Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Metro - State Government

Turning Memphis red dominates Trump's Clarksville stop

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:44:24 -0500

Also in the political roundup, Tennessee’s GOP chairman talks about midterm trends, Justin J. Pearson’s ban letter goes public before he gets a copy and breaking ground for the new OUTMemphis center comes with culture war impact.

New MSCS board leaders say they won’t let the state takeover overshadow student needs

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:00:04 -0500

Tamarques Porter and Sable Otey, two MSCS board members recently elected as this year’s chair and vice chair respectively, say they’re confident they can weather the storm.

Christa Pike is released from hospital after surviving execution attempt, attorneys say

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 13:44:10 -0500

Christa Pike, who survived Tennessee’s attempt to execute her by lethal injection, has been moved back to prison, her attorneys said Saturday.

Kuhn says Kustoff is vulnerable in reelection bid

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:15:16 -0500

Heidi Kuhn, 8th Congressional District Democratic nominee, discusses her challenge of Republican incumbent David Kustoff on ‘Behind The Headlines.’

Donor-funded consultant helped ready Memphis school takeover board during pause

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 12:05:39 -0500

A consulting firm that worked with Houston’s school system during its takeover has quietly played a key role in readying the state-appointed board to resume control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

MSCS takeover board to reconvene Thursday

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 15:36:51 -0500

The meeting comes less than a week after a judge said he “didn’t mean to imply” the oversight board couldn’t do its work with a July 1 order, which MSCS and the state interpreted as a temporary halt.

Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after failed execution, her attorneys say

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 16:11:30 -0500

Christa Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital as Tennessee officials attempted to put her to death.

Tennessee’s prisons chief is resigning after failed execution of Christa Pike

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Sat, 3 Oct 2026 15:50:39 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee said that Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada will step down this month.

Christa Pike on ventilator and unconscious after failed Tennessee execution, attorneys say

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Fri, 2 Oct 2026 17:31:25 -0500

Hospital staff, her lawyers said, were working to save Pike’s life and, as of late Thursday, were trying to clear the two doses of the drug the state uses to execute prisoners.

Christa Pike is alive a day after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her, her lawyers say

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 14:21:27 -0500

Christa Pike is in critical condition at the hospital where she was taken after Wednesday night’s failed execution.

Tennessee governor halts executions after Christa Gail Pike survives lethal injection attempt

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 06:32:25 -0500

A death penalty expert said it was an unprecedented failure, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee halted the one remaining execution for the rest of the year.

Court halts execution of Christa Gail Pike in Tennessee for a murder she committed at age 18

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:36:37 -0500

A federal appeals court halted the execution of Christa Pike about an hour before it was set to begin Wednesday.

Tennessee set to execute a woman for first time in 200 years

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:30:46 -0500

Christa Pike was 18 years old when she killed a classmate in a jealous rage and became one of the youngest women to be sent to death row.

Independent David Hatley brings campaign for governor to Memphis

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 12:05:33 -0500

Also in the political roundup, Charlie Hatcher on KWAM, Chaz Molder’s fish fry in North Memphis and the art of canvassing and phone banking.

Independent contenders make waves in race for governor

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:13:21 -0500

Lauren Pinkston and David Hatley are drawing the attention of the Democratic and Republican nominees for Tennessee Governor. Pinkston and Hatley are better funded than independent candidates usually are in the statewide race.

Task Force has targeted citizens, ACLU alleges

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Attorneys seek a preliminary injunction to stop Task Force members from retaliating against residents who film their operations.

Opinion: Jesse Huseth on affordability, education and costs in District 97

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Jesse Huseth) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:06:28 -0500

“I am running for Tennessee State House District 97 because I refuse to accept that our state should rank last when it matters most: for our children, our loved ones, and our working families.”

Task Force's 1-year mark comes with questions

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:12:53 -0500

A year since the presidential executive order that created the Memphis Safe Task Force was announced in the Oval Office, its impact and future are still being debated, touted and condemned.

New TBI agents ‘embedded’ with Memphis Safe Task Force

sstockard@tennesseelookout.com (Sam Stockard) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:47:33 -0500

The state is pouring $9 million this year into a TBI task force given wide-reaching authority across the state, including working with the Memphis Safe Task Force.

State House hopeful bounced as write-in candidate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:26:50 -0500

Kyler Gilkey was declared ineligible at Monday’s deadline for write-in candidates in the Nov. 3 election. It’s the latest wrinkle in a complex political puzzle. Meanwhile, five other contenders did qualify.