"Alabama's Nitrogen Gas Execution Sets Precedent for Other States"

Alabama carried out the first known execution using nitrogen hypoxia, putting inmate Kenneth Smith to death for a 1988 murder-for-hire. The state's attorney general expects more states to follow suit, despite concerns about potential pain or torture. The execution process involved fitting Smith with a mask and administering nitrogen, with witnesses describing his movements and breathing during the procedure. The White House and global human rights organizations have criticized the new method, while the victim's family sees it as a bittersweet act of justice.