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School board approves capacity expansion for Skillern Elementary amid opposition
SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County school board approved an expansion of capacity for a Soddy-Daisy charter school. (more…)
NFL Players Union Does Not Want 18-Game Regular Season
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Don’t add to the NFL’s regular season as well as provide well-maintained natural grass surfaces for players. That was a main message from the NFL Players Association to the league. “Our members have no appetite for…
Weather Update: Tuesday February 3, 2026
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy. Chilly. Lows: high 30's to mid 40's. Winds: SW @ 5 MPH. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, chilly. Highs: low 40's. Winds: NW @ 5-10 MPH. Overnight: Mostly cloudy,…
Vols Orange and White Game Set For April 11th
(utsports.com) -- Tennessee football's 2026 Orange & White Game will be played on Saturday, April 11 in Neyland Stadium, it was announced Tuesday. Admission will be free. Additional gameday information, including start time, will be announced at a later date.…
Vols QB Joey Aguilar Files Lawsuit in Knox Co For Another Year of Eligibility
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has filed a lawsuit as he bids for an extra year of eligibility that would allow him to play this fall. The complaint filed Friday in Knox County Chancery Court in Tennessee argues that…
Dates and Sites Set For CFB Playoff Games in 2026 and 2027
IRVING, Texas (AP) — The College Football Playoff on Tuesday announced the dates and sites for the quarterfinals and semifinals for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The 2026 season’s quarterfinals will be Dec. 30 at the Fiesta Bowl and Jan.…
New Cookie Hits the Menu
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Winter weather and freezing temperatures weren't enough to delay the highly anticipated 2026 Girl Scout cookie season. Over the weekend, Girl Scouts, troop leaders, and families gathered…
Golden Apple: Taryn Painter, Apison Elementary
APISON, TN (WDEF) - Each school day Taryn Painter walks into her third-grade classroom at Apison Elementary with energy, patience and a genuine love of teaching. Her students know she…
Multi-State Fuel Theft Suspect Arrested in Fort Payne
FORT PAYNE, Ala. -- A man has been arrested and charged following an investigation into fuel theft. According to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office (DCSO), a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a U-HAUL van traveling eastbound on Highway…
Theft Ring Disrupted in Whitfield County Possibly Linked to Multiple States
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- A theft ring has been disrupted in Whitfield County following the discovery of $4,000 of merchandise in a vehicle. On Monday, February 2nd, 2026, deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office made arrests involving shoplifting at…
Man Charged After Carrying AR-style Weapon into Court House
GRUNDY COUNTY -- A man has been charged after bringing an AR-style weapon into the Grundy County Court House and pointing it at an employee. On February 3, deputies responded to a…
Boat crew tosses 115 kilos of cocaine in Pacific while fleeing navy, Colombia says
The crew of a speedboat tossed more than 100 packages of cocaine into the Pacific Ocean while fleeing the Colombian navy, authorities said Tuesday, as the leader of the country was visiting President Trump in…
Collinsville Police Chief Resigns Following Arrest Over Domestic Violence Case
The Police Chief in Collinsville, Alabama has resigned after his arrest over the weekend in a Nashville domestic violence case. WHNT reports that Stephen Malone is accused of strangling the woman he was dating…
Jill Biden's ex-husband Bill Stevenson charged with murder after 2nd wife Linda found dead
William Stevenson, former first lady Jill Biden's ex-husband, was indicted on a murder charge connected to the death of his second wife late last year in Delaware, police said Tuesday. In late…
Small Sliders Comes to Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Small Sliders has announced they have signed a multi-unit development agreement in Chattanooga and Dalton. Small Sliders offers cooked-to-order cheeseburgers, waffle fries and milkshakes from its signature Smorange™-colored shipping containers,…
UTC Enrollment Continues to Grow
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is continuing to grow. The University reports they have set another enrollment mark this spring. The unofficial number is 11,085 students signed up for the current semester. That would be the first time they…
Chattanooga Airport Adds Valet Parking Service
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Chattanooga Airport has added a valet parking service. They say passengers can access the service through the daily lot at the ticketing end of the terminal. The valet service is available for $25 per day, plus…
Alabama man faces execution despite not pulling the trigger in auto store customer’s death
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Charles “Sonny” Burton didn’t kill anyone. The state of Alabama could execute him anyway. Burton, 75, is facing execution for his role as an accomplice in a 1991 robbery at…
School board approves capacity expansion for Skillern Elementary amid opposition
SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County school board approved an expansion of capacity for a Soddy-Daisy charter school. (more…)
Golden Apple: Taryn Painter, Apison Elementary
APISON, TN (WDEF) - Each school day Taryn Painter walks into her third-grade classroom at Apison Elementary with energy, patience and a genuine love of teaching. Her students know she…
Courthouse site letter stirs opposition
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The federal government has been searching for a spot to place their new federal courthouse for some time here in Chattanooga. The General Services Administration says they have…
Update given on two Chattanooga wastewater projects
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- We received an update on a pair of wastewater…
What's Right With Our Schools: Chattanooga IT Pathways Hackathon
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) -Some of the sharpest local minds recently came together for the Chattanooga I-T Pathways Hackathon. It was a chance to shape the future of…
Local Author Encourages Children to Reach for the Stars
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A local author held a special book signing on Wednesday. Rita Lorainne Hubbard wrote “It’s Possible, The Story of Ronald McNair”. Ronald McNair…
June Scobee Rodgers Keeps Challenger Memory Alive
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) --The 28th of January marks 40 years since the Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster that claimed the lives of seven astronaut crew members. It was supposed to be a routine…
CARTA for vehicle booting ordinance to enforce parking tickets
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- CARTA says they are looking to solve the increasing issue of unpaid parking tickets. CEO Charles Frazier says they are speaking with the city of Chattanooga about crafting an ordinance that would allow them to boot vehicles…
Woman Apprehended After Financially Exploiting Elderly Man
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A woman has been apprehended after financially exploiting an elderly man, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) says. On January 14, 2026, the HCSO responded to a complaint involving the fraudulent use…
Signal Mountain recovering from ice storm
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF)- Many of our mountainous communities saw up…
What's Right With Our Schools: Tennessee Aquarium STREAM Center
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - The STREAM learning Center opened at the Tennessee Aquarium late last year. The Aquarium's classrooms, educator offices and programming are all housed in…
American Airbus to Fly Between Chattanooga and Dallas
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - More people will be able to fly from Chattanooga to Dallas starting this May. American Airlines is upgrading to an Airbus320 for two of its four daily flights. It's a bigger plane with nearly twice as…
Honor Roll Celebration Uplifts Students
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Orchard Knob Middle School honored academic excellence with a special celebration recognizing 90 students who earned a spot on the honor roll, bringing families, educators, and community…
Historic Choo Choo terminal building up for sale
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The main portion of the Chattanooga Choo Choo has been listed for sale. It has been listed on the investment firm’s Berkeley Capital Advisors’ retail offerings page. It has been owned by the firm Northpond Partners since…
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport asking City Council for subsidy for potential Houston flight
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport is asking the City Council for help to land a new flight. The airport is asking for a $150,000 subsidy to convince United Airlines to fly weekly from Chattanooga to Houston, Texas. United…
Intimidation lawsuit settled out of court between former officers, Soddy-Daisy
SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The city of Soddy-Daisy has settled a lawsuit related to a controversial case. Eric Jenkins and Jake Elrod had sued the city over what they alleged was intimidation during the investigation of Justin Whaley. Whaley had been…
Bond reduced for former church deacon accused of spying on minor
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A former deacon at a Hixson church made his first court appearance Tuesday. Christopher Collins was charged last week with nine counts of sexual…
Golden Apple Award, Lydia Thornton, CCS
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) - A healthy knowledge of geometry helps students see the world in a whole new way. At CCS, Lydia Thornton uses physical demonstrations and activities to make…
East Ridge Police Make 2 Arrests in Deadly Waffle House Shooting
EAST RIDGE, TN (WDEF) - East Ridge Police made two arrests in a deadly shooting at the Ringgold Road Waffle House. 37 year-old…
What's Right With Our Schools Southern Adventist MLK Service Day
COLLEGEDALE, TN (WDEF) -MLK Service Day is a time-honored tradition for Southern Adventist University. Each year students, faculty, staff, and alumni join together to serve local…
Bradley County Sheriff's Office Partners with Blood Assurance for Blood Drive
The Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says they are partnering with Blood Assurance to hold a blood drive. The blood drive will take place Monday, February 9, 2026 from 12 to 4…
Aggravated Domestic Assault Suspect Caught with Drone Assistance
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- An individual has been apprehended following an aggravated domestic assault incident in Cleveland, according to the Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO). At approximately 5:50 a.m., deputies responded to a residence on Bent Tree Drive North West. BCSO…
Cleveland to utilize school bus cameras with AI to deter stop sign violators
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Getting kids to and from school everyday is a top priority for school districts.…
5 Vehicles Involved in Crash that Shut Down I-75 in Bradley County
BRADLEY COUNTY -- Five vehicles were involved in a crash on I-75 at mile marker 24 in Bradley County, which temporarily shut down the roadway. One person was extracted and transported to a local hospital with non life threatening…
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…
Theft Ring Disrupted in Whitfield County Possibly Linked to Multiple States
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- A theft ring has been disrupted in Whitfield County following the discovery of $4,000 of merchandise in a vehicle. On Monday, February 2nd, 2026, deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office made arrests involving shoplifting at…
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office to Host Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Course
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has shared they are hosting a free Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Course (CRASE). They say the CRASE training will cover: *…
Who will replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress?
14th DISTRICT, Ga. (WDEF) -- On January 20, the Walker County Republican Party held a meet and greet for the Republican candidates vying for the open 14th Congressional District seat in Georgia. There are 22 candidates who have qualified for…
Whitfield Co. Coroner's Office Identifies Pedestrian Struck and Killed on South Dixie Highway
WHITFIELD COUNTY -- The Whitfield County Coroner's Office has identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed on South Dixie Highway on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. They say the person was identified as 43-year-old Daniel…
Discovery of container leads to Whitfield County hazmat response
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- A surprising discovery led to a large police presence in Whitfield County Wednesday. Whitfield County Sheriff's…
What's Right With Our Schools: 11th Hour Theater
DALTON, GA (WDEF) - A new, non-profit performing arts organization is up and running in Dalton. 11th Hour Theater and Creative Studio is a great place for kids…
Concerns rising over reintroduction of Georgia PFAS shield law
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- As Georgia legislators prepare to head back to Atlanta next week, the Whitfield County Republican Party says they are opposing the reintroduction of a controversial…
UPDATE: Resident Suffers Burns Following Cohutta House Fire
UPDATE: A resident suffered burns in a house fire this morning in Cohutta, Georgia. It happened around 6 a.m. at a home on Chattanooga Road. The Whitfield County Fire Chief tells us the victim suffered burns to the hand…
Runners excited for Haig Mill Lake Park improvements
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- The city of Dalton is working to replace one of its primary walking trails. Their Parks and Recreation Department announced that portions of the Haig…
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…
