Chattanooga rally held in opposition of undocumented student bill

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Pressure is mounting before a critical vote tomorrow on a controversial bill. A rally was held over the weekend to protest Senate Bill 8-36. The bill, proposed by Senator Bo Watson, would allow schools to not enroll undocumented students. He says this measure is necessary in the face of tightening budgets and less space in schools….

Pet of the Week: Gage

Meet News 12’s Pet of the Week, Gage! He is a 2 year old fellow with an expressive face. The Humane Educational Society (HES) says Gage does a splendid Husky vocal impression white in his kennel. He’s quick to warm up to people, especially if he receives a butt scratch. If given a butt scratch, Gage turns in circles and…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Woodsong

CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) – We are learning more about a school that focuses on the growth of a child through play-based learning in the natural world.  What began as a small school has now expanded into something far greater. Robert Hanley was out in Cleveland at Woodsong Forest School for this week’s What’s Right With Our Schools. “So we started…

Grundy County man arrested for setting fire to Palmer Market

PALMER, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Grundy County man has been arrested and charged with arson after setting fire to a local convenience store. On March 29, 2025, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) was made aware of a suspicious fire at Palmer Market. GCSO immediately launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. According to GCSO, the suspect, Nicholas…

Captain Larry L. Taylor exhibit unveiled at the MOHHC

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) –  The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center (MOHHC) officially unveiled the Captain Larry L. Taylor Exhibit on Saturday, March 29, 2025, with a grand opening that drew hundreds of visitors. The event honored the extraordinary legacy of Captain Larry Taylor, a Chattanooga native and Vietnam War hero, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in…

Mocs Ready to Taste Their First Ever NIT Final Four

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Mocs basketball team plays in their first ever NIT Final Four next week. If that wasn’t cool enough, Chattanooga will play in an historic arena against a team who features the most famous college basketball fan in America. The 105-year-old Sister Jean. Brother Armstrong breaks it down for us. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – UTC Mocs…

Honoring Officer Dunn Through Giving

FLINTSTONE, GA. (WDEF) – Today, from 12 to 5 PM, the community gathered at 4465 Happy Valley Road in Flintstone, Georgia, for a special blood drive honoring the life and service of Officer Charles “Chuck” Snyder Dunn III.  Officer Dunn, a 52-year-old resident of Rock Spring, dedicated 15 years to the Chickamauga Police Department, where he was deeply cherished by…

Nightfall Cutbacks Concern Some Fans

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga’s beloved Nightfall concert series is back, but not without some big changes stirring up some concern. This year, the lineup is being cut in half, and the season will only run for ten weeks instead of the usual fifteen.  Adding to the shake-up, the first three weeks will take place at Miller Park instead of…

Captain Larry Taylor Exhibit Opens This Weekend

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A new exhibit honoring a Chattanooga war hero is set to open this weekend at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. The Captain Larry L. Taylor Exhibit will officially open Saturday at 1PM, celebrating the late Vietnam War veteran’s extraordinary heroism.  Captain Taylor, a Chattanooga native, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2023…

Historical marker honors Chattanooga Rotary Club

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A new historical marker will immortalize one of Chattanooga’s longest running institutions. The Tennessee Historical Commission unveiled a historical marker that honors the Chattanooga Rotary Club Friday morning. The Tennessee state historical marker dedicated to the Chattanooga Rotary Club being unveiled. This is located in front of the UBS Building near the intersection of MLK Boulevard and…

Deconstruction Day at Tivoli aims to recover reusable materials

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) —  Sometimes you have to break things down to build them back up again. That was the idea behind Deconstruction Day at the Tivoli. Crews carefully disassembled parts of the building and recovered everything that could be re-used. That list included 11 glass and wood interior doors, more than a thousand feet of mahogany trim, custom wood…

Meigs county man arrested, charged in arson investigation

MEIGS COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Meigs County man has been arrested and charged in connection to an arson investigation in Georgetown. Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) began investigating a suspicious fire on June 15, 2023. The fire destroyed a detached garage at a residence in the 3000 block of Sugar Creek Road. According to the…

Orbital Atherectomy and what that means for National Kidney Month

CHATTANOOGA, TN – March is known for many things and among the madness that it always brings, it’s known for National Kidney Awareness Month.  Somewhere around 30 million Americans have various kidney diseases and disfunctions but are unaware of it until the symptoms progress.  The second Thursday in March is known as National Kidney Day with numerous organizations helping to…

Silverdale Shuts Out Notre Dame 9-0

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Silverdale softball team is chasing their third consecutive state title this season. They played like champs on Thursday with a 9-0 win over Notre Dame. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: High School Softball, Notre Dame, Silverdale

Undocumented student bill advances amid more protests

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- A bill that would allow schools to deny admission to undocumented students has cleared another hurdle. Sponsored by Senator Bo Watson of Hixson, House Bill 793 cleared the Tennessee House Education Committee by a 11 to 7 vote. A ten year old girl from Chattanooga protesting a bill that would allow schools to not enroll undocumented students…

Tennessee Supreme Court rules in favor of Bluecross Blueshield in COVID era suit

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled on a COVID-era lawsuit against Bluecross Blueshield. In 2021, Heather Smith, an employee at Bluecross Blueshield here in Chattanooga, was fired over her refusal to comply with a Covid vaccine mandate. She had contacted several state legislators to complain about the mandate, which the company said played a factor in her…

Mayor Wamp discusses entrepreneurship, education at Rotary Club

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp addressed the Downtown Rotary Club Thursday. He discussed the future of entrepreneurship and education in the county. The mayor presented data showing a wide range of outcomes in local schools, saying it shows the best and worst of our community. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp addressing the Chattanooga Rotary Club. He also…

Leaked memo about possible data breach stirs controversy at Hamilton County Commission

UPDATE: David Sharpe has issued a statement to News 12 in response to the mayor’s comments on the leak of this potential data breach. He said, “I did not leak this memo, and I don’t know who did, but it’s clear that Weston is desperate to redirect people’s attention away from the incompetence and recklessness of his administration.” CHATTANOOGA, Tenn….

Hamilton County to send out property tax notices

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  Some Hamilton County property owners can soon expect a tax increase. Property assessor Marty Haynes said Wednesday morning that notices will be sent as soon as next week. Despite previous rumors, the reassessment schedule will remain at every four years instead of being shortened to every two years. Haynes says that final certified tax rates won’t be…

Driving Our Economy Forward: Brickyard

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — They call it an odd bird in venture capital.  Investing in tech companies moving to Chattanooga from all over the world.  Tonight, we show you how the Brickyard continues to drive our economy forward every day in the scenic city. “Brickyard is sort of an odd bird in venture capital.  We’re investing in early-stage technology companies. …

A Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Shark Tank star and business mogul Barbara Corcoran is opening up about a deeply personal struggle, caring for her late mother, Florence, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Corcoran says she was prepared for memory loss, but not the agitation and behavioral changes that came with the disease.  For nine years, she watched as her mother became…