Kentucky Switching To Use Of One Drug In Executions

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky is switching to a single drug to carry out inmate executions, becoming the latest state to drop a three-drug mixture for lethal injections.

New regulations filed Friday also give the state two drug options, either the anesthetic sodium thiopental or the barbiturate pentobarbital.

Kentucky joins at least seven other states that use one drug in lethal injections.

The change means the state could resume lethal injections later this year.

A public hearing on the execution proposal is scheduled for Sept. 25 in Frankfort and the new regulations are expected to take effect 30 days later.