Tennessee Schedules First Execution in Five Years

Will happen in January

Tennessee is set to have its first execution in nearly five years in January and the first using a new single-drug method that's also being used by other states.

State Department of Correction spokeswoman Dorinda Carter told The Associated Press on Thursday that 55-year-old Billy R. Irick is scheduled to be executed on Jan. 15.

The order for the execution was filed Tuesday, according to the state Supreme Court clerk's office.