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

Opinion: 'No map drawn for political purposes can change who we are'

morriss@churchhealth.org (G. Scott Morris) — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 04:00:02 -0500

“Lines have been drawn across neighborhoods, separating people who share streets, schools, churches and hopes for their children. But we are still one Memphis. And when the election is over, we will still be neighbors.”

Watch the Tennessee Press Association's governor-candidate forum live Oct. 27

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:45:13 -0500

The Daily Memphian will livestream the Tennessee Press Association’s gubernatorial forum Oct. 27. Three candidates are slated to participate.

Here's what congressional candidates Charlie Hatcher and Chaz Molder told reporters after joint appearance

selliott@nashvillepublicmedia.com (Stephen Elliott) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:46:45 -0500

Nominees to represent Tennessee’s 5th District faced questions about ICE, war in Iran at event in Spring Hill.

With midterms approaching, Task Force is focus for both sides of the aisle

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:52:50 -0500

With early voting underway in Shelby County, federal officials touted the Memphis Safe Task Force while Democratic congressional nominees vowed to scrutinize the operation.

Memphis Safe Task Force pursuit ends in fatal multi-vehicle crash

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:14:56 -0500

A 32-year-old man is facing vehicular homicide and other charges following a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement on Wednesday.

David Hatley tops latest campaign finance reports in race for Tennessee governor

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:19:56 -0500

New campaign finance reports filed this week show independent candidate for Tennessee governor David Hatley’s self-financed campaign is up to $12 million.

After 1 meeting, MSCS takeover board ready to go, chair says

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:28:45 -0500

Takeover board Chair Billy Orgel’s sworn statement is expected to lift a three-month hold on the state’s takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. But its unclear if the board’s new plans will capture all expenses it should review under state law.

Turning Memphis red dominates Trump's Clarksville stop

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:56:32 -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) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:57:25 -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.