Alabama

Alabama to introduce first new method of execution since 1982

Published

2 years ago

January 21, 2024

Alabama to introduce first new method of execution since 1982

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is preparing to use a new method of execution: nitrogen gas.

Kenneth Eugene Smith, who survived the state’s previous attempt to put him to death by lethal injection in 2022, is scheduled to be put to death Thursday by nitrogen hypoxia. If carried out, it would be the first new method of execution since lethal injection was introduced in 1982.

The state maintains that nitrogen gas will cause unconsciousness quickly but critics have likened the never-used method of execution to human experimentation.

What is nitrogen hypoxia?

Nitrogen hypoxia execution would cause death by forcing the inmate to breathe pure nitrogen, depriving him or her of the oxygen needed to maintain bodily functions.

Has it ever been used?

No state has used nitrogen hypoxia to carry out a death sentence. In 2018, Alabama became the third state — along with Oklahoma and Mississippi — to authorize the use of nitrogen gas to execute prisoners.

Some states are looking for new ways to execute inmates because the drugs used in lethal injections, the most common execution method in the United States, are increasingly difficult to find.

How is it supposed to work?

Nitrogen, a colorless, odorless gas, makes up 78% of the air inhaled by humans and is harmless when breathed with proper levels of oxygen.

The theory behind nitrogen hypoxia is that changing the composition of the air to 100% nitrogen will cause Smith to lose consciousness and then die from lack of oxygen.

Much of what is recorded in medical journals about death from nitrogen exposure comes from industrial accidents — where nitrogen leaks or mix-ups have killed workers — and suicide attempts.

What does the state plan to do?

After Smith is strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber, the state said in a court filing that it will place a “NIOSH-approved Type-C full facepiece supplied air respirator” — a type of mask typically used in industrial settings to deliver life-preserving oxygen — over Smith’s face.

The warden will then read the death warrant and ask Smith if he has any last words before activating “the nitrogen hypoxia system” from another room. The nitrogen gas will be administered for at least 15 minutes or “five minutes following a flatline indication on the EKG, whichever is longer,” according to the state protocol.

The state heavily redacted sections of the protocol related to the storage and testing of the gas system.

The Alabama attorney general’s office told a federal judge that the nitrogen gas will “cause unconsciousness within seconds, and cause death within minutes.”

What are the criticisms?

Smith’s attorneys say the state is seeking to make him the “test subject” for a novel execution method.

They have argued that the mask the state plans to use is not air tight and oxygen seeping in could subject him to a prolonged execution, possibly leaving him in a vegetative state instead of killing him. A doctor testified on behalf of Smith that the low-oxygen environment could cause nausea, leaving Smith to choke to death on his own vomit.

Experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council earlier this month cautioned that, in their view, the execution method would violate the prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.

The American Veterinary Medical Association wrote in 2020 euthanasia guidelines that nitrogen hypoxia can be an acceptable method of euthanasia under certain conditions for pigs but not for other mammals because it creates an “anoxic environment that is distressing for some species.”

Is this the same as the gas chamber?

Not exactly. Some states previously used hydrogen cyanide gas, a lethal gas, for executions. The last prisoner to be executed in a U.S. gas chamber was Walter LaGrand, the second of two German brothers sentenced to death for killing a bank manager in 1982 in southern Arizona. It took LaGrand 18 minutes to die in 1999.

Who is the inmate?

Smith was one of two men convicted of the 1988 murder-for-hire of a preacher’s wife. Prosecutors said Smith and the other man were each paid $1,000 to kill Elizabeth Sennett on behalf of her husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect insurance money.

Alabama attempted to execute Smith in 2022 by lethal injection. He was strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber being prepared for lethal injection, but the state called off the lethal injection when execution team members had difficulty connecting the second of two required intravenous lines to Smith’s veins. Smith was strapped to the gurney for nearly four hours, according to his lawyers, as he waited to see if the execution would go forward.

Are there legal challenges?

The question of whether the execution can proceed will end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Friday in Smith’s request to block the execution. After the court rules, either side could appeal.

Smith has argued that the state’s proposed procedures violate the ban on cruel and unusual punishment. He has also argued that Alabama violated his due process rights by scheduling the execution when he has pending appeals and that the face mask will interfere with his ability to pray.

In a separate case, Smith is arguing it would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment for the state to make a second attempt to execute him after he already survived one execution attempt. Lawyers for Smith on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the execution to consider that question.

What is potentially at stake?

Lethal injection is the most commonly used execution method in the United States, but death penalty states have struggled at times to obtain the needed drugs or encountered other problems in connecting intravenous lines.

If the Alabama execution goes forward, other states may seek to start to using nitrogen gas.

If the execution is blocked by the court or botched, it could halt or slow the pursuit of nitrogen gas as an alternative execution method.

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Alabama

Selmont seeks incorporation to become independent Alabama city

Published

6 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Selmont seeks incorporation to become independent Alabama city

SELMONT, Ala. (WSFA) – An unincorporated community in Dallas County is seeking to establish itself as an independent city, hoping to gain control over local government services and community priorities that have long been managed at the county level.

Selmont, located across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma, is home to approximately 2,700 registered voters and carries a significant place in civil rights history.

The community was the site of a pivotal moment during the Bloody Sunday march in 1965, when roughly 600 civil rights marchers were tear-gassed by Alabama state troopers, including 13-year-old Mae Richmond.

“People ask us ‘Were we afraid?’ No. We were not afraid. We were not afraid, first of all, even as a 13-year-old child, we knew that we were doing what God was permitting us to do,” Richmond, a 60-plus year resident of Selmont, said of the historic event.

As an unincorporated community, Selmont lacks its own municipal government. Residents must contact the Dallas County Commissioner for public works services. It’s a situation that community leaders say limits responsiveness to local needs.

Erice Williams, a community activist leading the incorporation effort, said the change would fundamentally alter how the community operates.

“It would give us decision power and allow us to get funding that we can allocate to our own community that we can make our own priorities be clear and resolved at the same time,” Williams said.

Williams also highlighted the strain on current county services. “Connel Towns (county commissioner) is the only person we have to call, and the resources and time that he would have to serve our community is very limited,” he said.

Operation Selmont, the group spearheading the incorporation effort, is currently gathering signatures on a petition to present to the local probate judge. The organization needs approximately 500 signatures to move forward with the incorporation process and has already collected 40 percent of its goal.

The next meeting for Operation Selmont is scheduled for March 6 at 6 p.m.

For longtime residents like Richmond, incorporation represents an opportunity to ensure Selmont’s future and maintain its identity for generations to come.

“That we will be able to teach and train our children to give them the strength that our foreparents had that they will be able to stand up for justice and for equality,” Richmond said of her hopes for the community’s future.

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Alabama

Report: Sen. Tuberville, Speaker Ledbetter uniting behind proposal to close Alabama party primaries: ‘Democrats shouldn’t be voting in our elections’

Published

18 hours ago

February 26, 2026

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Report: Sen. Tuberville, Speaker Ledbetter uniting behind proposal to close Alabama party primaries: ‘Democrats shouldn’t be voting in our elections’

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) announced support on Thursday for closing Alabama’s primary elections to only registered members of each party.

Alabama does not currently have party registration. Instead, voters choose a party ballot at the polls. State law also bars voters from switching parties between a primary and that cycle’s runoff.

Tuberville (R-Auburn) said during a press call with in-state reporters that Democrats have no place voting in Republican elections in Alabama.

“There’s a lot of talk about this,” Tuberville said.
“I’ve spoken with Speaker Ledbetter and we agree that we have to do something about Democrats voting in our elections. They shouldn’t be doing it. I know he’s moving a bill forward very very soon as we speak, and if we can get that done, I think it’s gonna help the cause of the conservative Republicans in the State of Alabama.”
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Under Alabama’s current open primary system, any registered voter can participate in either party’s primary without declaring a party affiliation.

Voters simply choose which party’s ballot they want at the polls. Alabama does not require partisan voter registration, meaning residents register without declaring themselves a Republican or Democrat.

The push to close the Republican primary is not new.

The Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) passed a resolution in 2022 calling on the Alabama Legislature to require party registration before voters can participate in a party’s primary, but the Legislature did not act on it at the time.

Closing the primary would require changing state law under Ala. Code 17-13-7, which governs the existing open primary system.

“I am proud to work with Coach Tuberville to begin the process of closing Alabama’s primary elections,” Ledbetter said in a statement on Thursday after lawmakers adjourned from the 17th day of the 2026 legislative session.

“Alabamians have made it clear that this is the direction our state needs to begin moving in, and I am committed to doing just that. Whether it was passing school choice, banning DEI, or making Alabama the most pro-life state in the nation, the Alabama Legislature has consistently delivered on its commitment to conservative governance, and we will do the same on this issue. We are in the process of reviewing the proposals before us and are eager to get the ball rolling.”

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].

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Alabama

Live Updates for No. 17 Alabama Basketball’s Home Game Against Mississippi State

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Live Updates for No. 17 Alabama Basketball’s Home Game Against Mississippi State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 17 Alabama basketball welcomes Mississippi State into Coleman Coliseum for the second to last home game of the year. The Crimson Tide enter on a six-game winning streak and beat the Bulldogs by 15 points in Starkville last month, but winning won’t be easy as Alabama will be without star guard Labaron Philon for the midweek contest after getting banged up last week against Arkansas.

Live Updates (Refresh Your Browser for Latest Updates):

Final Score

Final Score | Alabama Screensho

Second Half:

2:26 – Houston Mallette makes a 3-point shot to bring the Crimson Tide up to 22 makes from deep, tying a season high.

4:00 – Jalil Bethea makes a 3-pointer of his own and now Noah Williamson is the only Alabama player who hasn’t made one from deep against Mississippi State.

TIMEOUT 4:22 – Jalil Bethea calls timeout to save possession. The Crimson Tide has committed 13 turnovers without Labaron Philon in the lineup tonight.

4:45 – Nate Oats gets a technical foul after Taylor Bol Bowen’s followup dunk. Oats must have said something rude to the officials, but Josh Hubbard missed both free throws to the delight of the crowd.

5:42 – Alabama’s still a bit cold as they’ve only scored two points in the last four minutes of action, but the early 3-point shooting has the team in a comfortable spot, leading Mississippi State 84-62.

8:07 – Alabama’s gotten a little bit sloppy, allowing Mississippi State to cut the lead down to a 26 point margin. The game is still well in hand, but the Bulldogs have shaved 10 points off the lead as the Crimson Tide is 1-of-its-last-8.

TIMEOUT 9:47 – Alabama has finally cooled off and has missed their last six field goal attempts, resulting in a 2:13 scoring drought. The Crimson Tide still has a huge lead, up 82-53 with under 10 to play.

11:01 – Noah Williamson picks up his first foul as he’s played more minutes due to the Crimson Tide hammering the Bulldogs. Alabama leads 82-50 after the free throws.

TIMEOUT 12:00 – Time for the Full Moon Shoot For the Moon Challenge. Crew makes the layup easily, the free throw on two attempts, the 3-pointer on his third attempt, but comes up short on the halfcourt shot.

12:31 – Despite the large advantage for Alabama, Crimson Tide assistant Brian Adams is still screaming to get a defensive stop, imploring the team to show a killer instinct.

12:55 – Josh Hubbard finds his way to the free throw line for a three-point play the hard way. Alabama’s done a nice job limiting Hubbard to just 2-of-10 shooting and six points scored.

14:56 – Nate Oats has been on his team to start fast in the second half. The Crimson Tide opened the second frame on a 15-3 run to slam the door on the Bulldogs.

TIMEOUT 15:26 – It’s been more of the same in the second half as Alabama starts the half 4-of-5 from deep, taking the team to 20-of-32 on the game. The season high of 22 is certainly going to be reset tonight against the Bulldogs. Alabama leads 75-40.

15:44 – It is a 3-point downpour for Alabama as Aiden Sherrell makes his second from deep. He made two 3-point shots against Mississippi State in their last matchup, too.

17:36 – Amari Allen makes his sixth 3-point bucket of the game. Alabama is now 18-of-30 from deep. The season high is 22 makes and it came against Yale. The Crimson Tide leads 69-37.

18:41 – Latrell Wrightsell makes Alabama’s first 3-point shot of the second half. Alabama needs six more makes from deep to set a new season high.

19:00 – Quincy Ballard missed his second free throw, but Aiden Sherrell committed a lane violation and Ballard made his redo, robbing the students of “Goey Fries”.

Halftime:

Alabama halftime stats | Joe Gaither Screenshot

First Half:

1:56 – The only Alabama players who haven’t made a 3-point shot and have checked into the game tonight are Jalil Bethea and Noah Williamson.

TIMEOUT 3:30 – Alabama leads Mississippi State 51-25 and the game’s been a total contrast in shot-making efficiency as the Crimson Tide is 16-of-26 from the floor (62%) and the Bulldogs are 9-of-30 (30%).

TIMEOUT 5:24 – Houston Mallette answers a Ja’Borri McGee 3-point shot with one of his own and the Crimson Tide is now 12-of-19 from deep and shooting 63% from the floor as Alabama leads 49-25. It’s been a shooting clinic by the home team so far.

6:35 – Mississippi State is called for a touch foul on Jalil Bethea and it already feels like the Crimson Tide has delivered a knockout blow as the team is up 42-22.

7:41 – It’s the Amari Allen show. The freshman just made his fifth 3-point shot and he hasn’t missed a single attempt. Allen leads all scorers with 16 points.

TIMEOUT 7:53 – The Crimson Tide is unstoppable, making 10-of-16 from deep with Amari Allen leading the way with four by himself. Alabama is leading 39-20 and staying busy on the glass outrebounding the Bulldogs 15-7.

8:55 – Amari Allen is on fire. He’s 4-of-4 from beyond the arc as Alabama has a 37-17 lead. Mississippi State is so discombobulated on defense.

10:04 – It’s contagious. Aden Holloway makes Alabama’s ninth deep shot of the half.

10:28 – More ridiculous 3-point shooting from Alabama as Amari Allen made a 3-point shot and got fouled in the process. He’s up to 10 points with the free throw and Alabama leads 29-15.

TIMEOUT 11:13 – Alabama leads 24-12 and continues to torch the Bulldogs from deep, converting 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. The Crimson Tide is dominating ont he glass with four offensive rebounds leading to five second-chance points.

11:32 – Jalil Bethea makes Alabama’s first two-point field goal with a layup off an offensive rebound. The Crimson Tide is up 24-12 and has been scorching from deep.

14:00 – Taylor Bol Bowen and Houston Mallette keep the long range shooting going for Alabama as they make the programs sixth and seventh 3-point shot of the half.

14:51 – Taylor Bol Bowen, Jalil Bethea and Houston Mallette all check into the game for their first action for Alabama.

TIMEOUT 14:51 – The first media timeout finds the Crimson Tide ahead 15-5 on five made 3-point shots. Amari Allen has two, Aden Holloway, London Jemison and Aden Sherrell all have one. The Crimson Tide is outrebounding Mississippi State 8-5 and all five made 3’s have come off assists, indicating strong ball movement early.

16:23 – Aden Holloway makes a 3-point basket on a possession that Alabama got four different three point shots. Latrell Wrightsell missed, Holloway missed, Amari Allen missed and then Holloway made his. Multiple offensive rebounds for the Crimson Tide.

17:25 – Amari Allen has started off 2-of-2 from 3-point range to start the game. The Crimson Tide is up 9-2 early with three made 3-point shots.

19:45 – London Jemison makes Alabama’s first 3-point attempt of the game to give the Crimson Tide a 3-0 lead right off the bat.

Pregame:

Alabama basketball is wearing its white alternate uniforms tonight. The tops look identical to the Final Four uniforms, but the shorts have an alternate logo.

There are still two minutes on the clock and the national anthem to perform, but the crowd is a bit sparse in Coleman Coliseum. Nate Oats called for a good home crowd, but the student section still has plenty of empty seating despite the team riding a six-game winning streak.

Nate Oats indicated Jalil Bethea may be in line for more action tonight against Mississippi State. The Miami transfer is active in warmups, while Labaron Philon is in sweats as he’s out tonight.

Officials tonight are Jeb Hartness, Keith Kimble and Kip Kissinger.

Starting Lineups:

Alabama:

G Aden Holloway
G Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
F Amari Allen
F London Jemison
F Aiden Sherrell

Mississippi State:

G Shawn Jones Jr.
G Jayden Epps
G Josh Hubbard
F Achor Achor
C Quincy Ballard

Alabama Final Availability Report (Feb. 25):

Collins Onyejiaka — Out
Davion Hannah — Out
Keitenn Bristow — Out
Labaron Philon — Out

Mississippi State Final Availability Report (Feb. 25):

Jayden Epps — Game Time Decision

How to Watch: No. 17 Alabama vs. Mississippi State

Who: Mississippi State (13-14, 5-9 SEC) at No. 17 Alabama (20-7, 10-4 SEC)

What: Alabama’s 15th game of SEC Play (eighth at home)

When: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. CT

Where: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

TV: ESPNU

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

SiriusXM: Channel 81 (Alabama), Channel 386 (Mississippi State)

Series: Alabama leads 138-77, with the first matchup occurring on Feb. 6, 1913. The Crimson Tide is 86-15 at home against the Bulldogs.

Last Meeting: Then-No. 18 Alabama dominated Mississippi State 97-82 on the road on Jan. 13, but that final score doesn’t frame the entire story. The Crimson Tide, which only had eight scholarship players available due to various injuries, found itself trailing 29-15 with less than eight minutes to go in the first half. However, Alabama went on a 21-5 run to close out the half and came out strong out of the break as well. The Tide tallied 82 points in the final 28 minutes, as Labaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell logged career-highs in points with 32 and 22, respectively. Additionally, freshman Amari Allen recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Last time out, Alabama: The then-No. 25 Crimson Tide took down LSU 90-83 on the road on Feb. 21, Feb. 18 It was Alabama’s sixth consecutive win, and gave head coach Nate Oats his fourth straight season with at least 20 victories. Aden Holloway led the way with 17 points and put up what head coach Nate Oats called the guard’s best game “on the defensive end all year.” Amari Allen and London Jemison were also big down the stretch as they finished the game with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Aiden Sherrell had 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.

Last time out, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs fell to South Carolina 97-89 on the road on Feb. 21. The Gamecocks held a 7-point lead at halftime, and they were able to neutralize Mississippi State’s comeback effort by going bucket-for-bucket. MSU guard Josh Hubbard, who enters the Alabama game second in the SEC in scoring, finished with 13 points on 4 of 20 from the field. Four other Bulldogs finished in double figures, including a 15-point, 10-rebound performance by Quincy Ballard, but it wasn’t enough.