CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Hamilton County deputy superintendent Nakia Towns was elected interim superintendent Monday. It was a 5-3 decision in favor of Towns over Zac Brown in the final vote. board member Jenny Hill voted for Towns. “I have complete confidence in Dr. Nakia Towns Edwards. She has been a remarkable leader for us and she is someone that deserves…
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Whether you’re growing a garden or a expanding a young mind, sunlight is an essential ingredient. Silverdale Baptist Academy tries to get students outside as much as possible and not just for recess. Al Rogers is the Director of Outdoor Education at SBA. He says, “The head of school here at Silverdale Baptist Academy had a…
Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition is speaking out about the ongoing affordable housing crisis.
OOLTEWAH, TN (WDEF): Since 2008, Smith-Perry Berries has been boasting fields of sunflowers every summer. Even in the rain, you can see why. Aubie Smith with Smith-Perry Berries says, “The weather’s been really wet the past month, and some of the sunflowers are eight foot tall in the center of the field, so last year they were like four foot…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – If you own a smartphone, chances are you’re being spied on. “I just think it’s the norm,” argues Chattanooga attorney, Terry Olsen. But Pegasus is taking these spying capabilities to a whole new level. Pegasus is spyware developed by the NSO Group, out of Israel. The spyware was only to be used to gather information on…
New numbers from this past week show that almost 60 percent of Hamilton County residents have only partial, or no vaccination protection from the coronavirus. So with that, the local “medical community” is trying everything it can to increase the vaccination rate. That includes throwing a block party. At the East Chattanooga Community Center Saturday, there was food, music, dancing…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – The U.S. Department of Education announced the approval of Tennessee’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief plan. 830 million dollars from the American Rescue Plan will go toward education. It will be used to safely reopen schools, provide safety and help with new opportunities for students — particularly those who were most impacted by…
5:45 UPDATE: Hamilton County School Board chooses Dr. Nakia Town over Dr. Zac Brown for interim superintendent by a 5-3 vote. ___________ 5:30 UPDATE: Hamilton County school board members were allowed to pick their top 2 of 3 candidates for interim superintendent. (Could vote for just one if they choose) first round of voting results in Nakia Towns and Zac…
Let’s looks at some of the best smartphone apps for finding concert tickets.
Over 100 fallen EMS personnel were honored Sunday at Chattanooga State, as part of a multi-state procession. “There is no greater sacrifice and I mean this is just a small way we can honor them,” says Paul Feaster, President of Southeastern EMS Director’s Association. It marks the countdown to the National EMS Memorial Service and Weekend of Honor which recognizes…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Reach One Teach One and Kids Art Box came together for a fish fry today in order to raise money for underserved communities in the Chattanooga area. I talked with event organizers about who’s going to be be benefiting most from this event. “We’re just trying to be able to reach our kids where they are…
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Get Vaccinated Chattanooga team was hard at work today in East Chattanooga. The Get vaccinated Chattanooga team is working hard this afternoon. They are in East Chattanooga educating and vaccinating until 2 PM. Officials say that less than 40% of people in this area are vaccinated. We’ll have the full story tonight at 11. pic.twitter.com/fSfk5wfLjX —…
It’s called the “End of the Summer Outdoor Celebration.” And for the eighth year in a row, a whole lot of kids gathered at Booker T. Washington State Park Friday. And even as we battle the pandemic, with almost every state seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases, the “show must go on!” Let’s call it an outdoor educational opportunity. Lots…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Less than 24 hours ago school nutritionists in Hamilton County schools were making $9.79 an hour. But, after last night’s school board meeting, school nutrition employees will be getting paid $12 per hour. Kristen Nauss, HCS Nutritionist says, “So, you can’t teach a child that’s hungry. So, our school nutrition workers show up every day. They are…
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Veterans P.A.W.S. based out of South Pittsburg Tennessee was created to help fill a void in service dog availability in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Veteran Ruth Koch with Veterans P.A.W.S. said the organization provides veterans service animals at no cost to the veteran. “We cut through all the red tape and say what exactly do you need…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A local veteran began honoring the Fallen Five in 2016 when he drove a flag all the way across the country to unfurl at the Golden Gate Bridge. Now, that movement is growing. Today marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack that killed four marines and a sailor in Chattanooga. Some local veterans are making certain…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Mayor Tim Kelly announces he will hold Open Office Hours with the public every month. He and his staff held one such session on June 25th which he called a major success. The idea is to allow anyone in the community to share their concerns and needs. “It’s clear that our residents truly want to engage and…
A year after the terror attack in Chattanooga on July 16, 2015, reporter Erik Avanier recreates just what happened and when.
Did you know you can launch a rocket in your kitchen? Our “Science Guy,” Jason Lindsey, shows us how by using a few ingredients from around the house.
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- A Chattanooga man wants to bring tiny homes to the Chattanooga homeless population. Joshua Kapellusch brings water to homeless people in Chattanooga. He said as a veteran he wants to continue to serve his country and he sees part of that as helping serve the homeless. He said he has spoken at Chattanooga city Council meetings the last…
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – “My hope is that I have not just made the bed but I’ve made it a little bit better so that when you look at the days ahead you see a difference has been made,” said Superintendent Bryan Johnson. Hamilton County Superintendent Bryan Johnson said goodbye to Hamilton County as superintendent. “I can share so many…
Our monthly featured series “Do The Right Thing” went down in McDonald, Tennessee. Stacie Schepers works at a produce stand in McDonald. Much of what she grows is sold at the stand. Stacie is active in her church. But she really makes her mark as a first grade school teacher at Collegedale Academy. Rose Fuller nominated Stacie for this honor….
CLEVELAND (WDEF) – The Youth Police Academy hosted by the Cleveland Police Department is in its sixth year running. The week long camp allows local youth to have some fun and learn hands-on what police do. “I wanted to give them a very close look at all the different aspects of what we do and how it all plays together,”…