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Sports
Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet
Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a near-collision at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving a charter plane carrying the No. 19-ranked Gonzaga men’s basketball team and a Delta jet.  The incident occurred on Friday, Dec. 27, as the Delta aircraft was taking off for Atlanta, Georgia. According to reports, an air traffic controller urgently instructed the charter plane to "Stop, stop, stop" just before it crossed paths with the departing Delta flight. The quick action avoided a potential disaster, and no injuries were reported. “In the years I’ve bee…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Sexually Assaulted Sleeping Girl, 6, During Prayer Service In Trenton Home: Prosecutors Man Sexually Assaulted Sleeping Girl, 6, During Prayer Service In Trenton Home: Prosecutors
Man Sexually Assaulted Sleeping Girl, 6, During Prayer Service In Trenton Home: Prosecutors A Trenton man was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl while she slept in a home during a prayer service, authorities said. Jose Agustin-Hernandez, 51, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree criminal sexual contact, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta Marbrey said in a news release on Monday, Dec. 30. Investigators said Agustin-Hernandez entered a room where a six-year-old girl was sleeping and sexually assaulted her on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The assault happened during an evening prayer servi…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Burglar Ignited Fire That Destroyed Jersey Shore Home, Prosecutors Say Burglar Ignited Fire That Destroyed Jersey Shore Home, Prosecutors Say
Burglar Ignited Fire That Destroyed Jersey Shore Home, Prosecutors Say An Asbury Park man was accused of arson and burglary after a fire destroyed a Deal home, authorities said. Nasyr-Alaire Fisher, 20, was arrested on Sunday, Dec. 29, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release. Firefighters responded to the two-alarm house fire on Lady Bess Drive at around 6:31 a.m.  Crews put out the flames and remained at the scene for about five hours, the Deal Fire Department said in a Facebook post. Neptune City and Wanamassa firefighters also responded to the scene. Investigators identified Fisher as the person responsible fo…

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by Chris Spiker
Sports
'Fierce Yet Confident' Boxer Dies Days After WBA Title-Winning Fight In Carteret 'Fierce Yet Confident' Boxer Dies Days After WBA Title-Winning Fight In Carteret
'Fierce Yet Confident' Boxer Dies Days After WBA Title-Winning Fight In Carteret A champion boxer died less than a week after reaching one of his career's biggest milestones and winning a title fight in Carteret. Paul Bamba has died at the age of 35, according to an Instagram post on Friday, Dec. 27 by his manager and R&B singer Ne-Yo. The cause of his death was unknown. Bamba's death was announced just days after he defeated Rogelio Medina by sixth-round technical knockout (TKO) at the Carteret Performing Arts Center. The victory on Saturday, Dec. 21 gave the World Boxing Association's (WBA) cruiserweight gold belt to Bamba, a Puerto Rico native. "…

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by Chris Spiker
Lifestyle
Sabrina Carpenter Turns 'Me Espresso' Into 'You Espresso' With Dunkin’ Collab Sabrina Carpenter Turns 'Me Espresso' Into 'You Espresso' With Dunkin’ Collab
Sabrina Carpenter Turns 'Me Espresso' Into 'You Espresso' With Dunkin’ Collab Sabrina Carpenter, the Grammy-nominated singer, and Pennsylvania native, is shaking things up — literally — as she teams up with Dunkin’ to debut a new signature drink just in time for New Year’s Eve, the company announced on Monday, Dec. 30. Born in Quakertown and raised in East Greenville, Carpenter’s Pennsylvania roots are as bold as her espresso. Her father built her a home recording studio in the Lehigh Valley, where she first crafted the music that propelled her to stardom. She’s often credited her Keystone State upbringing for inspiring her creativity and shared fond memories of her s…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks
Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks A sharp increase in norovirus cases is sweeping the United States, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Often called the "stomach flu," norovirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The CDC reports 41 outbreaks in the first week of December alone, surpassing levels recorded in prior months. This spike aligns with the virus's typical winter peak but underscores the need for heightened vigilance this season. Norovirus spreads through contaminated food, surfaces, and …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Matt Gaudreau's Widow Welcomes Baby After Husband, Brother Johnny Die In South Jersey Crash Matt Gaudreau's Widow Welcomes Baby After Husband, Brother Johnny Die In South Jersey Crash
Matt Gaudreau's Widow Welcomes Baby After Husband, Brother Johnny Die In South Jersey Crash The widow of Matthew Gaudreau gave birth to the couple's only child about four months after Matt and his NHL star brother Johnny Gaudreau were killed by a suspected drunk driver. Madeline Gaudreau announced the arrival of her son Tripp Matthew in an Instagram post on Sunday, Dec. 29. Her husband Matt and his brother Johnny died when they were hit while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township on Thursday, Aug. 29. The photo showed Madeline holding the newborn’s tiny hand next to a wooden sign reading "He's here." "Tripp Matthew 🤍🦋," the caption said. "Mommy & Daddy’s world." Made…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Overturned Tractor Trailer Shuts All Lanes Of NJ Turnpike In Central Jersey Overturned Tractor Trailer Shuts All Lanes Of NJ Turnpike In Central Jersey
Overturned Tractor Trailer Shuts All Lanes Of NJ Turnpike In Central Jersey An overturned tractor trailer closed a stretch of the NJ Turnpike in Middlesex County on Monday afternoon, Dec. 30. The crash happened in Monroe, closing all lanes of the outer roadway's southbound exit ramp to Interchange 8A at approximately 12:12 p.m. As of press time, all lanes were closed.

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
'Alice' Star Linda Lavin Dies, 87 'Alice' Star Linda Lavin Dies, 87
'Alice' Star Linda Lavin Dies, 87 Linda Lavin, the two-time Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated actress whose career spanned six decades on stage and screen, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, at the age of 87, according to The New York Times. Born in Portland, Maine, Lavin studied acting at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she was deeply involved in the theater program. Her career took off with her iconic role as Alice Hyatt on the hit TV series "Alice," which earned her two Golden Globes and cemented her as a household name. A force on Broadway, Lavin captivated audiences with performances in multiple …

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Big Lots Reaches Deal To Keep Hundreds Of Stores Open Big Lots Reaches Deal To Keep Hundreds Of Stores Open
Big Lots Reaches Deal To Keep Hundreds Of Stores Open Big Lots has announced a major development following its September bankruptcy filing. The discount retail chain says it's entered a strategic agreement with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners and Variety Wholesalers to preserve the brand, save thousands of jobs, and keep hundreds of stores open. Variety Wholesalers, known for its portfolio of retail brands, plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots locations, along with up to two distribution centers. There are about 1,400 Big Lots stores nationwide. The transition ensures Big Lots can transfer key assets and maintain continuity of its br…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
South Jersey Man Asked Second Girl For Sexual Pics, Videos On Snapchat: Prosecutors South Jersey Man Asked Second Girl For Sexual Pics, Videos On Snapchat: Prosecutors
South Jersey Man Asked Second Girl For Sexual Pics, Videos On Snapchat: Prosecutors A Commercial Township man was facing more charges after he was accused of soliciting sexual pictures and videos from a teen girl in northern Pennsylvania, authorities said. Michael Romig, 29, was additionally charged on Monday, Dec. 23, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said in a news release. He was arrested on Friday, Dec. 13 after facing similar accusations involving a 10-year-old girl in Ohio. A Galeton, PA, mother contacted the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, Dec. 19 to report her 15-year-old daughter had been in "an online rel…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
New Dad Who Killed Co-Worker On Lunch Break In Her Plainsboro Apartment Has Appeal Denied New Dad Who Killed Co-Worker On Lunch Break In Her Plainsboro Apartment Has Appeal Denied
New Dad Who Killed Co-Worker On Lunch Break In Her Plainsboro Apartment Has Appeal Denied An appellate court rejected the appeal of a 35-year-old man convicted of killing his 26-year-old coworker in 2019 and conspiring to additional killings while in jail, court records show. Kenneth C. Saal is serving a 45-year prison sentence for killing Carolyn Byington when she returned home to Plainsboro apartment during her lunch break in June 2019, and a 10-year consecutive sentence for conspiring to kill another young woman, records show. Saal and Byington had been working together at Engine US in West Windsor, and Saal was married with a new baby at home. Saal, of Lindenwold, stole…

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by Cecilia Levine