RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) — A man was arrested in Ringgold after a child exploitation investigation. The Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) searched a home on Mason Drive on June 2, 2025. The search followed a cyber tip about child sexual abuse material being downloaded. Investigators traced the activity to a specific device using digital tools. According to Catoosa County Sheriff…
Angela Hunt with Freedom Sings USA joins News 12’s Chip Chapman to preview a benefit concert supporting veterans. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Freedom Sings USA is hosting a benefit concert to support their non-profit which will feature HunterGirl, the runner-up on the 20th season of American Idol. Freedom Sings USA a local, veteran-driven, non-profit that provides music arts therapy to…
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) If you’ve ever been to Hamilton Heights gymnasium, you know it’s not much bigger than a phone booth. Yet the new MVP of the NBA honed his skills in that little arena. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander left Canada to play at Hamilton Heights from 2015 to 2017. Last month, the Oklahoma City guard was named the NBA’s most valuable player, and…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s a preschool that puts the safety of children first. Tiny Tigers makes sure children are prepared academically for kindergarten. Tonight, we are learning how the daycare is letting out a big roar, making a difference in our community. It’s this week’s Driving our Economy Forward. “Driving our economy starts with the community building that village. …
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Commission approved the next step of a future Hixson school.The commission approved the school to go into the next step of the design process. The school is planned to replace DuPont, Rivermont, and Alpine Crest Elementary Schools. However, the closure of Rivermont and Alpine Crest have sparked backlash from residents, including Commissioner David Sharpe….
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Hamilton County woman is facing forgery and financial exploitation charges following an investigation conducted by the TBI. In January of 2025, the Department of Disability and Aging made a referral to special agents regarding allegations of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Throughout the investigation, TBI agents found information that showed Jaliyah Truss used…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) were involved in a pursuit on Highway 58 early Wednesday morning. On June 4, 2025, at 12:50 a.m., a deputy saw a silver Nissan Armada traveling northbound on Highway 58 at a high rate of speed. According to HCSO, the deputy initiated a traffic stop, and the…
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — Authorities in Whitfield County are investigating an officer involved shooting in Dalton. At 10:40 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, 2025, detectives with the Dalton Police Department’s (DPD) Drug Unit and the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) were conducting an undercover narcotics investigation in the River Road area. According to WCSO, during that investigation, a man named…
C. Mark Warren with preemptive local law firm, Warren & Griffin, joins News 12’s Chip Chapman to remind parents of “The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – C. Mark Warren with Warren & Griffin stresses the importance of driving safety with “The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it’s the most dangerous…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Police Department is investigating a DUI-related crash involving an off-duty officer. On June 1 at around 11:30 P.M., Chattanooga Police responded to two related two-vehicle crashes. One on the 4200 block of Bonny Oaks Drive and another in the 4300 block of Highway 58. The incident is being investigated as a DUI-related crash…
(press release) — Chattanooga FC Women suffered its first loss of the 2025 WPSL campaign to nationally-ranked Decatur FC in a hardly-fought 2-1 defeat at Finley Stadium. The visitors opened the scoring in the first minute when Chattanooga FC defender Jordan Crockett, in an effort to make a clearance, redirected Maddie Wadsworth’s cross into her own goal. Decatur FC doubled…
Rossville, GA-(WDEF-TV) The Tennessee high school baseball All-Star team collected four runs in the first two innings, as they defeated their Georgia counterparts 8-2 on Tuesday evening at Ridgeland High School. The Georgia squad was seeking their third straight win in the series. It was the 22nd meeting in the Annual Stump Martin Memorial Tennessee-Georgia All-Star Baseball Classic. Categories: Sports…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tuesday was day five of the Duane Sanders trial. Sanders is charged with 15 child sex abuse charges against seven different children while he was a first grade teacher at Wallace A. Smith Elementary School in Ooltewah. However, Tuesday was the defense’s turn to put on evidence. They called up six character witnesses who all testified in…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – It’s a big step forward in emergency care for working dogs. Life Force Air Medical, part of Erlanger Health System, has made history as Tennessee’s first air ambulance service to offer critical transport for K-9s injured or ill in the line of duty. This expansion ensures that the highly trained dogs who serve in law…
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) — A Romanian citizen has admitted to making “swatting” calls to several American politicians, including Marjorie Taylor Greene. He pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to threatening dozens of people. “Swatting” is the practice of making fake police calls against individuals just to make police respond. The north Georgia Congresswoman has been the target of several…
PISGAH, Ala. (WDEF)- TVA says they’re looking to build a new pumped storage facility in Jackson County, Alabama. This would be located near Pisgah and Flat Rock on the western edge of Sand Mountain and generate up to 1.600 megawatts of energy. This facility would be similar to the Racoon Mountain Reservoir here in Chattanooga, as a reservoir lake on…
MARION COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Marion County detective is facing felony charges following a TBI investigation into alleged document forgery. Special agents launched an investigation into forgery suspicions as requested by District Attorney General Courtney Lynch. Detective Robert Hargis, who served as the Sex Offender Registry Compliance Officer for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, was responsible for collecting signatures…
SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a call about a bicyclist being struck Tuesday morning. At 6:00 a.m., June 3, 2025, deputies were dispatched to the incident at 1300 block of Sequoyah Access Road. According to HCSO, a vehicle traveling eastbound on Sequoyah Access Road struck the bicyclist as it was turning onto…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Public input is essential as the City of Chattanooga looks to shape the next generation of parks, programs, and recreational spaces. City leaders are inviting residents to share their ideas to help create a 20-year plan that reflects the community’s needs and dreams. Jayne Miller, Principal at PROS Consulting, expressed the importance of listening to the…
Duane Sanders sitting at consuel table during day four of his trial where he is facing child sexual abuse charges. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Monday was day four of the Duane Sanders trial as the prosecution has rested its case. Sanders was a first grade teacher at Wallace A. Smith Elementary School when he was arrested on charges of child sexual…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Housing Authority says their One Westside project now has a funding gap. They had been given a 50 million dollar grant by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This comes as the renovation project of the James A. Henry Building is already underway. Future plans call for the full demolition and rebuilding of the…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Multiple people have been arrested after a multi-agency human trafficking operation. From May 30, 2025, to June 1, 2025, local agencies and the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit arrested four individuals. The TBI said the focus of this operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in sex acts with minors and to recover victims of human…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — With summer right around the corner, many parents are looking for ways to keep their kids busy—and learning. Experts say the “summer slide,” or brain drain, is real—and it can set students back months. But there are simple ways to keep young minds sharp. “It is super important to get ahead of it early and consistently….
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) is investigating a traffic fatality on I-75 early Monday morning. At 12:05 a.m., June 2, 2025, police responded to 930 I-75 southbound, just before the Volkswagen exit, for a single vehicle crash. Preliminary information reveals that a GMC 2500HD was traveling southbound when it left the roadway for unknown reasons. CPD…