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Lethal injection issues crop up in US executions

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Since Texas became the first state to use lethal injection as its execution method on Dec. 7, 1982, some problems have been reported nationwide, such as delays in finding suitable veins, needles becoming clogged or disengaged and reactions from inmates who appeared to be under stress.

Here are some examples from the past three decades:

— July 23, 2014: Joseph Rudolph Wood gasped and snorted for more than 90 minutes after his execution began in Arizona, prompting lawyers to file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court demanding that it be stopped. Wood was pronounced dead one hour and 57 minutes after the execution started.

— April 29, 2014: Clayton Lockett’s execution in Oklahoma was halted by the state’s prison director after Lockett writhed and groaned on the gurney before dying 43 minutes after the drugs began to flow. Oklahoma was using a new sedative, midazolam, as part of its three-drug lethal injection procedure. An autopsy released last week showed Lockett died from the drugs, not a heart attack, which is what the state prisons director had said.

— Jan. 16, 2014: Dennis McGuire repeatedly gasped during the record 26 minutes it took him to die in Ohio’s execution chamber. The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said its review determined McGuire was asleep and unconscious a few minutes after the drugs were administered and “he did not experience pain, distress or air hunger after the drugs were administered or when the bodily movements and sounds occurred.”

— Sept. 15, 2009: In Ohio, inmate Romell Broom avoided execution after prison technicians were unable to find a suitable vein after trying for two hours; Broom even had helped. Broom, who remains on Ohio’s death row, has complained that he was stuck with needles at least 18 times and suffered intense pain, and has sued.

— December 13, 2006: Florida inmate Angel Diaz moved, squinted and grimaced after receiving an injection, so a second dose of chemicals was administered. Florida prison officials initially blamed the issue on Diaz’s liver problems, but an autopsy found his liver undamaged and that the needle had gone through Diaz’s vein and out the other side — meaning the chemicals went into soft tissue and not the vein. As a result, then-Gov. Jeb Bush suspended executions in Florida.

— May 2, 2006: In Ohio, Joseph L. Clark’s lethal injection was stalled for 22 minutes before prison technicians located a suitable vein. Shortly after, the vein collapsed and Clark’s arm began to swell. He raised his head and said: “It don’t work. It don’t work.” Technicians worked for 30 minutes to find another vein, and Clark wasn’t pronounced dead until nearly 90 minutes after the process started.

— April 23, 1998: When there was no immediate reaction from Texas inmate Joseph Cannon after the injection process began, he had a quizzical look on his face, then blurted out: “It’s come undone.” A vein in Cannon’s arm had collapsed and the needle popped out. Fifteen minutes later, the execution was completed.

— July 18, 1996: Indiana inmate Tommie J. Smith’s lethal injection took 69 minutes when prison technicians were unable to locate suitable veins.

— May 3, 1995: Emmitt Foster’s punishment in Missouri was halted seven minutes after it began when chemicals stopped. Foster gasped and convulsed. He was pronounced dead 30 minutes later. A coroner blamed the problem on leather straps that bound Foster too tightly to the execution gurney and restricted the flow of the chemicals.

— May 10, 1994: Serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s execution in Illinois was interrupted as the lethal chemicals unexpectedly solidified, clogging the intravenous tube. Prison officials replaced the tube and the punishment resumed. The problem was blamed on inexperienced prison officials.

— May 7, 1992: Texas prisoner Justin Lee May had an unusually violent reaction to the lethal drugs, gasping and coughing and rearing against the leather belts that restrained him to the gurney. Amid groans, he lifted his head. His eyes and mouth were open as he died.

— December 13, 1988: Texas inmate Raymond Landry was pronounced dead 40 minutes after being strapped to the execution gurney and 24 minutes after the drugs started flowing into his arms. The needle came out spraying the chemicals toward witnesses. It was reinserted and he died. Subsequently, a plastic window was erected in the death chamber to separate the inmate from witnesses.

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Source: AP archives and Death Penalty Information Center, an advocacy group that opposes the death penalty.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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