RICHMOND (WINA) – State Attorney General Jason Miyares is announcing a settlement with Kroger that requires the grocer to pay up to $1.37-billion to participating state and local governments for its role in the nationwide opioid crisis. The plan is to pay it out in installments over an 11-year period, and Virginia’s share could potentially be $28-million.

Miyares calls this a “significant settlement (that’s) another important step in the battle against this epidemic, offering aid and recovery services to those who urgently need it”.

Kroger operates in Virginia — and in Charlottesville — under the Kroger and Harris Teeter names. In addition to financial terms, a final settlement remains contingent on agreement on critical business practice changes.