Local News

News Headlines for Wednesday, November 20

PICKERINGTON WOMAN FACES DRUG CHARGES

Bond has been set at $500,000 for a 27-year-old Pickerington woman accused of selling drugs. Breann Eskelson is being held at the Licking County Justice Center on a single charge of aggravated trafficking in meth following her arrest earlier this month. Eskelson's case will next be heard by a grand jury for possible indictment.

COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT

Licking County's October unemployment rate was 3.2% up from 3.1% in September according to figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Looking at surrounding counties, Delaware and Knox counties had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.0% while Coshocton County had the highest at 4.1%.

LOCAL MEN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY

Two 23-year-old Reynoldsburg men are among the six people indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy charges by making false statements on federal firearms forms. The individuals allegedly used stolen credit card information to place orders online for straw purchase firearms. According to court documents, the suspects had the guns transferred for pick-up in several central Ohio cities including New Albany and Pataskala.

PAID FAMILY LEAVE

A new report by Groundwork Ohio finds three in four Ohioans are employed in jobs without the possibility of paid family leave. This means many parents of young children face difficult choices between work and family. Lynanne Gutierrez, president and CEO, Groundwork Ohio, says the need for policies that support families and their workforce participation has never been clearer.

Ohio is among the 29 states where a majority of workers lack access to paid family leave.

HOUSEHOLD DEBT

Ohioans are doing a good job when it comes to dealing with household debt, according to a new report from personal finance website WalletHub.

Analyst Chip Lupo said the average debt in Ohio increased by $445.

YOUTH GUN SEASON

Hunters ages 17 and younger checked 10,449 deer during Ohio’s youth gun season this past Saturday and Sunday, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. That was an increase over last year's harvest of 10,033 deer. Licking County hunters bagged 253 deer.

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