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Police & Fire
Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces
Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces A newly posted video suggests that a Princeton University doctoral student kidnapped in Iraq last March is alive. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of both Russia and Israel, was abducted while doing work for the Ivy League school, according to a July statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The Iran Observer posted the unauthenticated video clip on X on Monday, Nov. 13 claiming Tsurkov is an operative with Mossad — the national intelligence agency of Israel. "I worked for the Mossad and CIA," a translation of the video reads. Israeli Elizabeth Tsurkov, kidnapped in Iraq 7 months ago, …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Princeton Doctoral Student Held Hostage In Iraq, Israeli Officials Say Princeton Doctoral Student Held Hostage In Iraq, Israeli Officials Say
Princeton Doctoral Student Held Hostage In Iraq, Israeli Officials Say A Princeton doctoral student missing for several months is being held hostage in Iraq, Israeli officials said. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of both Russia and Israel, was abducted in March while doing work for the Ivy League school, according to a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The 36-year-old was abducted by members of the Shiite group Kataeb Hezbollah, a radical Iran-backed militia group, Netanyahu's office said. Tsurkov had just walked out of a cafe in Iraqi capital Baghdad when she was abducted, the New York Times says citing the researcher's family.  Also a fellow at Wa…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Schumer, McConnell Call For Release Of WSJ Reporter, NJ Native Charged With Espionage Schumer, McConnell Call For Release Of WSJ Reporter, NJ Native Charged With Espionage
Schumer, McConnell Call For Release Of WSJ Reporter, NJ Native Charged With Espionage Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) can agree on one thing: they want reporter Evan Gershkovich, a Mercer County native, to be released after he was charged with espionage in Russia while reporting for the Wall Street Journal. The duo released a rare joint statement on Friday, April 7, calling for his release. Gershkovich was charged with espionage "in the interests of his country," according to Russian state media. "We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and de…

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by Sam Barron
News
Detained WSJ Reporter From NJ Posted Chilling Tweets On Kremlin Coverage Detained WSJ Reporter From NJ Posted Chilling Tweets On Kremlin Coverage
Detained WSJ Reporter From NJ Posted Chilling Tweets On Kremlin Coverage Resurfaced tweets show Evan Gershkovich knew the perils of reporting on the Kremlin.  The Wall Street Journal reporter and 31-year-old Mercer County native remains detained in Russia, for allegedly trying to obtain classified information, and was detained in Yekaterinburg, Russia's Federal Security Service said Thursday, March 30. Gershkovich, who grew up in Princeton and played soccer for Bowdoin College, sent out the following tweet in July 2022: Ilya Yashin, one of the last prominent opposition politicians in Russia, is now facing 10 years in prison for spreading fake news about the…

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by Sam Barron
News
Russia Detains NJ Soccer Player, WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich On Espionage Charges Russia Detains NJ Soccer Player, WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich On Espionage Charges
Russia Detains NJ Soccer Player, WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich On Espionage Charges Wall Street Journal reporter and 31-year-old New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich has been detained by Russian security agents on espionage charges, according to various news reports. Gershkovich, who grew up in Princeton, was allegedly trying to obtain classified information, and was detained in Yekaterinburg, Russia's Federal Security Service said Thursday, March 30. Gershkovich, who played soccer for Bowdoin College, is the first American correspondent to be detained on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. In 1986, U.S. News and World Report reporter Nicholas Daniloff was arres…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Bergen County Man Who Left Lucrative Job To Make Puzzles For Cats Shines On Shark Tank Bergen County Man Who Left Lucrative Job To Make Puzzles For Cats Shines On Shark Tank
Bergen County Man Who Left Lucrative Job To Make Puzzles For Cats Shines On Shark Tank A Bergen County man who years ago left a lucrative gig to pursue his passion making puzzles for cats is getting a boost for his business after a "Shark Tank" pitch. Andrey Grigoryev, of Fort Lee, made a puzzle feeder and cat toy after noticing his own cat was bored with his toys years ago. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cat Amazing (@catamazingtoy) AndreyABC/Christopher Willard "Mooky’s inspiration and patience, together with Andrey’s obedience and opposable thumbs, eventually bore fruit," the Cat Amazing website reads. "Sur…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Biden Tapping US Petroleum Reserve To Relieve Pump Prices Biden Tapping US Petroleum Reserve To Relieve Pump Prices
Biden Tapping US Petroleum Reserve To Relieve Pump Prices US President Joe Biden will be tapping the country's petroleum reserves in an effort to save American drivers some cash. One million barrels of oil a day will be released for six months, totaling180 million barrels, from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The soaring gas prices are in part caused by the US ban on oil imports from Russia due to its Ukrainian invasion. The national average for a gallon of gas had fallen to $4.18 as of April 4. Gas price comparisonAAA “The upward push on oil prices caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine is meeting stronger downward pressure from the plann…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Jet Of One Of Richest Men In World Tracked At Teterboro Airport Jet Of One Of Richest Men In World Tracked At Teterboro Airport
Jet Of One Of Richest Men In World Tracked At Teterboro Airport A Twitter account that tracks private jets of Russian oligarchs says that a jet belonging to of the world's richest men flew out of Teterboro Airport Thursday, March 24. Ukrainian-born Leonard Blavatnik's jet N600EB left the airport around 9:25 a.m., Russian Oligarch Jets said citing flight-tracking service ADSB Exchange.  ROJ's Twitter page is run by the same Florida teen who Elon Musk paid to stop tracking his private jet. The tweet quickly began racking up comments: "Atlantic City trip?" one person said. "Hoagies run?" another joked. Blavatnik, a naturaliz…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Russia-Ukraine War To Have Seismic Effect On Jersey Shore Economy This Summer: Report Russia-Ukraine War To Have Seismic Effect On Jersey Shore Economy This Summer: Report
Russia-Ukraine War To Have Seismic Effect On Jersey Shore Economy This Summer: Report Russia's invasion of Ukraine is expected to make a major impact in Jersey Shore towns that rely on seasonal workers from Eastern Europe each summer, according to a recent report by Yahoo. The workers who annually participate in the State Department's J-1 visa summer work travel program likely won't be able to make it to the US this year, the outlet said. And so, businesses that rely on them could be kept closed, that is, if they don't find employees to fill empty positions. Adding insult to injury, many businesses were relying on increased revenue in Summer 2022 to make up for the dip …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Son Of Notorious Player In Giuliani, Trump Scandal Is Leading Pro-Ukraine Influencer On TikTok Son Of Notorious Player In Giuliani, Trump Scandal Is Leading Pro-Ukraine Influencer On TikTok
Son Of Notorious Player In Giuliani, Trump Scandal Is Leading Pro-Ukraine Influencer On TikTok Let's get one thing straight: Aaron Parnas is not his dad. The 22-year-old, who completed law school at George Washington University, has become a top news source on the Russian-Ukrainian war. He posts his content to TikTok, and was among a handful of influencers invited to a White House press briefing on the Russian invasion — specifically for TikTokers — to help combat misinformation about the war. Meanwhile, his dad, Lev Parnas, played a key role in former President Trump's campaign in pressuring Ukraine into finding damaging information on then-rival and former Vice President Joe Biden…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Award-Winning US Journalist Killed In Ukraine By Russians, Say Police Alongside Photo Of Body Award-Winning US Journalist Killed In Ukraine By Russians, Say Police Alongside Photo Of Body
Award-Winning US Journalist Killed In Ukraine By Russians, Say Police Alongside Photo Of Body A Peabody Award-winning documentarian who formerly contributed to the New York Times was killed by Russian forces in Ukraine, authorities said. Video journalist Brent Renaud, 51, was shot by Russian troops who opened fire on a car near the Romanivsky Bridge in Irpin, Kyiv Chief of Police Andrey Nebitov said. Nebitov released a disturbing image of Renaud's body, along with identifying documents. Two other reporters were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. "The occupants cynical kill even journalists of the international media who try to show the truth about the inaction of Russ…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Has NJ's Gas Prices Hovering Just Below $4 Russia-Ukraine Conflict Has NJ's Gas Prices Hovering Just Below $4
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Has NJ's Gas Prices Hovering Just Below $4 Gas prices in New Jersey are skyrocketing due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, hovering just under $4 a gallon. The national average for a gallon of regular gas shot up 11 cents to $3.72 as of Wednesday since Monday, AAA reports. Surging oil prices will likely cause the price at the pump to climb even higher, experts say. Have #gasprices spiked where you live? 🚀 😳 Yesterday alone we saw the national average price of gas rise almost 6¢/gal. — GasBuddy (@GasBuddy) March 3, 2022 West Texas Intermediate climbed to $7.19, settling at $110.60 by the end of Wednesday's formal trading session…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Ex-Fox News Producer Charged In NY Federal Court With Helping Sanctioned Russian Oligarch Ex-Fox News Producer Charged In NY Federal Court With Helping Sanctioned Russian Oligarch
Ex-Fox News Producer Charged In NY Federal Court With Helping Sanctioned Russian Oligarch A founding Fox News producer was indicted in federal court in Manhattan for violating U.S. sanctions against Russia when he helped an oligarch there launch a propaganda network, the Justice Department announced. John Hanick, a 71-year-old U.S. citizen, was discretely seized in London early last month, federal authorities disclosed with the unsealing of an indictment against him on Thursday, March 3. Justice Department officials said they're seeking Hanick's extradition for helping Konstantin Malofeyev establish Tsargrad TV after the oligarch was sanctioned for his role in financing pro-Mosc…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Dee Snider Backs Ukrainians Using Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take It' As Battle Cry Dee Snider Backs Ukrainians Using Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take It' As Battle Cry
Dee Snider Backs Ukrainians Using Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take It' As Battle Cry Dee Snider says it's twisted thinking to wonder why he endorses Ukrainians blasting the popular anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It" in their fight against the Russian invasion after he opposed its use by COVID anti-maskers. “I absolutely approve of Ukrainians using ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ as their battlecry,” Snider tweeted. "My grandfather was Ukrainian before it was swallowed up by the USSR after WW2. This can’t happen to these people again!” Snider, the 66-year-old frontman of Twisted Sister (the heavy metal pride of Bergen County), got initial blowback for using the hashtag #F***RUSSIA …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Ukrainian Basketball Player From NJ Details Narrow Escape From Russian Invasion Ukrainian Basketball Player From NJ Details Narrow Escape From Russian Invasion
Ukrainian Basketball Player From NJ Details Narrow Escape From Russian Invasion "I've never felt so nervous in my life." That's what Newark native Lucious "Lucky" Jones posted on Instagram Thursday, Feb. 24 — the terrifying day Russia invaded Ukraine, immobilizing and instilling fear in millions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lucky Jones (@_lucky_jones_) Jones, 28, who plays basketball for the Ukrainian team, BC Ternopil, posted footage of himself and his teammates stuck in traffic at the Romanian border, desperate to flee. Around the same time Friday morning that Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's c…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Could Lead To Spikes In These Food Products In Addition To Oil Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Could Lead To Spikes In These Food Products In Addition To Oil
Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Could Lead To Spikes In These Food Products In Addition To Oil The Russian invasion of Ukraine is expected to cause a flux in the markets, sending the prices of energy and certain agricultural products through the roof as supply chains are further disrupted. Experts are expecting oil and gas prices to spike due to the European crisis, though some of Russia and Ukraine’s largest exports are expected to impact costs for other products overseas and stateside. Officials said that outside of energy, the price of products such as wheat, barley, corn, copper, and nickel are likely going to be on the rise as supply chains already impacted by the COVID-19 pande…

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by Zak Failla
News
Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Means Higher NJ Gas Prices Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Means Higher NJ Gas Prices
Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Means Higher NJ Gas Prices “Pain at the pump,” was a concern reporters pushed President Biden on during a press conference about the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. Although Biden urged the energy sector to not move prices, experts say the US is already feeling the pinch since tensions began to escalate between the two nations. “Any disruptions to oil flows from Russia in a context of low spare capacity in other regions could easily send oil prices to $120 (a barrel),” Natasha Kaneva, JPMorgan’s head of global commodities strategy, wrote in a report published earlier in February. Gas prices had already t…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
PA Home Health Aide Accused Of Pelosi Laptop Theft Surrenders PA Home Health Aide Accused Of Pelosi Laptop Theft Surrenders
PA Home Health Aide Accused Of Pelosi Laptop Theft Surrenders A 22-year-old Harrisburg home health care aide accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's laptop during the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots surrendered to authorities and was arrested Monday in central Pennsylvania, according to the Department of Justice. Riley June Williams was not charged with theft, rather knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on U.S Capitol grounds, federal authorities said. A caller claiming to be an ex-partner of Williams said friends of hers showed him a YouTube video t…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
Attorney Who Killed Federal Judge’s Son Had History Of Outrageous ‘Anti-Feminist’ Lawsuits Attorney Who Killed Federal Judge’s Son Had History Of Outrageous ‘Anti-Feminist’ Lawsuits
Attorney Who Killed Federal Judge’s Son Had History Of Outrageous ‘Anti-Feminist’ Lawsuits The self-described anti-feminist lawyer accused of killing a New Jersey federal court judge’s son and wounding her husband had a history of filing outrageous lawsuits, including once suing all of mainstream media for how they reported on Donald Trump's presidential candidacy. The suits that drew the most attention to Roy Den Hollander, however, involved what he considered gender discrimination, including nightclub “ladies’ nights,” mandatory bottle-buying for men, women’s studies courses offered at Columbia University and federal domestic violence laws protecting women. Den Hollander, who w…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
With No Place To Go, You Might As Well Fill Up: NJ, NY, CT Gas Prices Continue To Drop With No Place To Go, You Might As Well Fill Up: NJ, NY, CT Gas Prices Continue To Drop
With No Place To Go, You Might As Well Fill Up: NJ, NY, CT Gas Prices Continue To Drop At a time when gas prices usually rise – especially in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut -- they’ve begun a steep drop, as the coronavirus forces airlines to slash the number of daily flights and civilians to drive drastically less. On top of that, Russia and Saudi Arabia are increasing production in a price war that has experts predicting that gas may soon cost less than the crude oil that it’s made from. New Jersey’s average gas price fell eight cents a gallon from last week to an average Monday of $2.36 (from $2.44), AAA Northeast reported. That’s 12 cents cheaper than a month ago (…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Fair Lawn Native Gets 7½ Years In Russian Pot Bust, Becomes Pawn In Proposed Prisoner Swap Fair Lawn Native Gets 7½ Years In Russian Pot Bust, Becomes Pawn In Proposed Prisoner Swap
Fair Lawn Native Gets 7½ Years In Russian Pot Bust, Becomes Pawn In Proposed Prisoner Swap A 26-year-old Fair Lawn native was sentenced in Russia to 7½ years in prison for having a third of an ounce of pot in her bag, in what has become an international incident involving an alleged hacker held for the United States by authorities in Israel. Naama Issachar, who was born and raised in Fair Lawn before moving to Israel when she was 16, was returning there after a three-month trip to India this past April when police at the Moscow airport grabbed her as she boarded a connecting flight to Tel Aviv. Russian authorities prosecuted her on drug smuggling charges -- rather than simple pos…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Events
Whitney Houston Hologram Tour Dates Announced Whitney Houston Hologram Tour Dates Announced
Whitney Houston Hologram Tour Dates Announced The Whitney Houston hologram tour is scheduled to come to North America in the fall of next year after a string of shows that begin in Mexico on Jan. 23, its promoters announced Tuesday. “An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour” features the hologram image of the Newark-born singer, who died in 2012, performing digitally remastered versions of her hits accompanied by a live band and backup vocalists. Songs will include “I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “The Greatest Love of All” and “Higher Love,” the promoters said. Houston's estate…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Warning From Homeland Security, FBI: Russia Wants To Hack Your ISP Router Warning From Homeland Security, FBI: Russia Wants To Hack Your ISP Router
Warning From Homeland Security, FBI: Russia Wants To Hack Your ISP Router With the entire world watching what turn the international Russian conflict takes next, federal officials are warning area residents that a cyber strike could be the newest threat as hackers target routers and other network devices. The Department of Homeland Security, FBI and United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre issued a joint Technical Alert on the “worldwide cyber exploitation of network infrastructure devices (such as a) router, switch, firewall, Network-based Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) devices by Russian state-sponsored cyber actors.” Officials said that targets are p…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
Teen Bergen County Olympian Alexia Paganini To Return Home Without Medal Teen Bergen County Olympian Alexia Paganini To Return Home Without Medal
Teen Bergen County Olympian Alexia Paganini To Return Home Without Medal Alexia Paganini, the 16-year-old from Greenwich who trains at the Ice House in Hackensack, represented Switzerland in the ladies' singles Friday. She came in No. 21 (of 24). Short Program: 55.26 (19/24) Free skating score: 101.00 (22/24) Total score: 156.26 (21/24) Russia's Alina Zagitova earned the gold medal with 239.57 points. Russia's Evgenia Medvedeva took silver with 238.26. Canada's Kaitlyn Osmond took bronze with 231.02.  "This is the reason I work every single day, every sacrifice I’ve made for this sport is all worth it for moments like this," she said in a post on In…

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by Cecilia Levine