Direct Flooring giving back to the community

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) -A Chattanooga flooring company is selling rugs to helping out the areas community. After years of working with builders Direct Flooring opened its doors in April to the public. Direct Flooring’s owner Jordan Parker said the store opened to the public help out the community after the pandemic. Parker and Jonathan Rodriguez also with Direct flooring is…

$7.5 Million Loan Fund aims to help local minority-led businesses and small businesses grow

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – In an effort to grow and strengthen Chattanooga’s small and minority-led businesses and those that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pathway Lending is launching a new $7.5 million loan fund that will support economic growth and recovery. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of a community. Typically entrepreneurs start a business by using home wealth…

Oliva Reeves Making International Waves in Weightlifting

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) One of the strongest female weightlifters in the world hails from the Scenic City, and she’s just a teenager. Recent Notre Dame grad Olivia Reeves competed in the IWF Junior World Championships last month in Uzbekistan. The 18-year-old returned home with one silver and two gold medals. News 12’s Rick Nyman has more Reeves tremendous weightlifting career. Oliva Reeves…

Katie Boyd Britt officially announces run for Senate in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Republican Katie Boyd Britt has entered the race for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat. In a Tuesday announcement video, Britt stressed her work for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and her leadership of a state business group, and promised to put Alabama first. Britt is a former chief of staff for Shelby with deep ties to the…

What happened to the cicada eruption?

KNOXVILLE (WDEF) – After over a decade, Cicadas have finally started to emerge again throughout Tennessee. This brood of Cicades, known as Brood X, last emerged in May 2004. But a horticultural specialist at the University of Tennessee explains that these noisy insects might not be seen as frequently throughout the Tennessee Valley. “We’re on the southern edge of their…

FDA approves new drug for Alzheimer’s Disease

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5 million people nationwide. On Monday the Food and Drug Administration approved a first of its kind treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s the first drug to be approved to help treat the disease in nearly 20 years. “A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s truly does change everything not only for the individual but also for…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Chattanooga Prep Juneteenth Observance

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Ricardo Morris is the CEO of the Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas. He explains, “We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Wall Street, black Wall Street massacre in Tulsa Oklahoma, and I thought it would be really a great idea if we included some students in that history lesson, and so we developed…

Local impact of $53 million in state mental health funding

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) “It’s gonna be great for this funding here for this community but then as those funding opportunities become available all over the state there will be funding opportunities.” Tennessee will receive more than $53 million in additional funding from the federal government to address mental health and addiction treatment needs driven by the pandemic. The funding…

Teenager driving safety changes in Georgia

(WDEF) – Car crashes are the number one cause of death of teenagers between 16 and 19 according to drive SmartGeorgia.com. “A young man and his name was Joshua was killed in a car wreck and his parents worked along with legislators to help increase driver safety,” said President of A+ Driving Services in NW Georgia Jim Howell. 17-year-olds looking…

CFC Blank New Amsterdam 2-0

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) CFC beat New Amsterdam 2-0 on Saturday night at Fort Finley. Game turned near the 40 minute mark when New Amsterdam’s David Diosa drew a red card for taking down the CFC’s Cameron Woodfin. Chattanooga scored a goal moments later from Ian McGrath to carry a 1-0 lead into halftime. Late in the second half and Sean Hoffstatter added…

Riverfront Nights returns for the 13th year

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Chattanoogans gathered for a rare, in person, live concert. Riverfront nights returned tonight for it’s 13th year. Happening now: Riverfront Nights; Chattanooga’s free summer music series. Come out and hear some of Prince’s greatest hits and get vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/tcDohA8ENJ — Danielle Moss (@SunnyD_wx) June 5, 2021 The free summer music concert was postponed last year because of…

Chattanooga Lookouts Enjoying Nice Crowds After No Games Last Season

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Last year the Chattanooga Lookouts didn’t play a single game. Cancelled by Covid. Luckily the Lookouts are back this season, and local baseball fans are turning out. Said Lookouts general manager Rick Mozingo:”I mean every single time we have opened the gates, we have sold every single ticket we’ve had available. And that’s just a credit to the city…