Lee University on LGBTQ+ and the church

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Lee University administration is clearing the air after they faced some backlash from a chapel service. Lee University students go to chapel twice a week, either online or in person. However, two of the services, in the month of March, have raised some concerns for some alumni and some members of the LGBTQ community. On March 2nd,…

Golden Apple Award: Barger Academy of Fine Arts, Kathy Gordon

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) -When teachers truly connect with their students, they can spend less time on discipline and more time on learning. Kathy Gordon makes it a priority to find each child’s learning style. The Barger Academy of Fine Arts teacher is great at coming up with lesson plans that leave no child behind. Roxanne Anthony is the Principal at…

Chattanooga creates new 311 app and website for residents

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Thanks to a new app developed by the city of Chattanooga, residents will be able to request city services and report incidents like potholes right from their own smart phone. “This is just the first portion of it. It’s actually what we call the “My Chattanooga” experience. “My Chattanooga” app. So we start with 311, but…

University of Tennessee Planning Full In-Person Campus Experience This Fall

Knoxville, TN (Press Release) – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has announced plans to return to a fully in-person campus experience this fall. Planning includes teaching in classrooms at capacity, returning to normal campus housing, reopening dining halls, fully staffing campus student services, offering a comprehensive slate of student events and programming, and allowing more fans at athletic events. “As case counts…

Special effects worker sentenced for illegal explosives on Travolta movie

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – A special effects worker has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing explosives while working on a movie starring John Travolta and Morgan Freeman. A U.S. District Court judge in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday sentenced Robert Christopher Bailey to 30 months in prison. Bailey pleaded guilty in 2019 to providing pyrotechnic effects for the movie…

Golden Apple Award: Sarah Leeseberg, Soddy Elementary

SODDY-DAISY, TN (WDEF) – Keeping first graders on track is hard enough in ideal conditions. When you add a virtual element, the degree of difficulty can be staggering. Sarah Leeseberg met that challenge and more. Meaghan Moss is the Assistant Principal at Soddy Elementary School. She says, “Sarah Leeseberg she is one of our first grade teachers. She just pours…

Golden Apple Award: Hardy Elementary Sarah Tortora

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Music has to power transform us. It’s a subject that Sarah Tortora is passionate about. She shares that passion with more than 400 students at Hardy Elementary. Robin Bambrey is the Principal at Hardy. She says, “Miss Tortora is our music teacher here at Hardy elementary school. She serves all of our students, pre-K through fifth…

Golden Apple Award: Leslie Miller, Chattanooga Valley Elementary

FLINTSTONE, GA (WDEF) – Teaching first and second graders is a hard enough job in ideal conditions. Add a virtual element to the mix, and a tremendous amount of patience is required. Chattanooga Valley’s Leslie Miller met that challenge and so much more! Heather Culverson is the Principal at Chattanooga Valley. She says, “Ms. Miller is a wonderful teacher. She…

Coronavirus Coverage

DOWNLOAD INFORMATIONAL FLYERS FROM CDC: SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 : STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS VIEW CORONAVIRUS INTERACTIVE DATA CHARTS FIND VACCINE: Vaccine.gov Hamilton Co. Health Dept. TN Dept of Health North Georgia Health District Northwest Georgia Public Health AL Public Health Important Links: Centers for Disease Control Hamilton Co. Health Dept. City of Chattanooga TN COVID-19 Dashboard TN Dept of Health…

Golden Apple Award: Shana Raburn, Woodstation Elementary

RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) – For the best educators, teaching isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling. That’s certainly the case for Shana Raburn. She’s quick to volunteer for any job that needs doing at Woodstation Elementary, and she does it with a smile. Principal Ernie Ellis says, “Mrs. Raburn is probably one of the truest educators that I’ve ever been…

Singer, songwriter, actor Ed Bruce dies at 81

CLARKESVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – Country music has suffered another loss of the old guard. Singer, songwriter and actor Ed Bruce died on Friday from natural causes. He was 81. Bruce began recording and writing songs for Sam Phillips in the late 1950s. Over the next two decades, he wrote hits for Tommy Roe (Save Your Kisses), Charlie Louvin (See the…

Governor Bill Lee signs executive order & limits indoor gatherings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Governor Bill Lee addressed the state of Tennessee tonight. He also announced that he signed Executive order 70. In his prerecorded video, he talked about the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. An order that limits private indoor gatherings to 10 people. “Many think a statewide mandate would improve mask wearing, many think it would have the opposite…

Dr. Bryan Johnson tests positive for Covid-19

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Hamilton County School system has announced that superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson has tested positive for Covid-19. He tested positive on Thursday. Dr. Johnson is quarantining as a result. The school system statement says he has mild symptoms and is in good spirits. He will continue to lead the school district remotely. The school system goes on…