By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Lookout readers:
With two botched executions in the last five months, both by lethal injection, Tennessee lawmakers are taking a look at the procedure. Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday halted executions for the year, meaning the state won’t off anyone in the next 11 weeks.
And the Tennessee General Assembly’s top leaders are also examining capital punishment: Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and House Speaker Cameron Sexton would like to make execution more efficient.
Cassandra Stephenson reports that on a conservative radio show Monday, Johnson said the state needs a more “reliable” method to kill people and he and Sexton both said they are open to exploring use of the electric chair — a method advocated for by Republican gubernatorial nominee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn — the firing squad, or, as Sexton suggested, hanging, which Tennessee used until 1913. An oldie but a goodie!
In other news:
Christa Pike speaks. Christa Pike, the death row inmate who survived Wednesday’s failed executions, was conscious and talking on Tuesday, reports Evan Mealins with the Tennessean. Pike’s lawyers will be in Davidson County Chancery Court at 11 a.m CDT today; we’ll be covering that hearing.
Chaos at Memphis City Council. Noah McLane with the Daily Memphis reports chaos erupted at Tuesday’s Memphis City Council meeting after a majority of council members voted to delay a vote on data center moratoriums. McLane reports dozens of Memphis police officers dispersed a crowd of several hundred people. (Story may be paywalled.)
Trump in Tennessee: Julia Baker with State Affairs reports President Donald Trump will be in Tennessee again this weekend for at least one stop in Clarksville on Saturday.
AND — last but not least! The Tennessee Lookout voter guide for Tennessee’s midterm elections is live, with a list of candidates from governor through state house, links to candidate websites and Lookout political coverage. Click on the guide below.
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
Death row offender Christa Pike was taken taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment after two failed lethal injections on Sept. 30. Republican leaders say the Tennessee General Assembly will investigate the failure and consider alternative execution methods in an upcoming legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Tenn. Republicans: Legislature to investigate other execution methods after failed lethal injections
by Cassandra Stephenson
Republican leaders in Tennessee’s legislature say they will investigate the reliability of lethal injection as an execution method after the state failed to execute two death row inmates in the span of five months.
NEWS AND NOTES
Voting rights advocates organize volunteers to track potential intimidation at the polls | Jonathan Shorman, States Newsroom
Democrats more trusted on healthcare costs, survey shows | Jennifer Shutt
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
Tennessee will allow farmers and loggers to use cheaper, tax-exempt dyed diesel typically restricted to off-road use on public roads through the month of October to provide relief from high prices during harvest season. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Cassandra Stephenson
Tennessee will allow farmers and loggers to use cheaper, tax-exempt diesel on public roads through the month of October to provide relief from high prices during harvest season, Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
John Cole’s Tennessee: Don’t fear the reaper.
John Cole’s Tennessee: Don’t fear the reaper. Tennessee Department of Correction officials botched the execution of death row inmate Christa Pike, who survived two doses of lethal drugs.
ICYMI
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