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Oklahoma Execution of Albert Black Paused by Visible distress, Officials Confirm
Albert Black, convicted of the 1998 murder of 34-year-old Charlotte Toney in Oklahoma City, was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester on Thursday, August 6, 2025, at 10:43 a.m.Central Time. the execution was briefly paused after approximately ten minutes when Black began vocalizing experiencing pain, according to statements released by prison officials. Black, 68, was administered a three-drug protocol: midazolam, vecuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections confirmed the execution proceeded after medical personnel determined Black was unresponsive. Toney was found stabbed to death in her Oklahoma City home, and Black, her former boyfriend, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1999.
Nevada police Intervention Preceded Midtown Manhattan Shooting, Records Show
Records released by the Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas reveal a 2022 incident involving Shane Devon Tamura, the suspect in the recent Park Avenue shooting. Three years before the August 5, 2025, incident in Manhattan, Tamura’s mother contacted 911 from a Las Vegas motel, reporting her son’s suicidal ideation and potential access to a firearm. According to the 911 transcript, she expressed concern about a backpack containing a holster. Las Vegas police responded and temporarily detained Tamura for a mental health evaluation, but he was later released. The Park Avenue shooting, which occurred near 57th Street and Park avenue, resulted in one injury and prompted a city-wide manhunt before tamura’s arrest.
PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Detected in St. Louis Beer, National study Finds
A new study, “hold My Beer,” led by Jennifer Hoponick Redmon of RTI International, has revealed the presence of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in beer produced across the United states, including in St. Louis,Missouri. The study analyzed samples from 329 beers representing over 180 breweries. PFAS contamination is linked to water sources used in the brewing process. The levels detected varied, but the study raises concerns about potential health impacts associated with long-term exposure to these chemicals, which have been linked to immune deficiencies, certain cancers, and developmental issues.
California’s Behavioral Health System Faces Critical Staffing Shortages
California’s efforts to expand access to mental health and substance use treatment are being hampered by a severe shortage of qualified professionals. The Good News Rescue Mission in Shasta County, which received a $17.8 million state grant to build a 75-bed residential treatment facility, is struggling to recruit ten certified substance use counselors and a dozen additional staff members. This shortage is occurring despite increased state funding for behavioral health services and a growing
