East Coast Ring Stole High-End GPS Devices From Boatyards In NJ, Elsewhere, State Police Charge East Coast Ring Stole High-End GPS Devices From Boatyards In NJ, Elsewhere, State Police Charge
East Coast Ring Stole High-End GPS Devices From Boatyards In NJ, Elsewhere, State Police Charge An ex-con with a previous history of boat-related thefts was part of a Miami-based ring that stole GPS systems from boatyards along the East Coast, including more than $300,000 worth in New Jersey, authorities said. Mizael Alfonso, 47, and co-defendant Marie Frometa Rodriguez, 41, were captured at a motel in Plymouth, MA, New Jersey State Police said. A third defendant, Manuel Barbosa Mendiluza, 58, was arrested by Miami police, while a fourth, Ciro Perez Martinez, 29, was nabbed by the Miami-Dade Marine Theft Task Force. All were extradited to New Jersey, NJ State Police said. Troopers f…
NJ Co-Leads Nationwide Consumer Protection Probe Into Whether Instagram Is Putting Kids At Risk NJ Co-Leads Nationwide Consumer Protection Probe Into Whether Instagram Is Putting Kids At Risk
NJ Co-Leads Nationwide Consumer Protection Probe Into Whether Instagram Is Putting Kids At Risk New Jersey is co-leading a nationwide investigation into whether Instagram is violating state consumer protection laws and putting children, teenagers and young adults at risk, Acting State Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck announced Thursday. "Emerging research" suggests a connection between increased time spent online by young people and "depression, anxiety, isolation, body image issues, cyber-bullying, eating disorders, and sleeplessness," among other symptoms, said Bruck (photo above). Research by Meta Platforms Inc. -- the parent company of both Instagram and Facebook -- shows fou…
March of Dimes Rates Our Region Inadequately Prepared for Maternal and Infant Health March of Dimes Rates Our Region Inadequately Prepared for Maternal and Infant Health
March of Dimes Rates Our Region Inadequately Prepared for Maternal and Infant Health November is Prematurity Awareness Month and the March of Dimes has released its 2021 Report Card measuring preterm birth, infant mortality and social drivers of health and prenatal care. March of Dimes CEO, Stacey D. Stewart will be holding a live webinar, "Healthy Moms, Strong Babies," on Thursday, November 18 at 2 p.m. to discuss the report cards and the state of maternal and infant health in the United States. Connecticut's grade on the 2021 March of Dimes Report Card.March of Dimes In our region this year, Massachusetts leads the pack with an overall B, Connecticut and New York rate…
9 Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NJ, NY, PA, CT, MA, Shipping Them Overseas 9 Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NJ, NY, PA, CT, MA, Shipping Them Overseas
9 Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NJ, NY, PA, CT, MA, Shipping Them Overseas An international ring of identity thieves stole $1.3 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts using fraudulently obtained digital driver's licenses, authorities charged. Nine defendants used the stolen identities of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico -- along with fake Puerto Rico driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, debit cards and birth certificates -- to obtain the licenses from motor vehicle agencies in Jersey City and North Bergen, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. They used thos…
Where NJ, PA Rank On New List Of Safest States In America Where NJ, PA Rank On New List Of Safest States In America
Where NJ, PA Rank On New List Of Safest States In America A new Consumer Affairs report determined the safest states in the U.S., with New Jersey taking the top spot. Using data from the FBI and the U.S. Census Bureau, the website scored each state based on violent and property crime rates, the number of law enforcement officers per capita, and law enforcement budgets. The top 10 states were broken down by each state’s safest large city, safest medium-sized town, and safest small town, the website said. 1. New Jersey Safest small town: Mantoloking Safest midsize town: Matawan Safest large city: Toms River 2. New Hampshire 3. Rhode Island 4. M…
10 NJ, PA Residents Charged In Federal Illegal Gun Investigation 10 NJ, PA Residents Charged In Federal Illegal Gun Investigation
10 NJ, PA Residents Charged In Federal Illegal Gun Investigation A federal crackdown on the sale and purchase of illegal guns has led to the arrest of 10 people in Pennsylvania, according to authorities.  The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Harrisburg Police announced 10 people have been charged as a part of "Operation Scarecrow," which targeted people who are not allowed to possess weapons illegally purchasing them. These types of purchases are called straw purchases which is why "Scarecrow" was an apt name for the operation. "Taking illegal guns off the streets is a high priority of the Departme…
Popular Mediterranean Restaurant Comes To Morristown Popular Mediterranean Restaurant Comes To Morristown
Popular Mediterranean Restaurant Comes To Morristown Hummus Republic, an authentic and primarily plant-based Mediterranean eatery, has opened a new location in Morristown. First launched in 2013, Hummus Republic now has 11 stores open throughout California, Massachusetts and of course, the Garden State, with several more stores currently under construction. Hummus Republic’s versatile menu allows customers to customize their own wraps, pitas and bowls with healthy Mediterranean ingredients like couscous, kale, falafel, shawarma, fresh vegetables and of course, several hummus varieties. Meat options include Moroccan grass-fed steak, lemon ch…
NEW RANKINGS: 2 New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In America NEW RANKINGS: 2 New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In America
NEW Rankings: 2 New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In America A new report from Safewise determined the 100 safest towns in the U.S., and two Garden State locations ranked among the top 10. The study compared FBI crime report data and population information for 2019 — the most recent year the data was available — while excluding towns with populations below 5,000 and above 15,000. Cities that neglected to report complete crime data to the FBI were excluded as well. Shockingly, five cities tied for the coveted number-one spot: Lewisboro Town, New York Luzerne Township, Pennsylvania Sleepy Hollow Village, New York Thetford Township, Michigan  W…
Hasbrouck Heights Gardening Assistant Accused Of Sexually Abusing Minor In NJ, MA Hasbrouck Heights Gardening Assistant Accused Of Sexually Abusing Minor In NJ, MA
Hasbrouck Heights Gardening Assistant Accused Of Sexually Abusing Minor In NJ, MA A Hasbrouck Heights man who works at a retail garden center is accused of sexually abusing a minor in two states. Cheldon Clare, 42, of Prospect Street, remained held Tuesday in the Bergen County Jail following his arrest late last week. “The sexual abuse was alleged to have occurred in Hasbrouck Heights and in Massachusetts,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Clare, who is married, “sexually assaulted the minor, who was under the age of sixteen on one occasion in Hasbrouck Heights” and “later traveled to Massachusetts to engage in sexual activity with the minor again,” the prose…
LATEST ON LARRY: Larger, Stronger 'But Not Close Enough' For Concern Here LATEST ON LARRY: Larger, Stronger 'But Not Close Enough' For Concern Here
Latest ON Larry: Larger, Stronger 'But Not Close Enough' For Concern Here Hurricane Larry may be getting larger and stronger, but it isn't worth worrying about in New Jersey and surrounding states, forecasters said Sunday. "The week ahead looks to be a relatively quiet one, with one cold front coming through on Wednesday with the chance for showers or a thunderstorm late in the day," said meteorologist Joe Cioffi. "Hurricane Larry will pass east of Bermuda by a close distance but not close enough to cause any major issues. "Then it turns northeast passing south and east of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland." That means New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut…
Feds: NJ Scammer, Accomplice Submit $1.2M In Bogus COVID-19 Unemployment Claims Feds: NJ Scammer, Accomplice Submit $1.2M In Bogus COVID-19 Unemployment Claims
Feds: NJ Scammer, Accomplice Submit $1.2M In Bogus Covid-19 Unemployment Claims A Paterson man and an accomplice filed nearly $1.2 million in bogus COVID-related unemployment claims over the course of three months, federal authorities in Massachusetts charged. Omar Thompson, 39, and his unidentified female partner submitted more than 100 fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, sometimes recruiting people from other states in the scheme and pocketing kickbacks, they said. Roughly half of the claims were submitted on behalf of people with out-of-state driver’s licenses and mailing addresses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts. In anoth…
New Jersey Has 3rd Best School System In America, WalletHub Says New Jersey Has 3rd Best School System In America, WalletHub Says
New Jersey Has 3rd Best School System In America, WalletHub Says WalletHub has released its latest rankings of the best school systems in America, landing New Jersey at No. 3. The website did its analysis on accounts of performance, funding, safety, class size, and instructor credentials. "Some researchers have found that more resources — or taxes paid by residents — typically result in better school-system performance," Adam McCann wrote. Massachusetts schools were number one in the U.S., followed by Connecticut and New Jersey. New York ranked No. 14. Here are the other states that ranked among the top 10 in the nation: 1. Massachusetts  2. Con…