Nov 08 Death penalty, gun control, pot among ballot-measure issues By David Crary, Associated Press NEW YORK — Voters in some states weighed in Tuesday on several of most volatile issues facing America — gun control, marijuana legalization, the death penalty and the right of a terminally ill person to get a doctor's help in… Continue reading
Nov 07 Do Americans still support the death penalty? By Laura Santhanam The four ballot initiatives on the death penalty this year -- one apiece in Nebraska and Oklahoma, and two separate measures in California -- are the most we’ve ever seen in a single election. Continue reading
Nov 02 Watch 7:53 Legal pot, gun control and other big ballot initiatives to watch By PBS News Hour There are more than 150 ballot initiatives this year at the state level, capable of creating huge change for voters. Nine states are voting on the legalization of recreational or medical marijuana. Other measures concern gun control, the minimum wage… Continue watching
Oct 05 Supreme Court considers racial discrimination in death penalty case By Laura Santhanam In 1997, Duane Edward Buck was sentenced to die after he was convicted of killing two people and wounding a third in Houston, Texas. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today to decide whether Buck received a fair trial. Continue reading
Oct 03 Watch 4:22 News Wrap: Winds top 140 mph as Hurricane Matthew bears down By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Monday, Hurricane Matthew, one of the strongest Atlantic storms in recent years, is battering Jamaica and Haiti. Also, U.S. relations with Russia hit a new low when Washington called off talks with Moscow on the Syrian… Continue watching
Jun 06 Justices to review claims from Texas death row inmates By Mark Sherman, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will hear appeals from two African-American death-row inmates in Texas, including one who argued his sentence was based on his race. Continue reading
May 13 Watch 3:54 News Wrap: Pfizer halts sale of drugs used in lethal injection executions By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer -- the last remaining federally approved supplier of lethal injection drugs -- announced it will no longer allow its products to be used for executions. Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped up… Continue watching
Apr 06 Executions spiked in 2015, highest level in 25 years, Amnesty International report finds By Dominique Bonessi A new report by Amnesty International reveals that there were at least 1,634 executions worldwide last year, the most since 1989. Continue reading
Mar 03 Watch 5:14 News Wrap: Big tech supports Apple’s defiance of court order By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, a dozen major tech companies, including Facebook, Google and Microsoft, filed briefs supporting Apple’s refusal to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone despite federal court order. Also, Florida lawmakers approved a bill that could reinstate… Continue watching
Jan 12 Florida death penalty system is unconstitutional, Supreme Court rules By Sam Hananel, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Florida's unique system for sentencing people to death is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to judges — and not enough to juries — to decide capital sentences. Continue reading