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Thursday, mar 20
Tag:
Education
Schools
NJ Student Diagnosed With Tuberculosis: Principal
A student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, principal Christopher Chiera announced in a letter to parents on Friday, March 14. School officials are working with the Middlesex County Office of Health Services to identify students and staff who may have been potentially exposed to the individual., Chiera wrote. Those individuals identified as a close contact will be screened as a precautionary measure, Chiera said. School officials will contact parents/guardians of students identified by the Middlesex County Off…
Obituaries
Safinaz Matter, Longtime New Jerey Educator, Dies— Fundraiser Launched In Her Memory
A trailblazing educator who shaped generations of students has passed away. Hajja Safinaz Matter, known to many as Tante Safi, Sr. Safi, or Ms. Safi, dedicated over 50 years of her life to teaching Arabic and inspiring young minds around the world. Her death was recently announced by her family. She was the widow of the late Elsayed Elmenshawy and the sister of Atef, Farida, and Niveen. She was a grandmother to Ahmed, Mariam, Aly, Nour-Eldeen, Abdulrahman, Abdullah, Selma, Mohammed, Ahmed, Amaly, Yusuf, and Ameer. Matter, a graduate of Al-Alsun specializing in Italian and French, later ear…
News
NJ Pays More To Federal Gov't Than Any Other State — And Gets The Least Back, New Study Says
Some states in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic rely heavily on federal dollars, while others send far more to Washington than they get back, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Most & Least Federally Dependent States on Monday, Mar. 10. The study ranked all 50 states based on metrics like return on federal taxes paid, federal funding as a share of state revenue, and the percentage of federal jobs. The report showed a sharp divide in federal dependency across the US, with many Democratic-leaning states contributing more in taxes than they receive a…
Schools
NJ College Closing Renowned Polling Institute Due To 'Changing Political And Media Landscapes'
Monmouth University is shutting down its polling institute, a nationally recognized research center treated as a "gold standard" in New Jersey's political world. University president Dr. Patrick Leahy announced the closing of the Monmouth University Polling Institute in a community-wide letter on Wednesday, Mar. 12. The institute will officially close on Tuesday, July 1. The decision follows a year-long review of all university centers and institutes, with school leadership ultimately determining the polling firm "is no longer aligned with our current strategic goals." "The chang…
Police & Fire
Trapped For 20 Years: Police Detail Life Of Man Held Captive By Stepmom
The numbers are chilling. A 32-year-old man, standing five feet nine inches tall and weighing just 68 pounds, was forced to live in an 8-by-9-foot room for 20 years. All because his 56-year-old stepmother said so, Waterbury police said. Kimberly Sullivan was arrested this week and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment, police said. She was released from jail on Thursday after posting a $300,000 bond. Original Report: Waterbury Woman Held Stepson Captive For 20 Y…
Sports
Anthony Knox Defeats Bergen Catholic Grappler To Become 4-Time State Champ
After a whirlwind few weeks filled with controversy, disqualification, and eventual reinstatement, Anthony Knox cemented his legacy on the mat. The Saint John Vianney 126-pounder dominated Bergen Catholic's Nathan Braun with an 18-4 victory on Saturday, March 8, in Atlantic City, securing his fourth New Jersey state wrestling title. Knox is the fifth four-time state wrestling champ for the Garden State. Knox, 18, was initially disqualified following a brawl, later facing assault charges related to the incident. However, after an outpouring of support and a successful appeal, he was reinstat…
Police & Fire
Student Sexually Assaulted By NJ Teacher After Bonding Over 'Words With Friends': Complaint
A 45-year-old teacher at Manchester Township High School was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student 13 years ago, according to a criminal complaint. The woman said she had a sexual relationship with Ryan Ramsay, a social studies teacher when she was a 17-year-old senior at the high school, authorities said. She started talking to Ramsay outside of school by messaging on "Words with Friends" in January 2012, authorities said. Their conversation soon became flirtatious and from February through the end of the school year, they had a sexual relationship, authorities said. Ram…
Readers Choice
Best Learning Center/Tutoring In Bergen County In 2024: Expert Tutoring & College Counseling
We are thrilled to announce that Expert Tutoring & College Counseling has been named Best Learning Center/Tutoring in Bergen County in the 2024 Daily Voice Readers' Choice Awards! According to Expert Tutoring & College Counseling’s website, the learning center is dedicated to providing personalized tutoring solutions and comprehensive college counseling services designed to meet the unique needs of every student. Vicky Musto is a private tutor and private college counselor at Expert Tutoring. Photo supplied by Expert Tutoring & College Counseling Readers' Choice vo…
Readers Choice
Best Family Activity In Bergen County In 2024: Bergen County Zoo
We are thrilled to announce that the Bergen County Zoo has been named Best Family Activity in Bergen County in the 2024 Daily Voice Readers' Choice Awards! The Bergen County Zoo, open year-round, provides visitors of all ages with a chance to connect with nature while learning about the importance of preserving wildlife, according to its website. As part of its mission, the zoo focuses on wildlife education and conservation. Through partnerships and programs, it encourages visitors to learn about animals and their habitats while fostering a sense of stewardship for the environment, per its …
News
Ex
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CEO Linda McMahon Confirmed As Secretary Of Education
In a party-line vote, the Senate confirmed former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO Linda McMahon as secretary of education on Monday, March 3. It was an expected outcome as all of President Donald Trump's nominees have passed confirmation. Trump has voiced his desire to abolish the Department of Education and transfer school decision-making powers to the states. "It's a big con job," the president said of the Department of Education, according to Fox News. "They ranked the top countries in the world. We're ranked No. 40, but we're ranked No. 1 in one department: co…
News
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says
The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010. "The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
News
Mother Of The Notorious B.I.G., Voletta Wallace, Dies At 78
Voletta Wallace, the devoted mother of rap legend The Notorious B.I.G., died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Feb. 21, according to Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac. She was 78. Wallace had been receiving hospice care and passed away from natural causes, Yanac told Daily Voice. Her family confirmed her passing in an emotional Instagram post, calling her their “matriarch” and the woman who dedicated her life to preserving the legacy of her son, born Christopher Wallace. 🕊️ "It is with immense sadness that we share this news with you, and ask that you give our f…
News
Girl, 11, Dies By Suicide After School Bullies Say ICE Will Deport Her Family: Reports
An 11-year-old Texas girl has died by suicide after classmates bullied her for being Hispanic and threatened to have ICE agents deport her family, according to reports. Jocelynn Rojo Carranza of Gainesville, TX, died on Saturday, Feb. 8, five days after she was rushed to a hospital, Univision 23 reported. She was a student at Gainesville Intermediate School, about an hour north of Dallas. Her mother Marbella Carranza told Univision that students repeatedly taunted her daughter, saying her family would be deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "I waited a whole week for a mi…
Schools
Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment
Several Northeast states are among the most educated in the US, excelling in school quality, college attainment, and overall academic achievement, a new study said. Massachusetts was ranked as the country's most-educated state, according to a WalletHub study released on Monday, Feb. 10. Maryland was second, followed by Vermont, Colorado, and Connecticut in the top five. The study analyzed all 50 states using 18 factors, including educational attainment, quality, and achievement gaps. "There's a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation," said Wal…
Schools
Parents Fight Back After NJ DUI Super Returns To Work
A New Jersey superintendent who was arrested for drunk driving last fall has returned to work and some parents are none too happy about it. George Chidiac, the superintendent for the Stafford Township School District, was placed on leave last year after he was arrested for driving under intoxication last October, after crashing into a utility pole in Berkeley Township, causing a power outage, Berkeley Township police said. Police said Chidiac, 52, was walking away from his gray Kia Forte when officers arrived. He told the officers he was "going home to get help." When questioned …
Sports
Eagles Seek Revenge, Kendrick Ignites Halftime, Free Stream Offered: Your Super Bowl LIX Guide
America's biggest unofficial holiday is here and Super Bowl Sunday offers so much beyond what happens on the field inside the Caesars Superdome. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are set to kick off Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9. This showdown is a rematch of the NFL's 2023 championship game when the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs have been slight betting favorites at -1.5 on most sportsbooks since the matchup was finalized. That's a reversal from when they were about two-point underdogs in Super B…
Business
These Retired Crayola Colors Are Back After Decades: Here's How To Get Them
Crayola is reviving eight long-lost crayon colors for a limited time, marking the first time in its 122-year history that it has brought back retired shades. After years of fan requests, Crayola announced on Wednesday, Feb. 5 that it will sell a special edition set of retired colors. The eight-count pack will be available throughout 2025 at most national retailers, along with matching colored pencils and markers. The collection includes Dandelion, which was retired in 2017, along with Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint, and Mulberry, which exited in 2003. Also making a return are Ora…
Schools
Go Birds? NJ School District's Delayed Opening For Eagles Super Bowl Has Parents Divided
Kids and their teachers in two Camden County school districts have another reason to be thankful the Philadelphia Eagles are in the Super Bowl. The Pennsauken Public School district and Gloucester City School District announced two-hour delays for Monday, Feb. 10, the day after the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. "We feel this allows our students, families, and staff the ability to enjoy the game and still attend school safely the next day," Pennsauken Public Schools said. Pennsauken High School is just 14 miles from Lincoln Financial Field, where the…
Obituaries
Teacher, Dad Killed In PIP Crash Saves Multiple Lives With Organ Donation
Michael Donoghue continues to leave a profound impact, even after his untimely passing in a car crash on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Fort Lee, NJ on Thursday, Jan. 16. The 54-year-old New City, NY father and longtime educator donated his organs — his lungs, kidneys, and liver — saving at least four lives, his family members tell Daily Voice For more than three decades, Donoghue served as an English teacher and department chair at I.S. 143 in Washington Heights, NY inspiring thousands of students and colleagues with his dedication, humor, and compassion. Just four months away fr…
Real Estate
New Details, Video Show Workforce Housing, Transit Hub Project In Hackensack
Bergen County officials have released a brand-new video rendering of Bergen Junction, a transformational mixed-use development in Hackensack that aims to provide affordable housing for essential workers, support veterans, and revitalize the NJ TRANSIT Hackensack Bus Transfer (scroll for video). The project — announced by Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, the Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen County Improvement Authority — will replace the former Bergen County probation building and outdated bus terminal with state-of-the-art facilities. Bergen Junction will feature a five…
Obituaries
Sudden Loss Of Bergen County Father Michael Klingele Spurs Fundraiser For Children's Dreams
Michael Edward Klingele, a devoted Bergen County father and accomplished accountant, died on Jan. 18. He was 42 years old. Michael's death was sudden and unexpected, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched for the futures of his three children, Edward, Brayden, and Avery, by his brother-in-law, John Buldo. Born and raised on Staten Island, Michael graduated from the University of Scranton, where he met his wife, Teresa, his obituary on the Becker Funeral Home website reads. Michael climbed the ranks in his accounting career starting at PwC and ultimately becoming a partner at BDO. He had …
Police & Fire
Homeless Man Found Sleeping At Ridgewood High School Athletic Field: Police
A 54-year-old homeless man was found sleeping at Ridgewood High School Tuesday morning, Jan. 21, police said. The man was found near the footbridge of the high school field just before 7 a.m. by a concerned citizen who called police, Ridgewood Ridgewood Police Capt. Glenn Ender said. Students typically begin arriving at school around 8 a.m. At 8:30 a.m., the temperature in Ridgewood was 11 °F. The man was transported to The Valley Hospital.
News
New Details Emerge After NJ Teacher Impregnated By 13-Year-Old Former Student: Complaint
Laura Caron was 28 years old when she was impregnated by a 13-year-old former student, and the whole situation unraveled when the child's father started asking questions on Facebook, according to a criminal affidavit. Caron, a 34-year-old Cape May Court House resident who teaches fifth grade at Middle Township School #2, was arrested and charged with having a sexual relationship with a student living in her home, as previously reported by Daily Voice. The relationship began when the boy was 11 years old and lasted until 2020, one year after Caron gave birth to his child, according to po…
Schools
'No Remorse:' Teacher Fired For Cruel Punishment Of NJ High Schooler, Officials Say
A teacher in Morris County has been fired after she hit a 14-year-old student and prevented him from leaving class in what education officials say was a "cruel or unusual" punishment. Hui-Tzu "Isabella" Chen was a Mandarin teacher with tenure at Morristown High School when she pushed the student, a freshman, struck his forearm and pushed herself against the door to block his way on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, according to charging documents. Chen had taught at the school since 2017. Chen had suspected the student copied his Mandarin assignment and wanted him to stay after class to review his…
Real Estate
Workforce Housing, State-Of-The Art NJ Transit Bus Terminal To Transform Downtown Hackensack
Hackensack is poised for a major transformation as plans for the redevelopment of 133 River St., the site of the city’s aging bus terminal and a long-vacant site of the county probation building move forward. Last week, the Hackensack Planning Board reviewed the Bergen County Improvement Authority’s (BCIA) ambitious proposal to bring a state-of-the-art NJ Transit bus terminal and workforce housing to the city’s downtown. The 387,000-square-foot project will include a 15-story residential tower with 168 units designated for veterans, disabled veterans, and essential workers in fields such as …
Obituaries
New Mom Emily Legg Of Pompton Lakes Dies, 26, Leaving Behind 10-Month-Old Boy
Emily Ann Patricia Legg of Pompton Lakes died on Saturday, Jan. 4, leaving behind a 10-month-old boy. She was 26 years old. A GoFundMe launched for Emily's family by Alexis Gryszkin had raised more than $14,000 as of press time. "Emily was an energetic, vibrant, loving, full of life mother who poured her heart and soul into caring for Bryson," the campaign reads. "Her unexpected passing has created a profound emotional and financial burden for her family." Emily's obituary on the Scanlan Funeral Home website says she earned her associate's degree in 2020 and subsequently had…
Police & Fire
'Mother Teresa Of The Class:' Hackensack Principal Lillian Whitaker Dies
Hackensack's schools are mourning the loss of Ms. Lillian Kelly Whitaker, an educational leader who dedicated nearly five decades of her life to inspiring and nurturing the children of Hackensack. Whitaker passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, leaving behind a legacy of passion, service, and excellence, the Hackensack Education Association announced New Year's Day. Whitaker most recently served as principal of Nellie K. Parker Elementary School. However, sources tell Daily Voice she was out sick for most of the school year. “Ms. Whitaker's love of education was instilled in her when…
Police & Fire
Professor Sexually Harassed Student At Essex County Community College: Prosecutor
A professor at Essex County College in Newark was arrested and charged on Monday, Dec. 23 with criminal sexual contact against a student, authorities said. Gnanaseharan Selliah, a West Orange resident and adjunct professor at the school, engaged in sexually inappropriate contact with an adult student last month, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens and Essex County College Department Chief of Police Anthony Cromartie said. Seliah is also an ESL teacher at Bloomfield High School and taught at St. Peters University, according to his Linkedin. The news comes days after Be…
Obituaries
Prominent Bergen County Jazz Musician Danny Bacher Dies At 48
Danny Bacher, a renowned jazz musician and Cliffside Park resident, died at the age of 48, the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook announced. The cause was a heart attack, the Jazz Loft said. A native of Wayne, Bacher was a singer, saxophonist, dancer and composer, who was also an author- having recently published a book about his collection of Laurel and Hardy merchandise, the Jazz Loft said. A graduate of Wayne Hills High School, Bacher attended New Jersey City University, according to his Facebook. At the time of his death, he was working on a project about Harry Nilsson, the Jazz Loft said. “I w…
Obituaries
Bergen County Mom, Teacher Jennifer Paradiso Dies, 44: 'Always Saw The Best In People'
Support is on the rise for the family of Jennifer Paradiso, 44, a Bergen County wife, mother of three, and longtime educator, who died on Thursday, Dec. 12. “Jenn was an incredible wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend who always saw the best in people,” reads a GoFundMe page that had raised more than $22,800 as of press time. Jenn battled cancer twice, once in 2015 and again in early 2023. "Where most would have faltered or given up, she courageously continued her fight never once missing a beat," the campaign, launched by her family, continues. Jenn was born and ra…
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline. This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue. As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
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