Chattanooga Underground
Explore the history of Chattanooga as Jamal Williams and Kay Blevins go beneath the streets of downtown to find Underground Chattanooga.
Commentary: Why do we hate the NRA?
Why do we hate the NRA? Yesterday the hashtag #KillTheNRA started trending on Twitter, inspired by a vandalized billboard in Kentucky bearing the same message. It echoed comments from student survivors of the Parkland High school shooting on CNN over the weekend. When asked for their message to the National Rifle Association their response was “Disband. Dismantle. Don’t you come…
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar coming to Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A new gourmet burger chain will open its first Tennessee location in Chattanooga. Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar just broke ground at a location on Gunbarrel Road. The Denver-based company actually started in Charlotte, North Carolina eleven years ago. Now they have locations in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma and Colorado.. but not Tennessee. The Gunbarrel location,…
Chattanooga Fire honors heroes during annual awards ceremony
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – If you want to see a hero attend the annual Chattanooga Fire Department awards ceremony. You’ll find plenty there. CFD recognized several firefighters and civilians during the event Monday night including Chattanooga Fire Captain Steve Everett. He received CFD’s top award, the Medal of Heroism, for saving a woman’s life while off duty. “We’re trained to help….
Country singer Daryle Singletary dies unexpectedly
LEBANON, Tennessee (WDEF) – County singer Daryle Singletary died Monday morning at his home in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was just 46 years old. At this time, the cause of death is unknown. Singletary had three Top Ten hits in the 1990’s, Too Much Fun, I Let Her Lie, and Amen Kind of Love. The native of Cairo, Georgia leaves behind…
White Co. Sheriff Sued Over Shoot To Kill Order
Footage obtained by NewsChannel 5 in Nashville shows White County Sheriff Shoupe authorizing deadly force in the chase of a suspect driving on a suspended license.
Female songwriters in Nashville unite to sing ‘Time’s Up’
By KRISTIN M. HALL Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Female musicians in Nashville have long complained about the lack of representation on country radio, but now a collective of female songwriters are singing “Time’s Up.” Nearly two dozen women, all belonging to the Song Suffragettes collective, sang on the “Time’s Up” song and music video released earlier this month….
Riverbend adds two headliners & Bud Light Stage acts for this summer
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) The Riverbend Festival lineup for 2018 got three more acts today. 90s rockers Third Eye Blind will play the Coke Stage on the second Friday, June 15 at 9:30 PM. The scored several hits including “Semi-Charmed Life,” “Jumper,” and “How’s It Going to Be” during the grunge era. The headliner for Faith & Family Night (Tuesday June 12)…
16-year-old suspended after anti-bullying video goes viral
LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee high school student’s anti-bullying video has resulted in nearly 600,000 views on YouTube and a suspension for its creator. Lebanon High School student Emily Gipson said school administrators accused her of “trying to incite violence” and gave her a two-day in-school suspension for the video entitled “Welcome to Lebanon High School,” posted Jan. 22….
Banana Republic leaving Hamilton Place Mall
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – One of Hamilton Place Mall’s longest running retailers has closed up shop here. Banana Republic posted signs encouraging customers to visit their store in Knoxville. Gap announced last fall that they planned on closing about 10% of their Gap and Banana Republic stores. But this closing has been in the works for awhile. Hamilton Place officials say…
Country singer Lari White dies of rare cancer
NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Country singer Lari White Cannon has died after a brief battle with cancer. She was only diagnosed with the rare and aggressive peritoneal cancer in October. White entered a Hospice facility last night. The family had begun a GoFundMe campaign to pay for her medical expenses which has almost met the $100,000 goal. White won the Nashville…
More Tennessee DA’s file lawsuit against opiod producers & clinics
MANCHESTER, Tennessee (WDEF) – Fire more District Attorney Generals have filed lawsuits involving the opiod crisis in Tennessee. They represent counties in the middle part of the state. Their targets are both the companies that make the drugs and the owners of alleged “pill-mills” that distribute them in large numbers. One of the doctors named in the suit is Dr….
Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan dies suddenly in London
LONDON (AP) – Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer of Irish band The Cranberries, has died. She was 46. Publicist Lindsey Holmes says O’Riordan died suddenly Monday in London, where she was recording. The cause of death wasn’t immediately available. Holmes says the singer’s family is “devastated” by the news. The Limerick band became international stars in the 1990s with hits including…
Riverbend books rising country star Luke Combs
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Country music rising star Luke Combs will play the Riverbend Festival in June. The 27 year old Ashville, NC native was a frequent competitor to Lauren Alaina for breakthrough artist of 2017. He scored two #1 hits on country radio last year, “Hurricane” and “When It Rains It Pours.” His debut album “This One’s For You” also…
R&B singer-songwriter Denise LaSalle dies in Tennessee
JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) – Singer and songwriter Denise LaSalle, whose hit “Trapped by a Thing Called Love” topped the R&B charts in 1971, has died. She was 78. Musician and producer Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, a close family friend of LaSalle’s, said Tuesday that the singer died in Jackson, Tennessee. Media outlets report LaSalle suffered from health issues in recent months…
Chattanooga wins another season of the Levitt Amp concert series
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – The Levitt Amp concert series will return for a second season in Chattanooga. The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation handed out this year’s round of grants to 15 small to mid-sized cities across the country on Friday. The city won $25,000 to stage a new season of the free concerts this summer on the lawn of…
Bredesen in, Berke out of Tennessee Senate race
NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is jumping back into politics. He announced on Thursday that he will run for the U.S. Senate. Bredesen has been exploring a run since Bob Corker announced he would not seek re-election. Bredesen was the last democrat to win a statewide election eleven years ago. “We all know Washington is broken,” Bredesen…
Body-cam shows Georgia officer saving life of newborn baby
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – Savannah police are crediting an officer with saving the life of a choking newborn baby by racing to her apartment and then using chest compressions to restart the infant’s breathing. Dramatic video from an officer’s body-worn camera shows the infant’s desperate mother, Tina Adkins, holding her unresponsive 29-day-old baby on Friday. Savannah-Chatham police Officer William Eng’s…
Parents upset about how “murder list” at Ringgold Middle was handled; district says there was no threat
RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF)- Parents in Ringgold are on edge tonight after a, quote, murder list was brought to their attention. The administration says they deemed it was just a prank. Erica Rivers says, “You drop them off and you think that the school is going to ensure that they are safe. But they are taking this as a joke or a prank.”…
Phillip Fulmer will be the new Athletic Director at UT
Pretty official now @wvlt pic.twitter.com/460UUDGyEV— David Ball WVLT (@DavidBallWVLT) December 1, 2017 KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – Multiple reports out of Knoxville say the University is going back to a familiar face to lead the athletic program out of a week of turmoil. Administrators will name coach Phillip Fulmer as the new Athletic Director to replace John Currie. Currie was recalled…
Multiple-vehicle wreck in East Ridge
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) – Multiple drivers were involved in an East Ridge crash today. Three cars appeared to have wrecked on John Ross Road Thursday afternoon. Only one person appeared to be hurt after the accident, though the extent of the injuries are unknown. No other details are available at this time. *Video by Greg Hope Categories: Local News Tags:…
Co-founder of ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ dies after ALS battle
PELHAM, N.Y. (AP) – The ALS Association says a man credited as one of the co-founders of the viral “Ice Bucket Challenge” that swept social media in 2014 has died after a yearslong battle with the condition known as Lou Gerhig’s disease. Anthony Senerchia was 46. The Anthony Senerchia Jr. ALS Charitable Foundation website says the Pelham, New York, native…
Syndicated radio personality Robert D. Raiford dies
CHARLOTTE, NC (WDEF) – An original John Boy and Billy big Show personality has died. Robert D. Raiford was 89 years old. His career began as a radio newsman, who worked the funeral of President Kennedy for CBS. He found a second life working as a “curmudgeon at large” on the syndicated John Boy & Billy Big Show, airing in…
Chattanooga Central Wrestling Starts Fundraiser To Buy Equipment
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) Chattanooga Central Wrestling is asking for help to raise funding for their program. Donations will be used to cover the cost necessary to run a high school program. Donations will ensure that athletes get the proper equipment to perform. The money will go towards new safety equipment, uniforms, practice gear, tournament entry fees and travel costs. DONATE Categories:…
