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Artificial Womb could save premature babies
Premature babies could have a better chance of survival - and be healthier long-term - all thanks to this new technology, and it’s all right here on…
Erlanger East Welcomes First Baby of 2026
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Erlanger East Hospital has welcomed its first baby of 2026. Birdie, the daughter of Alexis and Brandon Wilson, was born at 12:04 a.m. on New Year's Day. They report mom and baby are doing well. Congratulations…
Countdown to Fun at the Creative Discovery Museum
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Families packed the Creative Discovery Museum to celebrate the new year a little earlier than usual during the annual New Year’s at Noon event.…
January Sees Peak Gym Memberships
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - As a new year begins, gyms and fitness centers nationwide experience measurable changes in membership activity, including community organizations such as the YMCA. Industry reports show that…
New Option for Rare HPV Disease
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Adults living with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, or RRP, have long relied on surgery to manage this rare HPV-related disease. Caused by chronic infection with HPV 6…
Escaped Wallaby Found Safe In New Jersey Walmart Parking Lot
Rex the wallaby was safely recovered after escaping from Lots of Love Farm in Williamstown, New Jersey on December 29. The 3-foot-tall marsupial was found the next day in a Walmart parking lot in Gloucester County. Owner Ron Layden said…
Minnesota Man Charged After Attacking Homeless Woman For TikTok Content
Cleve Brown faces felony assault and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges after attacking a homeless woman at a mall on December 16. Police say Brown approached the 46-year-old victim at a water fountain and punched her "in the back of the…
Florida Woman Faces Felony Charges For Stealing Christmas Gifts From Hotel Lobby
Erica Rothenbuhler was charged with felony theft after taking six children's toys worth $48 from under a Christmas tree at a St. Petersburg Red Roof Inn last Thursday morning. Hotel security footage shows the 44-year-old entering the lobby and "began…
Florida Man Charged With Armed Robbery After Nude Heist At Meat Market
Kobe Latrey Watkins of Lake City was arrested December 23 and charged with armed robbery, exposure of sexual organs, grand theft and criminal mischief following a bizarre incident at BJ's Meat Market. Police responded to robbery reports at 8:50 p.m.…
Disney Worker Injured Stopping Runaway 400-Pound Boulder During Stunt Show
A Disney World employee is recovering after preventing a 400-pound prop boulder from hitting audience members during the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show on December 30. Video posted on TikTok shows the cast member pushing the rubber boulder after…
Entertainment Tidbits
Mickey Rourke is accused of owing $59,100 in unpaid rent and could be evicted from his Los Angeles home, according to a lawsuit. The landlord claims Rourke, 73, stopped paying rent on the three-bedroom Spanish bungalow he began leasing in…
Betty Boop, Pluto, Nancy Drew And Other Classic Works Enter Public Domain In 2026
Thousands of cultural works from 1930 entered the public domain on January 1, 2026, when their copyrights expired after nearly a century. The collection includes the original Betty Boop, teen sleuth Nancy Drew, Disney's first Pluto character (called Rover), and…
Isiah Whitlock Jr., Beloved ‘The Wire’ And ‘Veep’ Actor, Dies At 71
Isiah Whitlock Jr. died on Tuesday in New York at age 71. The actor was best known for portraying corrupt state senator Clay Davis on HBO's The Wire."His manager Brian Liebman announced the death on Instagram, writing: "It is with…
Netflix Experiences Second Recent Crash During ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Finale Release
Netflix suffered technical difficulties Wednesday night when the Stranger Things Season 5 finale premiered, marking the second outage this season. The streaming service went down at 5 p.m. PT, exactly when the final episode launched. The crash lasted approximately one…
MTV Music Channels End Forever, Playing “Video Killed The Radio Star” As Final Song
MTV's 24-hour music channels went permanently dark on Wednesday, ending decades of operation. The flagship MTV Music channel concluded its run on New Year's Eve by playing the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," the same song that launched MTV…
‘Zootopia 2’ Beats ‘Frozen 2’ To Become Disney’s Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever With $1.46 Billion
Zootopia 2 has become Walt Disney Animation's highest-grossing film ever, earning $1.46 billion globally and surpassing Frozen 2's previous record of $1.45 billion from 2019. The animated sequel collected $333 million domestically and $1.13 billion internationally. During its fifth week…
Asian Lantern Festival Nears Its Final Nights at Chattanooga Zoo
If you’re looking for something fun to do before winter break winds down, the Chattanooga Zoo is giving families one last chance to step into a glowing world of fantasy. The Asian Lantern Festival is nearing the end of its…
Battle continues over proposed Bradley County emergency room
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The debate over a proposed new emergency room in Cleveland is continuing to heat up. Despite there being over 110,000 people in Bradley County, the…
What's Right With Our Schools: East Ridge Middle School Pioneers
HAMILTON COUNTY -- Take a listen to the East Ridge Middle School Pioneers sing at the courthouse where they spread holiday cheer. This…
W Road to Close New Year's Day for Clean-up
HAMILTON COUNTY -- The Town of Walden will close the W Road on Thursday, January 1, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. This closure will allow for community road clean-up, according to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management…
Taconooga suddenly closes on Chattanooga northshore
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A longtime Northshore restaurant has suddenly closed its doors. Taconooga announced on its Facebook…
Inmate Dies in HCSO Custody
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is investigating an in-custody inmate death. On Friday, December 26, 2025, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Corrections Deputies discovered an unresponsive inmate during a welfare check in…
Volunteers Provide Meals at Chatt Foundation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Two young men stepped up to help the needful in our community. Kenny Bell and Luke Stepney are Boyd Buchanan grads. They say the Lord put it on their hearts to help. They teamed up with…
Car Collides with House in Red Bank
RED BANK, TN (WDEF) - A runaway car created a dangerous situation in Red Bank this morning. This was the scene on Lancaster Avenue. A car rolled down the street and hit a house. One person was trapped. First, crews…
Union Gospel Mission serves Christmas Eve dinner
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- For 75 years, the Union Gospel Mission has been serving the community. This year marked one of many in a series of annual dinners hosted by the Mission at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Jon Rector,…
Man arrested after attempting to steal Sale Creek family's Christmas
SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says they have arrested a Sale Creek man who attempted to be the Grinch this Christmas. (more…)
HCSO Introduces New K-9, Chase!
HAMILTON COUNTY -- The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has welcomed their new K-9, Chase! Deputy Gregory Buck will begin his role as K-9 Chase’s handler. This new pup is ready to serve and protect…
Hamilton County School Board Passes Capacity Policy
HAMILTON COUNTY -- The Hamilton County School Board has passed a new policy targeting capacity in schools. This comes in the wake of residential growth and quickly filling schools. “The responsibility as a school board…
What's Right With Our Schools, Hixson 7th Grade Band
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - It's a time-honored holiday tradition in Hamilton County. Hixson Middle School's 7th grade Band did a great job performing at Christmas…
Hamilton County Officials Warn About Scams Impacting our Area
Hamilton County is the latest police organization to warn about phone scams in our area. The Sheriff's Office says the scammers pretend to be local judges or court officials. They say you missed jury…
Hamilton County school board adopts growth policy
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County School Board has adopted a policy pertaining to how new development will affect school zones. Proposed by school board member Ben Daughtery,…
HCSO Recognizes Ten New Corrections Deputies
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. -- Ten new corrections deputies were recognized at the Corrections Academy Graduation Ceremony for Class 25-04 on December 19, 2025. The graduates completed 292 hours of comprehensive training…
Paving to Prompt Closures on I-24
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contract crews will implement temporary lane and ramp closures to carry out paving work. This comes as phase 2 to widen and improve the I-75 at…
Red Bank presents 'belt tightening' measures in wake of tax mishap
RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF)-The city of Red Bank unveiled a plan to deal with a nearly million dollar budget shortfall. Red Bank financial officials say now is the…
Hamilton county superintendent gets mixed reviews from board members
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Reviews of the Hamilton County Schools superintendent were released Thursday. All board members have reviewed and rated Dr. Justin Robertson across multiple categories.…
Resolution to establish unincorporated planning commission withdrawn
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- A proposal to create a brand new planning commission for unincorporated Hamilton County has been withdrawn. Commissioner Jeff Eversole proposed this last week. He said that the purpose of such a commission would be to remove…
Sheriff announces new jail medication program
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) - Sheriff Austin Garrett is launching a new Medication program at the Jail. It’s been two years in the making. The program treats inmates with substance abuse disorders. They will provide FDA-approved drugs along with counseling and…
Golden Apple Award: Jennifer Brewer, Boyd Buchanan
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - A-P Calculus is one of the most challenging classes on any high school curriculum. Jennifer Brewer has a gift for making her students at Boyd…
Battle continues over proposed Bradley County emergency room
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The debate over a proposed new emergency room in Cleveland is continuing to heat up. Despite there being over 110,000 people in Bradley County, the…
Vitruvian Health petitioning against new Cleveland Parkridge emergency room
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- A battle is brewing in Bradley County over a proposed new hospital. Vitruvian Health, who operates the Bradley Medical Center, has posted a petition opposing Parkridge's plans to open a freestanding emergency room in Cleveland. They argue…
State no longer pursuing Bradley County site for mental institution
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- For months, the state of Tennessee has been searching for a replacement for the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute. (more…)
Bradley County Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Eric Wayne Helton, owner of the Aquatic Den, has pled guilty to tax evasion after an investigation by The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Helton's charges stem from his failure to remit collected…
BCSO Asks for Public's Assistance Regarding Stolen Trailer
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. -- The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is asking the public for its help locating a stolen trailer. A black and silver 24-foot 2019 Formula Triumph Slope Nose…
Golden Apple Award: Kaitlyn Foulks, Charleston Elementary School
CHARLESTON, TN (WDEF) - Kaitlyn Foulks is living her dream as a Charleston Elementary School teacher. She may be new to the job, but her enthusiasm and dedication more…
Bradley County Firefighter Pay Increases
TENNESSEE -- Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis has redirected a total of $76,000 in vacancy savings to firefighter salaries, prompting an increase in pay. This adjustment increased pay for…
Chemical Exposure at M&M Mars Facility Prompts Emergency Response
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Around 9:00 a.m., a chemical exposure at the M&M Mars facility prompted an emergency response on December 5. Bradley County EMS and the Cleveland Fire Department responded to the incident. Seven individuals…
Bradley County woman arrested after dog reportedly shot
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Bradley County deputies responded to a residence after a report of a dog had been shot on November 23, 2025. Witnesses reported that Crystal Palmer got a firearm and shot multiple rounds at the dog. The dog…
Single-engine aircraft incident leaves one uninjured
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. -- Bradley County EMS responded to a single-engine experimental aircraft after it experienced a hard landing after performing a touch-and-go maneuver. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without…
Local judge reportedly assaulted in residential neighborhood
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- An arrest has been made after the Bradley County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported assault on a local judge in Cleveland,…
Bradley County firefighters push for more pay
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Bradley County firefighters are asking their county commission to increase their pay. (more…)
Man fires shots at drones assisting deputies in resolving mental health crisis
UPDATE: The Bradley County Sheriff's Office has identified the individual who shot at the drones as 47-year-old John David Possien. Possien is being held at the Bradley County Jail without bond.…
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…
Parkridge Medical Center plans freestanding emergency room in Cleveland
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Parkridge Medical Center has announced plans to apply for a Certificate of Need with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission to establish a new $17.4 million freestanding emergency department…
Local YMCA serving free meals to children at 46 sites
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga…
Rockslide causes major backups on Monteagle
MONTEAGLE, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A rockslide on Monteagle caused major backups on November 4. TDOT reports debris on roadway at Mile Marker 137. The rockslide was reported at 2:33 p.m CST. The slide has caused all westbound lanes and…
What's Right With Our Schools: Walker Valley STEM DAY
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Walker Valley students recently got to look into their possible futures at STEM Career Day. Employers from throughout our region were on…
Solid Orange Drive Thru in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) -It's Tennessee Alabama week! With both teams ranked in the top 11, the stakes could not be *any* higher for Saturday night's showdown in Tuscaloosa. More…
Bail bondsman shootout in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Cleveland Police report an arrest after a dramatic confrontation between a bail bondsman and suspects this morning. They say the bondsman from Cumberland County tried to apprehend Jacob…
Two Locals Arrested for Meth Trafficking
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- Two individuals from Whitfield County were busted after the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office conducted a drug investigation on December 18, 2025. The drug investigation resulted in the arrest of Niya Destiny…
Whitfield County Man Arrested on Child Exploitation Case
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has announced they have arrested a man for child exploitation. On December 10, Trevor Lee Teasley was arrested for a child…
Neighbors come out against proposed neighborhood near Varnell
VARNELL, Ga. (WDEF)- Rapid development…
Qcells to furlough one-third of its workers at Georgia plant
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The company "Qcells" has announced they are furloughing a thousand workers at their two plants in Georgia. And one of those plants is in…
Whitfield County scam alert
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) --Whitfield County law enforcement is warning residents of several scams going around their community now. They say scammers are posing as employees of the Sheriff's Office. They say they have…
Whitfield County man sentenced to 30 years for violating sexual offender registry statute
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A Whitfield County jury found Vincent Michael Harper guilty of violating the sexual offender registry statute, leading to a sentence of 30 years in prison…
Residents pack meeting on Whitfield County property tax rate proposal
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- Could Whitfield County property taxes soon go…
Property tax increase proposed by Whitfield County Board of Commissioners
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners have announced a proposed property tax increase. They say it would be roughly 23 percent higher than the rollback millage rate. The commissioners say…
12 kilograms of cocaine found during traffic stop in Whitfield County
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) conducted a traffic stop on I-75 in Whitfield County, resulting in 12 kilograms of cocaine…
Georgia Bureau of Investigation promotes Dalton native, Daniel Nicholson
DALLAS, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has announced that they are promoting Dalton native Daniel Nicholson to assistant special agent in charge of the…
Man fatally stabbed in Whitfield County
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- During the night of October 1st, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) responded to a call at the Dollar General on Beaverdale Road about a female covered…
Calhoun man sentenced for attempted murder after stabbing his girlfriend
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A Calhoun man will be behind bars for three decades after being convicted of attempted murder. On October 24, 2025, Terry Lee Chamlee purchased a knife from a…
Dalton parents arrested after toddler dies in car seat at home
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- Two Dalton parents have been arrested and charged after their 22-month-old son was found dead in a car seat inside their home earlier this summer. On June 5, 2025, police were…
Dalton Police searching for suspect who used counterfeit money at local store
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Dalton Police Department (DPD) is reaching out to the public in hopes of identifying a suspect who allegedly used counterfeit money to make a purchase. On Friday, August 22, 2025, shortly before 7:00…
Whitfield County authorities make arrest in New Zion Hill Road murder
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- A man was arrested in connection to a murder on New Zion Hill Road. In the evening hours of August 19, 2025, deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office…
Whitfield County authorities arrest suspect in connection with armed robbery at Dixie Corner
UPDATE (8/5/2025): Authorities in Whitfield County have made an arrest in regard to the armed robbery Tuesday morning. Whitfield…
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office donates hundreds of backpacks
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office gave back to their community on Friday. Whitfield County Sheriff Darren Pierce wants the community to know that…
Early morning fire destroys vacant Dalton home, fire officials say
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) -- Crews with the Dalton Fire Department (DFD) responded to a house fire on Fairview Drive early Wednesday morning. DFD arrived at 500…
Whitfield County authorities arrest known gang member following major drug bust
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) uncovered, what they're calling, one of the largest drug busts in Whitfield County history.…
Fire crews knock down fire at Cohutta Dollar General
COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) -- Fire crews responded Monday to a working fire at the Dollar General located at 4525 Cleveland Highway. Crews were able to bring the fire under control after confirming the primary search of the building…
