The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced they are in the homestretch of the I-75/I-24 interchange improvement project in Chattanooga. All lanes of I-24 involved in the project are in their final alignment right now. Paving for the new I-75 lanes and ramps are underway. Crews will also work on the I-75 bridge over the …
Tag: Chattanooga News
Report Shows Area Numbers of DUI Arrests for People Testing Negative
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation data shows 2,547 people have been arrested for DUI since 2017 despite negative alcohol and drug tests—over four times higher than previously reported. In 2024 alone, there were 419 such arrests, with most cases in Nashville, Knoxville (highest in state at 41), and Jackson. Officials note that negative test results don’t …
New Bail Bondsmen Law in Tennessee
A new statute in Tennessee requires all bail bondsmen to obtain state licensure, with oversight provided by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI). The legislation became effective on Thursday, January 1. Pursuant to this regulation, bail bondsmen must register with the TDCI’s Division of Regulatory Boards and secure a license from the Board …
National Crornbread Festival Cook-off Application Process Begins
Applications for The National Cornbread Festival 29th Annual Cornbread Cook-off are open! Each year we search the nation for the best original main dish cornbread recipes. The winner receives the coveted skillet crown and $5,000. Recipe entries require the original main dish/entree/main course recipe to be prepared and cooked in Lodge® Cast Iron cookware. The …
Foster Parents Needed
Youth Villages, a nonprofit supporting children with emotional and behavioral challenges, is seeking more foster parents in Polk, Grundy, and Bledsoe. Their Chattanooga office serves 12 regional counties and has helped over 196,000 young people in Tennessee. The agency will host virtual information sessions in January for families to learn about fostering and address common …
Flu Activity On The Rise
According to Tennessee health officials, flu activity is increasing significantly in the region, with certain areas reporting some of the highest rates statewide. Marion, Grundy, Sequatchie, Bradley, Meigs, Rhea, Bledsoe, McMinn, and Polk counties are currently classified as “very high” for influenza activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These counties have flu …
2025 Traffic Fatalities Down in Tennessee, but Up in Our District
Tennessee recorded a significant decline in traffic fatalities in 2025, with 147 fewer roadway deaths than the previous year, according to year end data released by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The Tennessee Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 1,045 traffic fatalities statewide in 2025, down from 1,194 in 2024, a reduction of …
Ider, Ala. High Schooler Dies from the Flu
A community in Alabama is mourning the unexpected loss of a 14-year-old Noah Smothers who died at a hospital in Chattanooga last week from influenza related complications. His church in Pisgah, Alabama announced on Facebook that he had passed away from complications related to flu just before the new year. Known to friends and teammates as …
Chattanooga Police Officer Shot; Suspect Captured in Sequatchie County
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), a suspect shot a Chattanooga police officer at a Highway 153 gas station on Sunday night. Officers then fired back, wounding the suspect, who managed to escape in an unattended patrol car and drove into Sequatchie County. The suspect was pursued by officers and Tennessee Highway Patrol …
Elementary School Teacher Faces Serious Charges
A first-grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School has been charged with abuse after her children reported to police that she bit and scratched them in the Ruby Falls parking lot. According to an affidavit, Chattanooga Police responded to the Lookout Mountain Police Department on December 12th following a child abuse report. A man informed …



