Bradley County firefighters push for more pay

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Bradley County firefighters are asking their county commission to increase their pay. Currently, the starting salary of a Bradley County Fire Rescue member is only $38,000. For comparison, Chattanooga firefighters have a starting salary of $56,000 , and Cleveland firefighters start at $50,000. They also state their equipment is outdated compared to other departments, and that they…

CFC Re-Sign Captain Alex McGrath

(press release) — Chattanooga Football Club (CFC) announced today it has re-signed midfielder and captain Alex McGrath to a two-year contract with a club option for a further year. The 28-year-old has committed his future to CFC after being sidelined for the majority of the 2025 season with a knee injury sustained in Chattanooga’s match against Atlanta United 2 on…

Mark Mariakis Stepping Down at Signal Mountain

Signal Mountain, TN-(WDEF-TV) Signal Mountain coach Mark Mariakis is stepping down after two seasons as Signal Mountain’s head coach. Mariakis announced he’s retiring from coaching after 40-years in the business. Before going to the Eagles, Mariakis also served as the head coach at Ridgeland and Chattanooga Christian. He took Signal Mountain to the playoffs in each of his two seasons…

Ronald McDonald House Chattanooga Marks 35

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga celebrated its 35th birthday today, marking more than three decades of supporting families in the region.  The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce also declared November 18th “RMH of Greater Chattanooga Day” in honor of the organization’s milestone. Since opening in 1990, the House has provided a home-like environment, meals, and…

Golden Apple Award: OLPH, Diana Lee

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Learning a new language is easier the earlier you start. Senora Diana Lee makes the Spanish language come to life for students in Pre-K through 5th grade at OLPH. See why this vibrant and enthusiastic teacher earned this week’s Golden Apple Award. “There’s so many good things that we can share about Senora Lee. One of…

Rock City celebrates over 30 years of the Enchanted Garden of Lights

News 12 This Morning: Pepper Raper joins News 12’s Amelia Greer and brings the magic of the holiday season with her! The ‘Enchanted Garden of Lights’ is back and bigger than ever at Rock City. Learn how you can enjoy one of Chattanooga’s favorite holiday traditions! LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. (WDEF) — Chattanooga’s favorite holiday tradition has returned to Lookout Mountain….

Operation Christmas Child kicks off collection week in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Today marks the start of the celebration season for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, as nearly five thousand drop-off locations open across the country. This year, the local kickoff is taking place at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. News 12 spoke with local organizers to learn more about what this mission means not…

Airport breaks ground on new aviation park

Ground being broken on Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport’s new aviation park. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport broke ground on their new aviation park Monday. The skies fascinate many, and in the decades past, there was a spot to watch planes take off and land here in Chattanooga. The airport’s CEO and President, April Cameron, said, “As many people know,…

New initiative to allow faith organizations to tackle affordable housing

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A new initiative is looking to tackle the issue of affordable housing in a new way. The city of Chattanooga, along with the McClellan Foundation and the Enterprise Center, launched their Faith-Based Development Initiative. This initiative will provide assistance and grant funding to 8 faith based organizations who pledge to turn underutilized land into new affordable housing…

What’s Right With Our Schools: ACG Go Build Construction Career Expo

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – As our area grows, construction workers remain in high demand. Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee are working to meet that need. At their recent “Go Build Construction Career Expo” they gave 10th graders a hands-on look at the industry. That’s a brick-and-mortar example of “What’s Right With Our Schools.” Steven Lewis is the Principal at…

Tennessee Aquarium decks the halls with seasonal offers

News 12 This Morning: Alison Pryor with the Tennessee Aquarium joins News 12’s Amelia Greer as viewers get ready for the holidays. The aquarium lights will be decking the halls for the season, and SCUBA Claus is getting ready for dives! Along with seasonal offers, aquarium memberships can be purchased for that family member that already has everything– buy an…

Enjoy the holidays guilt-free with Planet Fitness workouts

News 12 This Morning: Amelia Greer is back in her dress clothes for another morning workout! Cheria Sisk from Planet Fitness brings her Thanksgiving themed workout to the News 12 studio to get in the zone during the holidays. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The holidays are a stressful time for everyone, but getting a workout in should be the least…

Chattanooga’s Incline Railway celebrates 130 years

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – From the first days of early mountain tourism to the modern skyline we see today, the Incline Railway has remained a constant, iconic landmark. Today, one of the world’s steepest passenger railways marks a milestone few landmarks will ever reach. During the celebration, Dylan Rivera, the City of Chattanooga’s Director of Policy Planning and Implementation, delivered…

ChattLab Makerspace hosts Community Repair Café

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The ChattLab Makerspace is helping residents save money and reduce waste through its community repair café, an event where volunteers work to fix everyday items that people might otherwise throw away. Individuals can bring household goods or electronics to the workshop, and volunteers will attempt to repair them. Participants can also bring ideas for new creations…

New findings push PFAS investigation toward major legal action

DALTON Ga. (WDEF) For more than a year, families in northwest Georgia have been living with unanswered questions about PFAS, often called forever chemicals. News 12 attended a community update where the attorneys leading the PFAS Georgia investigation outlined what eighteen months of testing has uncovered and what the community should expect next. One of the lead attorneys, Ben Finley,…

Chattanooga Buddy Walk Celebrates Inclusion

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The 2025 Chattanooga Buddy Walk brought thousands of families, advocates, and supporters to First Horizon Pavilion this weekend, celebrating individuals with Down syndrome and the power of community. The event featured music, food vendors, games, face painting, and the popular “Buddy Strut,” where individuals with Down syndrome are highlighted and cheered on by friends and family. …

Memorial service held in honor of crew member who lost his life in LifeFlight crash

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WDEF) – Saturday morning a memorial service was held in honor of Allan Williams, the crew member who lost his life in the recent LifeFlight crash in Wilson County. The service took place at the Rolling Hills Community Church at 1810 Columbia Ave., Franklin, Tennessee. The photos above are from the Vanderbilt LifeFlight media platform, where they wrote,…

Chattanooga’s Rising Track Star

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga has a rising star in youth track: Robert Todd IV.  At just 9 years old, Robert is already making a name for himself with his speed, dedication, and competitive spirit. Training with the Chatt Town Speed Track Club, Robert competes in sprints and middle-distance events, posting times that put him among the top runners nationally…

Holiday Home Dedication for Family

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga welcomed the holiday season by celebrating a new home dedication for Stephanie Tarvin and her family on Friday, November 14th.  The ceremony took place in a local neighborhood, where friends, volunteers, and community partners gathered to mark the completion of months of hard work. Tarvin, a medical assistant and mother…

Sponsors for various features of Erlanger Park announced

The construction progress of Erlanger Park on November 14, 2025. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The brand new home of the Chattanooga Lookouts made some announcements Friday. Five companies; Unum, Rock City, Kubota, FirstBank, and Coca-Cola, are sponsoring various aspects of Erlanger Park. Unum is sponsoring 16 luxury suite boxes. FirstBank is sponsoring the home run club behind home plate. Kubota of…

Parkridge announces plans to open new emergency room in Bradley county

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — Parkridge Medical Center announced plans to build a freestanding Emergency Room in Bradley County. The ER would have 11 rooms, including one for trauma care. It would also feature a nurses station, imaging, and in-house labs. Parkridge said in a press release that Bradley County is rapidly growing and is underserved when it comes to 24-7…