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Who is Christa Pike? Tennessee's only woman on death row survives lethal injection

Who is Christa Pike? Tennessee's only woman on death row survives lethal injection

Christa Pike, the only woman on death row in Tennessee, was featured on Investigation Discovery's "Mean Girl Murders." What to know about her case.
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Federal court halts execution of Christa Pike in 11th hour

Federal court halts execution of Christa Pike in 11th hour

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an order the morning of Sept. 30 staying Pike's execution 'until further order of this court.'
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Federal Appeals Court Stays Christa Pike's Execution in Tennessee

Federal Appeals Court Stays Christa Pike's Execution in Tennessee

A federal court has issued a stay of execution for Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the stay, citing the need to properly analyze arguments regarding whether Pike's appeal constitutes a Rule 60(b)(6) motion or a second or successive habeas petition. Pike was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 10 a.m. CDT at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. Her attorneys confirmed the stay, emphasizing serious concerns about the scheduled execution. The Tennessee attorney general's office has since asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule the stay and allow the execution to proceed. Governor Bill Lee had previously stated he would not intervene, and the Tennessee Supreme Court also declined to halt the execution last week. The U.S. Supreme Court had also declined a clemency request yesterday.
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Tennessee Governor Halts Executions Following Failed Lethal Injection Attempt on Christa Gail Pike

Tennessee Governor Halts Executions Following Failed Lethal Injection Attempt on Christa Gail Pike

The Governor of Tennessee has issued a halt on all executions in the state after a lethal injection attempt on Christa Gail Pike failed. The incident involved Christa Gail Pike surviving the lethal injection procedure, prompting an immediate review of the state's execution protocols. This development has brought the state's capital punishment practices under intense scrutiny. The specifics of why the lethal injection failed have not been detailed, but the survival of the condemned individual has led to a significant pause in all scheduled executions. This decision reflects a need to investigate the efficacy and humaneness of the current execution methods employed by the state.
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What Christa Pike did to land on death row

What Christa Pike did to land on death row

Officials attempted to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection on Sept. 30. Here's what she did to land on death row.
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Wisconsin Judicial Officials Warn of Underfunded Courts Leading to Delays and Staffing Shortages

Wisconsin Judicial Officials Warn of Underfunded Courts Leading to Delays and Staffing Shortages

Judicial officials in northeastern Wisconsin are urgently calling on the state Legislature to address severe underfunding within the justice system. Brown County Judge Tammy Jo Hock reported that she pushes her staff to work extended hours to keep cases moving, describing the situation as 'unreasonable.' The judiciary received less than 2% of the 2025-27 state budget, which Judge Hock argues is insufficient for the state's needs. The Wisconsin Judicial Needs Assessment Survey, issued in April, identified Brown County as having the largest deficit of judges and court commissioners in the state, lacking nearly six officials. This underfunding contributes to court delays, staffing shortages in district attorney offices, low pay for public defense, difficulties in recruiting and retaining lawyers, and inadequate mental health treatment for defendants. Prosecutors face backlogs of thousands of cases, with about half of all criminal cases in 2025 taking over six months to resolve. Outagamie County District Attor...
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BHA Strategy Expands Government Affairs Team with Samantha Nelson as Vice President

BHA Strategy Expands Government Affairs Team with Samantha Nelson as Vice President

BHA Strategy Expands Government Affairs Team with Samantha Nelson as Vice President
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Which Starbucks locations closed? See list

Which Starbucks locations closed? See list

While most locations are thriving under the chain's Back to Starbucks strategy, some are underperforming.
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Second Advanced Reactor Construction Permit to TVA

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Second Advanced Reactor Construction Permit to TVA

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued the nation’s second advanced reactor construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for its Clinch River Nuclear Site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This permit allows the TVA to proceed with a BWRX-300 small modular reactor, marking a significant milestone in nuclear innovation. Leaders, including U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett, credited the Trump administration for expediting the permit process, emphasizing its understanding of national security implications. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee highlighted the state's leading role in nuclear energy, noting that Tennessee is home to 229 nuclear companies, generating over $10 billion and employing more than 40,000 people. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn also acknowledged the partnerships that led to this achievement, stating that the road to the country's nuclear renaissance runs through Oak Ridge. While the permit is a crucial step, no timeline for the start of construction has been provided.
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Court halts execution of Christa Gail Pike in Tennessee for a murder she committed at age 18

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

Tennessee's execution of Christa Gail Pike has been halted just an hour before it was set to begin
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Hicks Johnson PLLC Expands Legal Team with Three Former Law Clerks, Including Clerk for U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II

Hicks Johnson PLLC Expands Legal Team with Three Former Law Clerks, Including Clerk for U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II

Hicks Johnson PLLC Expands Legal Team with Three Former Law Clerks, Including Clerk for U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II
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Christa Pike one day closer to execution after governor denies reprieve

Christa Pike one day closer to execution after governor denies reprieve

Gov. Bill Lee has upheld the death sentence of Christa Pike and does not plan to intervene in her execution by lethal injection this week.