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News
Here's When NJ's Legal Weed Sales Begin Here's When NJ's Legal Weed Sales Begin
Here's When NJ's Legal Weed Sales Begin New Jersey has set a date for the legalization of marijuana sales, state officials announced Thursday, April 14. Starting on Thursday, April 21, "adults ages 21 and up will be able to legally purchase cannabis and cannabis products without a medical card," Gov. Phil Murphy said. Starting on April 21st, adults ages 21+ will be able to legally purchase cannabis and cannabis products without a... Posted by Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday, April 14, 2022 The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission announced that it will grant licenses to seven alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to beg…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
Dad Killed In Morris County Crash Was Family's 'Biggest Champion' Dad Killed In Morris County Crash Was Family's 'Biggest Champion'
Dad Killed In Morris County Crash Was Family's 'Biggest Champion' A 52-year-old man killed in a three-car crash last month in Morris County is being remembered as his family's "biggest champion." Michael Pacchia, Jr., of Chatham, was a father of four and husband to his wife of 23 years, Cathie, according to his obituary. Pacchia was behind the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler going south on Shunpike Road in Chatham Township when he was struck by a Nissan Rogue heading west near the intersection of Lafayette Avenue around 11:30 a.m., on March 28, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said. Pacchia's Jeep then hit a box truck that was parked on the oppos…

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by Cecilia Levine & Valerie Musson
News
5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About NJ Grammy Award Winner SZA 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About NJ Grammy Award Winner SZA
5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About NJ Grammy Award Winner SZA North Jersey native SZA won her first Grammy Award Sunday, April 4. The artist, whose real name is Solána Rowe, won the award alongside Doja Cat for their song "Kiss Me More" for best pop duo/group performance. The song was on Doja's 2021 album "Planet Her" and topped the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3. Here are five things you may not have known about the Maplewood native: Her dad was an executive producer at CNN. She grew up Muslim and wore a hijab, but stopped after 9/11 due to bullying. She's a college dropout and attended three different schools.  Her first album, See.SZA.Run, was self…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
North Jersey High School Mourns Death Of Student North Jersey High School Mourns Death Of Student
North Jersey High School Mourns Death Of Student The Columbia High School community is mourning the loss of a student who died on Tuesday, March 29. Initial and unconfirmed reports indicate that the death was a suicide. The district released a statement confirming the student's death that reads in part: Out of respect for the family, currently, we are unable to share additional details of the student’s death. However, we understand that this loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions not only for our students, but also for members of our staff and parent community. Counseling will be made available to those who nee…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Essex County Fugitive Wanted In Recent Assault: Police Essex County Fugitive Wanted In Recent Assault: Police
Essex County Fugitive Wanted In Recent Assault: Police Police in Essex County are seeking a 67-year-old man accused of firing a handgun and assaulting a victim inside of an apartment last week, they said. Cranford Butler, of Irvington, had gotten into an argument with the victim at a home on Jacoby Street in Maplewood the morning of Feb. 16, when he apparently fired a .380 caliber handgun, Maplewood Police Chief Jim DeVaul said. Police responding to the scene found the victim with a cut, but no gunshot wound or life-threatening injuries, and the incident was determined to be domestic in nature, the chief said. Butler and the victim knew each …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash
Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash A Clifton police officer dove into a moving car after the teenager who stole it bailed out during one in a series of incidents involving out-of-town car thieves -- one of whom is only 14. Six of them were captured following a pursuit and crash involving another stolen vehicle and a Clifton police car later that day, Lt. Robert Bracken said. Officers interrupted the theft of a 2017 Mazda on Chittendon Road around 3 a.m. Monday, Bracken said. The thief hopped out of the car while it was still moving, forcing an officer to dive in to keep it from damaging nearby property, he said. The teen a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
Victim Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Was Popular Dog Groomer Victim Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Was Popular Dog Groomer
Victim Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Was Popular Dog Groomer Loved ones are remembering a 51-year-old woman who was killed on the Garden State Parkway in Middlesex County earlier this month. Melissa M. Craden of Scotch Plains was traveling northbound on the Parkway in Woodbridge at 3:10 p.m. Nov. 6 when her 2009 Jeep Liberty sideswiped another vehicle near milepost 131.9, a New Jersey State Police spokesman said. Craden’s Jeep flipped and she was ejected, Sgt. Alejandro Goez said.  The driver of the other vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, suffered minor injuries, Goez said. Craden was well-known as the owner of Grooming by Melissa, a…

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by Nicole Acosta
News
NJ Teacher Accused Of Ripping Hijab Off Student Was Trying To Fix Her Hood, Attorney Says NJ Teacher Accused Of Ripping Hijab Off Student Was Trying To Fix Her Hood, Attorney Says
NJ Teacher Accused Of Ripping Hijab Off Student Was Trying To Fix Her Hood, Attorney Says A New Jersey teacher accused by a former Olympian of pulling a 7-year-old student's hijab off was just trying to fix her hood, her attorney told Daily Voice. "This is not a story about a teacher who forcibly removed a student’s hijab," said Samantha Harris, the attorney representing Tamar Herman, a teacher in the Maplewood South Orange school district.  "This is a story about social media, misinformation, and what happens when people publicize rumors without any knowledge of or regard for the truth." The story began getting media attention after former Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad took …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Olympian Accuses NJ Teacher Of Pulling Hijab From 7-Year-Old Student's Head Olympian Accuses NJ Teacher Of Pulling Hijab From 7-Year-Old Student's Head
Olympian Accuses NJ Teacher Of Pulling Hijab From 7-Year-Old Student's Head A North Jersey family is accusing their 7-year-old daughter's teacher of pulling her hijab from her head. The Wyatts told ABC7 the incident happened at the Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood. The family's story took off when 2016 fencing Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad shared the incident on social media, saying the teacher “forcibly removed the hijab of a second-grade student.” I wrote this book with the intention that moments like this would never happen again. When will it stop? Yesterday,... Posted by Ibtihaj Muhammad on Thursday, October 7, 2021 Tamar Herman's attorney Samantha…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
$20K Reward Offered In Cold Case Killing Of Essex County Grandmother $20K Reward Offered In Cold Case Killing Of Essex County Grandmother
$20K Reward Offered In Cold Case Killing Of Essex County Grandmother Authorities in Essex County are offering a $20,000 reward in the case of a 62-year-old grandmother killed over four years ago. Deborah Burton, of Maplewood, was shot dead near 43 Third Street in Newark on March 13, 2017, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II. Burton was taken to University Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. The next day, her silver Chevy Cruze was found at 59 North 7th Street in Newark, authorities said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force…

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by Nicole Acosta
Weather
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey The death toll caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida that tore through New Jersey Wednesday had climbed to 23 as of Thursday afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference. Most of these deaths were individuals who got stuck in vehicles due to flooding and were overtaken by water, he said from fire station in Hillsborough. The governor reminded residents New Jersey is still in the midst of Ida, and urged people not to travel. Those who died include: Four Elizabeth residents -- a couple ages 71 and 72, their 38-year-old son and a 33-year-old neighbor. Their bodies were found by…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Newark Man, 20, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Maplewood Soccer Standout Moussa Fofana Newark Man, 20, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Maplewood Soccer Standout Moussa Fofana
Newark Man, 20, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Maplewood Soccer Standout Moussa Fofana A 20-year-old Newark man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the June shooting that fatally wounded a Maplewood high school soccer player. Yohan Hernandez was taken into custody late Thursday in the June 6 shooting 18-year-old Moussa Fofana dead near Underhill Field, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul said. A second victim was injured in the shooting and treated at a local hospital, authorities said. Hernandez was charged with murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, The investigation is on…

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by Valerie Musson