Texas set to Execute Convicted Killer: A Texas man sentenced to death for the murder of a mentally disabled woman is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening.  The Associated Press reports that 57-year-old Robert Ladd, who has been on death row for nearly two decades, beat the woman with a hammer before strangling her to death and setting her body on fire.  Ladd was on parole at the time of the killing for a triple-murder he committed in Dallas.  His attorneys claim that their client is mentally disabled and should be declared ineligible for the death penalty.  If the execution is carried out as planned, Ladd will be the second inmate executed in Texas this year. 

NY Settles Lawsuit With Machete-Wielding Thug: A New York City man who was shot by police officers after threatening them with an 18-inch machete will receive a $5,000 settlement from the city, even though the man's attorney agreed that the shooting was 'probably justified.'  Selim Algar and Natasha Velez of the New York Post report that in 2010, 24-year-old Ruhim Ullah was shot once in the leg by officers as he was attempting to attack them with the large weapon.  He eventually pled guilty to menacing a police officer and then proceeded to file a $3 million lawsuit against the city alleging police misconduct.  This is just one of the many lawsuits filed against the police department that has been settled under Mayor de Blasio.