At a Glance ...

Whitmer creates task force to tackle opioid epidemic

LANSING (AP) — A task force is being created to tackle Michigan's opioid epidemic.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an order Wednesday forming the advisory group, which will include leaders from across state government. It is the second time a Michigan governor has created an opioid task force since 2015.

Whitmer says her move will bring the state a step closer to “finally ending” the prescription-drug epidemic that resulted in more than 2,000 overdose deaths in 2017.

The panel will focus on increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and targeting specialized populations like pregnant women.


State creates rules for testing industrial hemp

LANSING (AP) — The state of Michigan has created rules so there are testing standards for the first crop of industrial hemp.

The state launched a pilot program this year allowing for the growing and processing of hemp.

The state’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development last Thursday announced emergency rules that establish sampling and analytical testing methods for measuring the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol in the emerging crop.

Hemp contains ultra-low levels of the THC that creates a high in marijuana.

The rules will be in place for six months and can be extended for an additional six months.


High court asked to take up ‘Serial’ podcast murder case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for a Maryland man whose murder conviction was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial” are asking the Supreme Court to step into the case.

Lawyers for defendant Adnan Syed say in court papers that the justices should order a new trial for Syed and reverse a Maryland court ruling against him. Syed claims his trial lawyer violated his constitutional right to competent representation because she failed to investigate an alibi witness.

Syed is serving a life sentence after he was convicted in 2000 of strangling 17-year-old Hae Min Lee and burying her body in a Baltimore park. Syed and Lee were high-school classmates who had dated.

In its debut 2014 season, the “Serial” podcast shined a spotlight on the case that led to renewed court proceedings.


Woman thought she had kidney stones, gave birth to triplets

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota woman who recently gave birth to triplets says she didn't find out about her pregnancy until she went to the hospital with what she thought were kidney stones.

KOTA-TV reports Dannette Giltz, of Sturgis, gave birth to the healthy triplets on Aug. 10.

Giltz says that despite having two other children, she did not know she was 34 weeks pregnant. She says that when she started having pains, she thought it was from kidney stones, which she has had before. The triplets were born within four minutes. Each weighed about 4 pounds.

The babies’ names are Blaze, Gypsy and Nikki.

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