"Alabama's Controversial Nitrogen Gas Execution Method"

Alabama prepares for the first U.S. execution using nitrogen gas as legal challenges attempt to halt the untested method for Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted for a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying. Concerns about potential cruelty and unusual punishment have been raised, with Smith's lawyers arguing about the unknowns surrounding Alabama's protocol. The use of nitrogen gas has sparked controversy, with medical experts warning about potential side effects, while state officials believe the new method will be swift, painless, and humane.