This week put a harsh light on the state of Tennessee — both how well it does its job and how much of Memphis it wants to run.

On Sept. 30, Christa Gail Pike survived a lethal injection attempt that caused Gov. Bill Lee to call off the state’s one remaining execution this year and forced Correction Commissioner Frank Strada to step down. Columnist Geoff Calkins asked: Is this the state that thinks it can run Memphis?

The question comes as the Memphis Safe Task Force marks one year in the city. The Task Force has made more than 13,000 arrests, and crime has kept falling since it arrived, though crime was already dropping before then. Our reporters also looked at what the numbers leave out. At least two people have died in police chases, and the public knows little about the Task Force’s chase policies. We also looked at how one family is still grieving after a Task Force member shot and killed a man and dove into how the Task Force became a battleground for Tennessee Republicans and local Democrats.

The state’s reach continues. A judge ruled that the state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools can resume once the new oversight board is “ready.” President Donald Trump is adding a Tennessee stop to his midterm campaign push as Republicans try to flip the state’s last Democratic-held U.S. House seat under a map that splits Memphis into three districts.

Closer to home, the Memphis City Council now has six proposals for regulating data centers. Assessor Javier Bailey Sr. warns that empty Downtown office towers and lost tourism spending are shrinking the county’s tax base. And most of the county money tied to Regional One’s new hospital hasn’t been approved yet.

— Alys Drake, digital producer

We hope you enjoy reading the latest news stories from our community. If you’re a Daily Memphian subscriber, we appreciate your support. If not, please subscribe for unlimited access to quality, locally produced journalism.

“The State of Tennessee can’t even kill someone. But it can teach Memphis kids, run the Memphis airport and redefine who Memphis gets to vote for in Congress just because the president said so.”

Tennessee governor halts executions after Christa Gail Pike survives lethal injection attempt By The Associated Press

Tennessee’s prisons chief is resigning after failed execution of Christa Pike By The Associated Press

Memphis Safe Task Force marks one year in the city By The Daily Memphian Staff

Deadly police chases, little transparency in Memphis Safe Task Force's first year By Jody Callahan

Declining crime rates fall further after Task Force arrival By Jane Donahoe

A year of Memphis Safe Task Force: 13K+ arrests, decline and scrutiny By Mary Evans, Kelsey Bowen

How Memphis Safe Task Force became a battleground for Tennessee Republicans and local Democrats By Bill Dries

He was killed by the Memphis Safe Task Force after a suicide call. Four months later, family and friends are still wrestling with his death. By John Klyce

City Council faces 6 proposals for regulating data centers By Bill Dries

MSCS takeover could resume when board is ‘ready,’ judge rules By Laura Testino

'It's going in the wrong direction’: Assessor sounds alarm on county tax base By Andy Ashby

Trump adds Tennessee stop to midterm campaign blitz By Bill Dries

Where the money stands on Regional One's new hospital By Samuel Hardiman

.....