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• A growing number of deaths have been blamed on synthetic drugs, and police are also concerned about the often bizarre behavior of users. The DEA said that the nation's poison control centers responded to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic drugs in 2011. That number rose to 13,000 calls last year. Three-fifths of the cases involve people 25 or younger.
• Legislating against synthetic drugs is difficult because manufacturers often tweak the formulas to stay a step ahead of lawmakers. Experts estimate more than 100 different bath-salt chemicals are circulating.
• The DEA temporarily banned some of the chemicals found in synthetic marijuana, and President Barack Obama this month signed into law a measure that bans the sale, production and possession of many of the chemicals found in the most popular synthetic drugs.
• Police say many users believe the synthetics are safe because they are sold in stores, not on the street. But St. Charles County, Mo., Sheriff Tom Neer disagreed.
• "They're just as strong a problem as heroin and methamphetamine, and we all know what a heroin and meth problem we have," Neer said.
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SDSU releasing new wheat variety for drier areas
BLAKE NICHOLSON,Associated Press
• BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- A new hard red winter wheat variety that was more than a decade in the making has the potential to be a top performer in drier areas of the state, South Dakota State University officials say. That could translate into millions of dollars for farmers.
• The variety "Ideal" -- named for a small farming community in central South Dakota -- should be widely available for planting next year. It's not drought-resistant but does seem to produce more grain in drier areas, breeder Bill Berzonsky said.
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