Free Republic

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt used his authority to spare the life of Julius Jones on Thursday, just hours before his scheduled execution that had drawn widespread outcry and protests over doubts about his guilt in the slaying of a businessman more than 20 years ago. Stitt commuted the 41-year-old Jones’ death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He had been scheduled for execution at 4 p.m. “After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones’ sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility...

Julius Jones was scheduled to be executed at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, however, announced at noon Thursday he has commuted Jones' sentence to life without the possibility of parole.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—Now that the Seattle Seahawks have signed Julius Jones, Shaun Alexander wants to know what’s going on. The four-time defending NFC West champions announced Monday they had signed Jones, the deposed starting running back in Dallas, to a multiyear contract. Terms were not released, but it is reportedly a four-year deal.Jones’ arrival is further proof coach Mike Holmgren wasn’t just appeasing the fan base when he said fixing Seattle’s anemic running game was a priority for 2008. Seattle averaged just 4.0 yards per carry in 2006 and 3.8 last season.It is also the second running back Seattle has...