Alabama nitrogen gas execution scheduled
Alabama is set to become the first state to attempt to execute an inmate using nitrogen gas. A federal appeals court is refusing to block what would be the nation's first execution by a new method, since lethal injection was introduced in 1982. Kenneth Smith is scheduled to be put to death Thursday night. He was convicted in a 1988 murder-for-hire killing. Alabama argues using nitrogen gas will be humane, but critics say the method is cruel and experimental.