Morning Buzz: Dec. 14, 2007

New Jersey has become the first state in four decades to outlaw the death penalty. The state Assembly voted 44-36 on legislation to replace the practice with life in prison. Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he will sign the bill.

In a new audio message posted today on an Islamic militant website, al Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, denounced the recent Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Md., and called it a "betrayal" of Palestinians. The new message's authenticity could not be immediately confirmed.

Of all the players who were named in the Major League Baseball steroid report, Rogers Clemens was cited most. The record-breaking pitcher's name was dropped 82 times in the Mitchell Report. Among other baseball greats named were Barry Bonds, Andy Pettitte, and Jose Canseco. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell led the investigation on the use of performance-enhancing drugs and said punishment would be inappropriate for most of the cases.