Washington County

A mother and son are facing charges following the death of 18-year-old Karoline Heintz, a student at PennWest California. Authorities allege that Royce Moser stabbed the victim after she was in his boyfriend's car near North Strabane Township. Furthermore, Rachel Moser is charged with hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence after allegedly assisting in cleaning up the scene.

The victim of a murder-suicide in Cohoes has been identified, and her family is speaking out. Additionally, a Washington County man is facing numerous animal cruelty charges. These stories are part of the 'five things to know' series, sponsored by the Lia Auto Group.

Democratic early voters in Tennessee increased sharply compared to Republican voters, with a 7% rise since 2018 versus less than 1% for Republicans. Counties like Williamson and Washington saw significant Democratic turnout growth, potentially influenced by mid-decade redistricting. Early voting ended Saturday, with primary elections on August 6.

Radioactive fracking wastewater in Washington County, Ohio, is surfacing near homes, farms, and water sources due to failed injection wells, threatening drinking water and contaminating gas wells. Rising underground pressure indicates the waste is migrating upward, with over 100 gas wells already affected, prompting calls for state emergency action.

A teen from Washington County is facing multiple charges after stealing others' property. The sheriff's office reported the teen stole items and hid them.

New York State Police conducted an underage drinking enforcement detail in Washington County, checking 25 businesses. One business was found not to be in compliance and was charged as a result.

Fort Edward and Hudson Falls in Washington County will receive $25.9 million in state support for water infrastructure projects, as announced by Governor Hochul.

Elevate Youth Services in Vermont received a $500,000 endowment from the Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation to expand youth homelessness services. The nonprofit, led by Executive Director Favor Ellis, provides housing and support for approximately 400 youths annually, focusing on mental health and trauma-related issues.

The federal government will auction 2,840 acres in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest for fracking on September 15. The Bureau of Land Management announced 41 parcels in Monroe and Washington counties will be leased, sparking concerns over environmental and health impacts from residents and environmental groups.

John Griffith, Nike's head of Global Brand Marketing, and Brad Mosher are accused of stealing over $1 million from Nike through a kickback scheme involving inflated billing by Mosher's music licensing consultancy and a shell company. The alleged scheme, which ran from June 2020 to December 2022, involved 24 felony counts each, including racketeering and money laundering.

John Griffith, Nike's head of Global Brand Marketing and Music Supervision, and Brad Mosher were indicted on 24 felony counts each, including racketeering and theft by deception, for allegedly orchestrating a $1 million kickback scheme involving inflated music contracts. Prosecutors allege Griffith directed Nike to pay inflated bills to Mosher's consultancy, Good Measure LLC, with half of the payments funneled back to Griffith through Quiver and Bow LLC.

John Griffith, Nike's head of Global Brand Marketing, Music Supervision, Strategy and Licensing, and Brad Mosher are accused of a $1 million theft scheme involving inflated music contract prices and kickbacks. The pair allegedly used Mosher's consultancy, Good Measure LLC, and Griffith's shell company, Quiver and Bow LLC, to funnel payments from Nike. They were indicted on 24 felony counts, including racketeering and money laundering, following a two-year scheme.

A Minneapolis man is charged with second-degree assault and fleeing a peace officer after driving at two campground workers in Washington County. Deputies were called following reports that he targeted the workers during an argument with his girlfriend, leading to a brief pursuit and his arrest. A hearing is scheduled for September 16.

A stolen vehicle reported in central Massachusetts was recovered in Washington County following a pursuit by New York State Police. The incident resulted in arrests related to the theft.

A 40-year-old man was arrested in Washington County on over 20 counts of illegal weapon possession. Evan Giroux was taken into custody in the Town of Easton following an investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's and Saratoga County Sheriff's Office.

Minnesota's Weather Authority has issued heat and smoke alerts for Thursday and Friday, with high temperatures in the low to mid-90s and poor air quality due to wildfire smoke. Health risks include heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and worsened pre-existing conditions, prompting advisories to limit outdoor activity and use cooling centers.

Molly reports that heavy smoke from northern Minnesota wildfires is moving toward the metro area, combining with extreme heat that has issued a 5-day alert through Friday. The heat, with 'feels like' temperatures near 100°F, poses health risks including heat exhaustion and stroke, especially for vulnerable groups. Poor air quality is expected to persist, with cooling centers available in several counties.

Washington County has switched from Green Mountain Transit to Tri-Valley Transit to improve rural public bus service and financial stability. The change aligns with a statewide effort to assign rural transit services to specialized providers, as outlined in Act 148 from the 2024 legislative session.

Marietta residents and experts express concerns that brine waste from injection wells in southeastern Ohio may contaminate the city’s drinking water aquifer. Injection wells, which dispose of radioactive waste from oil and gas operations, have shown signs of leakage, prompting fears of long-term environmental and financial consequences.

The Keystone pipeline operator, South Bow, agreed to a $26.9m penalty for a 2022 oil spill in Kansas, resolving allegations of violating clean water laws by the EPA and the state. The spill released nearly 13,000 barrels of crude oil into a creek in Washington county, Kansas, and the company must also spend $40m to prevent future accidents.

The Keystone pipeline operator, South Bow, agreed to a $26.9m civil penalty and an additional $40m for safety measures to resolve allegations of violating clean water laws following a 2022 oil spill in Kansas. The spill released nearly 13,000 barrels of heavy crude oil into a creek in Washington county, Kansas.

The operator of the Keystone Pipeline, South Bow, agreed to pay a $26.9 million penalty for a 2022 Kansas oil spill that released 13,000 barrels of crude oil, the largest onshore spill in the U.S. in nine years. The settlement includes $40 million for future prevention and $3 million for environmental restoration in Kansas, following violations of clean water laws and harm to an endangered species.

The Keystone Pipeline system's operator, South Bow, agreed to a $26.9 million civil penalty and $40 million in preventive measures over a 2022 Kansas oil spill that released 13,000 barrels of heavy crude oil into a creek, harming wildlife including an endangered species. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Kansas allege violations of clean water laws, with a proposed settlement requiring environmental restoration funding and judicial approval after a public comment period.

Vermonters gathered at a climate panel in Barre to discuss the impacts of recent floods, including a 2023 incident where floodwaters damaged a homeless shelter and displaced residents. A study highlighted Washington County as having the most federal disaster declarations in the U.S. over a decade, while attendees criticized federal disaster aid politicization under President Trump’s 2025 administration.

Virginia’s new assault weapons ban faces legal challenges in multiple counties, stalling enforcement. Attorney General Jay Jones and Governor Abigail Spanberger defend the law, while lawsuits create a patchwork of temporary injunctions in Washington and Lancaster counties.

Oakdale police investigated fights between juvenile groups during the Summerfest fireworks show at Walton Park, causing panic and reports of potential gun presence. No injuries were reported, and authorities are collaborating with event organizers and neighboring agencies to assess future security measures.

Law enforcement in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties collaborated to crack down on illegal activity as summer begins. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone stated the timing was intentional.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for northeastern Colorado until 8 p.m., with potential for large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain. Metro Denver experiences hot weather in the 90s, while the Front Range sees scattered showers.

FEMA announced an additional $34 million in funding for Tennessee to support recovery efforts from 2024’s Hurricane Helene and the January 2026 winter storm. The funds will cover debris removal, utility repairs, and infrastructure restoration across multiple projects and organizations.

President Trump falsely claimed he won Minnesota in the last three presidential elections, but evidence shows he lost each race. He won most counties but failed to secure the four largest metro-area counties, with margins of defeat ranging from 1.5 to seven percentage points. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon defended the state's election integrity, stating no evidence of widespread fraud exists.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed four bills aimed at protecting the county's immigrant population by restricting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. The legislation includes measures like prohibiting county-owned properties from being used for ICE staging, banning masks during law enforcement duties, and blocking permits for immigration detention facilities.

A school board member, Keith Ervin, has been charged with assault after hugging a teenager and making inappropriate comments. The incident led to an emergency meeting of the Washington County Schools Board of Education. Ervin gave a statement during the meeting on April 8, 2026.

A student criticized the Washington County Schools Board of Education for not taking action against a member who made an inappropriate comment about her appearance. The incident occurred during an emergency meeting on April 8. Keith Ervin gave a statement at the meeting.

A University of Arkansas student, Crew Kvern, faces charges including rape, aggravated assault, and third-degree battery after allegedly assaulting a woman at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. The victim reported being strangled and threatened, while Kvern claimed the encounter was consensual. Six witnesses corroborated the victim's account, and additional charges of terroristic threatening and false imprisonment were cited.