Drug overdose deaths soared in 2020; hear from Chattanooga Recover Center about what can be done to decrease these numbers
2020 saw drug overdose deaths reach the highest number ever recorded.
Planned Parenthood’s plans in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – Planned Parenthood said they wanted to answer the questions being asks as they feel there is some misinformation going around Chattanooga. At Wednesday’s meeting community organizer Kamari Sharard, and public health educator Chequita Webb spoke about how they are the only two people representing planned parenthood in Chattanooga. They said they are here to provide education to…
Reaction to more charges at the Baptiste Group migrant shelter
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Baptiste Group’s involvement in a local church housing migrant children has elicited both state and national attention. “They are making this more of a political effort than one of in regards to what happens with the children,” says Representative Yusuf Hakeem, responding to a state committee’s efforts to investigate the travel of unaccompanied migrant children…
Chattanooga Fire Department Hands Over Volkswagen Fire Investigation to Volkswagen
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Volkswagen investigators are investigating the fire that took place on their property, a fire that resulted in the evacuation of over four thousand people from their 4.2 million square foot facility in minutes. Employees tell News 12 the on-staff fire department tried to fight the fire for 20 minutes before calling for back up. “It takes at…
“Light Up Tennessee” coming to East Ridge
EAST RIDGE, Tenn (WDEF) – For three nights, the evening skies of East Ridge will be glowing and full of color when the “Light Up East Ridge” hot air balloon event comes to Camp Jordan. Beginning July 30 through August 1, ten hot air balloons will be on static display daily from 5:30 until 9:00pm at Camp Jordan Park in East…
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health Officials concerned about the Delta Variant in the U.S.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Now that nearly 50% of Americans are fully vaccinated, Health Experts from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health gathered today to discuss how the delta variant could impact the nation’s Covid-19 recovery process and if long haul symptoms could play a role in halting our progress. With Covid-19 transmission in the U.S. at its lowest level since…
Mom To Mom – Healthy Snacks On The Go
If you and your family are constantly on the go it’s easy to grab those unhealthy snacks. Here are some treats you can grab that’s good for you.
Red Wolves Assistant Kevin Sawchak Was Forced Into Head Coaching Role For Match Against Omaha
East Ridge, TN-(WDEF) Two weeks ago in the Chattanooga Red Wolves match against Greenville, head coach Jimmy Obleda was ejected after getting a red card. That meant Obleda had to sit out the Red Wolves next match, which happened to be on the road against the top team in the league in Omaha. Welcome to the big time assistant Kevin…
“I Want to be a Ray” Lee Pitcher Logan Workman After Tampa Draft Selection
Soddy Daisy, TN-(WDEF-TV) Lee Flames pitcher Logan Workman heard his name called in the 7th round of the MLB Draft on Monday by the Tampa Rays. Workman had a stellar senior season at Lee going 8-1 with an ERA under two. Said Logan:”We had all talked about it since last year that this year that it was draft year. That…
Twin Brothers Austin and Jack Gentle of McCallie Ready to Tackle the Academics at Harvard
Now the Gentle giants get to test their academic and gridiron skills at one of the premiere colleges in the country. Harvard.
Judge dismisses Roy Moore suit over Sacha Baron Cohen stunt
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A federal judge has dismissed Roy Moore’s $95 million lawsuit against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Judge John Cronan dismissed the lawsuit Tuesday. Moore said he was tricked into an interview that ended up lampooning sexual misconduct accusations against him. Cronan said Moore signed a clear disclosure agreement that prohibited any legal claims over the appearance. He…
Local tax experts answer questions on expanded child tax credit
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The newly expanded child tax credit is one of the largest expansions in the country’s history. Val Palmer with Urban League explains what it might mean for you and your family. “That’s going to be a lot of money that they can use toward rent, groceries, electricity. And it’s going to help bring children out of poverty,”…
Cause of Volkswagen Plant Fire is under investigation
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant was evacuated this morning during a fire in the body shop. A conveyor belt caught fire in a confined space. The machinery in the area was very hot at the time. Volkswagen’s own Fire Department plus the Chattanooga Fire department fought heavy smoke and the flames. The sprinklers helped suppress it. They got it…
Chattanooga artist chosen to create Thaddeus Stevens Monument
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – A Chattanooga artist is making history by creating the second sculpture in the nation of the historical figure Thaddeus Stevens. Artist Alex Paul Loza was chosen to complete this project from a nationwide search by the Thaddeus Stevens Society in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Stevens was a U.S. congressman known for playing a part in the creation of the…
Firefighters Respond to Fire at Volkswagen Plant
Chattanooga firefighters responded to a fire at the Volkswagen plant at Enterprise South Tuesday morning.
CFC’s Markus Naglestad On a Goal Scoring Rampage
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) When Markus Naglestad joined the CFC this year, he came with a goal scoring reputation. During his playing days in his home country of Norway, Naglestad scored 104 goals in 126 matches. And over the last two weeks, he has been on a goal scoring rampage for Chattanooga. You many not find a pot of gold at the end…
Cooper Kinney Excited About Tampa Draft Selection
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Baylor baseball star Cooper Kinney is a first round pick in the MLB draft. He was taken 34th overall by the Tampa Rays Sunday night, and Kinney believes he has landed with the perfect team. Said Kinney:”They have one of the best developmental programs in baseball, so that’s a super cool thing for me to get to go to…
Incentives to donating blood to Blood Assurance during shortage
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – “Blood Assurance says every donation can save up to Three lives but right now not enough people are doing this,” said Brian Armstrong “When you donate with Blood Assurance it stays local. We are the sole supplier to the Chattanooga area hospitals. So when you give with blood assurance it’s going directly to helping patients in need,”…
Defense Team for Convicted Murderer Miranda Cheatham Requests New Trial
BRADLEY COUNTY (WDEF) – The defense team for Miranda Cheatham believes justice wasn’t served and wants a new trial following her 2019 sentence for murdering her husband James “Tooter” Cheatham in 2016. The victim’s brother John Loach secretly recorded the victim’s sister Dana Cheatham Pritchard admitting she had an affair with the District Attorney whose office prosecuted Miranda Cheatham. The…
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…
Spiegel Family Reacts to News of Recovery in Surfside Condo Collapse
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – 18 days since the Surfside condo collapse, the family of Judy Spiegel announces her body has been recovered. Judy Spiegel, wife of former Erlanger CEO was recovered Friday, July 9th according to her family. “It’s been an excruciating journey, you know, I went to bed almost three weeks ago not having any idea that that was…
Parents, Coaches Pull Together For Rivermont All-Star Team
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn – (WDEF) – An All-Star baseball team from Rivermont took part in the “8 and Under” Dizzy Dean World Series this past weekend. It’s certainly a great thing for the kids. But as much joy as it brings, it takes a HUGE commitment from the parents and coaches. Especially coming out of a pandemic. It’s a fun time to…