SWEETWATER, Tenn. (WDEF) — McMinn County deputies arrested five individuals early Monday morning after catching them in the act of burglarizing a local airsoft business. Deputies were dispatched to Sweetwater Airsoft on County Road 275 around 12:30 a.m. on April 7 after a report of a theft in progress. The business had also been burglarized…… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Missing Chattanooga girl found safe after weekend disappearance
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Alexas Pump has been found safe after being reported missing over the weekend. Pump left home around 12:40 p.m. Saturday. She was last seen wearing a red hoodie, blue/gray pants, and pink shoes. Authorities deemed her missing and endangered, saying she may not have the ability to return home without assistance. The…… MORE
Sting operation leads to jail time for Georgia child predators
SUMMERVILLE, Ga. (WDEF) — Three child predators have been sentenced to jail time after an online sting operation conducted by Georgia law enforcement. Law enforcement officers posed as minors during the sting operation, engaging in conversations with individuals who thought they were communicating with actual children. The first case involved Micah Van Donaldson attempted to…… MORE
Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department seeks help replacing damaged fire truck
Highway 58 Fire Truck / Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department HARRISON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A local volunteer fire department is asking the public to help them fix a fire truck. Highway 58’s Engine 42 was involved in a crash two weeks ago while responding to a fire. Three firefighters were injured and are recovering. But…… MORE
Spring arrives at Creekside Flower Farm
Morgan Sharpe with Creekside Flower Farm joins News 12’s Amelia Greer as the farm gets ready to celebrate the 3rd annual Spring Plant Festival in Chickamauga, GA. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Spring has officially sprung with plenty of April showers, which means its time for flower picking at Creekside Flower Farm! The Creekside Flower Farm…… MORE
TCAT Chattanooga prepares for SkillsUSA competition
Darrion Mason, Drake Boyd, and Derek Dunn join News 12’s Amelia Greer as they get ready to represent TCAT Chattanooga at SkillsUSA next week! CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – SkillsUSA state competition is coming to Chattanooga and the TCAT Chattanooga Lookouts for Hope team is ready to compete! The Tennessee College of Applied Technology specializes in…… MORE
Grundy County storm recovery efforts
GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. — A powerful line of severe weather tore through the Tennessee Valley early Sunday morning, leaving behind a path of destruction that impacted homes, infrastructure, parks, and the lives of many residents. In Grundy County, local officials are working around the clock to assess damage and restore normalcy. Matthew Griffith, the Director…… MORE
One month left until REAL ID is required to fly
An example of a REAL ID. (From: Tennessee Department of Safety) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- We are one month away from a major change at airports and some federal buildings. The Real ID Act of 2005 was passed in the wake of 9-11 as a security measure. After years of delays, partially due to the Covid-19…… MORE
Data-Driven Fight Against Overdoses
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -Local officials are now using a new strategy, surveillance systems that track overdoses in real time. The Hamilton County Health Department is monitoring tools like O-D-MAP and ESSENCE, databases that show where and when overdoses happen. These systems allow teams to detect sudden spikes and potential overdose clusters. When alerts are triggered,…… MORE
Weather Update: Monday April 7, 2025
WDEF-TV News 12 Tennessee River Valley weather forecast Overnight: Cloudy early, clearing into early morning. Chilly. Lows: high 30’s to low 40’s. Winds: NW @ 5-10 MPH. Tuesday: Sunny, dry, cool. Highs: high 50’s to low 60’s. Winds: N @ 5-10 MPH. Overnight: Clear and cold. Patchy frost. Lows: low 30’s. Winds: N @ 5…… MORE
