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Wednesday, dec 18
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Union County, NJ
Police & Fire
Old Bridge Woman Gets 18 Years For Fatal Elizabeth Shooting: Prosecutor
A 44-year-old Old Bridge woman was sentenced to 18 years on prison on Friday, Dec. 6, for her role in a fatal shooting in Elizabeth in 2019, authorities said. Cheryle Lugo had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in October, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca and Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves said. On Oct. 25, 2019, Jamile Robbins, a 19-year-old Elizabeth resident was found with a gunshot wound at the Oakwood Plaza Apartments, authorities said. He was subsequently transported to a local area hospital where …
Police & Fire
Murder
: Man Beaten Dead, Found Behind Hudson County Building, Prosecutor Says
A Hudson County man who was found lifeless behind a building earlier this month has been confirmed as a homicide victim after investigators determined he was beaten to death, officials said. Reynaldo Gonzalez, 56, of Union County, was discovered unresponsive behind a building on 23rd Street on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at around 11 a.m., Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Responding officers pronounced him dead at the scene shortly after 11:30 a.m. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined on Wednesday, Nov. 26, that Gonzalez died from complications of blunt force injuries, Hudson County…
News
Smoky Morning For New Jersey Residents After Frightening Night For Some New Yorkers
New Jersey residents awoke to smokey skies Sunday morning, Nov. 17, following a terrifying night for some New York residents around Greenwood Lake. While the Jennings Creek Wildfire was 90% under control in New Jersey last Friday, Nov. 15, flames continued to rage over the weekend in New York's Sterling Forest Fire, forcing some residents to evacuate their homes around Greenwood Lake Saturday night, Nov. 16. ***URGENT UPDATE*** Residents on EDGEMERE Avenue are being requested to evacuate at this time. Residents north of 42... Posted by Town Of Warwick on Saturday, November 16, 202…
Obituaries
Westfield HS Mourns Loss Of Senior Athlete Brandon Genlot Killed In Crash
Brandon Genlot, a senior at Westfield High School, died in a car crash on Monday, Nov. 11, at the age of 17, according to his obituary from the Higgins and Bonner Funeral Home website and Union County Police. It is with a broken heart that we announce the passing of our son, Brandon A service to honor Brandon’s life will be... Posted by Donna Genlot on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 At 7:30 p.m. officers responded to a vehicle crash at Watchung Reservation on Sky Top Drive in Scotch Plains, Union County police said, and found a vehicle that had struck a tree and caught fire.&nbs…
Politics
New Jersey Dramatically Shifts Right In 2024 Presidential Election
The rightward shift of the country in the 2024 presidential election happened right in the Garden State. Vice President Kamala Harris defeated President-Elect Donald Trump in New Jersey, 51% to 47% with 94% of the results in, which marks a 12-point shift from 2020, when President Joe Biden defeated Trump, 57% to 41%. Trump had the best performance by a Republican in New Jersey since George W. Bush earned 46% of the vote in 2004, the last time Republicans won the popular vote. Bergen County saw a 13-point shift from 2020, with Harris carrying the affluent suburban county by only three…
Politics
Last Look At New Jersey's 12 Congressional Races: Your Guide To The 2024 Election
More than 1.9 million people have already cast their vote in New Jersey ahead of the 2024 election. Here's one last look at who's on the ballot in the Garden State's 12 Congressional races, and what you need to know. District 1: All of Camden County, as well as parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County. Teddy Liddell and Donald Norcross. Teddy Liddell for Congress/Donald Norcross Facebook photos Democratic candidate Incumbent Rep. Donald Norcross: A father of three and electrician, Norcross was elected in 2014 having previously served in both the State Senate and Assembly. …
Police & Fire
Father, Three Sons Killed Daughter: Union County Prosecutor
A father and his three sons were indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday, Oct. 9 with manslaughter in the death of his daughter, a 28-year-old Union Township woman last May, authorities said. On Friday, May 10, the Union Police Department responded to the 300 block of Greenbriar Drive for a welfare check and found Kerline Joseph Charles dead at the scene, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel and Union Police Director Christopher Donnelly said. The Union County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be cardiac arrest following physical restraint and…
News
NJ Is Getting Its First-Ever Mormon Temple: Here's Where
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints announced it is building its first temple in the Garden State. The temple will be built in Summit (Union County), the church announced this month. The temple is one of 17 new temples the Mormon Church plans to build. “Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace?” President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said. "Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will…
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Plumber Admits To Taking Upskirt Videos Of 27 Girls, Women: Prosecutors
A Red Bank man admitted to recording upskirt videos of more than two dozen women and girls, including some in their homes, authorities said. Christopher Cox, 35, pleaded guilty on Friday, Oct. 4 to second-degree eluding police, two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and three counts of third-degree invasion of privacy. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the guilty plea in a news release on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Investigators said Cox entered the ShopRite supermarket in Shrewsbury just before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, and began follow…
News
NJ Water Company Pauses Billing After Cyberattack
A water utility company based in Camden said it is pausing billing in the wake of a cyberattack on Thursday, Oct. 3. American Water serves 2.8 million people in the Garden State, providing water to municipalities in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Union and Warren counties. "American Water learned of unauthorized activity in our computer networks and systems," the company said in a release. "This activity has since been determined to be the result of a cybersecurity incident. In an effort to protect our …
Police & Fire
NJ Luxury Car Trafficking Ring Dismantled, Four Arrests Made, Prosecutor Says
Four teenagers were arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12 and charged for their participation in an auto theft trafficking network in North Jersey, authorities said. Two juveniles, a 16-year-old Newark resident and a 17-year-old Jersey City resident would use stolen Kias, Hondas and Hyundais to look for high-end luxury vehicles like BMWs and Mercedes, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. After identifying target vehicles, they would go to target homes and search for keys/key fobs, Daniel said. Once they got the vehicles, they would contact Tikeem Shearin, 18, and Carlos Espi…
News
25 NJ Landlords Who Considered Tenants' Criminal History Facing Fines, AG Says
Twenty-five landlords are facing fines after state officials said they violated state laws by considering potential tenants' criminal histories. According to NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR), the notices of violation allege that the housing providers violated the law by, among other things, asking criminal history-related questions on housing applications that are prohibited by the law. The Notices of Violation announced Monday, Sept. 16 were served on housing providers located in 15 municipalities across Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, C…
News
Two West Nile Virus-Related Deaths Among Six New Cases Reported In New Jersey
New Jersey health officials are reporting an additional six cases of West Nile Virus including two deaths, and two presumptive viremic blood donor (PVD) cases in the state. The six new WNV cases are residents of Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Hudson, Mercer, and Middlesex counties (one 50+, two 60+, one 70+, two 80+). The two individuals who died were older adults from Cumberland and Mercer counties, the DOH said. Two human cases of WNV were reported earlier this year in Middlesex and Union counties. Seven out of the eight cases were hospitalized with neuroinvasive disease, includi…
Politics
New Charges Filed Against Former NJ Mayoral Candidate Accused Of Election Fraud: AG
A 70-year-old former mayoral candidate town previously accused of election fraud is facing new charges, New Jersey authorities announced Friday, Aug. 23. An indictment returned against Plainfield's former mayoral candidate Dr. Henrilynn Ibezim charges him with tampering with witnesses and informants and trafficking in personal identifying information pertaining to another person, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Ibezim had previously been accused of trying to submit hundreds of bogus voter registration applications to Union County's election officials, and th…
Weather
Tornado Watch Shifts, Now Covers These Counties Across NJ, PA As Debby Creeps In
The National Weather Service has shifted its tornado watch across New Jersey and Pennsylvania as Hurricane Debby creeps in. In New Jersey, the tornado watch is in effect through 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 and covers Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties in North Jersey. In Pennsylvania, the tornado watch is issued in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, and Bucks counties. The tornado threat for South Jersey has diminished since the initial watch was issued early Friday morning, which has since been canceled. AccuWeather Th…
News
NJ Reports Three West Nile Virus Cases
The New Jersey Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first human cases of the West Nile Virus, much earlier than in prior seasons. Two residents, one more than 70 years old and the other under 18, tested positive for the illness transmitted by mosquitoes after reporting symptoms in the first week of July, the state's health department said. The individuals, from Union and Middlesex counties, were hospitalized and have since been discharged. A third case of an asymptomatic WNV-positive blood donor was later reported, the DOH said. They were identified as a Somerset County resid…
Weather
Towns With The Most Rainfall In New Jersey
The National Weather Service has released the rainfall totals from the Tuesday, Aug. 6 storm. Residents across the Northeast woke up Wednesday, Aug. 7 to several inches of water — in some places, feet. Here are the towns that got the most amount of rain: Bergen County: Ridgewood 5.79 inches Bogota 5.60 inches Oakland 3.86 inches Leonia 3.81 inches Lyndhurst 3.77 inches Hillsdale 3.56 inches Hasbrouck Heights 3.42 inches Hackensack 2.9…
Weather
Tracking Hurricane Debby, Severe Storms Expected To Slam Northeast This Week
The Northeast is in for a wild week of weather. AccuWeather forecasters say episodes of drenching rain and heavy winds are working their way across the country and are expected to arrive in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland on Tuesday, Aug. 6. AccuWeather The above AccuWeather map shows which part of the region will be most impacted by the storms arriving Tuesday afternoon and lasting into the evening. Those include the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, South Jersey, and the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas. Tuesday will be sunny and hot with a high of 90 before storms roll in,…
Sports
Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris
A West Long Branch man from a storied judo family had his quest for Olympic gold in Paris cut short after losing his first contest. Jack Yonezuka was defeated 10-0 by Adil Osmanov of Moldova in a round of 32 fight in the 73-kilogram weight class on Monday, July 29. He lost by ippon (points) after he was given his third shido (a penalty) three minutes and 40 seconds into the match. Before his fight, the 2021 Shore Regional High School graduate shared Instagram pictures and videos of his view aboard Team USA's boat during the opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday, Ju…
Police & Fire
Office Manager Embezzled $350K From North Jersey Synagogue, Feds Say
A 51-year-old Scotch Plains woman is charged with embezzling more than $350,000 from a Union County synagogue she worked at, authorities said. In 2010, Stacy Margaritondo began working at Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains and was later promoted to bookkeeper and office manager in July 2020, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Margaritondo’s duties included accounting/bookkeeping, payroll, preparing checks for accounts payable, and reporting to the synagogue’s board of directors regarding the synagogue’s financial condition, Sellinger said. From Dec. 2019 to May 20…
Police & Fire
Drunk Driver Going 114 MPH Sentenced For Garden State Parkway Crash That Killed Amazon Worker
A 47-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday, July 19, for a deadly 2021 crash on the Garden State Parkway where he was driving intoxicated at 114 mph, authorities said. On Feb. 15, 2021, Rolando Godwin was driving a Range Rover when he struck a Lexus SUV driven by Christopher Meikle, a 46-year-old East Orange resident, causing his car to be engulfed in flames on the Garden State Parkway in Clark, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. Following the crash, Godwin requested he be transported away from the scene, indicating he was prepared to offer an unsp…
Police & Fire
Security Guard Charged In Deadly Assault At Elizabeth Lounge: Prosecutor
A 26-year-old Elizabeth resident was arrested and charged on Friday, July 12, with a deadly assault in 2023, authorities said. In July 2023, Elizabeth police found Jose Lopez suffering from a head injury at the El Monsignor Lounge, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca said. Lopez was taken to a rehabilitation facility where he died in March, authorities said. Regis Pelegrino Motas was identified as Lopez's assailant, and had been working as a security guard at the lounge at the time of the inciden…
Police & Fire
Mugshot Released, Attempted Murder Charge For 79-Year-Old Man In NJ SWAT Standoff
Charges have been filed against a 79-year-old Union County man who was arrested after a SWAT standoff early Wednesday, July 2. Kenneth Kutyla, of Clark, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of a firearm for unlawful purpose, local police said. At 12:31 a.m., officers responded to 9 Stanton St. on a report of shots fired, Clark police said in a release. An investigation found Kutyla had barricaded himself with a weapon inside, police said. Union County Special Weapons and Tactics responded to…
Sports
Man From Storied NJ Judo Family Qualifies For 2024 Summer Olympics
A West Long Branch man who's part of a storied family in judo is heading to Paris to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Jack Yonezuka will represent the U.S. at the Olympics as a 73-kilogram fighter. The 21-year-old will be the youngest member of Team USA's judo squad. Yonezuka qualified for the Summer Games after the International Judo Federation's world championships in Abu Dhabi in May. "Firstly, I want to start by thanking everyone who has helped me become the athlete I am today and everyone who has been a part of my journey," Yonezuka wrote in an Instagram post. "I do…
News
8K+ Without Power Amid Another Round Of Storms In New Jersey
More than 8,000 New Jersey residents were without power amid another round of storms on Sunday, June 22. PSE&G's outage map shows 5,341 were in the dark in Burlington County and more than 3,000 in Camden. The majority of the outages were in Maple Shade, Moorestown, Haddon and Pennsauken. In Union County, nearly 1,000 had lost power in Westfield. Smaller but more widespread outages were reported on the Jersey Shore, according to JCP&L, specifically in Long Branch, Red Bank, Asbury Park, Hazlet, Middletown, Keansburg, and Matawan. The National Weather Service had warned residen…
News
Winner
! Mega Millions Tickets Sold In North Jersey Net Big Bucks
Two North Jersey Mega Millions players had a fantastic Friday. Their tickets, sold in Morris County and Union County, matched four numbers and the gold Megaball in the drawing held on Friday, June 7, winning $10,000. The tickets were sold at 7-Eleven in Rockaway and at a BP Gas Station in Rahway. The winning numbers were 3, 5, 12, 22, 66 and the gold Megaball was 7.
Police & Fire
Member Of Burglary Crew That Targeted Asian Homeowners On 'Hit List' In NJ, NY, PA, Sentenced
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A confessed member of a burglary ring that targeted Asian-American small business owners in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. Kevin Jackson, 57, of Rahway, NJ, must serve a little over two years before he'll be eligible for release because there's no parole in the federal prison system. Jackson was part of a second-story crew that the FBI said worked from a hit list of dozens of homes in the four states based on “stereotype and opportunity" from Dec. 2, 2016, to March 20, 2019. One of Jackson's associates told detectives t…