed they were significantly underpaid compared to cities like Huntsville, Nashville, and Memphis. “We also need to make sure that they’re paid competitively and when we look at other similar cities we had some issues there and we know that we need…

Will Chattanooga’s booming housing market end?

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Over the last year, Chattanooga’s Housing market has continued to boom despite an ongoing pandemic.  Home values have increased nearly 15% compared to last year’s pre-pandemic prices, realtors suggest that this may be a result of the limited amount of inventory that’s available.  “As of Wednesday we only had 299 homes for sale in Chattanooga. Which is…

Local businesses deal with possible chicken shortage

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- If you’ve noticed empty chicken wing coolers in your local grocery store, you aren’t alone. In the last year or so, consumers have seen a shortage of Lysol, toilet paper, lumber and now chicken wings? The National Chicken Council says don’t panic just yet, while there is not quite a shortage, wing supply is tight which unfortunately…

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit forming a Cold Case Unit

CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga (WDEF) – The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit announced they will be forming their very own cold case unit to help work on some unsolved cases in the area. “We will never forget our victims. We will bring justice to those who committed the most heinous crimes in our community and think they got away with it,” says Clay…

Signal Mountain 2 year old with cerebral palsy gets special bike

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee (WDEF) – A 2 year old with cerebral palsy on signal mountain has been given a very special gift. Jacob Phipps was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just one years old. The Phipps’ family was gifted and presented a fully customized, off-road capable, adaptive bike designed by Freedom Concepts Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. “He is…

15 year old shot in East Lake Courts

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The victim of the shooting Wednesday night in the East Lake Courts is a 15 year old. It happened just before 9 PM on 6th Avenue. The teenager was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He told police he was standing outside when he heard a gunshot and was hit. If you have any information…

Silverdale jail inmates knew they were in danger according to inmates families

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Several family members of the five Silverdale inmates who were stabbed said they knew they were in danger according to their family members. “My son has 17 stab wounds. He has stitches in 10 different places,” said one of the inmate’s mothers. Family members of some of the Silverdale Jail inmates who were stabbed spoke to the…

TDOT will close I 24 at Germantown again this weekend for bridge replacement

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The second bridge replacement closure on I 24 is on for this weekend. Bad weather has delayed the project of replacing the interstate bridge at Germantown Road for the last few weekends. They are putting up new bridges over the interstate using the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) method. It is faster, but still requires them taking traffic…

Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse destroyed by a fire

MONTEAGLE, Tenn (WDEF) – Jim Oliver’s smokehouse restaurant was a well known  roadside attraction that put Monteagle, Tennessee on the map. Now, there’s nothing left but rubble.  Around 4pm Tuesday evening, more than 2 dozen fire departments responded to the scene of a large fire involving the famous Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse.  “The restaurant is gone. The gift shop is gone. The…

Mom To Mom – Are Those Apps Safe for Your Kids

Are those apps your children are using safe? J.R. Telemendez, a police officer who specializes in internet crimes against children has these these tips on what to looking out for. “The number one thing you as a parent can do to set your child up for failure, when it comes to internet or social media is do not set parental…

10th Anniversary Tornado Memorial Event Held in Ringgold

Ringgold, GA (WDEF) – Ten years ago Tuesday, an EF-4 tornado plowed through the city of Ringgold killing numerous people and injuring at least 30. Local officials hosted their tenth anniversary tornado memorial Tuesday evening. It was a record breaking tornado outbreak on the week of April 27th , 2011 with over 360 tornadoes touched down in in the southeast…

Emergency officials reflect on 2011 Tornado outbreak

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) – Ten years after the Chattanooga and North Georgia region were devastated by one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in modern history, officials are reflecting on what’s changed since the tragedy. Catoosa County PIO John Pless says that the devastation caused by the EF4 tornado resulted in damage to over 150 homes, causing permanent physical changes….

The Biden Administration expands Summer food Program

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn (WDEF) – The Biden Administration is planning to launch the biggest summer food program in U.S history. It’s the latest push by the White House to address food insecurity. The USDA announced that they will be expanding the free school lunch program for all K-12 students. The plan will help provide 34 million children approximately $375 each to…

Tips to reduce COVID-19 vaccine side effects

(WDEF)- As with any type of medicine, there are potential side effects from receiving the covid-19 vaccine. “Plan for the worst and hope for the best. I really can’t predict who’s going to have the symptoms or not,” said endocrinologist/co-founder of Vous Vitamin Dr. Romy Block M.D. There are several common side effects people might experience after receiving the covid-19…

Tenth Anniversary of the 2011 tornado outbreak

It was 10 years ago on this day when a deadly tornado outbreak rocked the Chattanooga region to its core, in what was among the deadliest outbreaks in modern history. We endured dozens of confirmed tornadoes that went through the Tennessee Valley throughout the day. It was part of 362 confirmed tornadoes striking the U.S. over a three day period,…