of this drug have pushed the cost of the drugs to approximately $1300 per offender. Still, further shortages of pancuronium bromide (and the expiration of the existing stock) forced the state into switching to a single-drug protocol, using solely pentobarbital. The only persons legally allowed to be present (none of whom can be convicts) at the execution are: the executioner “and such persons as may be necessary to assist him in conducting the execution.” the Board of Directors of the Department of Corrections. two physicians, including the prison physician. the spiritual advisor of the condemned. the chaplains of the Department of Corrections. the county judge and sheriff of the county in which the crime was committed. no more than five relatives or friends of the condemned person. In response to victims rights groups, TDCJ adopted a board rule in January 1996, which allowed five victim witnesses (six for multiple victims). Initially, the witnesses were limited to immediate family and individuals with a close relationship to the victim, but the board rule was modified in 1998 to allow close friends of surviving witnesses. In May 2008, the rule was further modified to allow the victim witnesses to be accompanied by a spiritual advisor, who is a bona fide pastor, or comparable official of the victim's religion. Media coverage Five members of the media are also allowed to witness the execution, divided equally as possible between the rooms containing the offender's and victim's witnesses. Under current TDCJ guidelines, representatives of the Associated Press and The Huntsville Item (the local newspaper for Huntsville, Texas) are guaranteed two of the five slots to witness an execution. The Associated Press regularly sends a representative to cover executions; Michael Graczyk (formerly of the AP's Houston office; though retired from the AP, he still reports on executions on a freelance basis) is usually the representative sent, having attended over 400 executions in his career. The Item also generally covers all executions, regardless of county of conviction. Other media members must submit their requests at least three days prior to the execution date; priority will be given to media members representing the area in which the capital crime took place. Generally, other newspapers will only cover executions where the crime was committed within their general circulation area (the Houston Chronicle is often one of them, with Harris County being the state's largest. and having the most number of