State lawmakers approve death penalty expansion

Richmond (WBQB/WFVA/AP)  -- Virginia lawmakers have approved bills that will expand the death penalty, making more people eligible for capital punishment in a state that already is home to the nation's second-busiest death chamber. A bill allowing the death penalty for those who kill auxiliary police officers now heads to Gov. McDonnell, who supports expanding the death penalty. Another bill to make those who kill fire marshals eligible for death heads back to the House for likely approval of a change the Senate made. The move comes a week before Virginia executes another inmate and as several other states attempt to limit the number of executions rather than expand the crimes eligible for death. This year, eight states introduced bills to either abolish the death penalty or limit its application.