"Alabama Approved for First Nitrogen Gas Execution in U.S."

A federal judge has ruled that Alabama can proceed with the nation's first execution using nitrogen gas, rejecting inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith's request for an injunction to stop his scheduled Jan. 25 execution. Smith's attorneys argue that the method is cruel and experimental, while the state defends it as a humane and effective alternative. The case stems from Smith's involvement in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher's wife, and the decision may ultimately be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.