RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Rhea County Schools say there is an active investigation into a series of racially charged social media posts. The posts came from an Instagram account called @rheaco_barstool that has since been taken down. One of the posts on the now deleted @rheaco_barstool Instagram account. There were several other posts that were racist in nature directed at…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County now has a new public records request system. Hamilton County Attorney Janie Varnell says her office has entered into an agreement with the Next Request Portal system to speed up public records requests. Varnell took over the County Attorney role last month from long-time attorney Rheubin Taylor. She says that previously before implementing this new…
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Best Buy is famous for its Geek Squad. Those same big brains recently visited Bethlehem Center to teach students how to solve tech problems, and that’s a timely example of “What’s Right With Our Schools”. “So today we’re happy to have a wonderful partnership with a few local organizations and a large national one, but we have…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A mother is facing aggravated child abuse charges after hitting her child with a vehicle at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA). On Tuesday morning, August 19, CGLA’s School Resource Deputy (SRD) responded to reports of a student being struck in the parking lot by their mother’s car. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said the…
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Polk County woman is behind bars after allegedly shooting and killing her boyfriend. On Friday, August 22, 2025, deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to 266 Grassy Creek Road in response to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies and EMS found 39-year-old Buell Cody Thomason deceased with an apparent gunshot wound to…
DAYTON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Madisonville woman is dead after being struck by a freight train over the weekend in Dayton. On Saturday, August 23, 2025, officers with the Dayton Police Department (DPD) responded to the 1300 block of Railroad Street for reports of a pedestrian struck by a freight train, Upon arrival, officers located the deceased female next to…
Chattanooga, TN- (WDEF)- Celebrity Chef Marcel Cocit is sharing creative ways to enjoy the savory holiday, including bacon bouquets, edible straws, and even bacon-wrapped watermelon rinds. Chef Marcel says the goal is to make food fun, flavorful, and a little unexpected. “I’m always thinking of different ideas of what you can do with bacon,” Cocit said. “You can add it…
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) — The East Ridge Police Department (ERPD) seized a sizeable amount of drugs and firearms following a traffic stop. ERPD stopped a white BMW near the Bachman Tunnels for a minor traffic violation. After further investigation, ERPD determined the two occupants of the vehicle were in possession of methamphetamine and a firearm. Both Shawn Unruh…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Engines, chrome, and community spirit came together in Chattanooga today as the King of Chatt Car Show II filled the First Horizon Pavilion with cars, bikes, and family fun. The event, which ran from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., drew crowds from across the region and out of state. Organizers featured more than 25 categories of…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Years after a devastating crash nearly claimed his life, Jeremy Ray Kell is turning his pain into purpose. In May of 1996, at age 20, Kell was critically injured when his car left Highway 56 near the DeKalb-Warren County line, flipping several times before coming to rest. He was airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- We are learning new details about Thursday’s false shooting call at UTC, as classes resumed Friday. A dispatch operator with Hamilton County 911 received that call Thursday at 12:29 about a shooting near the library. That call lasted for roughly seven minutes, in which the caller claimed there was a male with an AR-15, and that four…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Silverdale has added a new fieldhouse and turf this season. Now they wouldn’t mind delivering more wins on the field as well. Brian Armstrong has the story. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
CHATTANOOGA, TN – On the follow up to last weeks super awesome Tech Byte at the Tennessee Aquarium, our friend Alison Pryor gave us a second behind the scenes look at a little more tech that makes the aquarium function. When the aquarium first opened, I was in high school and we all joked that the aquarium was built on…
News 12’s Amelia Greer goes Behind the Curtain with Ashley Bottoms at Clumpies to learn how the popular local ice cream staple makes their delicious treats. For this collab, the duo got to make an exclusive News 12 This Morning pint inspired by breakfast items (featuring maple bacon)! *This batch will not be available in stores. If you’re looking for some…
Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) It was the Roman Eulo show Thursday at Cleveland. The Walker Valley play-maker scored all four touchdowns in the game, as the Mustangs beat rival Cleveland 28-3 in their season opener. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Harrison, TN-(WDEF-TV) Signal Mountain opened their season Thursday night with a 29-0 road win over Central. The Eagles held a comfortable 22-0 advantage at halftime before cruising to the shut-out victory. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Mocs defense will feature a ton of new faces this fall. But as Brian Armstrong reports, UT C hopes to make their opponents cry uncle. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – UTC Mocs
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga endured a frightening afternoon after receiving an emergency alert of a possible active shooter on campus. The message, sent at 12:42 p.m., warned of a threat inside the University Center or the campus library and urged students to “Run, Hide, Fight.” Many students immediately locked doors and sheltered…
Response to a call of an active shooter at UTC, later proven to be false. (From: Hamilton County EMS) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Chaos ensued on the UTC campus on Thursday afternoon. Police say at roughly 12:30 Thursday afternoon, dispatchers received a call about an active shooter with a rifle at 615 McCallie Avenue. This prompted a massive response from UTC…
Dr. James Dobson, a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, died on Thursday. He was 89. His death was confirmed by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. Dobson started a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents and founded Focus on…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Could the Hamilton County Commission’s meeting time change? During Wednesday’s meeting centered on the controversial Plan Hamilton vote, several residents voiced how inconvenient the 9:30 a.m. meeting time of the County Commission has been throughout this process. They argue it freezes out many citizens from attending and participating in this political process due to being at work,…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Chattanooga nightclub has been sanctioned for the third time this year by the Chattanooga Beer Board.The Dream on Glass Street has had a series of issues dating back to December 2024. A shooting had occurred inside the club then injuring one person. Afterwards, a shootout occurred outside of the club in January that was caught on…
Kevin Lusk with Project Access and Joel Henderson with Volunteers in Medicine join News 12’s Amelia Greer to preview a special fundraiser between the two organizations. ‘Golf for Good’ offers patients and physicians alike the opportunity to enjoy time on the golf course — all for a good cause. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Project Access and Volunteers in Medicine are collaborating…
Executive Director Rodney VanValkenburg and Musical Theatre Director Michael Howard join News 12’s Chip Chapman to preview their newest musical next month titled ‘Memphis.’ CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Theatre Center’s 102nd season is right around the corner with the play Memphis kicking off in September on their main stage. Memphis is musical about a white DJ with a…