Tennessee
New bill aims to remove fluoride from drinking water in Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Tennessee lawmaker is proposing a bill that will make utility companies take fluoride out of drinking water.
District 27 representative Michele Reneau is behind House Bill 2398.
She tells us fluoride was first added to drinking water in the 1940s, after studied found that people who consumed it showed fewer signs of tooth decay.
“It was calcium fluoride, which is the not more natural occurring fluoride, with the hope that it would improve dental caries,” says Reneau.
She says she recently discovered there hasn’t been much research to show that fluoride is improving dental health.
According to her research, Reneau says high amounts of fluoride in water can be harmful to pregnant women and newborns.
We have evidence coming out now that there is concern about the amount of fluoride someone could be getting,” says Reneau.
According to Reneau, House Bill 2398 would give parents a choice on whether to apply fluoride to their water or to remove it.
She says addressing tooth decay and cavities starts with addressing nutrition.
“If we really want to address the root cause of increased dental caries, we need to to consider how we can help folks make better choices.”
Chattanooga parent Justin Jakimiak says he supports having fluoride in tap water.
Jakimiak says that removing it will only end up costing Tennessee families in the long run.
It’s going to increase rates of cavities, which will lead to higher health care costs in fixing those cavities,” says Jakimiak.
He says the fluoride issue should be decided by the public at large.
I think it benefits everybody to have clean and safe drinking water,” says Jakimiak.
If the bill passes, it will go in to effect on July 1st.
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — New TCAP results are giving parents their first look at how students performed across Southeast Tennessee during the 2025-26 school year.
Among the districts in the Chattanooga area, Dayton City Schools posted the highest proficiency rates in English language arts and social studies, while Rhea County led the region in math.
Here’s how districts in the Tennessee portion of the NewsChannel 9 viewing area performed:
Hamilton County:
- English language arts: 40.3%
- Math: 39.9%
- Social studies: 49.7%
Bradley County:
- English language arts: 45.1%
- Math: 43.5%
- Social studies: 46.7%
Marion County:
- English language arts: 37.9%
- Math: 30.6%
- Social studies: 43.3%
Grundy County:
- English language arts: 32.1%
- Math: 30.7%
- Social studies: 39.4%
Sequatchie County:
- English language arts: 34.1%
- Math: 32.0%
- Social studies: 46.4%
Bledsoe County:
- English language arts: 39.8%
- Math: 34.8%
- Social studies: 49.8%
Rhea County:
- English language arts: 44.0%
- Math: 46.1%
- Social studies: 51.4%
Meigs County:
- English language arts: 37.3%
- Math: 32.2%
- Social studies: 41.0%
McMinn County:
- English language arts: 41.1%
- Math: 39.5%
- Social studies: 50.0%
Polk County:
- English language arts: 35.1%
- Math: 27.2%
- Social studies: 43.0%
Cleveland City Schools:
- English language arts: 33.9%
- Math: 31.3%
- Social studies: 36.0%
Dayton City Schools:
- English language arts: 45.7%
- Math: 45.2%
- Social studies: 63.9%
Richard Hardy Memorial School:
- English language arts: 23.6%
- Math: 25.0%
- Social studies: 21.4%
Etowah City Schools:
- English language arts: 34.0%
- Math: 34.0%
- Social studies: 30.6%
Several local districts finished above the statewide proficiency average.
Bradley County, Rhea County and Dayton City exceeded the state average in both English language arts and math.
Rhea County and Dayton City also outperformed the statewide average in social studies, while McMinn County matched the state average in that subject.
Hamilton County school leaders are expected to present a more detailed look at the district’s TCAP results during Thursday night’s school board meeting.
Depend on us to keep you posted.
WHITE HOUSE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A heavy law enforcement presence was reported Tuesday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 31W and Rolling Meadows Road in White House.
FOX 17 News has a crew headed to the scene and is working to learn more about the situation.
Law enforcement vehicles line a roadway near the intersection of U.S. Highway 31W and Rolling Meadows Road in White House, Tennessee, as authorities respond to an active incident on Tuesday. Officials had not released details about the investigation at the time the photo was taken. (Photo: FOX 17 News )
A viewer told FOX 17 News a man was barricaded inside a home with other people inside. However, FOX 17 News has not independently confirmed those details.
Once at the scene, FOX 17 News learned that a man who was inside the home during the operation had exited the residence. FOX 17 News is working to obtain more information on the incident that is now subsiding.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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