Calley signs law requiring use of drug database
LANSING (AP) — Michigan doctors will be required to check a prescription database before prescribing painkillers and other powerful drugs under new laws signed by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.
Calley enacted the bills Wednesday while Gov. Rick Snyder is out of state.
The laws limit the amount of opioids that can be prescribed, require a "bona fide" physician-patient relationship to dispense drugs and require those being treated for an overdose to receive information on substance abuse services.
The requirement for health providers to use the recently upgraded Michigan Automated Prescription System takes effect in June.
Convicted killer hears victim’s family on ride to prison
MUSKEGON (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in Michigan repeatedly played the comments of a murder victim’s anguished family while they drove a convicted killer to prison.
Jeffrey Willis was granted a request to skip his sentencing last week so he didn’t hear the statements by relatives of Rebekah Bletsch. But Muskegon County Sheriff Michael Poulin had a CD made.
Poulin says the 25-minute CD was played five times as deputies drove Willis 145 miles to prison last week..
Willis is serving a life sentence for shooting Bletsch while she jogged in western Michigan. He’s also awaiting trial in the disappearance of a gas station employee.
The sheriff says it’s important that Bletsch’s family knows Willis heard what they said after he left court. Willis blew a kiss to the courtroom on his way out.
Court tosses murder appeal that cited witness’ help from God
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut’s top court has rejected the appeal of a convicted murderer who argued the jury was tainted by testimony from a witness who said God helped him identify the defendant in a photo array.
The state Supreme Court ruled 7-0 Tuesday in the case of Pedro Miranda. He is serving a life sentence for the 1987 killing of 13-year-old Mayra Cruz, who disappeared while walking to school in Hartford.
The witness testified he saw Mayra get into a car and that God later helped him identify Miranda in a police photo array.
Miranda is serving a second life sentence for the 1988 slaying of a 17-year-old girl for which an innocent man served more than two decades behind bars.
Miranda also was charged but not tried in a third teenage girl's killing.
Fruitcake package halts ferry service
SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say a wrapped present that turned out to be a fruitcake temporarily halted service at a Seattle ferry terminal while police investigated.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Kevin Fortino says troopers were notified Tuesday that a suspicious package was found beneath a Christmas tree in the pedestrian waiting area.
Fortino says the package was deemed suspicious because it was unmarked and was the only gift under the tree.
Officials evacuated the terminal and kept all inbound ferries away while the police bomb squad investigated.
Fortino says the gift was found to be a fruitcake. He says it wasn't clear why it was left at the terminal.
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