O.J. Gets Nine Years:  As noted in Kent's earlier post, a Las Vegas judge has sentenced one-time football star O.J. Simpson to prison for kidnapping and robbery.  Simpson's tearful apology prior to sentencing did not dissuade Judge Jackie Glass who referred to incriminating recordings implicating him in the crime. "It [was] your own words, Mr. Simpson, your own words that could be heard throughout those events that have brought you here to this seat in my courtroom."  Simpson will be eligible for parole in 2017, but could remain incarcerated for 33 years, according to this Los Angeles Times story by Ashley Powers and Harriet Ryan.

Fewer Death Sentences in Texas:   A story in the Houston Chronicle by Michael Graczyk reports that significantly fewer Texas murderers received a death sentence this year.  The annual review from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty noted that 18 executions were carried this year compared with 26 in 2007.  The group's Executive Director said "...officials' zeal for executions was not matched by public desire for new death sentences, as evidenced by the continued steep decline in the number of new inmates arriving on death row."  What was not noted is that homicide rates in the state's two largest cities are down for the second year in a row.  A Dallas Morning News story by Tanya Eiserer reports a whopping 22% drop in that city's homicides.  Houston's rate was down 7% last year according to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, and had continued to decline last spring.  The evacuation of Houston and devastation caused there by Hurricane Ike in September may also contributed to lower a homicide rate this fall.