Tread by Lee Hedgepeth

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May 2024

January 2024

‘Never Alone’: The suffocation of Kenneth Eugene Smith
On Thursday, Smith became the first human ever subjected to a nitrogen suffocation execution. Read one reporter’s eyewitness account.
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Lee Hedgepeth
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The humanity of Kenneth Eugene Smith
Alabama will attempt to kill Smith for the second time on Thursday in the nation's first execution by nitrogen suffocation.
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Lee Hedgepeth
The future of Tread
Tread began as a platform to publish and promote unflinching journalism from the heart of the U.S South. That mission will not change.
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Lee Hedgepeth

September 2023

August 2023

Wearing prison guard's uniform, incarcerated Alabama man describes conditions that led to 'security incident'
Chaos, violence, and death.
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Lee Hedgepeth
A tree grows in Birmingham
How one Southern community aims to plant its way into the Alabama shade.
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Lee Hedgepeth
She forgave her grandmother's murderer. She watched as Alabama killed him anyway.
Sarah Gregory spent days with Jimi Barber before witnessing his execution
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Lee Hedgepeth

July 2023

When they sang 'Amazing Grace': The Alabama Execution of James Barber
Alabama condemned him to death. He said he was headed for Higher Ground.
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Lee Hedgepeth
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LIVE UPDATES: Alabama set to execute James Barber
The state abandoned its last two attempts at lethal injection after issues accessing veins.
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Lee Hedgepeth
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In dissent, appeals court judge says James Barber will soon be state's 'guinea pig'
Barber is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Thursday at 6 p.m.
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Lee Hedgepeth
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