Kroger, the American retailer, has committed to paying $47.5 million to the state of Washington to combat the fentanyl crisis. This announcement comes after Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against Kroger in December 2022, accusing the company of illegally filling opioid orders without adequately investigating fraud or overprescribing. The resolution with Kroger includes an 11-year payment plan, with the first payment of $4.3 million expected soon. Half of the total amount will go to the state of Washington, while the other half will be distributed among city and county governments. Some of the funds will be allocated to governments in eastern and central Washington, including Yakima County. This contribution is part of Kroger's ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis and support communities affected by it. [b69ed256] [6c5c3f48]