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Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Health, Local News

Welcome Home offers an online course to help with conversations on end-of-life care

Demystifying Death & Dying
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Welcome home is a nonprofit organization that l provides shelter and comfortable living space with family-type care for those who have been diagnosed with a serious illness.  The organization partners with area hospices that provide professional medical care. As part of their mission, they offer an enrichment program that provides the community opportunities to discuss and learn…

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COVID-19, Featured, Health, Local News, US & World News

Novavax Vaccine getting ready to apply for full approval

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – The Novavax Covid vaccine has undergone months of clinical trials against not only the original coronavirus strain but also the new variants.  The Maryland based biotech company says its 2 dose vaccine is around 90 percent effective and is safe – after being tested on nearly 30 thousand trial participants.  “Where we are currently as investigators…

Logo Bbq 2021 Orig
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Free BBQ fundraiser for Union Gospel Mission

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – “My wife actually came up with the idea about eight years ago to do a barbecue on Labor Day. Not everybody does something so the clutter is not quite as much there.” The Union Gospel Mission’s had its seventh annual free barbecue fundraiser Monday. Executive Director John Rector said the most common question he gets is…

Grove St Fire
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Woman Rescued From Top Story Apartment Fire

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Fire Department was called to the 1100 block of Grove Street Labor Day morning for an apartment building on fire. That’s when they found a woman fighting for her life. “When we arrived on the scene, there was a woman hanging from a top floor window,” says Chattanooga Fire Department spokesperson Lindsey Rogers. “She was…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Deadly year on Tennessee roadways

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Labor day is the second deadliest holiday for traffic fatalities, that’s according to the NHTSA. There were five traffic fatalities in the Tennessee Valley this weekend. The annual average for fatal crashes in the United States is 445. Experts say that there are multiple reasons for the holiday to be deadly for drivers. Megan Cooper, AAA Spokeswoman…

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Chattanooga, Education, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: OLPH Nature Explorer Outdoor Classroom

Andrew Harrison,

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – Children are natural explorers. Pairing classroom lessons with what they can see and touch in the outside world is a key to understanding. OLPH has just the space for that. Dr. Caroline Carlin is the Principal. She proclaims, “Welcome to OLPH’s Nature Explorer Outdoor Classroom. It is a certified outdoor classroom which was designed to be…

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Local News, Tech Byte, Technology

TECH BYTE: App Makes Office Meetings Virtual Reality

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Many of us have gotten used to virtual meetings this year, thanks to the pandemic. But what if you could also meet with your colleagues using virtual reality? Facebook is making it possible to bring video games to work, and actually be productive. The social media giant is calling its latest project Horizon Workrooms. It’s a…

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Local News, Tech Byte, Technology

TECH BYTE: Tesla Working on Human-like Robot

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk isn’t settling for just space. Yes, he’s done a lot for the space industry, but he’s reaching for the stars again. Musk now wants to make human-like robots. He says Tesla already makes robots on wheels – why wouldn’t a humanoid robot be any different? Musk announced at the company’s recent AI…

Katie Beth Carter
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News, Ringgold

Butterfly Festival honors Katie Beth Carter

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RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF)- Today was the fourth annual Butterfly Festival in Ringgold. The festival is held at Heritage High School in honor of Katie Beth Carter. Carter was 18-years-old when she was killed in a car accident on her way home from college. Funds from the Butterfly Festival benefit the Katie Beth Carter Scholarship Fund. Jason Carter, Katie Beth’s dad,…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Taco Tour of Rossville Boulevard

Brian Armstrong,

ROSSVLLE (WDEF)- During the last two weeks of September people can get a taco for just two dollars and fifty cents from seven different restaurants including Miss G’s. “It’s a great occasion to bring all these Hispanic people together and invite American people to see how Hispanic people enjoy the time with tacos,” said owner of Miss G’s Guillermina Solana-Chala….
Bradley County, Cleveland, COVID-19, Featured, Local News

Cleveland School officials explain their mask mandate

"Our mandate and opt out will stay in effect for a month at a time."
Collins Parker,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) –  Mask mandates are in effect, or going into effect in many parts of the country. Add the Cleveland city school system to that list. As News 12’s Dave Staley tells us, the board of education making that decision in a special meeting! The new mask mandate, which starts September 7th, is for the Cleveland city school…

Chattanooga Fire
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Local News

Chattanooga Fire Department Cadets participate in Live Burn Training Event

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Fire Department’s newest firefighters are getting ready to graduate from their six-month-long fire academy and all of the skills they’ve been learning have been put to the test this morning. This morning was the fire department’s annual live burn that gives the cadets a chance to fight a fully involved house fire. Cadets worked on…

Michael Mcelrath Mug Shot
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Father pleads guilty to shooting his 15 year old son

Attorneys agree Michael McElrath had "significant psychiatric symptoms"
Collins Parker,

(Video is story from 8/20/2018 on the original crime) CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Michael McElrath pleads guilty to murdering his 15 year old son. Dylan McElerath was a sophomore at Hixson High. In August of 2018, 46 year old Michael McElrath shot his son multiple times at their home on Cotter Road. When police showed up, he told them I did…
COVID-19, Featured, Health, Local News

Labor Day Holiday Weekend causing concerns for Health Officials

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – The severity of the surge can clearly be seen in America’s Hospitals – where the number of covid patients is the highest it’s been since last winter – but with the holiday weekend fast approaching, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention asks unvaccinated people to seriously reconsider their travel plans. “People need to take these risks…
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News

Bradley Central-Cleveland Rivalry Compares to Alabama and Auburn

Rick Nyman,

Cleveland and Bradley Central resume their rivalry Friday night. Braggin’ rights are always big in this annual showdown, but the contest counts even more this year since it’s a region match-up. Said Bradley Central head coach Damon Floyd:”Yeah you know anytime Bradley and Cleveland get together in any sport it’s always a war.” Said Cleveland head coach Marty Wheeler:”It’s very…

Lafayette Ramblers
Sports - Local Sports News

LaFayette Defeats Gordon Lee 35-17

Rick Nyman,

LaFayette, GA-(WDEF-TV) LaFayette beat rival Gordon Lee 35-17 on Thursday night at LaFayette High School. Ramblers led it 21-14 at halftime before outscoring the Trojans 14-3 in the second half to cruise to the victory in a battle of Walker County teams. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Football, Gordon Lee High School, High School Football, Lafayette High School
Featured, Local News

September is National Preparedness Month

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-  National Preparedness Month is observed during September to stress the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. “Do you know of evacuation routes? If you have to leave do you know where you’re going to go? Are you going to go stay with the family or friend and if you have…

Pharmacies Slammed
COVID-19, Featured, Local News

Pharmacies slammed by patients, too

Rising Covid cases are keeping local pharmacies busy too
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – When it comes to your local pharmacy, the people on staff are almost assuredly just as busy as anybody else working in the medical profession. And they say it’s all COVID-related. News 12’s Dave Staley tells us about one local pharmacy in Hixson, where the staff is seeing things and doing things, they’ve never experienced before. “Everything…

National Guard
COVID-19, Hamilton County, Health, Local News

National Guard aids Erlanger hospital

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – The National Guard arrived Today to aid Erlanger With COVID Overflow. Senior Director of Emergency Management Robbie Tester said the National Guard has already been extremely helpful. Even though they are not nurses and doctors the National guard members have immediately starting helping with non-clinical needs such as getting fresh PPE to those in the COVID…

Therapist Murder
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News, Ringgold

Latest on Therapist stabbing in Ringgold

""this does lead to a large patient base so that means we have to talk to a number of people."
Collins Parker,

RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) –  The Catoosa County Deputies and Ringgold Police ask for your help to track down the person who murdered a therapist. Joeli Poole has more on what we know so far. Poole “Local authorities are working around the clock to determine who killed a therapist in Ringgold this week and just what was the motive. Law enforcement…