UTC hosts bloodanooga drive due to critical blood shortage

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is partnering with Blood Assurance for a two-day blood drive, held Monday (April 1) and Tuesday (April 2) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The nonprofit is urging students, faculty, and community members to roll up their sleeves and donate, as the region faces an alarming blood shortage. According to…

Jury still being selected in Darryl Roberts murder trial

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- In September 2023, a Baylor alum and Chattanooga businessman was murdered in front of Patten Towers. Now, the man charged with first degree murder in that shooting is facing this trial. On the night of September 28, 2023, Baylor alum and businessman Chris Wright was walking past Patten Towers. Surveillance footage showed Wright getting into a confrontation…

Cracking Down on Distracted Driving

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and today, law enforcement hit the streets for Operation Hands Free—a statewide effort to crack down on distracted drivers and highlight the dangers of using a phone behind the wheel. In Chattanooga, officers boarded a CARTA bus, using the higher vantage point to spot drivers holding or using their…

Golden Apple Award: Warren Smith, CCS

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Biology is defined as the study of living organisms. It can be one of the more challenging subjects on a 9 grader’s schedule, but Warren Smith sprinkles in plenty of life lessons for his students a CCS. For teaching growing minds about growing things, we honored, Mr. Smith with tonight’s Golden Apple Award. Jake Palumbo is…

Arrest made in connection to Grundy County fatal hit and run

Haley Layman arrested / Grundy County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook UPDATE (4/2/2025):  An arrest has been made in connection to the fatal hit-and-run that killed Bobby Dan Green. According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, multiple agencies, including Tennessee Highway Patrol, assisted in the arrest of Haley Layman. No further details are available at this time. GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)…

Cleveland Berry Street hit and run suspect arrested

  UPDATE (4/2/2025):  A suspect has been arrested in connection to the hit-and-run incident on Berry Street in Cleveland over the weekend. Cleveland police say they located and apprehended the 17-year-old suspect on April 1, 2025. He was arrested and taken to the Bradley County Juvenile Center. The 17-year-old faces the following charges: Leaving the Scene of an Accident involving…

Seven-figure gift kickstarts New Women’s Athletic Complex at UTC

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has received a generous seven-figure donation from the Steiner family, a local Chattanooga family with a long-standing tradition of supporting UTC. This gift will fund the initial planning stages of a new women’s athletic complex, which will benefit the university’s softball, beach volleyball, and soccer teams. Amy Donahue, UTC’s…

Report says most Hamilton County inmates stay behind bars through the end of their case

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Just how many Hamilton County inmates are staying behind bars while awaiting trial? A new report says, most of them. The Chattanoogans for Love, Equality, and Benevolence, or CALEB for short, has been advocating for inmate rights in Hamilton County for some time. Monday, they released the results of a years-long study on how many inmates are…

Property value notices going out across Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Reappraisal notices have started going out across Hamilton County. County property assessor Marty Haynes says that by the end of April, every property owner should receive such notices. There are over 165,000 properties in Hamilton County. Haynes wants the public to know that while your home value is likely to go up, this doesn’t necessarily equate to…

Veterans Court Offers Second Chance

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County is making strides in supporting local veterans who find themselves in the criminal justice system.  At today’s Pachyderm Club meeting, Judge Gary Starnes of the General Sessions Court, Division 5, shared details about the newly launched Veterans Treatment Court, an initiative designed to help veterans get back on their feet.  The court, which started…

Walmart Offers Measles Protection Resources

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – As measles cases resurface in Tennessee, Walmart and Walgreens Health & Wellness professionals are stepping up to help keep the community safe and informed.  Local pharmacists are available for in-store or in-studio interviews to discuss important topics, including the availability of the MMR vaccine.  The vaccine provides critical protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, and Walmart…

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…