Hope for Alexander: A Family’s Mission to Change Childhood Cancer Treatment

  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) –  Imagine explaining to your child that he or she has cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 15,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with the disease each year in the United States. One Chicago family with roots in Chattanooga experienced this diagnosis firsthand. Meet 6-year-old Alexander Brown, his sister Charlotte, mom…

Cleveland HS Celebrates Student Success Stories

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – At Cleveland High School, Room 901 is home to more than just desks and textbooks. It’s where dreams take center stage. What started as a simple classroom challenge has turned into a powerful tradition, thanks to government teacher Kyle Gilpin. His “Wall of Dreams” proudly displays acceptance letters from seniors heading to college, the military, and…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Sequoyah Future Ready

SODDY DAISY, TN (WDEF) – A new initiative is coming to Sequoyah High School that promises to open up a world of opportunities for students. The North River Future Ready Center aims to equip students with the skills they need for college and in-demand careers.  This is another perfect example of “What’s Right With Our Schools”. Big changes are coming to…

Five arrested in Soddy Daisy human trafficking operation

  SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A joint undercover operation targeting human trafficking in Soddy Daisy has resulted in the arrest of five individuals. The effort, led by TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit and the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, took place on April 26, 2025. According to the TBI, agents posted decoy advertisements on websites known for commercial sex activity,…

Hamilton County man pleads guilty to several charges in Catoosa County

RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) —  A Hamilton County man has pleaded guilty to several charges, including shooting at a police officer and being in possession of meth. On May 26, 2024, Travis Downie fired several shots at a responding Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit. He then fled the scene and was later discovered by a K-9 officer, hiding nearby. According…

Chattanooga Zoo welcomes rare Pied Tamarin babies

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – There’s something worth celebrating at the Chattanooga Zoo, a baby boom among one of the world’s most endangered primates, the pied tamarin. The zoo recently announced that Daphne, one of its resident pied tamarins, gave birth to a single baby, while Carly, another female, welcomed twins. This rare event is significant for a species facing a…

Chattanooga Seafood Bash serves up a taste of the coast

CHATTANOGOA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Seafood lovers from all around the region flocked to downtown Chattanooga this weekend for the annual Seafood Bash, an event that brings the flavors of the coast right to the Scenic City. This year, the event moved to Ross’s Landing after outgrowing Coolidge Park in just two years. By request of the city, the festival took…

Grundy County fights back against opioid crisis

GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Saturday was National Drug Takeback Day, as numerous organizations across the Tennessee Valley are looking to curb drug addiction. However, the situation has become urgent in Grundy County. Despite recent tragedies, that community says the only way to overcome a crisis is to come together. Grundy County Constable Kyle Collins said, “Over the past 45 days,…

Chase Burns shines in debut

(LOOKOUTS)-The Chattanooga Lookouts swept the doubleheader, winning game one 8-3 and game two 3-0, over the Columbus Clingstones. Game one marked Reds top prospect Chase Burns’ Double-A debut. The right-hander lit up the radar gun, throwing 11 pitches over 100 MPH in the first inning. Burns allowed a run in the first, but settled in and finished his debut going…

Chattanooga Beach Volleyball Goes Back-to-Back as Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champions

GoMocs- For the second consecutive season, the Chattanooga beach volleyball team punched its ticket into the NCAA Tournament after the Sandy Mocs defeated UT Martin 3-2 to become Ohio Valley Conference tournament champions on Saturday at the UTC Sports Complex. In front of a raucous home crowd at the UTC Sports Complex, the Mocs (26-5, 10-0 OVC) fought through one…

Corgi Cuties Take Over St. Elmo

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Big ears, short legs, and plenty of wagging tails took over St. Elmo today. The streets of Chattanooga’s historic St. Elmo neighborhood were packed for the annual St. Elmo Corgi Parade. More than 200 corgis, dressed in everything from tutus to superhero capes, made their way down St. Elmo Avenue as part of the ‘Hello, St….

A Taste of Cornbread Culture

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. (WDEF) – The streets of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, are packed this weekend for the National Cornbread Festival. Today, visitors played games, rode carnival rides, and browsed booths filled with handmade arts and crafts, and the fun continues tomorrow.  Festival Goers also stopped by Cornbread Alley, where they could sample nine different types of cornbread, with all proceeds…

McCallie Beats Baylor 3-0

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) McCallie beat rival Baylor 3-0 on the soccer pitch Friday evening. Big Blue scored twice in the first half, and then Brooks Hilger scored on a header early in the second half for the final goal of the match. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News, Sports – Soccer

EPB announces partnership to bring quantum computer to Chattanooga

IonQ’s Forte Enterprise Quantum Computer, which will be coming to Chattanooga. (Courtesy: IonQ) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- EPB has announced the next step in growing their Quantum Network. EPB’s goal over the past couple of years has been to make Chattanooga a preeminent destination for quantum computing. On Friday, they approved the next step of that plan, a quantum computer to…

High Tech Bubble Bath Fixes Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Chattanooga, TN  – The Vascular Institute is Chattanooga’s Premier Vein Clinic and today they are giving us an inside look at how they treat Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Over 20 million Americans, about 1 in 3, suffer from this. Symptoms can include fatigue, heaviness, achy legs, painful swelling or varicose veins. It can often lead to open wounds as well. Technology…

Lily Soto couldn’t “Say No To This” role in Hamilton

Tennessee native Lily Soto returns to the Volunteer State to star in the touring hit musical “Hamilton” at the Memorial Auditorium as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Lily Soto has put in quite the “work” to land her dream role as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds in the Angelica Tour of Hamilton, now at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium…