Kentucky to Execute Chapman Tonight: Marco Allen Chapman, the confessed child killer who has sought execution since his conviction four years ago, is scheduled to be put to death tonight. A story by Courier-Journal writers Jason Riley and Deborah Yetter reports that Chapman's execution would be the first in Kentucky since 1999. In 2002, Chapman sexually assaulted Carolyn Marksberry and slashed the throats of her daughter Chelbi, 7, and son Cody, 6. Both Chelbi and Cody were killed while Carolyn's eldest daughter, Courtney, 10, was cut only in the face and survived the incident by playing dead.

Another Texas Killer Put to Death: Texas executed its 18th murderer yesterday as reported by AP writer Michael Graczyk. Robert Hudson received the death sentence for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend, 35-year-old Edith Kendrick. The victim died from six to eight stab wounds, including three to her heart. During the attack, Kendrick's eight-year-old son was slashed in the throat while trying to protect her. The boy survived. Prior to the murder, Hudson had been convicted at least eight times for other crimes, including a 1987 Dallas murder.

Appeals Court Strikes Down Residency Restriction: California's Fourth District Court of Appeal has unanimously ruled that the provision of Proposition 83 (Jessica's Law) that prohibits registered sex offenders, sentenced before the law was passed, from living within 2,000 feet of schools or parks amounts to additional punishment. A story by SF Chronicle writer Bob Egelko reports that the decision is focused on defendants convicted and sentenced before the measure was was adopted in 2006, who have since been released on parole. For more commentary check out today's Blog Scan.