St. Charles County Sues Drug Firms, Distributors

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s third-largest county has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical manufacturers and drug distributors, accusing them of causing the drug epidemic through aggressive and fraudulent marketing of prescription opioids. Officials in St. Charles County filed the suit Monday, seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit says the County spends millions of…

Afghan Forces Free Most Hostages Taken In New Taliban Attack

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan forces rescued nearly 150 people Monday, including women and children, hours after the Taliban ambushed a convoy of buses and abducted them. The quick response marked a rare if limited battlefield success for the troops after weeks of unrelenting insurgent attacks. The militants escaped with 21 captives following the battle…