US top court denies man's execution appeal

STARKE, Florida (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has denied the last-minute appeals of a Florida man scheduled for execution for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old boy 18 years ago.

The court issued brief orders Wednesday night rejecting the appeals, which focused on a challenge to Florida's method of lethal injection. The exact time was uncertain for the execution later Wednesday at Florida State Prison in Starke. It had been delayed from the original 6 p.m. time because of the appeals.