(Attorneys and staff associated with a federal trial of pharmacies, CVS, Walgreens, Giant Eagle and Walmart leave the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse in Cleveland, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. The pharmacies are being sued by Ohio counties Lake and Trumbull for their part in the opioid crisis. (AP Photo/Phil Long) (posted: October6, 2021 5:53 AM)

By MARK GILLISPIE Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jurors have heard opening statements in a federal court trial to determine whether retail pharmacy chains created a public nuisance in how they dispensed addictive painkillers in two Ohio counties. Lake and Trumbull counties outside Cleveland say the cost of abating the ongoing crisis is $1 billion for both counties. Mark Lanier, an attorney for the two counties, outlined a case he said would show how pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Giant Eagle failed to prevent the illegal diversion of pain pills that have contributed to an ongoing opioid crisis. An attorney for Walgreens said the company’s pharmacists are well-trained and fill prescriptions written by physicians for patients with legitimate needs.

(Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, at podium, speaks during a news conference at Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. Shapiro filed criminal charges Tuesday against the developer of a problem-plagued pipeline that takes natural gas liquids from the Marcellus Shale gas field to an export terminal near Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

October 6, 2021- 6:46 AM

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
Pennsylvania’s attorney general has filed criminal charges against the developer of a pipeline that takes natural gas liquids from the Marcellus Shale gas field to an export terminal near Philadelphia. Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges Tuesday at a news conference at Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown. That’s where Sunoco Pipeline LP spilled thousands of gallons of drilling fluid last year. The spill occurred during construction of the troubled Mariner East 2 pipeline. Prosecutors say the multibillion-dollar pipeline project fouled waterways and residential water supplies across hundreds of miles. Texas-based Energy Transfer owns Sunoco and says “it intends to vigorously defend itself.”

By MARCY GORDON AP Business Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Facebook data scientist has stunned lawmakers and the public with revelations of the company’s awareness of apparent harm to some teens from Instagram and her accusations of dishonesty in its fight against hate and misinformation. Now she is coming before Congress. Frances Haugen has come forward with a wide-ranging condemnation of Facebook. After recent reports in The Wall Street Journal based on documents she leaked to the newspaper raised a public outcry, Haugen revealed her identity in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday. She’s testifying to the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection at a hearing Tuesday.

Biden lifts abortion referral ban on family planning clinics
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is reversing a ban on abortion referrals by federally funded family planning clinics. Monday’s action by the Department of Health and Human Services lifts a Trump-era restriction as political and legal battles over abortion grow sharper from Texas to the U.S. Supreme Court. Groups representing the clinics say they hope the rule reversal leads to the return of some 1,300 service providers that left the program to protest the Trump administration’s policy. HHS has estimated that the upheaval led to as many as 180,000 unintended pregnancies. The clinics provide birth control and basic health care mainly to low-income women.

(Wayne Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle reported yesterday via release that they responded to the scene of a motorcycle accident on Route 488 Portersville Road in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, on Tuesday September 28 at 9:43 PM.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating it was reported via release that 31-year-old Cody Bouzek of Darlington was operating a 2000 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle west bound on Portersville Road and while being under the influence of alcohol and going fast he was unable to negotiate a curve to the right. Bouzek crossed over the eastbound lane and into the embankment continuing on crashing into a chain link fence causing major damage to the fence and his motorcycle. Bouzek was air-lifted to UPMC Presbyterian for serious injuries. There is no word on his condition. Charges are pending blood results.