"Controversy Surrounds Alabama's First Nitrogen Gas Execution"

Alabama is set to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith using nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial and untested method of execution, sparking legal and ethical debates. Smith's lawyers argue that he is essentially being used as a test subject, while the state claims it to be the most painless and humane method. The United Nations and experts have raised concerns about the potential for suffering and inhumane treatment. Smith's previous botched lethal injection attempt in 2022 has also been a point of contention in the legal battle.