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Lawyers: Pike getting "life-saving care" after failed execution

State and federal elected officials are pressing for public accountability.

News

Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike&#x27;s attorneys said she was &quot;in critical condition&quot; and &quot;receiving life-saving care&quot; Thursday, a day after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="she survived an execution attempt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/chaos-questions-christa-pike-execution-attempt" data-vars-content-id="5846c647-a88b-4072-aeb2-def79cf89669" data-vars-headline="Lawyers: Pike getting &quot;life-saving care&quot; after failed execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/chaos-questions-christa-pike-execution-attempt" target="_self">she survived an execution attempt</a> during which the state administered two doses of the lethal injection drug.<ul><li>A death penalty expert <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told the Associated Press" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/christa-pike-failed-botched-execution-5638e4f7d25d5490b402ae53cfa2626d" data-vars-content-id="5846c647-a88b-4072-aeb2-def79cf89669" data-vars-headline="Lawyers: Pike getting &quot;life-saving care&quot; after failed execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/christa-pike-failed-botched-execution-5638e4f7d25d5490b402ae53cfa2626d" target="_blank">told the Associated Press</a> that Pike&#x27;s survival after receiving the execution drug was unprecedented.</li></ul>The latest: State and federal elected officials are pressing for public accountability after the second failed execution this year. Gov. Bill Lee halted further executions for the rest of the year and ordered a independent review of the Pike execution attempt.<ul><li>On Thursday morning, he told reporters there were &quot;very few answers&quot; about what had gone wrong.</li></ul>

Predators offer gravy boats, bobbleheads and romance for theme nights this season

Nashville Predators' promotions for 2026 season include bobbleheads of Billy Strings and Ryan O'Reilly.

Sports

If your Thanksgiving arrangement fell short in terms of expressing your hockey fandom, well, the Nashville Predators have you covered.<ul><li>The Preds partnered with Cracker Barrel on a catfish gravy boat giveaway for the team&#x27;s Nov. 7 home game against the St. Louis Blues.</li></ul>The big picture: Predators fans really want a playoff hockey team this season. <ul><li>That remains to be seen, but attending games is sure to be fun either way, as the team&#x27;s marketing department once again packed their home schedule full of creative promotions and theme nights.</li></ul>Here are some of our favorites:

Tennessee contributes to national uptick in executions

Forty-seven people were executed last year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Three of them were in Tennessee.

Tennessee is contributing to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national surge in executions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/02/death-penalty-executions-surging-florida" data-vars-content-id="9fe7d76c-9b59-462f-9ac2-1d1737260f86" data-vars-headline="Tennessee contributes to national uptick in executions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/02/death-penalty-executions-surging-florida" target="_self">national surge in executions</a>, and the Republican candidate for governor wants the state to go further in the coming years.The big picture: Forty-seven people were executed in the United States last year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.<ul><li>Three of them were in Tennessee.</li></ul>

Christa Pike hospitalized after failed execution attempt

Christa Pike hospitalized after failed TN execution attempt

"We have a lot of questions about what we saw and what we did not see."

Death row inmate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Christa Pike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/30/christa-pike-execution-stayed-appeals-court" data-vars-content-id="061853ae-993b-49c7-96fb-c56817325e58" data-vars-headline="Christa Pike hospitalized after failed execution attempt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/30/christa-pike-execution-stayed-appeals-court" target="_self">Christa Pike</a> was still alive after getting two rounds of lethal injection drugs at a Nashville prison Wednesday night, her attorneys said in court filings.<ul><li>Media witnesses who watched the lethal injection process said Pike was still breathing when the warden told them to leave at 8:53pm.</li><li>An ambulance left the prison grounds while they were describing their experience at a press conference outside. Sirens wailed while they talked.</li></ul>

Tennessee's top prison official resigns after failed Christa Pike execution

Department of Correction commissioner Frank Strada will step down this month.

Tennessee&#x27;s top prison official turned in his resignation days after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="failed attempt to execute death row inmate Christa Pike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/christa-pike-alive-after-failed-execution" data-vars-content-id="123616ae-df56-4b98-9a3d-af7b7b380a34" data-vars-headline="Tennessee&#x27;s top prison official resigns after failed Christa Pike execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/christa-pike-alive-after-failed-execution" target="_self">failed attempt to execute death row inmate Christa Pike</a>, the state announced Saturday.Gov. Bill Lee said Department of Correction commissioner Frank Strada would step down this month.<ul><li>Strada, who had served as commissioner since 2023, said he would cooperate with the independent investigation of the failed execution attempt. </li><li>Pike, 50, survived two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital and was taken to a hospital for life-saving treatment.</li></ul>

Tenn. Republicans turn to electric chair, other methods after execution failure

Fallout from the failed execution of Christa Pike continues to mount.

Top Republicans say they are open to changing Tennessee&#x27;s approach to the death penalty after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unprecedented failure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/christa-pike-alive-after-failed-execution" data-vars-content-id="a54477f6-d886-455d-bd1a-d6998fa94318" data-vars-headline="Tenn. Republicans turn to electric chair, other methods after execution failure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/christa-pike-alive-after-failed-execution" target="_self">unprecedented failure</a> this week that left Christa Pike alive after two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital.Why it matters: As fallout from the failed execution continues to mount, more government leaders are discussing substantive policy changes, including new methods for implementing the death penalty.

Dolly Parton's autobiographical Broadway musical unveils its stars

Parton handpicked the leads for the musical.

The three actors who will play Dolly Parton in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="her autobiographical musical coming to Broadway in December" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/07/dolly-parton-broadway-musical-tickets" data-vars-content-id="0c05d127-ba6d-400b-85d1-5b8d6246075d" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s autobiographical Broadway musical unveils its stars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/07/dolly-parton-broadway-musical-tickets" target="_self">her autobiographical musical coming to Broadway in December</a> were announced Friday.Why it matters: Parton hand-picked the leads for the musical before she died in August. The show, which features Parton&#x27;s music and a script she co-wrote, is certain to become a nightly tribute to the icon&#x27;s astonishing life story.

SCOTUS says Tennessee can move forward with Christa Pike's execution

A federal appeals court had ordered "a short stay of execution" earlier in the day.

The U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday night that Tennessee could move forward with death row inmate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Christa Pike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/10/01/execution-date-christa-pike-tennessee-death-row" data-vars-content-id="bd4fe8f7-f37a-4346-817f-85ebb3bbe15a" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS says Tennessee can move forward with Christa Pike&#x27;s execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/10/01/execution-date-christa-pike-tennessee-death-row" target="_self">Christa Pike</a>&#x27;s execution, reversing a last-minute stay issued earlier in the day by a federal appeals court.The latest: The high court cleared the way for the execution <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in a two-sentence order" data-vars-click-url="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a428_4f15.pdf" data-vars-content-id="bd4fe8f7-f37a-4346-817f-85ebb3bbe15a" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS says Tennessee can move forward with Christa Pike&#x27;s execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a428_4f15.pdf" target="_blank">in a two-sentence order</a> that capped a rapid-fire legal battle. The three liberal justices dissented.<ul><li>It wasn&#x27;t immediately clear when the state would move forward with the execution, which was initially set to take place Wednesday morning.</li></ul>

Georgia congressman questions federal funding for TN Choice Lanes

U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller questions the use of a record federal loan for Tennessee's Choice Lanes project.

Politics

A Georgia congressman sent a letter to the top U.S. transportation official this week, expressing concerns about federal funding for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tennessee&#x27;s I-24 toll lane project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/12/19/nashville-new-optional-toll-lanes" data-vars-content-id="65eb1884-137d-4671-9242-2bf0cb0e070f" data-vars-headline="Georgia congressman questions federal funding for TN Choice Lanes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/12/19/nashville-new-optional-toll-lanes" target="_self">Tennessee&#x27;s I-24 toll lane project</a>.Why it matters: The toll lanes are supposed to bring in billions of dollars for Tennessee&#x27;s transportation funding and help ease congestion on the busy I-24 corridor between Nashville and Rutherford County.

Dispute between Dolly Parton's estate and nephew spills out in court

A lawsuit accuses Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, of making a "pay-me-or-else threat."

The company overseeing Dolly Parton&#x27;s business interests sued her nephew and longtime head of security Bryan Seaver on Tuesday, accusing him of mounting a &quot;campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion&quot; that included a &quot;pay-me-or-else threat.&quot;<ul><li>Seaver said his comments had been presented out of context and dismissed the suit as a &quot;publicity stunt&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in a statement to ABC News" data-vars-click-url="https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/dolly-partons-nephew-confirms-firing-calls-restraining-order/story?id=136679250&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="669b2eb8-de15-46e5-8bc8-f493cb479165" data-vars-headline="Dispute between Dolly Parton&#x27;s estate and nephew spills out in court" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/dolly-partons-nephew-confirms-firing-calls-restraining-order/story?id=136679250&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">in a statement to ABC News</a> on Wednesday, adding that he &quot;never threatened anyone.&quot;</li></ul>Why it matters: The lawsuit offers a dramatic glimpse at an internal struggle between the people and businesses entrusted with Parton&#x27;s professional legacy and the family member she <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hand-picked to announce the news of her death" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" data-vars-content-id="669b2eb8-de15-46e5-8bc8-f493cb479165" data-vars-headline="Dispute between Dolly Parton&#x27;s estate and nephew spills out in court" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" target="_self">hand-picked to announce the news of her death</a>.

New Waymo program allows Nashville teens to hail their own robotaxis 

Nashville is the second city in the country to get Waymo teen accounts.

Starting Tuesday, Nashville became the second city in the country where teenagers can ride solo in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Waymo&#x27;s fleet of robotaxis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/25/waymo-expansion-robotaxis-nashville" data-vars-content-id="16434b92-c831-473c-b694-16ef82443e08" data-vars-headline="New Waymo program allows Nashville teens to hail their own robotaxis " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/25/waymo-expansion-robotaxis-nashville" target="_self">Waymo&#x27;s fleet of robotaxis</a>.Why it matters: Waymo markets the teen rider program as an alternative for kids traveling to school, the movies or extracurricular activities.

News 🗞

Tennessee's top prison official resigns after failed Christa Pike execution

Tenn. Republicans turn to electric chair, other methods after execution failure

Dolly Parton's autobiographical Broadway musical unveils its stars

Lawyers: Pike getting "life-saving care" after failed execution

Christa Pike hospitalized after failed execution attempt