Bradley County man arrested after deputies find drugs during welfare check

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A welfare check turned into an arrest after a man was found unconscious with drug paraphernalia nearby. On May 21, 2025, deputies with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), responded to a welfare check at a business on Spring Place Road. Upon arrival, deputies found a male, later identified as Rex Woody Morgan, slumped over…

Firefighters rescue injured worker from apartment roof on Mountain Creek Road

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Chattanooga firefighters rescued an injured worker from the roof of an apartment building Thursday. On May 22, 2025, at 8:58 a.m., crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) responded to 1005 Mountain Creek Road. Upon arrival, crews used a rope system to get the patient down from the rooftop. According to CFD, the patient was working…

Riceville woman ordered to pay nearly $27,000 after committing TennCare fraud

  MCMINN COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Riceville woman has been convicted of TennCare fraud following an investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Angel Elrod, 47, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025 to one count of TennCare fraud after investigators found that she failed to report her 2018 marriage and her husband’s income to the Division of TennCare….

Lookouts Beat Rocket City 3-0 to Get Record Back to .500

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Lookouts won their fourth in-a-row on Wednesday with a 3-0 victory over Rocket City. The victory got Chattanooga’s record back to .500 at 20-20. Jose Acuna got the win. He didn’t allow a hit through 5.1 innings. Lookouts got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Edwin Arroyo delivered a two-out single to score…

CCS Rallies to Beat Baylor 8-6

Murfreesboro, TN (WDEF-TV) CCS rallied to beat Baylor 8-6 in their winner’s bracket matchup at Spring Fling. With the score tied at six in the bottom of the sixth, the Chargers Ella Chaffin got a ball to drop between two defenders. A pair of runs scored to provide the final margin of victory. Baylor then lost afterwards to St. Benedict,…

Driving Our Economy Forward: Bea’s Restaurant

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  It’s been a Chattanooga staple for 75 years.  If you haven’t been to Bea’s to eat, you’re missing out.  From the fried chicken to the peach cobbler, the restaurant pride’s itself on its southern cooking, served family style.  It’s a fifth generation family owned business that has been serving up great food and kindness for decades. …

Responder pay at forefront of Chattanooga city council budget discussion

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The potential raises for Chattanooga police and firefighters was at the center of Chattanooga City Council budget discussions. This year’s budget is projected to be $345 million dollars. Mayor Tim Kelly’s Chief of Staff Kevin Roig says that Chattanooga police officers are paid over 20 percent less than comparable departments, while firefighters are paid over 30 percent…

Ximena Arias-Cristobal granted bond in deportation case

Ximena Arias-Cristobal / GoFundMe UPDATE: We spoke with Arias-Cristobal’s lawyer, Dustin Baxter, who says that the judge instantly saw that Arias-Cristobal was deserving of this bond following the circumstances of her arrest in Dalton. Baxter said, “It wasn’t hard for her to see that Xiamena was in fact not a danger because she is of value to her community and is…

Five Scenic Routes Offered to Help Chattanooga Drivers Beat Summer Traffic

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Thrive Regional Partnership and the Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance are encouraging drivers to ditch the gridlock and explore five alternate routes to avoid some of Chattanooga’s most congested interstates. “We know areas like the I-75/I-24 split, the Ridge Cut, and the Highway 27 and I-24 interchange are heavily trafficked, especially by trucks,” said Rhett Bentley, Chief Communications…

Boynton Elementary Honored with Georgia’s First “Student Signature Award”

ROSSVILE, GA-(WDEF) — Boynton Elementary has made history as the first school in Georgia to receive the new “Student Signature Award” from the Georgia Department of Education. State School Superintendent Richard Woods visited the school today to recognize students for their outstanding cursive handwriting. “Our mission is preparing kids for life,” said Woods. “This shows schools are focusing on academics…

Internet outage delays Dalton teen’s deportation bond hearing

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- A Dalton teen who police say was wrongly arrested a few weeks ago was supposed to face her deportation hearing Tuesday. Xiamena Arias-Cristobal has been in ICE custody for nearly two weeks. However, she will have to wait to learn her fate. Xiamena Arias-Cristobal was arrested for not having a driver’s license after a Dalton Police officer…

Summer Gas Prices Drive Savings

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – If you’re thinking about hitting the road this summer, you’re not alone, and this year, you might not feel quite as much pain at the pump. A new forecast from GasBuddy shows gas prices are expected to drop just in time for the summer travel season.  Experts say it could be the cheapest summer to fill…

Voucher Program Sparks Statewide Debate

  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tennessee’s school voucher program has expanded statewide, drawing tens of thousands of applications and generating both enthusiasm and concern.  The issue is now front and center in Hamilton County, where leaders are weighing how the program could affect public school budgets. The Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Program is off to a fast start.  Since enrollment…

75 Years of Southern Tradition

  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Chattanooga favorite is celebrating a milestone this week. Bea’s Restaurant is turning 75. Located on Dodds Avenue, right at the foot of the ridge, Bea’s has been serving up all-you-can-eat Southern comfort food since 1950.  With its signature lazy Susans and family-style seating, the restaurant has become more than just a place to eat,…

Man arrested after motorcycle chase and drug discovery

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —   A traffic stop attempt on Tuesday afternoon resulted in a brief pursuit and a man facing multiple charges. At approximately 12:20 p.m. on May 20, 2025, a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy spotted a motorcycle with a bent license plate in the 1900 block of Cummings Highway. The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic…

Festival of flags honors Veterans in Ringgold

RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) – Community members in Ringgold, Georgia are once again honoring their heroes in a breathtaking and patriotic way. The city’s annual Festival of Flags is more than a visual tribute — it’s a tradition rooted in pride, sacrifice, and remembrance. Since the 1970s, this event has been growing in size and meaning, bringing neighbors together to salute…

Man found dead after Catoosa County house fire

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) —  Authorities are investigating a house fire that occurred in Catoosa County Monday afternoon. Catoosa County E-911 received reports of smoke coming from a home on Lillian Drive shortly before 3:00 p.m. Upon arrival, the Catoosa County Fire Department (CCFD) found fire and smoke coming from the front of the residence. CCFD said the fire was…