Celebrating National Salvation Army Week

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -This week marks the start of National Salvation Army Week, a time to honor one of the nation’s most recognized service organizations. Here in Chattanooga, the local Salvation Army is using the occasion to celebrate its impact and invite the community to get involved.  It’s a week of gratitude and reflection for The Salvation Army of Chattanooga,…

Truck driver identified, facing charges in fatal I-75 crash

UPDATE: We are learning more from witnesses who saw the immediate aftermath of the tragic Mother’s Day crash on I-75 in East Ridge. Dawn Schwartz says her family was traveling just behind when they noticed the initial explosions. She described, “I was looking ahead on the road, seeing how light traffic was, and all of a sudden noticed a puff…

What’s Right With Our Schools: Stone Creek Elementary

ROSSVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) — Energy efficiency is the name of the game at Stone Creek Elementary in Rossville.  Their commitment to saving electricity recently earned the school a $25,000 grant.  Their bright ideas are a shining example of what’s right with our schools.    Stone Creek Elementary is celebrating a major win, not just for their school, but for the…

High Point Farms hosts Mother’s Day event

FLINTSTONE, Ga. (WDEF)- High Point Farms in Flintstone hosted a special Mother’s Day event that included goats, garden strolls, and handmade bouquets. Many families began Mother’s Day with breakfast in bed or quiet time at home. But by the afternoon, they made their way out to High Point Farms in Flintstone for sunshine, fresh flowers, and baby goat snuggles. The…

Horror Takes Over East Ridge

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) – A celebration of all things spooky took over East Ridge this weekend.  ShudderCon 2025 brought together horror lovers, haunted attraction pros, and pop culture fans under one roof, and it was anything but your average convention. From scare actors in full costume to vendors selling eerie artwork, props, and collectibles, Camp Jordan Arena was transformed…

Miller Park hosts Barbecue Music Festival

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The aroma of smoked meats and the rhythm of live music filled the air today at Miller Park in downtown Chattanooga, as the All Star Foundation hosted its inaugural BBQ Music Festival. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the park transformed into a vibrant hub where community members gathered to enjoy a day of culinary delights,…

East Tennessee Rattled by Quake

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A 4.1-magnitude earthquake shook East Tennessee this morning, with the epicenter located near Greenback in Blount County.  The tremor struck at 9:04 a.m. Eastern, and residents across the region reported feeling the shaking, including in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and even parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.  Initially, the quake was reported as a 3.5, but the U.S….

Dolly Days Dazzles Downtown Ringgold

RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) – It was all rhinestones and Southern charm in Ringgold this past Saturday as the city celebrated one of country music’s most beloved icons.  Downtown Ringgold turned into a tribute to Dolly Parton this past Saturday, as fans gathered for the annual Dolly Days celebration.  From wigs and western boots to sequins and southern sass, guests of…

Local arts non-profit says federal cuts to hurt local economy

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Chattanooga non-profit says federal cuts are going to put local artists in a bind. Artsbuild says they are losing $100,000 in federal arts grants. They invest in local artists through programs and grants. This is after the Trump administration ordered the National Endowment for the Arts to cancel all of their grants, and are ultimately calling…

Hamilton County school board approves state-funded raises passed in school voucher bill

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- In addition to passing this year’s school budget, the Hamilton County School Board approved a portion of Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act.               The School Board previously denied implementing the state’s school voucher program, which would give scholarships to public school students to allow them to attend a private school. While the board did not accept the…

Tech that makes being a Mom on the Go so much easier

CHATTANOOGA, TN – Tech shows have a tendency to get lost in the fun and exciting things and skip over some of the things that matter most to us.  This week we brought in a resident expert on some tech for Mom that you may not even know she needs. Grace Barth is an avid cosplayer, mom of two and…

Celebrate Mom and your Graduate with Nothing Bundt Cakes

Melinda Mason joins News 12’s Amelia Greer and brings their classic Bundt cakes dressed for all occasions- Graduation, Teacher Appreciation, Mother’s Day, and more! CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Mother’s Day is coming up on May 11 and it’s graduate season, so Nothing Bundt Cakes has you covered for all your celebration needs. Nothing Bundt Cakes is running a special promotion…

Hamilton County school budget passes amid controversy

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Weeks of controversy have surrounded the Hamilton County school board as they have been dealing with a large budget shortfall. Thursday night was the night that school board members said they needed to pass a budget. This whole situation began with a $16 million dollar shortfall due to lower than expected revenues. After a series of adjustments,…

First Responder Hero Award: Lexie Mcnabb

South Pittsburg, Tenn. (WDEF) – News 12 is recognizing some of the bravest members of our community through the First Responder Hero Award. Whether someone is an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, or police officer, this award honors their unwavering dedication to keeping us safe. When danger strikes, these heroes are the first to respond. Now, it’s our turn to put them…

Thursday Throwback: 1985 New Coke

Forty years ago, the Coca-Cola company took a major gamble. The first bottles of New Coke started rolling off local assembly lines. For our Thursday Throwback, we show you how the company had high hopes for their new flavor. Categories: From The Archives Tags: From The Archives, Thursday Throwback