Yesterday, Alabama grew to become the primary state within the nation to execute a prisoner utilizing nitrogen hypoxia. The AP stories right here that “Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was pronounced useless at 8:25 p.m. . . . after respiratory pure nitrogen gasoline by means of a face masks to trigger oxygen deprivation.” Smith was sentenced to dying three a long time in the past for his position in a contract killing. Alabama tried to execute him by deadly injection in 2022, however the try failed when authorities had been unable to connect an IV to his veins. The Supreme Courtroom declined to dam the nitrogen gasoline execution earlier this week, over a dissent from three liberal Justices. The linked story comprises some particulars of the execution. Maintain studying for extra information.
Oregon reversing course on decriminalization? The AP has this story, reporting that “Democratic lawmakers in Oregon [have] unveiled a sweeping new invoice that will undo a key a part of the state’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization legislation, a recognition that public opinion has soured on the measure amid rampant public drug use through the fentanyl disaster.” Particularly, “[t]he invoice would recriminalize the possession of small quantities of medication as a low-level misdemeanor, enabling police to confiscate them and crack down on their use on sidewalks and in parks.” Not everybody is able to again away from decriminalization, with some arguing that the strategy wants extra time and higher funding for remedy and help providers.
“Fuel station heroin.” That’s what some are calling tianeptine, a substance bought at comfort shops as a dietary complement or temper booster. WRAL stories right here that though the substance isn’t regulated by the FDA, the FDA nonetheless is asking retailers to not inventory it, shoppers to not take it, and producers to recollect it, citing considerations about critical adversarial reactions. Not less than one producer apparently has complied. The FDA itself has this assertion up concerning the substance, which apparently is accredited for medical makes use of in another nations. [Update: an attentive reader alerted me to the fact that Phil covered this in last week’s news roundup, which I missed while away on vacation. Sorry about that. The only really new development is the voluntary recall.]
Dockable drones. This native story covers the “drone in a dock” now being utilized by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Workplace. Apparently it’s one in all a handful of businesses on the earth utilizing such drones, which could be launched and piloted as much as two miles away with out an officer having the drones in sight. I’ve written about drones a number of occasions on the weblog, most just lately right here. I’ll have an interest to be taught extra about this new utility of the expertise.
Talking of expertise, software program bugs despatched 900 folks to jail. Not less than, that’s what it appears like. Ars Technica has this story asserting that “Fujitsu’s defective accounting software program aided within the prosecution and conviction of greater than 900 sub-postmasters and postmistresses [in the UK] who had been accused of theft or fraud when the software program wrongly made it seem that cash was lacking from their branches.” As if that weren’t dangerous sufficient, Fujitsu apparently knew about no less than 29 separate software program faults from the start, but nobody talked about them to the protection. Issues are completely different throughout the pond, but when one thing like this had been to occur right here, I might really feel a category motion lawsuit approaching!
Crime charges are down. Or up. This new report from the Council on Felony Justice says that murder and violent crimes fell final yr in 38 studied cities, however property crimes had been combined and automotive thefts had been means up. Violent crimes are nonetheless above pre-pandemic ranges, however appear to be getting nearer to that baseline. The report has far more element for readers.
Trial begins for mom of Michigan college shooter. CNN stories right here {that a} manslaughter trial has simply begun in opposition to the mom of Ethan Crumbley, who killed 4 college students and wounded seven others at his highschool in Oxford, Michigan. The prosecution contends that Jennifer Crumbley is “liable for these deaths.” The story notes that she and her husband “purchased a gun for his or her son 4 days earlier than the taking pictures, regardless that he was struggling together with his psychological well being and considering violence. In addition they say the dad and mom didn’t point out the gun to highschool officers in a gathering to debate Ethan’s disturbing drawings simply hours earlier than the deadly taking pictures.”
Florida Man. Sometime, maybe we are going to run out of Florida Man tales. However not as we speak. In keeping with this native report, a Florida resident just lately discovered himself behind bars for . . . assault with a sandwich. The story asserts that the person was ordering a sandwich at a Subway franchise and have become enraged when he decided that the bread on his sandwich was not reduce all through. (As a aspect notice, I’ve eaten at Subway many occasions and imagine that to be normal observe, maybe as a result of leaving a bread “hinge” enhances the structural integrity of the sandwich.) Phrases had been mentioned, however issues received actually ugly when the client launched the sandwich on the worker, placing her within the “mid- to decrease physique.” The story has no info on the severity of any accidents, nor whether or not there have been any hard-to-remove mayonnaise stains on the worker’s clothes.
Have a great weekend, and be protected on the market – together with on the sandwich store.
