MOORHEAD, Minn. — Mark Empting is declaring his candidacy for Clay County Sheriff. He joins at least three other candidates who have expressed interest in joining the race. They are seeking the position currently held by Bill Bergquist, who is retiring at the end of this term. Empting says Bergquist put Clay County in a good place, but there are…
ReutersLOS ANGELES, Calif. — An autopsy report concludes that singer and songwriter, Tom Petty, died from an accidental drug overdose. Petty, 66, had just ended a tour with his band, the Heartbreakers, when he suffered a heart attack at his home in Malibu on october 2. The coroner says Petty had traces of fentanyl, oxycodone and several other drugs in…
REGIONAL — Three more Native American tribes in the Dakotas are suing opioid manufacturers and distributors. The tribes allege that they concealed and minimized the addiction risk of prescription drugs. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate sued 24 opioid industry groups in federal court on Monday. The lawsuit follows more than 70…
WHITE EARTH, Minn. — White Earth Reservation is reporting seven overdose related calls over the weekend with two resulting in deaths. White Earth Police Department along with the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Department are both encouraging users to seek medical help and treatment as soon as possible. Minnesota’s Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is suing pharmaceutical companies for the opioid…
MINNESOTA — New limits for opioid prescriptions are underway in Minnesota for doctors in the Medicaid program. Doctors who give more than the limit for more than half of their patients will be warned and go through extra training. Anyone who does not reduce their dosage amounts could be removed from the program. These limits would only apply to…
FARGO, ND — Cass County middle schools and high schools are making an effort to prevent opioid overdose emergencies. They’ve partnered with Fargo Cass Public Health so they can start carrying Narcan kits at their schools. As a former EMT, Central Cass School Superintendent Morgan Forness knows time is of the essence when trying to save a life. It’s also why…
NATIONAL — A guitar that Prince used in the 1980s and 90s has sold for $700,000. That’s the highest amount paid for one of the late rock star’s guitars. Julien’s Live auction house anticipated the teal blue Cloud guitar would be sold for $60,000 to $80,000. Prince donated it in 1994 to benefit Los Angeles earthquake relief. The guitar…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota is investing nearly $17 million dollars into facilities and programs across the state to combat the opioid addiction crisis. State officials say less than 10 Minnesotans died of a heroin overdose in 2008. That number has since increased in the state by 430 percent, with 376 in 2016. Officials say $16.6 million will be…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Amy Klobuchar says President Trump’s decision to declare the opioid epidemic a public health emergency is a first step toward resolving the crisis. The senator echoes Representative Pelosi’s remarks and wants to see the president back up his words with actions and cash. Klobuchar has sponsored a number of bills in the Senate aimed at addressing…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is vowing that the nation’s opioid crisis “will be defeated” as he wound up his speech on drug addiction. President Trump was surrounded by people touched by addiction when he signed an order to make the problem a national public health emergency. The president says that the problem may “get worse before it gets…
