LaFayette Knocks Off Gordon Lee 6-3
Chickamauga, GA-(WDEF-TV) LaFayette built a 6-1 lead against rival Gordon Lee, and then they held on to beat the Trojans by a final of 6-3. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Lookouts Enjoying Final Regular Season Home Series Ever at AT&T Field
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Lookouts are in the middle of their final regular season home series ever at AT&T Field. They’re moving to a new ballpark next year. Lookouts media relations director Dan Kopf takes us down memory lane at AT&T Field. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Collegedale’s city manager resigns during commission meeting
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF)- The city of Collegedale is experiencing a sudden change in leadership. The city manager in a community such as Collegedale is important for ensuring that day to day operations are smooth. However, a curveball was thrown at Collegedale commissioners on Tuesday evening. Collegedale city manager Waylon Hines announced, “Unfortunately, I have lost trust and faith in some…
Tennessee Drinking Rates Rise Unexpectedly
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Alcohol use in the United States is falling, but not in Tennessee. A new report from food and beverage software company Trace One, using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), shows that just 52.3% of American adults reported drinking alcohol in 2023, a nearly 90-year low. That’s down from 56.7% in…
Mother in Court Following School Incident
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County deputies say a mother is facing charges after an incident at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy last month. On the morning of Tuesday, August 19, a student went to the school office reporting that her mother, identified as Misty Sue Coleman, became upset after she missed the bus. The student told staff that while exiting…
Shipley clarifies stance on commissioner travel fund controversy
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Hamilton County commissioner who was angry over a report of inappropriate travel reimbursements issued an apology Wednesday morning. Commissioner Gene-O Shipley was one of five Hamilton County commissioners who was found to have been reimbursed for traveling between their homes and the Courthouse for Commission meetings. Commissioner Shipley was outraged at last week’s meeting, which…
Hamilton County Commission announces leadership changes
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Commission has made some leadership changes. Ken Smith is now the Commission’s chairman after being the Vice Chair. Jeff Eversole had been the chairman for the previous two years. The chairman of the commission runs the meetings along with helping determine what resolutions get placed on the agenda. Chairman Smith thanked Commissioner Eversole…
Aquarium pump sparks small fire in Lakesite home
LAKESITE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Dallas Bay fire crews put out a fire caused by an aquarium filter pump Wednesday morning. On September 3, 2025, at 10:29 a.m., crews responded to a residence on Thrasher Trail. According to Dallas Bay Fire & Rescue, upon arrival, crews discovered an aquarium filter pump that had caught on fire and begun to spread up…
Traffic stop leads to arrest in major electric grid vandalism case
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A traffic stop helped close a major investigation into critical infrastructure vandalism and theft in our region. On August 31, 2025, at 2:00 a.m., HCSO deputies arrested Joel Donald Brown during the stop. Brown was wanted in connection to widespread damage and theft involving local electric grid components. According to the HCSO, between 2024 and…
Fall favorite events return to the Chattanooga Zoo
Jake Cash and Cole Abbott are back from Warner Park to highlight some of their exciting fall attractions for kids and adults. ‘Reptar’ joins the crew and News 12’s Amelia Greer as one of the Zoo’s special ambassador animals. Learn how you and the family can take advantage of fun and educational events this fall! CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The…
Lookouts Rally to Beat Birmingham 4-3 on 25-Cent Hot Dog Night
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Leave it to the Lookouts to add a little ‘catch-up’ on 25-cent hot dog night, as they managed to catch-up and rally for a 4-3 victory against Birmingham on Tuesday. Over 44-hundred fans were in attendance, as Chattanooga sold 25-cent hot dogs all game long. After falling behind 3-2 in the 7th, Cam Collier got an RBI single in…
Kicker Jake Collett Big Weapon For Heritage
Ringgold, GA-(WDEF-TV) This time next year Heritage kicker Jake Collett could be teammates with Arch Manning. Collett garnered a scholarship offer from Texas thanks to his booming kicks. He has certainly become a big weapon for the Heritage Generals. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News
Volkswagen announces the furloughs of 160 employees
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- For the second time in a year, Volkswagen is scaling back the production of the electric vehicle made in Chattanooga. Back in March, Volkswagen announced they were cutting production down to a two shift model, and asked for voluntary layoffs. Now six months later, they are furloughing 160 employees in late October. The company says they are…
Levi Shines in Times Square
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – This Saturday, September 6, Chattanooga’s own Levi Darr will be featured on the bright screens of Times Square during the National Down Syndrome Society’s annual video presentation. The one-hour showcase includes more than 500 photographs of children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome from all 50 states and 11 countries. Levi’s photo was selected from more…
Students Return for New Year
CHATSWORTH, GA (WDEF) — Students in Murray County, Georgia are back in the classroom today for their first day of the new school year. This morning, buses picked up children across the county as families said their goodbyes and students carried backpacks full of fresh supplies. Teachers welcomed their classes, excited to start a new year of learning. Parents can…
Boyd-Buchanan softball player looking to win youth athlete of the year
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A softball player at Boyd-Buchanan is looking to win a big honor as a youth athlete.16 year old Peyton Pryor is a pitcher for the Bucs. She is one of five finalists for Sports Illustrated’s Youth Athlete of the Year. Payton Pyror (Courtesy: Youth Athlete of the Year) That award is given out by that magazine, the…
Tennessee Aquarium awarded for efforts to save endangered Laurel Dace
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Aquarium is getting more recognition for their work to save a small, endangered fish. The Tennessee River Basin Network gave the Aquarium a “River Champions” award last week. The award was for their “Laurel Dace Day” celebration in Spring City. The event got local and national news coverage plus plenty of attention on social…
Trump to announce Space Command headquarters moving from Colorado to Alabama, sources say
President Trump is expected to announce Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Space Command headquarters is moving from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama, according to a U.S. official and two sources familiar with the planning. Mr. Trump signed an executive order in 2018 reestablishing U.S. Space Command, after it had been absorbed in 2002 into U.S. Strategic Command. Its main goal is…
Nosh-A-Nooga returns for its second year in a row
President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga Michael Dzik joins News 12’s Amelia Greer to highlight their latest event in Miller Plaza. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Nosh-A-Nooga returns for the second year and the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga is making it bigger and better! Guests can grab a nosh (a small bite) at the event where…
Mayor Wamp launches re-election bid alongside Blackburn, other Tennessee Republicans
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The 2026 campaign is off to a start as Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp formally announced his reelection campaign at the Wamp Labor Day Picnic at Chester Frost Park. Joining him was Senator Marsha Blackburn who made her first major stop in Chattanooga for her own gubernatorial campaign. Mayor Wamp says that he is looking to…
What’s Right With Our Schools: Snack Pack Ministry East Brainerd Church of Christ
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Once a month, folks gather at the East Brainerd Church of Christ in hopes of feeding a multitude. Snack Pack Ministry is on a mission to tackle food insecurity in Hamilton County one child at a time. And that’s a fulfilling example “What’s Right With Our Schools”. Janice Robertson is the Founder of Snack Pack Ministry….
Animeverse Fest Begins in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Day one of Animeverse Fest transformed the Chattanooga Convention Center into a hub for anime and gaming culture. Fans from across the region gathered to celebrate their favorite shows and characters. The convention floor buzzed with energy as the vendor hall opened, offering everything from collectible figures to handmade artwork. Visitors also had the chance to…
Jerri Green Visits Chattanooga Voters
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Jerri Green, a Memphis City Council member and Democratic candidate for Tennessee governor, made a campaign stop in Chattanooga today as part of her statewide tour. Green, who is in her first term on the council, is meeting with residents across Tennessee to hear their concerns directly. She says issues such as education, childcare, wages, and…
Parents upset with school board over Centerstone decision
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- We are hearing from parents upset with a recent decision by the Hamilton County School Board to discontinue a partnership with Centerstone Mental Health. Amanda Chenkins’ daughter is in the first grade at Battle Academy. She says her therapist, provided by Centerstone through the school, has been a huge part of her educational journey. However, that…