The Guardian or Authority of Law, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, rests on the side of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday allowed two lower court rulings blocking Alabama's use of nitrogen gas executions to stand. (Al Drago/Getty Images) Nitrogen gas executions are cruel. That’s been clear since January 2024, when Corrections officials strapped a mask over Kenneth Eugene Smith and suffocated him to death . Smith convulsed and struggled for breath over the course of many minutes. Did this lead to any reflection about what happened in Holman prison? No. The Alabama attorney general congratulated the state on a “ textbook ” execution. Alabama did it six more times, ignoring the mounting evidence of torture in the procedure. That’s really all you need to see the brutality of nitrogen gas executions. Not a court ruling. Not that you could expect the nation’s high court to acknowledge that. As t...
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville gives an acceptance speech after he wins the Republican nomination for Alabama's governor at his primary election victory tailgate at the Vulcan Park in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 19, 2026. The Alabama Republican Party Sunday rejected a challenge to Tuberville's residency in the state. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Republican Party Sunday rejected a challenge to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s residency from his former primary opponent Ken McFeeters, keeping him the GOP gubernatorial nominee. Scott Stadthagen, chair of the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP), announced the ruling of the the 21-member steering committee on Sunday afternoon. Stadthagen, a member of the committee, did not vote because there was not a tie. “We looked at it with the facts. The contest was unsuccessful and Coach Tuberville will be our nominee for governor,” Stadthagen said. “I want to make it crystal clear: Under my leadership as chairman of the Republican Par...