WDEF- Cracker Barrel is stirring up conversation after unveiling a major brand refresh for the first time in decades. The chain has rolled out a redesigned logo, removing its iconic image of a man sitting by a barrel. The update is intended to modernize the brand while maintaining its Southern roots. Some fans have voiced disappointment on social media, while…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A former elementary school teacher convicted on 15 child sex abuse charges in June, including aggravated child rape, was back in court Tuesday morning. Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp referred to the seven children who testified they were sexually abused by Duane Sanders inside of his Wallace A. Smith Elementary classroom, as the Heroic Seven. Sanders…
RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) – Families are still recovering from the flash floods that swept through just a couple of weeks ago, leaving homes and lives turned upside down. In response, the Chamber of Commerce has launched a major relief effort, extending its donation drive through the end of the week. The list of needed items is wide-ranging but focused on…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Renovations of several Hamilton County Schools were discussed at the school board’s finance committee meeting. Thrasher Elementary, Orchard Knob Middle School, and Normal Park Magnet were discussed as schools with potential upgrades coming. This would be an additional phase of the school facilities plan. One of the schools in that first phase, Clifton Hills Elementary in…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga is celebrating a major step forward for families of children with special needs. Special Kids, a nonprofit founded 27 years ago in Murfreesboro, has officially opened its first pediatric therapy clinic in the city. For families in Hamilton County, access to therapy has long been a struggle. Waitlists can stretch as long as two years,…
SUMMERVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) — A Menlo man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after a mobile home shooting almost three years ago. On December 22, 2022, deputies with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a residence on Reece Street on reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, deputies located the victims involved in the incident, who identified…
Local artist, Harlan Lovestone joins News 12’s Amelia Greer as registration opens for his Fall 2025 ‘Remote Art and STEM/STEAM’ classes. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Developed through ArtsBuild’s Periscope Program, Color Wheel Learning is offering classes that combines art with STEM/STEAM. Students can start signing up now and receive a discount if they sign up before September 15. Classes will…
Game week is finally here for Tennessee, as they prepare to face Syracuse on Saturday at noon in Atlanta. With so many new players in the mix this season for the Vols, it led to plenty of questions for Coach Heupel and his players. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – UT Vols
NOTE: We previously reported that Jimenez had a federal warrant. We have updated this to the wording of the jail report. RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF)- An arrest in Ringgold of an undocumented immigrant and an activist has gone viral. Elizabeth Haley says she was with her friend Jade Michalski last Monday when they noticed a man being arrested on Depot Street….
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