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Wednesday, jun 10
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Paramus, NJ
News
Paramus PD Recreates OJ Chase On Route 17 For Ford Bronco Contest
This is the most Bergen County Bronco chase ever. The Paramus Police Department dropped a six-minute spoof on Tuesday, Sept. 9, as its entry into the All-American Ford statewide competition, where police departments across New Jersey are vying for a fully equipped Ford Bronco. The video with the most Instagram likes wins — and Paramus clearly went all in. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paramus Police Department (@paramuspolicedepartment) Filmed along Route 17, the parody kicks off with a fake carjacking, with "Real H…
Business
Claire's Closing Seven NJ Stores, 290+ Nationwide After Bankruptcy Filing: See Which Ones
Claire's has revealed nearly 300 of its stores that will be closing as the popular mall brand navigates bankruptcy. The well-known children's jewelry and ear-piercing retailer released a list of the 291 locations that are shuttering in a bankruptcy court filing on Monday, Aug. 25. That includes 71 Claire's and Icing stores across the Northeast. The closures add to the financial pressure facing the mall chain, which filed for bankruptcy earlier in August. Claire's is working to restructure nearly $500 million in debt by December 2026, Bloomberg reported. Columbia, Maryland-based Ames W…
News
Paramus Sues American Dream Mall Claiming 'Thousands' Of Blue Law Violations
The Borough of Paramus has filed a lawsuit to shut down Sunday retail sales at the American Dream Mall, claiming the East Rutherford complex has repeatedly violated Bergen County’s Blue Laws. In the complaint, filed Aug. 25 in Superior Court, Paramus accuses mall operator Ameream, LLC, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the Borough of East Rutherford, and Bergen County of allowing more than 120 stores inside the mall to sell prohibited goods on Sundays, despite the county’s 1980 referendum banning such sales. Paramus is home to Westfield's Garden State Plaza, one of the largest…
News
Fort Lee Cop Cleared After Fatal Shooting Of 25-Year-Old Woman In Mental Health Crisis
A state grand jury has declined to bring criminal charges against a Fort Lee police officer who shot and killed 25-year-old Victoria G. Lee during a mental health emergency in her apartment last summer, officials said Tuesday, July 15. The decision, announced by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), came nearly one year after Lee was killed by Officer Tony Pickens Jr. at The Pinnacle apartments on Main Street in Fort Lee. The panel voted “no bill” on Monday, July 14, following a review of 911 calls, body-worn camera footage, taser video, witness interviews, ballistics re…
Police & Fire
310-Pound Bloods Gang Member, Ex-Con Wanted By US Marshals Fights Cops: Police
A Bloods gang member and ex-con wanted by the US Marshals Service in a string of charges across New Jersey was arrested in Paramus, where he tried fighting off Paramus officers, police said. Paramus officers Jason Hrbek, Michael Cleary, and Matthew Orefice responded to Howland Avenue for a dispute where they encountered Danny Urena, 32, of Passaic on Thursday, June 19 at approximately 1:15 p.m., Paramus Police Deputy Chief Frank Scott said. Urena, standing at 6 feet and 3 inches and weighing 310 pounds, gave officers a false name, tried fleeing, and “continually flailed his arms and le…
Weather
Middlesex County Faces Air Quality Alert As Temps Climb Into 90s Thursday
It’s not just hot — it’s hazardous. Air quality across New Jersey and New York is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups on Thursday, June 12, as temperatures climb into the 90s and Code Orange Alerts are in effect. Health officials say that ground-level ozone and fine particulates will combine with heat to pose risks for children, seniors, and people with heart or lung conditions. ⚠️ Air Quality Alerts Code Orange Air Quality Alerts issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Counties affected: Bergen, Essex, Union, Hudson, Passaic, Middlesex, Mercer, Ocean, Burling…
News
Bear Kills Deer In NJ Backyard, Police Say
A bear killed a fawn in a New Jersey backyard before disappearing into the night Monday night, June 9, authorities confirmed. Officers responded to a home on Hartwich Street around 8:40 p.m. on Monday, June 10, for a report of a dead deer in the yard, according to Maywood Police Sgt. William Phayre. The bear was spotted by patrol leaving the yard, Phayre said. Animal Control was notified and arrived shortly after to remove the deceased deer. Attempts to locate the bear were unsuccessful, police said. Officers at the scene said the bear is believed to have then crossed The Esplanade a…
Business
Woodbridge Bahama Breeze Among 15 To Suddenly Close
Bahama Breeze has suddenly shut down more than a third of its restaurants across the United States, with 15 locations quietly closed this week, according to multiple reports. The closures span 11 states, including Florida, New Jersey (Woodbridge, Toms River, Paramus, Wayne), New York (Lake Grove), Illinois, Massachusetts (Tyngsborough), Michigan, Nevada, and Tennessee, according to USA Today. In a statement to CNN, parent company Darden Restaurants said the closures were “the right decision because it will allow Bahama Breeze to focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the…
Business
Burberry Laying Off 1,700 Workers As High-End Fashion Designer's Sales Plunge
Burberry is cutting more than 1,500 jobs worldwide after the British luxury fashion brand saw a steep drop in profits. The company will lay off about 1,700 workers by 2027, Burberry said in an earnings report on Wednesday, May 14. The job cuts are part of a broader restructuring plan, aiming to save 100 million British pounds. The cuts will come from operational expenses, including procurement, real estate, and staffing. Burberry said the changes are "subject to consultation where applicable." The layoffs follow a difficult year for Burberry, which reported a 94% drop in adjusted oper…
Business
On The Border Finds Buyer After Tex-Mex Restaurant Chain Declared Bankruptcy
A Texas restaurant company is set to buy On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina after the Tex-Mex chain filed for bankruptcy, closing more than 70 locations – including more than a dozen in the Northeast. Pappas Restaurants won an auction for On The Border, the Houston-based group said in a news release on Wednesday, May 7. The deal needs court approval and is expected to be finalized "in the coming weeks." The price wasn't mentioned in Pappas' announcement. The company previously submitted a $15.9 million stalking horse bid to buy On The Border, FSR Magazine reported in A…
News
Missing Saddle Brook Man Found Safe After Search That Began At Paramus Mall: Cops
A 30-year-old Saddle Brook man reported missing Saturday, April 26 from the Westfield Garden State Plaza, has been safely located, authorities said. The man, who authorities previously said was armed with a knife, was found by Hackensack police around 2 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, according to a statement from Paramus Police Chief Robert M. Guidetti. The man is currently receiving the appropriate medical care, said authorities, who did not elaborate. Paramus police extended their sincere thanks to the surrounding law enforcement agencies, the media, social media platforms, and the public for…
Police & Fire
From Council Chambers To Nightclubs: Familiar NJ Faces Among 39 Charged In Mob Gambling Ring
The general manager of a Hoboken nightclub. The father of a prominent Paramus wrestler who was killed in a car crash. A Prospect Park councilman. It wasn't just mobsters among the 39 people arrested for their alleged roles in an underground gambling empire run by the members of the Lucchese Crime Family. It was familiar faces in the community. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced the arrests on Friday, April 11, following multi-agency raids at 12 locations across northern New Jersey earlier in the week. Among the sites: Four poker clubs operating out of Totowa, Garfield, an…
News
Driver On Three Wheels Fails To Fool Police After Passenger Seat Switch In NJ: PD
A reckless driver and his passenger tried pulling a fast one on Paramus police after a wild three-wheeled chase — but it didn’t work, authorities announced on Monday, April 14. Jonathan Valentin, 28, of Maywood, took off in a black Mercedes-Benz after Officer Sean Casey tried stopping him for speeding on Route 4 West near the Verizon store around 1:20 a.m., the Paramus Police Department said. Valentin refused to pull over, racing away at a dangerous speed, police said. During the pursuit, he lost the front driver-side tire but kept going on three wheels, endangering everyone on the highway,…
News
These NJ Police Departments Are Being Paid To Crack Down On Distracted Drivers In $1M Campaign
New Jersey is cracking down on distracted drivers in a major way — and local police departments are getting paid to do it. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) on Monday, April 1, launched a statewide campaign called “Put the Phone Away or Pay,” running through April 30. The initiative combines high-visibility enforcement with a public awareness campaign targeting texting and other phone-related distractions behind the wheel. The campaign comes as preliminary state data reveals that 48% of drivers involved in crashes last year were dist…
News
Six NJ Hospitals Ranked Among Nation's Best: See The Full List
When it comes to medical care, not all hospitals are created equally, and patients want the best treatment available, whether it's for a routine procedure or a life-saving intervention. Newsweek has released its World's Best Hospitals 2025 list. The rankings, created in collaboration with global data firm Statista, scored hospitals based on expert surveys, patient experience, and hospital performance metrics. Eleven hospitals in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic earned spots among the top 250 worldwide. The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was ranked No. 4 glob…
Weather
Central Jersey In Bullseye For Next Round Of Snow: Winter Storm Strikes Again
New Jersey, get your shovels ready—again. Days after North Jersey got walloped by several inches of snow and a slick coat of ice, it’s Central and South Jersey’s turn to take the hit. The latest winter storm is expected to barrel into the region Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 11, dumping snow well into the night before easing off by Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service predicts the heaviest snow will fall in southern towns like Vineland, Toms River, and Atlantic City, which are bracing for 4 to 6 inches—though a few spots might get smacked with up to 8 inches. Meanwhile, North Je…
Police & Fire
No Charges Filed In Fatal South Brunswick Police Shooting Of Bling Bishop Robber: AG
A state grand jury declined to indict the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 41-year-old Brooklyn man in South Brunswick last January, authorities said. Shamar Leggette was shot by members of the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 at a motel room in South Brunswick. Legette had been wanted for robbing "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead from Paramus in Bergen County, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Leggette, was also wanted out of Rhode Island for armed robbery, Platkin said. The second suspect, a female,…
Sports
Livvy Dunne Cheers On NJ Devils During Holiday Visit Home
Livvy Dunne is home for the holidays—and cheering on the New Jersey Devils. The LSU gymnast and social media star was spotted at the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, Dec. 23, supporting the Devils as they faced off against the New York Rangers. Dunne, a Hillsdale native who trained at ENA in Paramus growing up, showed love for the Devils on Instagram, sharing a selfie in a team jersey. She shared a video from the stands during the first period. The Devil were clearly inspired by her presence as they crushed their biggest rival 5-0, with Jack Hughes leading the way with two goals.&nbs…
News
Toms River Ticket Hits $1.8M Jersey Cash 5 Jackpot In Weekend Lottery Frenzy
A lottery ticket worth more than $1.8 million was purchased at a Toms River liquor store, officials said. The ticket hit a $1,883,824 jackpot in the Jersey Cash 5 drawing on Friday, Dec. 6, the New Jersey Lottery said in a news release on Monday, Dec. 9. The winner was sold at the Silverton Buy Rite on Hooper Avenue. The winning numbers were 7, 21, 28, 31, and 38. The XTRA number was 2 and the Bullseye number was 31. This was the first of two Jersey Cash 5 jackpot wins in back-to-back days. A ticket bought at a convenience store in Paramus won $150,000 on Saturday, Dec. 7. The s…
News
NJ Sets New Affordable Housing Quotas: Check Your Town's Numbers
Municipalities across New Jersey must add or rehabilitate approximately 146,000 affordable housing units by 2035. Last week, the Department of Community Affairs released non-binding calculations for every town across the Garden State by a new law requiring each town to meet a specific obligation. You can click here to see the numbers in your town (page 20). The list includes two sets of numbers: "Present Need" and "Prospective Need." Present Need refers to renovating existing substandard units while Prospective Need refers to the number of new units that each municipality must create. Whi…
Business
Buybuy Baby Closing Stores Again — Including Middlesex County Location
Buybuy Baby is closing all of its physical stores as the company transitions to a digital-first approach, according to a statement on its website. Last summer, the company announced it would be closing all stores amid parent company Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy liquidation. Months later, some stores reopened under a new parent company. But, those stores will be closing, again. They are located at: CONNECTICUT 1433 New Britain Ave., West Hartford DELAWARE 501 W Main St., Christiana MASSACHUSETTS 160 Granite St., Braintree MARYLAND 1683 Rockville Pike, Rockville NEW JERSEY …
Lifestyle
Fans Can't Recognize Livvy Dunne In Latest Photoshoot: 'Not Liking This'
Livvy Dunne's fans are not happy about a recent photoshoot she did. The Bergen County native and LSU gymnast shared the photo spread she did for Flaunt magazine to her 5.3 million followers on Instagram. Flaunt magazine interviewed Dunne from her from her home in Hillsdale, discussing her training in Paramus at ENA gymnastics. Dunne is the top-earning female Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) athlete, valued at $3.9 million with a combined 13.2M followers across all platforms, according to on3. But fans, mainly men, were taken aback by how different Dunne looked in the photos. "Yeah no…
Obituaries
Longtime New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Dies At 87
Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democrat who served in Congress for almost 30 years and was a former Mayor of Paterson, died on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the age of 87, his family announced. "It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning," his family wrote on social media. "As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He i…
News
Route 4 Police Pursuit Led By Masked Car Thieves Ends In Crash With Patrol Car: Authorities
Three juveniles are facing charges after leading a police pursuit across multiple Bergen County towns, ending in a collision involving a police car, authorities said. Trouble began around 3:50 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 in Paramus, when officers were called to a Concord Drive home on reports of people wearing ski masks and dark clothing trying to steal a BMW from the driveway, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said. The suspects were captured on security cameras trying to enter the home. Officer Slavko Bajovic arrived on the scene and saw a 2014 Hyundai Elantra, occupied by two suspects match…
News
Videos Show Moment 'Bling Bishop' Robber Was Shot Dead At NJ Motel By US Marshals Agents
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has released body-worn camera and surveillance footage of an officer-involved shooting that left a 41-year-old New York man dead. Just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2024, 2:05 p.m., US Marshals agents arrived at a Route 1 motel in Monmouth Junction within South Brunswick to execute an arrest warrant on Shamar Leggette, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. As previously reported by Daily Voice, Leggette had been wanted for robbing "Bling Bishop" Lamor Whitehead from Paramus in Bergen County. About 40 minutes after authorities…
Business
Amazon Fresh Opening Second NJ Grocery Store In Former Toys 'R' Us Building
A new Amazon supermarket is about to open in Monmouth County, officials said. The Amazon Fresh in Eatontown will officially open on Thursday, June 20, the company said in a news release. It will be the second Amazon Fresh location in New Jersey after one opened in Paramus in July 2022. The Eatontown store is located at 137 Route 35 in a 35,500-square-foot space once occupied by Toys“R”Us. "This new, affordable grocery store in the community will offer wide selection of quality groceries and a convenient shopping experience," Amazon said in its release. "We’re also proud to support the…
Business
Fogo de Chão Opening New NJ Location
The wait is almost over in Bridgewater. Fogo de Chão, the popular Brazilian steakhouse chain, announced it is opening in Bridgewater at Bridgewater Commons on Monday, June 24. The Bridgewater location features an expansive dining room centered around an open-air churrasco grill, offering guests a view of gaucho chefs butchering, hand carving, and grilling their meat over an open flame. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fogo de Chao (@fogo) Fogo de Chão has been expanding its Garden State footprint, recently openin…
Police & Fire
NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A convicted con man from Bergen County known as the "Bling Bishop" used the opportunity he was given to speak before being sent to federal prison for nine years to annoy the judge on Monday. Lamor Whitehead of Paramus must serve a mandatory 7½ years following his conviction by a jury in lower Manhattan in March for swindling the life savings from a parishioners mother, among other crimes. One by one, some of those who were financially destroyed spoke to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lorna Schofield during the June 17 sentencing hearing. Then it was Whitehead's turn. Bishop …
Business
Ethan Allen Opening In Somerset County Shopping Center
Ethan Allen is coming to Somerset County. The furniture retailer announced they will be opening a 4,321 square feet showroom at Greenbrook Commons in Watchung, at the site of a former Chase Bank. Greenbrook Commons is also home to Aldi, BJ's Wholesale Club, Buffalo Wild Wings and The Vitamin Shoppe. Ethan Allen has six other locations in the Garden State including in Whippany, Somerville, Paramus, Marlton, Englishtown and Princeton. It was recently named the Best Retailer in Premium Furniture by Newsweek.
Police & Fire
Update
: Convicted ‘Bling Bishop’ From Bergen Jailed Ahead Of Sentencing
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A convicted con man from Bergen County known as the "Bling Bishop" was jailed on Monday after violating terms of his release before this summer's sentencing, federal authorities said. Federal jurors in lower Manhattan convicted Lamor Whitehead of Paramus two months ago of swindling the elderly mom of a parishioner from New Jersey out of her $90,000 life savings, among other counts. They also found him guilty of using ties to New York City Mayor Eric Adams in an attempt to extort a business owner into loaning him $500,000 and of lying to hide a second cellphone from FBI agents as the…
Sports
Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer in the world and a Bergen County native, has been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer just before the second round of the PGA Championship, court records show. Scheffler, 27, was trying to drive past the scene of a fatal crash scene involving shuttle bus at the Valhalla Golf Club around 5 a.m. Friday, May 17, when he allegedly dragged an officer at the scene, as reported by ESPN. The reigning Masters champion was ultimately arrested and charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer, along with lesser charges of third-de…
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