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Washington County Grand Jury Indicts 11 Defendants on Multiple Charges, Including Domestic Violence and Drug Trafficking

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MARIETTA, Ohio — An indictment was handed down by a Washington County Grand Jury on Thursday, involving a diverse group of 11 defendants facing various felony and misdemeanor charges. Among those indicted is Joseph Lee Kellison from Belpre, who is charged with domestic violence, classified as a fourth-degree felony, stemming from an incident on July 2. Another Belpre resident, 54-year-old Timothy Wayne Cowan, faces one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, along with a fifth-degree felony charge of grooming related to events from July 10. Amber Dawn Durnell, 39, from Coolville, was indicted … Read more

Washington State AG Sues Yakima Valley Farm for Allegedly Displacing Local Workers with Foreign Labor

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Yakima, Washington — The state’s attorney general has taken legal action against a local farm, alleging improper practices surrounding the employment of foreign workers. AG Nick Brown filed a civil rights lawsuit on Friday against Cornerstone Ranches, claiming that the farm dismissed American workers to replace them with H-2A visa employees. The H-2A visa program permits foreign nationals to work temporarily in the U.S. in agricultural roles, but only when employers provide evidence of a labor shortage among local workers. According to Brown, Cornerstone Ranches misused this program by misleading local job seekers about available … Read more

Washington State on the Move: Governor Ferguson Signs Landmark Laws Ahead of July Implementation

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Olympia, Wash. — Governor Bob Ferguson has concluded the first legislative session of his administration, during which several new laws were enacted. Many of these laws have already taken effect, while others are scheduled to become law on July 1, significantly impacting various aspects of daily life in Washington state. Starting July 1, Washington will see an increase in its gas tax by six cents, with additional annual adjustments of 2% intended to counteract inflation. This adjustment positions Washington among states with the highest gas tax rates in the nation. In Seattle, drivers using the … Read more

Washington County Grand Jury Unveils Indictments for 27 Individuals, Including Bizarre Rock Assault Case

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MARIETTA, Ohio — A significant indictment of 27 individuals was revealed by the Washington County Grand Jury on Wednesday, spotlighting a range of criminal charges spanning from drug offenses to violent assaults. Among those indicted is 26-year-old Jarod Joseph Bennett, who faces a second-degree felony charge of felonious assault. According to police reports, the incident occurred on May 17 when Bennett allegedly struck an employee of a vape shop on Pike Street with a bicycle before throwing a large rock that struck the employee in the head. The grand jury also indicted several others on … Read more