Alabama requests a date to execute an inmate via nitrogen hypoxia for the first time Smith was supposed to be executed in November 2022 by lethal injection, but corrections officers failed to insert an IV properly. The U.S. Supreme Court has authorized nitrogen hypoxia in his case. Read more on NPR

With hold on confirmations, Pentagon says fate of hundreds of officers in limbo Hundreds of nominees for military positions have been stalled as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., protests Pentagon abortion policy. The Pentagon says the total number could swell to 650. Read more on NPR

Noah Lyles questioned the NBA ‘world champions’ label. Everyone had thoughts When track and field star Noah Lyles questioned why people refer to NBA title winners as “world champions,” everyone from Drake to Kevin Durant rushed to have their say. Read more on NPR

Samuel Wurzelbacher, who became ‘Joe the Plumber’ after confronting Obama, dies at 49 Wurzelbacher was thrust into the political spotlight after questioning Barack Obama about his economic policies during the 2008 presidential campaign. He had been battling pancreatic cancer. Read more on NPR