New Jersey State News

Weather swings back to winter Sunday in NYC. Here's when it will warm up again.

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 14:42:05 +0000

A wild weather weekend continues in the New York City area. After climbing into the 60s Saturday, wind chills early Sunday morning were only in the single digits.

Sunday forecast

Highs this afternoon will be 30+ degrees colder than Saturday, topping out in the low 30s. With a brisk northwest wind gusting 25-30 mph at times, it will feel more like the low 20s at best.

Despite the frigid temperatures, there will be plenty of sunshine today. Just bundle up!

CBS News New York

Expect another cold night with temperatures falling into the teens and low 20s around the Tri-State Area. It won't be quite as gusty, but wind chills will still be a few degrees lower than the actual air temperatures.

The week ahead

CBS News New York

Temperatures remain below normal Monday, but it won't be as harsh. There will be mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid to upper 30s.

It will stay quiet on Tuesday as we warm back up to around 50 degrees. Clouds will start filtering in during the second half of the day, but it stays dry.

Tracking a rain storm

CBS News New York

Wednesday will be our next First Alert Weather Day as a potent system moves through the Great Lakes. A warm front in the morning will bring some showers with temperatures rising into the upper 50s. A period of steadier rain and gusty winds is likely into the afternoon and evening.

Stay tuned as we get closer, but plan on a tricky evening commute Wednesday.

CBS News New York

First Alert Weather maps

FedEx plane makes emergency landing in New Jersey after bird strike, engine fire

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 04:50:00 +0000

A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport after a bird strike caused an engine fire.

Air traffic was briefly halted after the emergency landing at around 8 a.m. Saturday, but operations resumed shortly after, said Lenis Valens, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Three people were on board, and all got off the plane safely, Valens said.

No injuries were reported, and the fire on the cargo plane was contained to the engine, Valens said.

"We need to return to the airport"

Audio recorded by LiveATC captured a person calmly saying the FedEx aircraft needed to "shut down for a possible bird strike" immediately. "We need to return to the airport."

Moments later, another person is heard saying: "We believe we saw their engine fall off the right wing." The audio indicates the bird strike happened when the plane was several hundred feet off the ground.

A FedEx spokesperson said the plane was headed for Indianapolis but due to the bird strike "declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark after dealing with the resulting engine damage," which included an engine fire.

"The training, expertise, and professionalism demonstrated by our FedEx pilots was exemplary. We are thankful for the quick actions of our crew and first responders," said the spokesperson, Austin Kemker.

"They handled it like champs"

Kenneth Hoffman, a pilot on another flight, said as his flight was pushing off, they heard from air traffic control that there was an emergency in progress. Hoffman posted a video on social media of a FedEx plane on the ground at the Newark airport with flames shooting from its side as it slowed to a stop with fire rescue equipment nearby. While it sounded like everyone was OK, there was a lot of smoke and the airport was shut down for 15 to 20 minutes, Hoffman said.

The pilots' response was great, Hoffman said.

"They handled it like champs," he told the Associated Press. "At the end of the day, that's what our training is all about."

The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the incident. A statement from the FAA said the "strike damaged one of the Boeing 767's engines." The National Transportation Safety Board also said it would investigate.

Bird strikes rarely force emergency landings

Bird strikes are aviation hazards that sometimes cause major disruptions. Birds were blamed for bringing down a jetliner that Captain "Sully" Sullenberger landed on the Hudson River in 2009.

The FAA has said bird strikes are increasing, with more than 19,000 wildlife strikes at 713 U.S. airports in 2023. Only rarely do they cause so much damage that jetliners are forced to make emergency landings.

The emergency landing at Newark comes at a time of heightened awareness of flight problems. In the past month, there have been four major aviation disasters in North America. They include the Delta flight that overturned upon landing in Toronto on Feb. 17, the Feb. 6 crash of a commuter plane in Alaska that killed all 10 people on board, and the Jan. 26 midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight at Reagan National Airport that killed all 67 aboard the two aircraft.

Earlier this week, smoke filled the cabin of a Delta plane in Atlanta, and a Southwest jet was forced to abort a landing in Chicago after a near miss on the tarmac.

More Americans than ever are flying – nearly 3 million a day – but some travelers are anxious after recent events.

CBS News aviation safety analyst Robert Sumwalt believes the timing of these incidents is coincidental.

He does say, however, "If we continue to have these sorts of events, the airline industry will have an image crisis."

Keep in mind, the reason all these recent incidents are making news is because they're incredibly rare. In fact, one MIT statistics professor estimates the risk of dying in a plane crash is 1 in 100 million.

Frigid temperatures return Sunday in NYC

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 04:47:05 +0000

Our mild stretch of weather has ended abruptly. Temperatures are now falling rapidly, but before the drop-off, they topped out in the mid to upper 60s at many locations early on Saturday afternoon. In Central Park, the high of 64 was the warmest temp since the middle of November.

CBS News New York

For Saturday night, temperatures will continue to plummet, reaching the low 20s and teens. Elevated winds, that may gust between 20-30 mph, will keep windchills in the single digits for most of the region.

CBS News New York

Despite lots of sunshine, highs on Sunday will struggle to rise above the lower 30s with a persistent breeze, making for a frigid day. The arctic chill will last through Monday before another warmup begins on Tuesday.

CBS News New York

First Alert Weather maps

Top New Jersey high school wrestler will be allowed to compete in state championship after disqualification

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 03:28:17 +0000

A top high school wrestler in New Jersey who had been disqualified from the state championship will now be allowed to compete.

Friday, a judge granted St. John Vianney High School senior Anthony Knox Jr. a relief from the disqualification levied from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The decision came just one hour before the weigh-in for the competition. Knox Jr. will be trying to win a historic fourth straight state championship.

New Jersey wrestling tournament brawl controversy

The controversy started at the NJ District 25 tournament at Collingswood High School last Saturday.

Knox Jr.'s father claims a spectator was cursing and yelling racial slurs at competitors, and when he asked the man to stop, he was assaulted.

Videos show a large fight breaking out among spectators.

Knox Jr. said he ran into the stands because he feared for his family's wellbeing.

Both father and son were led away in handcuffs after the brawl, prompting the NJSIAA to disqualify Knox Jr. from the state championship.

An attorney filed an injunction that would allow Knox Jr. to compete.

Environmental justice organizers in New Jersey fear impact of EPA cuts

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 02:00:19 +0000

Some community-based organizations in New Jersey are worried about the impact of massive cuts President Trump says are coming to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"After recently identifying $20 billion fraudulent in spending, [EPA] Administrator [Lee] Zeldin is committed to eliminating 65% of the EPA's wasteful spending," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said.

An EPA spokesperson said the agency is "cutting wasteful grants, reassessing the agency's real estate footprint, and delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure."

New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, the ranking Democrat on a committee that oversees the EPA, says environmental and climate justice programs are being eliminated under Trump's administration.

"My understanding is that any environmental justice funding is done. If you didn't already get it, you're not getting it," he said.

Those cuts could include some initiatives that provide financial help to underserved communities in the Garden State.

"This isn't just impacting the environment, it's impacting lives"

Kim Gaddy heads the South Ward Environmental Alliance in Newark.

"It was a personal reason that I got into this space, but I didn't want any other parent to experience what I was experiencing," she said.

The fourth-generation Newarker says her three children all have asthma.

"When you have a child that is suffering from asthma and you see them unable to breath, that is one of the most scariest things you can imagine," she said.

She blames it on pollution, like airplanes at Newark Liberty International Airport and diesel fuel from trucks traveling to and from one of the busiest United States ports.

"There's no barriers in the sky. The pollution that is in Newark today will also be in your community tomorrow," Gaddy said.

Gaddy's nonprofit spreads information about waterway and air pollution to residents.

She says won't be getting EPA funding for one educational program.

"It is really important that if you come from a community of Black and Brown individuals that are most marginalized, that they are able to sit at the table and meaningful participation," she said.

"I don't think [Trump] understands that this isn't just impacting the environment, it's impacting lives," said X Braithwaite, an environmental justice organizer for Clean Water Action.

Braithwaite, who lives in the Ironbound near the state's largest incinerator, says she'll continue fighting for neighbors.

"I see our communities as resilient," she said.

Real ID appointments filling up fast at New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission locations as deadline approaches

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:59:00 +0000

The deadline to get the official document known as Real ID is fast approaching, and if you live in New Jersey, you may run into some difficulties.

Starting May 7, all United States travelers are required to have a Real ID when flying domestically, or use their passport for identification.

How to get a Real ID in New Jersey

Those who already have a New Jersey driver's license will need to go online to book an appointment at a Motor Vehicle Commission location to upgrade to a Real ID.

Anyone can upgrade to a Real ID at a Mobile Unit appointment.

If your license is expiring within three months, you can also get a Real ID at a license renewal appointment. If your license expiration date is more than three months away, you'll need to book a Real ID non-renewal appointment.

When CBS News New York's Nick Caloway checked Friday, however, not a single Real ID non-renewal appointment was available across the state.

An MVC spokesperson told CBS News New York about 3,000 new Real ID appointments are added every day at 7 a.m.

"Furthermore, the MVC monitors appointment availability and will regularly add and reallocate appointments to better meet the demand for specific services. Earlier this month, for instance, we opened an additional 36,000 REAL ID non-renewal appointments and we will be announcing new initiatives to expand opportunities and appointments to get a REAL ID soon," the spokesperson said in part.

Anyone due for a license renewal is strongly urged to consider upgrading to a Real ID at their license renewal appointment.

If you do not already have a New Jersey driver's license, you can get a Real ID at a non-driver ID appointment. Residents who have just moved to New Jersey can get a Real ID at an out-of-state transfer appointment, and new drivers can get a Real ID at a walk-in transaction after passing their road test.

What is Real ID?

Thomas Carter, federal security director for TSA New Jersey, says Real IDs are an enhanced form of identification, which makes flying safer.

"Which provides that high degree of confidence that that person on that driver's license is exactly who they say they are," he said.

The requirement was supposed to be in place years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays.

"This is the closest we have ever been. We are 68 days away. So again, the best thing you can do is prepare," Carter said Friday.

7 planets are set to align tonight. How to see it around the NYC area

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:21:46 +0000

Seven planets are putting on a parade in the night sky, and they're expected to be visible Friday night over the greater New York City area.

The parade started with just four planets last month, but now three others have joined in for an even better view.

What is the parade of planets?

CBS News New York

It's considered a parade because the seven planets are marching along the same path. Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, explains it's more of a "gathering" than "alignment."

"If you were to take your finger and point at any given planet, it's not like they all fall on a straight line," she told CBS News New York, adding, "All the planets go around the sun, like on a racetrack, they just run around the racetrack. And right now, they're all on the same track, so that you can see them at night."

"They do appear across the sky in kind of a line, an arch, that runs across the sky, because you're seeing the racetrack that they're on as they go around the sun," she continued.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be the most visible, while Uranus and Neptune will be more difficult.

"You can't see all of them with your naked eye, no matter what. Uranus and Neptune are outside of the realm of your eyes -- unless you have crazy amazing eyes, then maybe you can see Uranus, but you'd also have to be in a really dark sky for that," said Faherty. "But Venus, Mars and Jupiter are the ones that are going to strike you. You're going to just see them, that's not going to be a question."

"As soon as the sun sets, you're going to see Venus, it's going to be the next thing that pops to your eye," she added. "Then, you're going to see Jupiter and Mars, and that's going to help you see the line, it's going to help you identify the racetrack."

"Once you've got those, you need to look for Mercury and Saturn right at sunset, if you want to play this 'planet bingo' to get all of them," she continued.

What time will the planets line up?

CBS News New York

The best chance to see all seven planets will be around sunset. However, despite a mostly sunny day, high level clouds will start to increase from west to east around them.

Areas south and east of the city, like Suffolk County on Long Island, will have the best view.

For people in the city, Faherty recommends going somewhere with an unobstructed view of the water. For others in the suburbs, find a clear view of the western sky.

"They're going to be low on the horizon when the sun is setting. So you have to see to the west," she explained. "The key is see where the sun is setting, and that's going to tell you where to look, that's your bullseye."

Faherty said planetary gatherings like this happen every few years and they're not that rare. Our next one should be in October 2028.

In the meantime, stargazers are getting ready for a total lunar eclipse coming up in a few weeks around March 13 and 14.

Palisades Parkway reopens after deadly crash at New York-New Jersey line

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:56:33 +0000

The Palisades Parkway reopened Friday afternoon following a deadly crash at the New York-New Jersey line.

Police said two vehicles crashed just before 6 a.m. in Alpine, New Jersey. One person was killed, and several others were treated for injuries.

Chopper 2 flew over the scene, where one car was seen on its side and traffic was backed up. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The parkway was closed in both directions for the morning commute, and drivers were told to take Route 9W as an alternate.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway is a 42-mile stretch from the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey to Bear Mountain Bridge in Rockland County, New York.

Six Flags' Kingda Ka, once the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster, comes down in implosion

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:16:42 +0000

Kingda Ka, once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, is now a pile of rubble after it was imploded at New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure on Friday morning.

The implosion happened ahead of schedule at the park in Jackson Township. Earlier, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office posted on Facebook warning residents that they may hear "a series of rapid explosions" coming from the theme park in Jackson Township Friday between 9 and 10 a.m.

Chopper 3/CBS News Philadelphia

The post said there was no reason to be alarmed, but residents were told to take precautions for people and pets who are sensitive to loud noises.

Six Flags retired the coaster, which opened in 2005, to make room for new rides, the company said late last year.

Kingda Ka, both the tallest and fastest coaster in the world when construction was complete, launched riders to a top speed of 128 mph. The height record held through its lifetime, but the speed record was broken by Formula Rossa, a coaster at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The coaster opened in 2010 and boasts a top speed of 149 mph.

Kingda Ka has carried more than 12 million riders since it opened in 2005, Six Flags said.

The Twister and Parachute Tower rides and The Sky Way, an elevated cable car, are also being removed from the park. The park is also set to debut the long-awaited The Flash: Vertical Velocity coaster this year, which would be the world's first super boomerang roller coaster.

The company also says a "multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster" will open in 2026.

Measles alert issued in New Jersey after cases confirmed in Bergen County

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:33:50 +0000

A measles alert has been issued by the New Jersey Department of Health after three cases of the highly-contagious virus were confirmed in Bergen County.

An unvaccinated resident was diagnosed with measles after returning from an international trip and spread it to two close contacts, who also were not immunized, officials said.

New Jersey's alert comes a day after Texas confirmed a child died from measles amid an outbreak that has infected more than 120 people in the Lone Star State.

NJDOH says people who visited Englewood Hospital's emergency department between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 were at risk of exposure. Symptoms could appear as late as March 6, the health department said.

NJDOH is working on contact tracing to notify people who might have been exposed, but said anyone who was at the hospital during that time should contact their health care provider immediately.

Anyone who suspects they are infected should call their doctor first before going to a facility so precautions can be taken to protect other patients and staff, NJDOH said.

Measles vaccine "could protect a child from dying"

In response to the Texas measles outbreak and cases in the Garden State, the New Jersey health department is urging residents to get the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella.

"A simple thing like this could protect a child from dying," said Dr. Suhaib Nashi, a pediatrician who administers the MMR vaccine almost daily. "Any contagious illness, people should be concerned."

Nashi, with Advocare Morristown Pediatrics, has also worked in third-world countries where the MMR vaccine is not regularly available.

"I know what measles can do. It's one of the really bad illnesses," he said.

According to the CDC, more than 93% of New Jersey kindergarteners had received the MMR vaccine for the 2023-24 school year, but that's down from just over 94% in 2022. More than 97% were vaccinated in New York and Connecticut both years.

Vaccination rates in kindergarteners across the U.S. fell about 2.5% from 2020 to 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

How does measles spread?

Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can be in the air for up to two hours after they leave, NJDOH said. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin.

"The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet," the health department's alert said.

People at risk of becoming infected include those who are not fully vaccinated or have not had measles before, the CDC says.

The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more related cases, NJDOH said, but doctors say additional cases are not automatically cause for panic.

"The concern is if there's a pocket of unvaccinated people because this virus is very good at finding people who are not vaccinated," said Dr. Robert Amler, a dean and professor of public health at New York Medical College.

"A little over 20 years ago, this was declared eradicated from the continental United States. However, we do still see sporadic cases in travelers who bring it back," said Dr. Joseph Kim, chief medical officer for ID Care, which provides infectious disease services throughout New Jersey. "One person in an unvaccinated community can infect 12 to 18 people."

Kim says measles is highly contagious, but "exceptionally preventable."

If you think you were exposed to measles, doctors say you should check your medical records to see if you were vaccinated. If you're unsure, booster shots are available.

ICE reopening migrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 04:19:00 +0000

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reopening a migrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.

The Delaney Hall Facility has the capacity to hold 1,000 migrants. It's the first migrant detention center to open under the Trump administration.

"The location near an international airport streamlines logistics, and helps facilitate the timely processing of individuals in our custody," acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello said in part in a statement.

A spokesperson for Gov. Phil Murphy said, "We are extremely disappointed by the Trump Administration's new contract with a for-profit prison company to open an ICE detention center in Newark, one of New Jersey's most populous and diverse cities. Our Administration has previously fought to limit such entities opening in our state and will continue to do so."

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement, "Without satisfying city property-use requirements, inspections, and permits, Delaney Hall cannot lawfully open in Newark at this time. Regardless of the process, an immigrant detention center is not welcomed here. ICE's stated intention to round up 'criminals' is a thin veil that does not conceal their scheme to violate people's rights, desecrate the Constitution, and disassemble our democracy."

New Jersey residents gather in support of immigrants

The announcement drew outrage in Jersey City, where people gathered for a "Jersey City Stands With Immigrants" protest at City Hall on Thursday.

"It's only a 15, 20 minute drive to the airport, to the international airport, right? They want to treat us, like, what, like they can just detain us without due process and be able to deport us?" community organizer Li Adorano said. "They want to violate our laws, and to a certain extent, they already do."

Advocates say this is just the latest in a series of concerning moves by the administration.

"We have the new administration trying to impose new anti-immigrant, you know, take here in New Jersey. New Jersey is actually against it, from grassroots all the way up to the governor," Adorano said.

Fears are growing among New Jersey's immigrant communities.

In South Jersey, Celal Emanet says U.S. Marshals arrested him and his wife at his Haddon Township restaurant. Emanet came to the U.S. on a religious visa and has been trying to gain his residency ever since.

"We are waiting to get some results, and we don't see anything. And there was too many years, I had to [support] my family, you know? I had to work," he said.

Attorneys for New Jersey high school wrestler appear in court to determine eligibility for state championship

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 01:48:01 +0000

Attorneys for a top New Jersey high school wrestler who was disqualified from the state championships appeared in court Thursday.

The hearing was about whether St. John Vianney High School senior Anthony Knox Jr.'s eligibility for the championships will be reinstated.

Knox was disqualified after he allegedly ran into the stands when violence erupted between his dad and other spectators at a tournament last Saturday. An attorney has filed an injunction that would allow Knox Jr. to compete until a proper hearing can be held.

There's no word yet on when the court will rule on Knox's injunction.

School districts respond to brawl at wrestling tournament

Anthony Knox Sr. told CBS News New York's Steve Overmyer he saw men cursing at his son and wife, and yelling racial slurs at other students during the tournament.

"As a man, I walked over, walked up into the stands, and asked the guy to stop. At that point, I was assaulted. Never threw a punch. Never hurt anybody," he said.

"I felt that my family's lives and well being were at risk, and that's why I stepped in," Anthony Knox Jr. said.

The father and son were the only two people involved in the brawl that were led away in handcuffs, and Knox Jr. was swiftly disqualified by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

St. John Vianney High School said in a statement it respects the decision of the NJSIAA after its investigation, adding it does not condone violence of any kind and last weekend's incident is not indicative of what the school or wrestling program stands for.

Knox Sr. claims someone from the West Deptford School District instigated the brawl.

The school district released the following statement Thursday:

"West Deptford School District is aware of the incident that took place on February 22, 2025, at the District 25 Wrestling Tournament hosted at Collingswood High School. This unfortunate event does not reflect the values of sportsmanship and respect that we uphold, and we do not condone physical confrontations at any sanctioned school event.
"We are also aware of the recent accusations that racial and vulgar statements that were allegedly made by individuals/fans associated with our school district. A thorough investigation into these claims has been conducted, and there is absolutely no evidence or witness testimony supporting these serious and defamatory allegations. Additionally, the NJSIAA has conducted its own investigation, and no complaints were filed during the event against anyone associated with West Deptford.
"Our students, fans, and coaching staff were in close proximity to security personnel and law enforcement throughout the event. At no point was anyone from our district addressed for inappropriate comments or behavior. Furthermore, our student-athletes competed with integrity and respect, and no officials reported any misconduct on their part.
"It is disappointing that our school district has been implicated in an incident that originated outside our community. We remain committed to ensuring that our students and fans are not placed in harm's way. We have communicated with the host school, along with NJSIAA, that assures us that there will be a high level of security for spectator and student athlete comfort. There will be 'ZERO TOLERANCE' from coaches, athletes, and fans to ensure productive and sportsmanlike matches. As the postseason continues, we hope the focus remains on the student-athletes and their hard work. The West Deptford School District stands firmly in support of sportsmanship, safety, and the well-being of all participants and spectators."

NJ Transit touts new station and customer care improvements. Here's where to find them.

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 23:35:33 +0000

New customer service improvements are coming to some NJ Transit stations, including Trenton and Newark.

NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri showed CBS News New York interactive kiosks and said Newark Penn Station will get a cleaning every night, which means some shops there will close overnight. There will also be a new "Customer Care Ambassador" pilot program during peak travel periods.

"We changed out all the lights. It's a brighter station. It's hard to tell how dark this place was. We are putting brand new displays. We're now about to unveil customer service ambassadors that will be bearing these orange vests during morning and evening rush hours," Kolluri said.

What about improved on-time performance?

Riders, though, say they want on-time performance.

"You're on the track and it says the train on track 5 or something is 20 minutes late," South Orange resident Ysha Yah Benshmuel said.

So CBS News New York asked Kolluri about it.

"Customers are saying that the most concern that they have are about delays and cancellations we saw in the summer. Is this going to help it? What's going to help that?" CBS News New York's Christine Sloan asked.

"Three things. It's about making sure Amtrak makes the repairs they make on the infrastructure. Two, is to make sure we have reliable equipment. And three is also to make sure customers have actual, correct information," Kolluri said.

NJ Transit trains run on Amtrak lines, and Kolluri says overhauling the system is on Amtrak. His focus, he says, is on getting new rail cars.

"The first batch of 174 will start coming at the end of this year," Kolluri said. "For us, making sure we don't have mechanical problems is a big issue for us. By having brand new multilevel rail cars, we'll make sure we don't have the kind of mechanical problems. That's how you increase on time performance."

Bus improvements also on tap

NJ Transit has already received several hundred modern buses that are lower to the ground for wheelchair accessibility and have USB charging outlets, Kolluri said. The new buses hold about 104 riders. The old ones maxed out at 70 riders.

Kolluri said the initiative will cost NJ Transit about $2 million per year. Gov. Phil Murphy is also promising separate funding for an extra 1,000 buses and 250 rail cars.

"But if Congress and the Trump administration for some reason say we're not going to that anymore, then we have to stop," Kolluri said. "We know that President Trump knows how important infrastructure is to this nation's economy."

Asked about unsheltered people taking refuge at Newark Penn Station, officials said they'll be treated with respect but that increased overnight policing will keep everyone secure.

Officials say during the overnight hours, some station doors will be closed, but service will not be interrupted.

"Void" found near sinkholes on I-80, New Jersey DOT says

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 23:30:36 +0000

A new problem has been discovered on I-80 in Wharton, New Jersey, near two sinkholes that were found on the highway earlier this month and in December.

New Jersey State Police spotted a dimple in the road, leading to the discovery of what the Department of Transportation says is a "void."

"Initial testing revealed a void under the eastbound lanes. It is not a sinkhole. A void is an empty space or cavity that exists underground. A sinkhole is an opening or depression on the surface," the DOT told CBS News New York.

Officials said there are now 135 potential voids in the area, which is riddled with abandoned mines. It has complicated efforts to get the eastbound lanes repaired and reopened.

State Sen. Anthony Bucco said the state DOT "is doing everything it can to map this out. They are doing exactly what needs to be done to make sure the road is safe."

NJDOT initially said repairs on I-80 would take about three weeks to complete, but due to this new problem, they are now expected to take longer, Bucco said. Crews are doing additional testing to determine the extent of the damage.

Eastbound lanes of I-80 have been closed at Exit 34 in Wharton since Feb. 10 after a depression was observed in the road. The depression later opened up into a sinkhole.

Help coming for impacted businesses impacted, Bucco says

Lots of local businesses have been hurt by all the I-80 closure traffic.

Most of it goes right by Pop's Bagel Shop in Wharton. Owner Yaz Muheisen said the congestion is keeping many regulars away, adding sales are down almost 30%.

"Well, all of our locals live on the other side of town, and it really is a pain to get here, which is understandable. But we do miss seeing them," Muheisen said.

Rob Leigh braved the traffic.

"This is a nice, family-owned business that I've been frequenting for many years, and I know they're hurting. I know the traffic is a little bit less at this time of day, so I just came down here to show my support," Leigh said.

Bucco said the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is planning to host a seminar in the Wharton area to help businesses find some relief.

"That is going to occur in the near future, and the EDA will be here with representatives that will be able to walk these small businesses through what grants or loan programs are available at the state level to help them through this difficult time," Bucco said.

Detours set up around I-80 sinkhole

The latest detours urge drivers to use North Main street to Route 15 North or take Exit 28 to Routes 10 or 46.

I-80 eastbound Exit 34 detour:

Motorists on I-80 eastbound are being directed to take Exit 34 to Route 15/Wharton/Dover/Sparta
At the end of the ramp, stay right following signs for Route 15/Jefferson/Dover/Sparta/Picatinny Arsenal
Stay in the right lane on North Main Street following signs for Route 15 North/Jefferson/Sparta
Bear right toward Route 15 northbound/Picatinny Arsenal
At the traffic signal, merge onto Route 15 northbound
Stay left, following signs for Pondview Drive/U and Left Turns
Using both lanes, make a U-turn at the Pondview Drive traffic signal and merge onto Route 15 southbound
Stay left to take the exit to I-80 eastbound

Route 10 eastbound alternate route:

Motorists on I-80 eastbound are advised to take Exit 28/Route 46 eastbound to Route 10/Ledgewood/Lake Hopatcong, which is several miles before the closure
Continue on Route 46 eastbound
Stay right to take Route 10 eastbound
Take the exit to I-287 northbound
Stay right to take the ramp to I-80 eastbound

Route 46 eastbound alternate route:

Motorists on I-80 eastbound are advised to take Exit 28/Route 46 eastbound to Route 10/Ledgewood/Lake Hopatcong, which is several miles before the closure
Continue on Route 46 eastbound
Stay in the left two lanes to turn left at the traffic signal to continue on Route 46 eastbound
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Spring-like weather for one more day, but rain chances return around Tri-State Area

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:56:35 +0000

While the spring-like weather continues around New York City, forecast maps show it's going to rain Thursday.

It's going to be a damp one out there, but there is a silver lining to the day.

When it will rain today

CBS News New York

After a rather mild Wednesday — and record breaking, in some cases — we're back at it with unseasonably mild temperatures this afternoon. Here in the city, we'll climb well into the 50s, but if you're heading to the Jersey Shore, we could be talking 60s!

Unfortunately, you'll need the umbrella through lunchtime, as we're expecting intermittent showers. Although, even into the afternoon, a brief, moderate bout of rain can't be ruled out. In between, expect a bit of cloud cover overhead with perhaps a break of sun here and there.

Things will clear up tonight, but there are some chilly changes in store. In fact, if you take into account the wind, it's only going to feel like the 30s and 20s by daybreak.

Spring-like weather short lived

CBS News New York

By tomorrow, it's more or less back to reality as temperatures struggle to get out of the 40s. On top of that, it will be blustery, so it will only feel like the low 40s, at best. The good news is, we should see a good deal of sunshine across the area.

As for this weekend, we're expecting a dose of weather whiplash, as we go from nearly 60 degrees on Saturday to wind chills in the 20s by Sunday!

Top N.J. high school wrestler Anthony Knox vows to fight his ban for role in brawl

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:05:16 +0000

One of the nation's top high school wrestlers has been disqualified from the New Jersey state championships for his role in a brawl.

But the story may not be over.

For St. John Vianney High School senior Anthony Knox Jr., the upcoming NJSIAA state tournament was supposed to mark the start of a triumphant march towards a historic fourth straight state championship before heading off to Cornell University.

But this year's event has taken a turn in an unexpected direction.

Knox's father describes what happened in the stands

During the NJ District 25 tournament at Collingswood High School on Saturday, Knox Jr. was reportedly involved in brawl in the stands.

"I saw a bunch of grown men yelling racial slurs at kids that I've been training since they were 6 years old, cursing at my son, cursing at my wife," his father, Anthony Knox Sr., said. "As a man, I walked over, walked up into the stands, and asked the guy to stop. At that point, I was assaulted. Never threw a punch. Never hurt anybody. Never ran up there like a bat out of hell, just throwing punches at people. None of that happened. I got pushed down the bleachers. I could have gotten seriously injured. Then I got surrounded by about 10 other families."

Competition gave way to chaos and Knox Jr. said he did what family does.

"The protection of my family is the No. 1 thing to me," he said. "If I had a choice of protecting my family or never wrestling a match again, I would choose protecting my family every single time. I felt that my family's lives and well being were at risk, and that's why I stepped in."

The aftermath

Of all those involved, only Anthony Jr. and his father were led away in handcuffs. The NJSIAA made a swift and severe ruling of disqualification, with the executive director saying, "My role is to uphold the integrity of high school athletics by ensuring that all participants adhere to the same rules and are held to the same standards of sportsmanship and safety."

When asked where the instigators were from, Knox's dad said, "West Deptford," adding with his son's disqualification a wrestler from West Deptford High School could benefit.

Knox Jr.'s attorney is filing an injunction that would allow him to compete until a proper hearing can be held. Until then, we don't know if his next battle will be on the mat or in court.

When asked if he regrets anything that happened, Knox Jr. said, "I will stand by that fact that I will protect my family under any circumstance."

CBS News New York reached out to West Deptford High School for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Portal North Bridge's third and final arch is now in place. It's a major milestone in the project.

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 22:59:29 +0000

The final arch on the new Portal North Bridge in New Jersey is in place. It's a major milestone in a crucial piece of rail infrastructure.

Roughly 450 trains cross the old Portal Bridge daily, carrying some 200,000 Amtrak and NJ Transit riders over the Hackensack River. The 114-year-old bridge is plagued with problems.

"Sometimes it gets stuck in the open position. It's caught on fire a few times. It has deserved its retirement day for a long time," Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said.

The new Portal Bridge is going up next to the old one. All three of its arches are now up. The new bridge should help with reliability.

It's a crucial stretch of the Northeast Corridor, NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri said.

"This is not just about moving people through the corridor daily in a safe and reliable manner, but it is about making sure that we have an infrastructure worthy of the 21st century," Kolluri said.

New Jersey commuters endured another chaotic summer last year. Gardner said work is being done systemwide to try to prevent the same from happening again this year.

"This is one component. You're right. Lots more to do. You don't overcome 50 years of deferred investment in two, right? It's a long-term program to rebuild the railway to 21st century standards," Gardner said.

The new bridge wouldn't have been possible without support from President Trump during his first term.

"This is exactly the kind of legacy we think the president should latch onto. And we believe that when the bridge is completely done, we would like to have him here so he can take credit for this, as he rightly should," Kolluri said.

The hope is to have trains rolling over the new bridge by late 2026. The following year, the old bridge will be torn down.

George Norcross' racketeering indictment dismissed as New Jersey's top prosecutor vows to appeal

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:22:43 +0000

Democratic power broker George Norcross has been granted a motion to dismiss the New Jersey Attorney General's indictment against him and all other defendants on racketeering and extortion charges after a judge's ruling Wednesday.

Norcross, the chairman of the board of trustees at Cooper Health and the executive chairman of insurance firm Conner, Strong and Buckelew, was accused of controlling property deals along the Camden waterfront to collect millions of dollars in tax credits.

The former Camden Mayor Dana Redd was also charged in the grand jury indictment, as was Norcross' brother Philip. The others charged include George Norcross' longtime personal attorney William Tambussi, former Cooper Health trustee Sidney R. Brown, and developer John J. O'Donnell.

Brown and O'Donnell were partners in the groups owning various Camden buildings including the Ferry Terminal Building, the 11 Cooper apartment building and the Triad1828 Centre.

The defendants were accused of using their power over government officials to craft legislation that would serve their personal interests. As mayor and as CEO of the Camden County Partnership, Redd was accused of using the Camden city government to help Norcross and associates obtain properties and certain property rights.

One allegation was that in 2016, Norcross was trying to build an office tower at a height that would conflict with another developer's view easement (a building that had a right to a waterfront view). When the developer did not want to give up the easement, Norcross allegedly told them on a conference call "If you f--k this up, I'll f--k you up like you've never been f--ked up before. I'll make sure you never do business in this town again."

After that, Redd started ducking the developer's calls due to an "edict" from Philip Norcross, the indictment alleged.

Redd's attorney previously told CBS News Philadelphia that she fully cooperated with the grand jury investigation and looked forward to fighting false allegations against her.

Norcross pleaded not guilty to all counts in a July 2024 court appearance.

Judge explains why he is dismissing George Norcross indictment

Judge Peter Warshaw said the factual allegations from state prosecutors do not constitute extortion or criminal coercion.

The judge acknowledged that while Norcross may have made threats he was accused of making — to withdraw business or stop doing business, or tell associates to stop doing business with some people — those threats did not necessarily comprise a crime.

The judge framed the conference call over the office tower as "a steel cage brawl between two heavyweights, both accompanied at times by at least one lawyer. Neither seems to like or trust the other. Each is trying to prevail in the negotiations and there is substantial money at stake. Beyond that, power and control along the waterfront is in play."

"Does it mean anything at all? This sabre-rattling sounds much like 'this town ain't big enough for the two of us,'" the judge added.

He added that the court is "not called upon to consider whether the redevelopment could have proceeded in a better, more fair, less political way. The court is asked to evaluate whether this 'threat' was criminal."

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said his office will be "appealing immediately." Here's his full statement:

"We disagree strongly with the trial court's decision, and we are appealing immediately. After years in which the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently cut back on federal public corruption law, and at a time in which the federal government is refusing to tackle corruption, it has never been more important for state officials to take corruption head on. But I have never promised that these cases would be easy, because too many have come to view corruption as simply the way the powerful do business in New Jersey. That corruption has consequences: it breeds a loss of trust in government and in our public servants, at a time when we must work to protect and restore faith in our institutions. Today is a reminder of how much work remains, and how difficult it will be to clean up government in our state. But along with the career law enforcement officers and prosecutors who have worked on this case for years, I won't back down from that fight."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Police officer crawls across ice to rescue dog stranded in New Jersey lake

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:44:52 +0000

A police officer in New Jersey took the plunge to help rescue a dog that found itself stranded in frigid waters in Monmouth County.

The Hazlet Township Police Department shared video of the icy encounter on Facebook. In the clip, Patrolman Doug Centrone is seen crawling across a thin sheet of ice on the partially frozen lake at Veteran's Park before entering the water. He then lifts a dog named Taffy back onto the ice so she can run to shore.

According to the department, Patrolman Centrone is part of the agency's Maritime Emergency Response Team and was able to quickly get on the proper gear and rescue Taffy.

Hazlet Township Police rescue dog on partially frozen lake CBS Philadelphia

Police said Taffy's owner tripped and lost her leash when the pup tried to chase a goose on the lake. After making it back to dry land, Taffy was wrapped in blankets and put in her car to get warm.

"We would like to commend Ptl. Centrone for his quick actions and proving it's important to help out all in need, even canines!" the department said.

Last month, body camera video captured the moment officers in Easttown Township, Pennsylvania walked across an icy pond to rescue two black labs that fell into the water. In that case, officers were able to use a ladder and pole to pull the dogs out without breaking the ice.

New Jersey church's frustrating leaky roof remedied, in part, by CBS News New York Investigates

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 04:29:57 +0000

After decades of service to the community, a small Newark, New Jersey church needed a little love and care of its own.

Grace Temple Baptist Church's leaders put down thousands of dollars for a new roof, but they say just two days after its completion, the ceiling started to leak. When the leak wasn't fixed more than a year later, church leaders turned to CBS News New York Investigates to help make things right.

"It's an embarrassment to our church"

"Sixty-one years, this church has been in the heart of the city, with the city in its heart," the Rev. Keith Oden said.

In 1963, the Rev. John L. McClain founded the Grace Temple Baptist Church. After his passing, the work of the church continued uninterrupted for years until its leaders say they hit a snag after they hired a contractor to replace a worn-out roof.

"I felt like my people were taken advantage of," Oden said of the water coming down into the church. "That's why I called you. When people come in, it's an embarrassment to our church, to our community, and to our Christ."

A tarp protects the pews from the rain that trickles in. And while the leak is not stopping Deacon John Titus, who utilizes a wheelchair, the mess has made the church less accessible, for a year and a half.

"Nothing is going to keep me from the house of the Lord," said Titus, a former roofer. "Normally, I would've done the job myself. It couldn't happen, but I can advise."

The church hired a contractor

Deacon Titus helped church leaders interview multiple contractors and in June 2023 they signed a contract with contractor Home Genius Exteriors. They were to pay more than $32,000 to remove and replace shingles. At the time, Oden had just been named the new pastor.

"He asked him every question there was to ask. We gave him a hard time," Oden said of Titus.

But just two days after the roof was completed, Oden said it started to leak.

"I couldn't believe it. I said, 'We need to get that company on the line,'" Oden said.

Church leaders say the company sent multiple crews over the course of months, but they couldn't find the source of the leak.

Deacon Larry Waters claims by January 2025, the company had become less responsive.

"He had set up a date, the 13th, supposed to be here," Waters said. "But he never showed up or called. This whole episode has been going on over a year, and you know people are getting tired."

CBS News New York steps in

Investigative reporter Mahsa Saeidi contacted Home Genius Exteriors to get its side. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said it had "no complaints on file."

Within a day, the company's co-founder, Austin Killian, called CBS News New York, saying, "We definitely made mistakes" and "We are going to solve this problem."

Forty-eight hours later, church leaders took cell video of the company's crews searching for the leak.

"He went up through a small crawl space," Deacon Waters said. "And he says, 'I see water. I see a trail.' He shined his spotlight where it was coming through, so we knew at that point we found the source of the leak."

Waters said the leak, coming from the steeple, was sealed as a temporary fix.

Contractor does right by the church

Senja Spelman, Home Genius Exteriors' director of TV, public relations and digital marketing, followed up, stating, "After constant communication with the church, and a series of inspections since July, we learned that the leak was not related to our work. However, we wanted to help and as such, we are covering the cost of a specialty contractor to replace their previously damaged copper spire at no charge. We remain grateful for the opportunity to serve the church and reaffirm our commitment to high-quality, long-lasting solutions."

On Tuesday, the company released a second statement, saying that portion of the roof was damaged "by a previous contractor who serviced their copper spire."

Rev. Oden disputed that statement, telling CBS News New York, there was no other contractor.

"We've never had any work done on the steeple at any point of our church's existence," said Rev. Oden.

Rev. Oden is hiring a specialty contractor to fix the steeple. Killian, Home Genius Exteriors' co-founder, has agreed to pay for this permanent fix.

CBS News New York will be following updates to this story.

N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy proposes $58 billion budget, with record funding for NJ Transit

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:34:33 +0000

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his final budget address on Tuesday as he wraps up his second term in office.

Republicans say the whopping $58 billion budget will end up raising taxes, but Murphy, a Democrat, says his proposal has a more-than-$6-billion surplus and prioritizes property tax relief, social services, education and funding NJ Transit.

Lawmakers will vote on the budget in June.

Murphy vows to fight for everyone during his remaining days

The governor shook fellow lawmakers' hands and then told state residents his proposed final budget protects families facing rising food and home costs.

"So, to every New Jerseyan who shares these concerns, here is my message to you: our administration is going to spend every minute we have left fighting for you," Murphy said.

The Democrat wants zoning laws changed to build more affordable housing and says there's $4 billion in property tax relief for some senior citizens and 2 million homeowners and tenants relying on the Anchor Program.

He's also offering a new sales tax exemptions for baby products like cribs, car seats, nursing bottles and strollers.

What's proposed for NJ Transit

Murphy is calling for record-high funding for the transit agency.

CBS News New York's Christine Sloan spoke to NJ Transit's new CEO, Kris Kolluri, about where much of the money will go.

"We need almost 1,000 buses and almost 250 new rail cars in order to replace all the old ones and modernize our entire fleet," Kolluri said. "Starting this year, as soon as the budget passes, we'll start placing orders between now and the next three years."

"I think for the amount that we are paying, like it could be upgraded," commuter Yanira Izquiero said.

However, funding won't fix signal problems on NJ Transit lines owned by Amtrak.

"It's always delays. It's just always best to show up as early as possible," said Renee Holmes of Plainfield.

Republicans warn proposed budget will increase taxes

While some Republicans say NJ Transit needs to be funded, they also say Murphy's budget is huge at a time the Trump administration plans on making cuts on the federal level.

"There is almost a $4 billion shortfall," state Sen. Holly Schepisi said. "Taxpayers in New Jersey will be impacted by it. They may call it certain things as fee increases or this or that. It's taxes and our taxes are going to be going up."

The governor also said there will be higher taxes on adult marijuana use and on cigarettes and alcohol.

Hoboken PATH station reopens after weeks of renovations. Here's a look at the changes.

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:02:21 +0000

The Hoboken PATH train station reopened Tuesday morning for the first time in nearly a month. The station has been closed for weeks of renovations, including extensive track work.

After 25 days of inconvenience and detours, commuters are returning to a newly renovated station that should be more reliable and feature an elevated ambiance.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the nearly month-long closure was needed for critical repairs and major station work to revamp the 116-year-old system that was damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

During the first week of the station's closure, crews jackhammered and blasted away old infrastructure, making way for the new, which includes wider staircases, refurbished platforms and thousands of feet of new track.

Workers also installed a modern, custom-made switch, allowing trains to move between tracks seamlessly while reducing delays.

The improvements are part of a $430 million investment program, known as PATH Forward, to improve the speed, reliability and overall passenger experience on the transit system.

"Very happy to have it back"

For the 30,000 commuters who travel in and out of the station everyday, the upgrades are a welcome sight.

"To have it back is so convenient, so much better. We were traveling to Journal Square to get here, which is a little bit inconvenient, because it's cold, it's windy, it's a little bit longer of a walk. So this is way, way better," commuter Katana Burrows said. "It looks better, it's cleaner, the air is better, it's brighter. So yes, very happy to have it back."

"We noticed it was much brighter, cleaner," commuter Debbie Olchick said.

"The floor looks good. I've only been down here a few minutes, so I haven't really been able to look around, but the staircases are metal now instead of concrete, so it all looks good," commuter Tim Render said.

"Everything's beautiful. Everything. I love it," commuter Milton Nesbitt said. "The place was rotten. I used to work construction in Hoboken and I would come through this all the time, and it was rotten down here. And now it's fantastic."

PATH officials say there is still some additional platform and track work to be done in the weeks ahead, but it will not disrupt service.

Brothers of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas say "they don't have time at all"

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 04:58:54 +0000

Two men living in New York City say Saturday marked the first signs of life for their loved ones, who are Israeli hostages being held in captivity by Hamas.

Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal are best friends who were kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival. They were both 22 years old at the time.

"They don't have time at all"

Saturday, six more hostages were released by Hamas and reunited with their families, but David and Gilboa-Dalal were not among them.

Hamas propaganda video, however, shows David and Gilboa-Dalal were taken in a van to watch the release ceremonies of other Israeli hostages.

"They opened the door, they show them how freedom looks like and then they shut the door back in their faces," said Ilay David, Evyatar David's brother.

"They look like half the size of themselves. They seem so skinny," said Gal Gilboa-Dalal, brother of Guy Gilboa-Dalal. "They don't have time at all, and they all need to return."

Steven Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, says phase two negotiations could start this week.

"I'm going there probably Wednesday evening. I'll spend five days there as soon as I arrive, making, going to various countries including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, UAE and Saudi Arabia," he said.

Witkoff was asked about the release of Tenafly, New Jersey native Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage.

"He's front and center," Witkoff said. "We're going to be successful in getting Edan home."

Hostage families are counting the seconds.

"Seeing them together gives us a lot of strength and hope," Ilay David said. "President Trump, we know how committed you are ... We are counting on you to help us."

Release of Palestinian prisoners delayed

In Gaza, families are also waiting anxiously for the more than 600 Palestinians jailed in Israel who were due to be freed in exchange for the Israeli hostages.

Israel's prime minister is delaying the release of the prisoners, saying he wants Hamas to stop holding what he calls "humiliating ceremonies" for Israeli hostages.

Four more bodies are expected to be handed over by Hamas in the coming week, marking the end of the six-week truce.

Tri-State Area's Ukrainian community prepares to mark 3 years since Russia invaded

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 04:35:44 +0000

Members of the Ukrainian community across the Tri-State Area are preparing to mark three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking the ongoing war between the two countries.

Ukrainian New Yorkers pray for those lost in war

Mass at All Saints Ukrainian Church in the East Village went on a little longer Sunday morning, with special prayers in honor of those lost in war.

Nina Kravets' parents are both in the Ukrainian military. She hasn't seen them in almost exactly three years.

"It's hard. At this point, I do miss them but I do understand that, like, there is no other way," she said.

She says they're just fulfilling their duty.

Illia Streekar's son had just been born when Russia initially invaded Ukraine on on Feb. 24, 2022.

"We just pray every day to God to help us end the war. And for all of our friends and family in Ukraine to be healthy," he said.

"Ask the government of the United States not to forget about Ukraine as a young country who's trying to fight for their own freedom," Rev. Vitaliy Pavlykivskyy said through a translator.

In the meantime, parishioners say they don't want their children to only know their beloved country in war.

"It is constant sadness and tragedy, as well as being strong all the time. So it's all those emotions, plus thousands of more every day," Streekar said.

Some parishioners plan to spend Monday evening in Times Square at a rally in support of Ukraine.

New Jersey teacher helps kids build drones to send to Ukraine

New Jersey teacher Olga Figol, who is Ukrainian American, was in Ukraine in January, volunteering at a camp for children who lost their fathers in the war.

"We knew we couldn't cure, but we can bring hope, we can bring smiles, we can do everything we can to show them we have not forgotten about them," she said.

She's now continuing that support here at home. Figol and her husband are leading a project with the Ukrainian American Youth Association's Passaic Branch, helping local kids build drones.

"These drones will go to Ukraine, and they will be used eventually whether it's on the front lines, search and rescue," Figol said. "Really show the kids that ... your smallest deed does have an impact."

She also attended a rally in Washington, D.C. this weekend to show their unwavering support in the fight for Ukraine's freedom.

"We did not start this war. We did not ask for this war. We were attacked," Figol said.

Ukrainian president says he would resign to guarantee peace

On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodoymyr Zelenskyy was asked if he would give up his position in power if it meant an end to the war.

"If it guarantees peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to resign, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO," he said.

Zelenskyy's comments follow a war of words sparked by President Trump, who called Zelenskyy a dictator and falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war. Zelenskyy said Trump is misinformed.

On the eve of Monday's grim milestone, Russia launched a record 267 drones into Ukraine, destroying infrastructure and killing at least three people.

Tinton Falls Mayor Vito Perillo dies at age 100, New Jersey officials say

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 01:14:06 +0000

Vito Perillo, the mayor of Tinton Falls in Monmouth County, New Jersey, has died at age 100, officials say.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mayor Vito Perillo, a man of integrity, and a beloved member of our community," Tinton Falls Borough Administrator Charles Terefenko wrote in a statement.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of our nation's oldest mayor, Vito Perillo, at the age of 100. As a World War II veteran and mayor of Tinton Falls, Vito leaves behind an incredible legacy of service. Our hearts go out to his loved ones and the entire Tinton Falls community," Gov. Phil Murphy wrote in a social media post.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Starting a political career at age 93

In 2017, Perillo was elected as mayor of Tinton Falls at the age of 93, defeating the incumbent mayor, Gerald Turning, by 300 votes. Prior to his election, he had been working as an accountant.

At the time, he told CBS News New York's Cindy Hsu he was inspired to run after seeing neighbors struggle with rising tax rates.

"I thought, I got to do something about it," Perillo said.

He was elected to a second term in 2021, when he was 97 years old.

"For the past eight years, he served assiduously, always striving to do what was right for the people he represented," Terefenko wrote.

Perillo served in the Navy during World War II, alongside his brother, and later worked as an electronics engineer.

Who killed Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine? A New Jersey cold case investigation

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:50:48 +0000

It's been nearly 14 years since Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine, a diner owner, was brutally murdered inside his business in Morris County, New Jersey.

Police believe they're getting close to solving the cold case, but are still urging members of the public to come forward with information to help the Ezzeddine's wife, children and grandchildren find closure.

CBS News New York's Alice Gainer sat down with the family and investigators.

Who is Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine?

Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine came to the U.S. from Lebanon in the 1970s to marry his wife, Amal, since their religious differences were not supported in their town.

"I think they were a really good match, you know. They complimented each other well," son Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

He arrived first before calling for her.

"Came from a good family and a good start to a career. Gave that all up and was working in the restaurant industry and other odds and ends," son Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said. "In Lebanon, he had a major in philosophy and theology, so he wanted to continue his studies here, was taking classes at Montclair."

Over time, the couple went from living in a motel, to an apartment, to a house, all while raising three sons and eventually buying the Kenvil Diner off Route 46 in Roxbury Township.

The sons say their father worked 90-hour weeks.

"Hardest working man. It's not possible for a man to work harder," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

"They really ran the diner together," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said. "And he always had time for us."

Ezzeddine, his sons say, loved peppermint patties, Clint Eastwood movies and crossword puzzles.

"In the early 2000s, it was pretty much empty after lunch. My father would just, he and I would just be sitting at the counter doing a crossword puzzle together. Those are the days I miss," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

Amal Ezzeddine, Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine and their three sons Ezzeddine family

"The one thing that people would not know about him, you know, for a guy who was in a diner for 14 hours a day, he always found opportunities to write poetry, so he was a very intellectual, deep thinker," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

"I have napkins that he used to write poetry on, 'cause he just would grab something whenever it came to mind," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

Long before he moved to the U.S., Ezzeddine's nickname was "Steve."

"Growing up, he would tell us all these stories about how his friends gave him the nickname 'Steve' because he was so fit that everybody thought he was like Steve Reeves," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

Samer Abou-Ezzeddine says his father's friend tells it a little bit differently.

"A bit more of a kind of ribbing, you know, that he was so into working out and push-ups and pull-ups and proving to his friends that he was stronger than they were, that they were like, 'Alright, Steve Reeves,' and it stuck," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

"So there was no misbehaving in your house?" Gainer asked.

"No, there was no misbehaving in our house," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

"Well, there wasn't supposed to be," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

The most significant thing about him, they say, was his heart.

Ezzeddine's sons say he would leave the diner door unlocked, even after closing. If someone came in while he was cleaning up and didn't have money, "He'd always turn the grill back on, make them a meal, give it to them for free," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine says,

The last time they saw their father was at Samer's wedding.

"I don't think we grew up ever seeing my father really dance all that much, but he, as you can see from the picture, was," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said, looking at a photo of his father dancing at his wedding.

"I mean, that was probably the only memory I have of him dancing and like letting loose like that," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

New Jersey diner owner found murdered inside restaurant

In the early evening hours of Saturday, May 28, 2011 – Memorial Day weekend – Amal hadn't heard from her husband.

"She had gone to church after closing, came home after church, and he was not home. So she went to the diner, and that's when he was discovered," former Roxbury Township Police Lt. Adam DelGuercio said. "He was stabbed."

Ezzeddine's three sons were out of state when their 70-year-old father was killed.

"I was shaking. I didn't even believe it," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

Samer Abou-Ezzeddine was actually out of the country; it was the last day of his honeymoon. He returned home the next day to a flurry of messages on his phone.

"I called my older brother first, and I remember his first words were, 'He's gone,'" Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

DelGuercio responded that day.

"Can you talk about the murder weapon itself? Was that recovered?" Gainer asked.

"It was a knife," DelGuercio said.

"It was a knife. From the diner?" Gainer asked.

"I can't get too far into it," DelGuercio said.

Ezzeddine always closed in the early afternoon on weekends, leaving the door unlocked as he cleaned up.

The murder took place in broad daylight.

"We believe the incident took place between 5 p.m. and 5:30," DelGuercio said.

"Any signs of a struggle? Anything taken?" Gainer asked.

"We do believe robbery was the motive," DelGuercio said.

He says a minimal amount of money was taken.

"Did they have any security cameras in the area, at the diner?" Gainer asked.

"There was security cameras in the area," DelGuercio said.

Morris County prosecutor's office has person of interest in cold case

After the murder, the Morris County prosecutor's office released images of two people of interest captured on nearby cameras; they're tightlipped about it now.

"Do you have any idea who you're looking for?" Gainer asked Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll.

"We have a person of interest," Carroll said.

"Person or persons?" Gainer asked.

"Person," Carroll said.

"Was that someone who was recently deemed a person of interest?" Gainer asked.

"I really would prefer not to speculate at this point," Carroll said.

"Do you believe Mr. Ezzeddine knew his attacker?" Gainer asked.

"Again, I don't want to speculate further," Carroll said.

Ezzeddine's sons say the diner had regular customers.

"Was there someone you thought, it could've been this customer? It was random? What were your thoughts?" Gainer asked the sons.

"I couldn't and still can't think of who it would be," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said. "Didn't have enemies. It was the opposite, you know. He was very welcoming and generous to anyone that walked through those doors."

"I always implored my father to lock the door when he'd be in the back room cleaning up or just because there was a cash register there, and just, if you're gonna be in the back room, lock the front door, but he never did because he didn't suspect anything of anybody," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said.

"It's not right on any level"

"It's just truly a senseless crime. All this guy did was work and provide for his family," said DelGuercio, who retired recently. "This is my one regret, that I couldn't close this case ... This one will haunt me for a long time, forever."

The Morris County prosecutor's office, the Morris County sheriff and Roxbury Township Police say the investigation has taken them all over the country. The FBI, Secret Service and other agencies have assisted.

"I do believe there's gonna be a solve on this case," Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said. "To the offender, we're not gonna sleep. We're gonna keep on coming after you."

Gannon says it's not too late for people with information to come forward.

The final plea comes from the family who lost a grandfather, father and husband.

"I remember being scared. I mean, our father had just been murdered," Samer Abou-Ezzeddine said. "I'm sure you've heard this, Alice, like, it doesn't happen to me, couldn't possibly happen to you. That notion has been dispelled."

Ezzeddine's family now checks in on each other frequently throughout the day.

"My mother deserves some closure, and the brutality of how it happened... It's not right on any level," Walid Abou-Ezzeddine said.

The family and Crimestoppers are offering a reward totaling $50,000 for information that leads to an arrest. If you know anything, call one of these phone numbers:

Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit: 973-285-6200
Roxbury Police Department: 973-448-2100
Morris County Crimestoppers: 973-COP-CALL (973-267-2255) or online at morriscrimestoppers.org

New Jersey will offer autism, communications disorder designation for driver's licenses, ID cards

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:47:05 +0000

New Jersey residents on the autism spectrum can soon apply for a designation on their driver's license or ID to help them with interactions with police.

The notation will appear as the number 5 in the "Restrictions" section of an ID.

New Jersey residents on the autism spectrum can soon apply for a designation on their driver's license or ID to help them with interactions with police. They'll also be issued a Motor Vehicle Commission "pink card" describing their diagnosis. CBS News New York

They'll also be issued a Motor Vehicle Commission "pink card" describing their diagnosis, which must be carried with the license or ID card.

"So law enforcement, when they interact with them, they know how to treat them with respect and make sure that everyone can be treated safely," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.

The card includes a designation section, with boxes to check such as "autism spectrum," "communication disorder" and "disorder hearing aid." It also has a restriction section, with boxes such as "hearing impaired," "mechanical aid," "prosthetic aid" and more.

The program is being rolled out next week. Anyone interested in having the code placed on their license will need six points of identification, as well as a formal statement from a guardian or themselves about their diagnosis.

Disorders can be misinterpreted by law enforcement, advocates say

Being pulled over by law enforcement can be stressful for anyone, but for a person with autism, advocates say, it can be overwhelming.

"It may be difficult for you to let someone know what that disorder is or that you need communication accommodations, and so often that could be misinterpreted by law enforcement as someone who is uncooperative," Human Services Secretary Commissioner Sarah Adelman said.

Tim Barlow's 23-year-old son has autism and was pulled over by police when he was younger.

"He was very nervous. Thankfully the officer who stopped him was able to pick up on some of the things that my son was doing or how he was speaking, and he reached out to me to see if my son was on the spectrum, and I was able to confirm that," Barlow said.

Autism New Jersey's executive director says the new code is crucial, describing another real-life situation of a man with autism being asked to drive out of traffic to a parking lot.

"He was realizing in that moment that the officer was asking him to drive into that parking lot without his license, but he was following the rule that he needed to have his license on him in order to drive," Autism New Jersey Executive Director Suzanne Buchanan said.

I-80 detour traffic impacting businesses in Wharton, New Jersey

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:36:39 +0000

I-80 eastbound in Wharton, New Jersey remains closed, and repairs will take weeks to complete.

New Jersey Transportation crews are working around the clock to repair the second sinkhole in the area in just two months.

But nearly 100 potential voids, or cavities, have been discovered underground. Those voids need to be addressed before repairs can be made above ground.

Officials say it'll take at least three weeks to finish those repairs, but weather could delay that timeline. It's too soon to know how much it'll cost to make those repairs, according to officials.

Wharton business owners say customers are staying away due to traffic

Traffic being routed around the I-80 sinkhole is backing up in and around Wharton. The constant stream of cars and trucks into the community is wearing local drivers out.

"Traffic is dreadful. It's horrible. Takes at least 20 minutes to go down like two blocks," Wharton resident Nadeem Mahmoud said.

At the El Patron Barber Shop on South Main Street, the traffic problems are keeping many customers away. Owner Alejandro Martinez says business is down about 20-25%.

Across the street at Theodora's Family Restaurant and Pizza, the regular lunch crowd is not showing up.

Owner George Tzouvaras gets it; customers don't want to face the traffic.

"We can't afford to pay the bills. We can't afford to live. We try, we waiting for the next day to be a little bit better," he said.

He says all he can do is hold on one day at a time.

"I have no choice," Tzouvaras said.

Should NYC's congestion pricing stay or go? Commuters, businesses from across Tri-State Area weigh in

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:13:43 +0000

The legal fight over whether the Trump administration can stop New York City's congestion pricing plan could take months, if not years. So far, reaction from residents across the Tri-State Area about whether to keep or kill it seems to run the gamut.

Commuters divided on cost vs. benefits of congestion pricing

Some drivers say they have begrudgingly come to embrace the program, admitting it does lead to shorter commute times. Earlier this month, a new poll of 1,200 voters found 6 out of 10 New Yorkers want congestion pricing to stay.

Leo Henriquez, who lives in the Bronx and commutes to New Jersey, supports congestion pricing. He says it means a better quality of life for him.

"I have been living for more than 20 years in New York, and traffic is one of the major things in New York, especially holidays and when you want to go to certain places, traffic is a major thing," he said.

For New Yorkers who work in the congestion zone every day, their support or opposition depends on how they get around.

One restaurant server who takes the subway to work is in favor of the plan.

"If they're using the money to invest and to improve the service, I think it's a good idea," he said.

On the other hand, while some drivers have enjoyed the gridlock relief, many say the $9 price tag is too much to bear.

"If you're living where I live, you're driving in, you're paying city tax on your check, now you're paying congestion tax, you're paying federal tax and you're paying state tax. How can a family, even if you're making $90,000 a year, you can't afford a house," Rockland County resident Thomas Gee said.

He says all these expenses are making life difficult.

"It's overkill, and that's why a lot of people are moving down south," he said.

Fort Lee, New Jersey resident Alejandro Diaz says New Jersey residents like him contribute to New York's economy and shouldn't have to pay more.

"It's expensive, and I don't know, the money, what people think of the money because I don't see change at city," he said.

Business owner experiences both positive, negative impacts of congestion pricing

Stathis Antonakopoulos, who owns Carnegie Diner with locations in New Jersey and New York, says congestion pricing impacted his businesses in opposite ways.

"In [Manhattan], we noticed our dinner business on weekdays, Monday through Friday, to be going down from January 5 as [congestion pricing] started. We believe it's because a lot of the bridge and tunnel people, they stopped coming in Midtown," he said.

He says while that's decreased his Manhattan business, his Secaucus, New Jersey restaurant saw a surprise boost with commuters dining closer to home.

"That location, Monday through Friday, had a rise of 10 percent in sales for dinner time. January and February having an increase, it was really weird to us," Antonakopoulos said.

He's also experienced the benefit as a commuter.

"I do live in New Jersey and I come into the city. Coming in the morning into the city has been a blessing, has been a very fast commute," he said.

But the time he saves from decreased traffic comes at a cost; the $9 daily toll below 60th to his delivery drivers and suppliers is expensive.

"It's hurting us a lot. It's because in New York City, cost of doing business, it's really doubled," he said.

With fewer diners in Midtown, his team has focused on attracting more tourists.

One group at the diner Thursday was visiting from London, where congestion pricing has been in place for years.

"In the UK, there's a massive shift towards getting everybody kind of more green and driving electric cars, whereas I think President Trump is [saying], 'We don't want that here,'" tourist Grant Clemente said.

With the future of congestion pricing in limbo, businesses are still left wondering what comes next.

Ice rescue training in Morris County, New Jersey becomes real for first responders

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 23:55:48 +0000

An ice rescue training exercise turned into a real-life operation for first responders in Morris County, New Jersey on Wednesday.

They were nearby when they heard an 82-year-old needed to be pulled from the icy waters of Lake Hopatcong.

"Well, this is perfect timing"

Retired osteopathic Dr. Fred Steinbaum and five friends went out ice boating after he says they heard there were good conditions for going out.

Steinbaum, who is days away from his 83rd birthday, split off from the group, however.

"A guy my age and my background should know better, and the first thing I did wrong was go out alone," he said.

His ice boat hit what's called an icebreaker, which prevents ice build-up on lakes, and he and his boat ended up in the water.

Thankfully, nearby, Mount Arlington Police and New Jersey State Police were training for ice rescues.

"The beginning was very chaotic because of that, of about to start training and then now having to go into an operational mode," Morris County Sherriff's Officer Ryan Wood said.

"First thing we said was, 'Well, this is perfect timing. We have everyone suited up and we're within a half mile.' So we sent a crew over," New Jersey State Police Sgt. Anthony Buro said.

They were able to safely remove Steinbaum and the boat from the water.

Important ice safety reminders

Steinbaum and state police have some important reminders for those looking to get on the ice.

First, check if ice conditions are even safe enough.

Buro adds to always wear a personal flotation device when out on the ice.

"So it'll keep you buoyant God forbid you fall through," Buro said.

Buro and Steinbaum both stress that no one should ever go out on the ice alone.

"Always go out with at least one other person," Buro said.

"Stick together. If you're an ice fisherman or an ice sailor, you will be in the water someday. No ice is safe," Steinbaum said.

Steinbaum also says try your best to rescue yourself first.

New Jersey to expand vaccine eligibility groups to essential workers, including pre-K to 12 educators

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:54:28 +0000

New Jersey has expanded its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility groups to include teachers, transportation workers and others, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday.Beginning March 15, educators and school support staff for pre-K to grade 12, child care workers, transportation workers and additional public safety workers can receive the vaccine.The announcement comes days after the FDA authorized emergency use of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.There are currently three vaccines approved for use in the United States. Gov. Murphy is expected to provide more details during his briefing Monday afternoon.

Large NJ arenas and stadiums reopen with capacity limits

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:36:04 +0000

Monday is a big day for area sports fans as they'll finally be allowed back in the stands at some of New Jersey's largest arenas and stadiums.Large sports and entertainment venues in the Garden State will begin to reopen to the public Monday. Gov. Phil Murphy announced the news back on Feb. 22.Venues with a fixed-seating capacity of over 5,000 people can open at 10% capacity for indoor sites and at 15% capacity for outdoor settings.The relaxed COVID-19 restrictions would apply to places like MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and Giants, and the Prudential Center, where the New Jersey Devils play.Unlike neighboring New York, Murphy said negative COVID-19 PCR tests will not be required before entry.The governor also announced, effective immediately, that indoor and outdoor collegiate sports practices and competitions may allow two parents or guardians per participating athlete as spectators. However, the number of spectators cannot exceed 35% of an indoor room’s capacity and social distancing must be maintained outdoors, Murphy said.

What can, can't you do with cannabis in NJ now?

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 02:47:26 +0000

New Jersey’s recreational marijuana market is now voter approved and in effect under legislation signed last week by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. New Jersey residents voted by a 2-to-1 margin in November to join 14 other states and the District of Columbia with legal marijuana for recreational use. Only those 21 and older can legally possess and use the drug. But there are a lot of ins and outs to consider. You can't buy marijuana anywhere just yet, but it's no longer a violation of state law to have 6 ounces of less or marijuana or about three-fifths of an ounce of hashish.

Capitals score 3 in first 5:06, beat Devils 5-2

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 21:23:47 +0000

Garnet Hathaway and Daniel Sprong scored in the opening 5:06, the streaking Washington Capitals built a big lead and held off the slumping New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Saturday.Lars Eller added the third goal in the big first period and Jabub Vrana gave the Capitals breathing room with a third-period breakaway tally. Rookie Vitek Vanecek had 22 saves in his ninth win.Nic Dowd added an empty-net goal with less than a minute to play for Washington, 5-1-1 in its last seven after losing four straight.Nico Hischier and Pavel Zacha each scored for the second consecutive game for New Jersey, which has lost four of five. Mackenzie Blackwood had 19 saves as the Devils opened a five-game homestand.The Capitals, who rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat New Jersey last Sunday, learned from that game and started fast.Hathaway opened the scoring at 3:36, depositing a nice cross-ice pass by defenseman Justin Schultz into a wide-open net.Sprong, who only got a chance to play because Evgeny Kuznetsov was out with an upper-body injury, deflected a point shot by Brenden Dillion past Blackwood at 5:06.Eller scored in his second straight game, capping a 3-on-1 break. Conor Sheary used Alex Ovechkin as a decoy on the rush to set up the Dane's fourth goal of the season.Hischier, who left the ice with 4:23 to play after being hit in the shield by a deflected power-play shot, got New Jersey back in the game in the final minutes of the first period, scoring from in close.Zacha extended his scoring streak to nine games with a goal from between the circles in the second period with Vanecek playing without his stick.Vanecek, playing in his 16th game, made at least three good saves early in the third period to keep Washington ahead. Vrana iced the game by beating Blackwood between the pads on his breakaway.

Gas prices up in NJ, around nation amid refinery outages

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 20:59:45 +0000

Gas prices are still on the increase in New Jersey and around the nation amid longer-than-expected refinery outages on the Gulf Coast following a winter storm. AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was $2.81, up eight cents from a week ago. Drivers were paying an average of $2.52 a gallon a year ago at this time. The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $2.69, up nine cents from last week. Drivers were paying an average of $2.47 a gallon a year ago at this time.

NJ lawmakers, AG decry sex offender's reinstated chiropractor license

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 01:52:28 +0000

New Jersey lawmakers are outraged after a man who is a convicted sex offender in the state of Florida had his license to practice as a chiropractor in the Garden State reinstated. Bryan Bajakian, who practiced out of Mahwah, had his license reinstated recently by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Bajakian is a registered sex offender in both New Jersey and Florida, having spent two stints in jail for multiple counts of luring or enticing a child as well as unlawful possession of a firearm. He was released from a New Jersey correctional facility on Feb. 9, 2017 and is on lifetime parole and is not allowed to to see patients under the age of 18 unsupervised.New Jersey's Attorney General Gurbir Grewal was disappointed by the decision."The Attorney General's Office is committed to rooting out sexual misconduct in all its forms, and has continuously called on the state’s professional licensing boards to take seriously their obligation to protect members of the public from sexual misconduct by licensees," an office of the attorney general spokesperson told PIX11 News in a statement. "In light of the egregious facts of this case, we are disappointed that the Board of Chiropractic Examiners has allowed Bryan Bajakian to resume practice, and are reviewing the board’s decision."The attorney general previously tried to file a motion to deny the license but had it rejected by the board. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was questioned about the issue during his Friday coronavirus briefing and agreed with Grewal.“The attorney general is completely right on this," Murphy said. "It is unacceptable and the folks who voted to reinstate this guy should hear this loud and clear. We will be looking very carefully and very soon at the makeup of that board."New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Loretta Weinberg, two of the state's most powerful Democrat legislators, introduced a bill to prohibit registered sex offenders from working as chiropractors in New Jersey in response to the board's decision. The bill would also remove the current board members; Sweeney and Weinberg said the board is dominated by chiropractors and they'd like to reconstitute it to include more public representation.“This board has clearly lost sight of its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the people of New Jersey,” said Sen. Sweeney. “Giving a convicted sex offender the sanctioned permission to return to the practice is irresponsible and illogical. Bryan Bajakian is a predator who should be denied the opportunity to threaten anyone again.”“The idea that the state board representing practicing chiropractors could vote unanimously to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender is a horrific and dangerous move that defies all logic, and is a slap in the face to people everywhere who have faced the trauma of sexual misconduct,” added Sen. Weinberg. “By reinstating the chiropractic license of Bryan Bajakian, the board has placed others, including the most vulnerable, in harm’s way.”Bajakian's lawyer, Douglas Anton, has yet to respond to PIX11 News' request for comment but posted to Instagram on Thursday regarding the case, calling the decision to reinstate Bajakian "a great day for truth and justice to prevail. So proud of the 'LAW' today."There's bipartisan agreement that Bajakian should not have been reinstated in Trenton, as Sen. Joe Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and Sen. Robert Singer, the ranking Republican member of the committee, issued a joint statement condemning Bajakian's reinstatement.“This is a decision that defies common sense and ignores the safety of the public the board is responsible for protecting," they said. "Anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender who preyed on children can’t be trusted to exercise their oversight responsibilities, or to even to heed their own mission statement directing the board to ‘protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey. Bryan Bajakian is a predator who should not be placed in a position of trust with patients in healthcare settings that make them vulnerable, especially children."Vitale and Singer said restructuring the board, as Sweeney and Weinberg's bill would do, is under consideration.

Latest coronavirus updates in New Jersey: Friday, February 26, 2021

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 11:10:24 +0000

Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.6 a.m.The Rahway Licensing Center and the West Deptford Regional Licensing Center are closed due to a single employee testing positive for COVID-19 at each location, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission says. Rahway will be closed until Thursday, March 11, while West Deptford will be closed until Friday, March 12.Latest official numbers:As of Thursday, there have been 692,931 confirmed cases in the state since March, and there have been 20,816 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.To find the nearest free COVID-19 testing location, click here.Tips to protect yourself and others amid coronavirus outbreaks.Call New Jersey's coronavirus hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You can also click here for additional information

Zacha scores 1:17 into OT in Devils 4-3 win over Sabres

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 03:06:20 +0000

Pavel Zacha converted Jesper Bratt’s drop pass to score 1:17 into overtime and the New Jersey Devils rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits to beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. The Devils snapped a three-game skid by beating an injury-depleted Sabres opponent. Buffalo opened minus captain Jack Eichel, who was scratched after testing a lower-body injury during the pregame skate. And the Sabres then lost starting goalie Linus Ullmark, who was sidelined after stopping all 15 shots he faced in the first period. Buffalo’s Sam Reinhart forced overtime by tipping in Taylor Hall’s centering pass for a power-play goal with 4:30 remaining.

What is New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission?

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 21:25:34 +0000

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy completed his appointments to the state's new Cannabis Regulatory Commission Thursday. The five-person commission will have a big say in the way New Jersey rolls out legalization of recreational marijuana.What is the Cannabis Regulatory Commission?The CRC will, according to the state, regulate New Jersey's medical cannabis marketplace and give oversight for the soon-to-be-established adult-use recreational cannabis marketplace. Medicinal marijuana has been legal in the Garden State since 2010. Gov. Murphy established the CRC in 2019 and started making appointments once the state voted to legalize recreational marijuana in November of 2020.In a statement Thursday, Murphy said that the commission will "act to ensure that the marketplace for adult-use recreational cannabis is equitable, fair, and inclusive of all communities.”Who appoints members of the CRC?When Gov. Murphy signed the legislation creating the commission, the plan was for the CRC to consist of five members appointed by the governor, with one each upon the recommendation of Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. The initial three appointments — made solely by the Gov. Murphy — are direct appointments serving terms of three, four, and five years and subsequently are subject to advice and consent.Who runs the Cannabis Regulatory Commission? Dianna Houenou was named commissioner back in November. Houenou, a Trenton resident, is a cannabis legalization advocate who also served as a senior policy adviser and associate counsel to Gov. Murphy. Prior to that, she worked as a policy council with the New Jersey chapter of the ACLU, where she "developed legislative strategies for ACLU-NJ advocacy campaigns and led the organization’s coalitions advocating for marijuana legalization and Newark police reform."Houenou was one of Gov. Murphy's three direct appointments. Jeff Brown was named executive director of the commission in November. A Mercer County native, Brown is the assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, overseeing the department's medical marijuana division. Prior to working for the state, Brown worked extensively on the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, particularly the creation of health insurance exchanges and the expansion of Medicaid.Who else is on the Cannabis Regulatory Commission?The other four members were rounded out with appointments made Thursday by Gov. Murphy. Krista Nash was named to the commission in November upon the recommendation of Speaker Coughlin. Nash is a long-time social justice advocate. She currently serves as Program Director of the PROMISE program at Volunteers of America Delaware Valley and previously served as a mentor at Oaks Integrate Care and Transitions for Youth. Additionally she serves on the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force.On Thursday, Gov. Murphy appointed Maria Del Cid and William Wallace to the CRC and appointed Sam Delgado as a member on the recommendation of Senate President Sweeney. Del Cid currently serves as the director of oolicy and legislative services at the New Jersey Department of Health, where she serves as a liaison with the governor’s office and to the legislature. Wallace is the director of the professional division of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union Local 342, where he also serves on the executive board. Wallace previously worked as a Pharmacist-In-Charge at several pharmacies across the state of New Jersey. Delgado most recently served as vice president of external affairs for Verizon, a position from which he retired in 2019. Before retiring, Mr. Delgado was responsible for managing the allocation of grants, supporting Verizon’s philanthropic endeavors, and furthering Verizon’s environmental commitments. When will adult-use recreational marijuana be for sale in New JerseyMurphy said Monday that while an agreement on legislation officially legalizing recreational weed has been agreed upon and signed into New Jersey State Law, it will take up to six months to establish the market. The Democrat-led Assembly and Senate passed the last-minute measure Monday to ease penalties on underage possession of both alcohol and marijuana as a way to secure Murphy’s signature on two bills already on his desk that set up the new marketplace and decriminalize marijuana for those 21 and older.Murphy said he expects the marketplace to take about 6 to 9 months to get up and running.“It’s going to take some number of months,” he said.

Agency permanently bans fracking near Delaware River

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 20:22:56 +0000

A regulatory agency that’s responsible for the water supply of more than 13 million people in four Northeastern states voted Thursday to permanently ban natural gas drilling and fracking near a crucial waterway, asserting that gas development poses an unacceptable threat.The Delaware River Basin Commission cited “significant immediate and long-term risks” from gas extraction, asserting that drillers have “adversely impacted surface-water and groundwater resources, including sources of drinking water, and have harmed aquatic life in some regions.”The ban applies to two counties in Pennsylvania’s northeastern tip that are part of the nation’s largest gas field, the Marcellus Shale. Nearly 13,000 wells have been drilled elsewhere in the vast Marcellus formation, turning Pennsylvania into the nation’s No. 2 gas-producing state.Republican state lawmakers in Pennsylvania as well as a landowners group have filed lawsuits challenging the commission’s right to regulate gas development in the watershed. The commission has representatives from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and the federal government.Thursday's vote was 4-0, with the federal government abstaining.Business and industry groups condemned the ban, which made permanent a moratorium on drilling and fracking in the Delaware watershed that had been in place for more than a decade.“There is no support to any claim that drilling results in widespread impacts to drinking water, rivers or groundwater,” said Gene Barr, chief executive of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. “This was a political decision uninformed by science.”Farmers and other landowners who had once leased their land to drilling companies have bitterly opposed the moratorium.Drilling opponents, meanwhile, have long contended that large-scale gas exploration could not be done safely so close to crucial waterways and renowned fisheries. The Delaware and its tributaries supply drinking water to Philadelphia and half the population of New York City.“This is a watershed moment for protecting one of America’s most iconic watersheds,” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur. “Fracking shouldn’t be allowed anywhere, much less near an iconic natural waterway like the Delaware River.”Conservation officials once estimated that gas companies had more than 300 square miles of watershed land under lease. The drillers have long since pulled up stakes amid the longstanding moratorium.The water agency had imposed what it said was a temporary moratorium on gas development in 2010, citing the need to develop environmental regulations for the industry, before reversing course in 2017 and signaling it would enact a permanent ban.Energy companies combine horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a technique that injects vast amounts of water, along with sand and chemicals, underground to break up the shale and release the gas.

Police aid mom who delivered baby in car outside NJ hospital

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:11:47 +0000

Two police officers in New Jersey took immediate action when a woman gave birth in a car outside a hospital.Officers Auttika Taing and Justin Peyton were leaving the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center on Saturday when a vehicle pulled behind them and the driver said her friend needed help, Atlantic City police said.The woman had just given birth and the baby was inside her pants.Body cam video showed Taing safely removed the baby and the umbilical cord from around the baby’s neck. The baby was wrapped in a jacket while medical personnel cut the cord, police said. Peyton pinched the cord while Taing carried the baby into the emergency room, police said.The officers met the mother and the baby, Anna, on Wednesday. Both are “doing well,” police said.

Latest coronavirus updates in New Jersey: Thursday, February 25, 2021

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:01:29 +0000

Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.Latest official numbers:As of Wednesday, there have been 689,944 confirmed cases in the state since March, and there have been 20,746 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.To find the nearest free COVID-19 testing location, click here.Tips to protect yourself and others amid coronavirus outbreaks.Call New Jersey's coronavirus hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You can also click here for additional information

Inmate at NJ prison with 'ugly history' hospitalized

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:53:33 +0000

An inmate at New Jersey’s only women’s prison was hospitalized after being pushed into a wall by guards just weeks after other officers were charged with misconduct. That's according to the woman's attorney and a hospital spokesperson, who spoke to NJ.com. The attorney and spokesperson say Rae Rollins, a transgender woman and inmate at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, was taken to the hospital Thursday, treated and released after the guards pushed her into a wall. The news publication reports she was treated for a concussion and a hand injury.

Officials identify woman, son recovered in New Jersey pond

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:38:54 +0000

Authorities on Wednesday identified a mother and son whose bodies were found a day earlier in a pond in northern New Jersey.Emergency crews recovered the bodies of 35-year-old Wanda Syed and 11-year-old Uzair Ahmed. Syed’s 6-year-old son, whose name has not been released, was found unharmed at the scene.Police were called to Grace Lord Park in Boonton on Tuesday by a person who reported an unattended child standing near the pond and shouting for his mother.Footprints leading to the water led emergency crews to the bodies, and Boonton’s Swift Water Rescue Team recovered Syed and Ahmed, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said.Authorities didn't release additional details about the incident.

Florida man wanted for scamming New Jersey senior citizen

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:18:23 +0000

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Florida man who was accused of posing as an attorney and scamming a senior citizen in New Jersey out of $10,000, officials said.Juan Piedrahita, 49, of Hollywood, Florida, earlier this month called the victim and said his nephew had been arrested after a motor vehicle accident and needed money for bail, the Ocean County prosecutor said.Piedrahita then posed as a courier to collect the money in a pharmacy parking lot in Barnegat Township, officials said.The victim was contacted again and told another $10,000 was needed, authorities said.Bank staff became suspicious and questioned the victim, who then contacted his nephew and learned he had not been in an accident or arrested, the prosecutor said.Detectives reviewed surveillance footage which captured the vehicle Piedrahita had rented at Newark Liberty International Airport to confirm Piedrahita’s identity, the prosecutor said.He faces a theft by deception charge.Piedrahita's whereabouts were not known.

105-year-old COVID-19 survivor shares her secret to longevity

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:15:53 +0000

A 105-year-old survivor of COVID-19 has a secret to longevity that might surprise you.New Jersey nursing home resident Lucia DeClerck turned 105 on Jan. 25, but she tested positive for the coronavirus on the same day. Luckily, she didn’t develop symptoms and is virus-free.DeClerck has now survived two pandemics, two world wars, and countless life hurdles.Her secret to longevity? She eats nine gin-soaked golden raisins every morning.DeClerck’s family says this has been a lifelong habit.

Latest coronavirus updates in New Jersey: Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:59:28 +0000

Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.Latest official numbers:As of Tuesday, there have been 687,386 confirmed cases in the state since March, and there have been 20,689 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.To find the nearest free COVID-19 testing location, click here.Tips to protect yourself and others amid coronavirus outbreaks.Call New Jersey's coronavirus hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You can also click here for additional information

Sabres beat slumping Devils 4-1 behind Ullmark's 41 saves

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 03:20:13 +0000

Victor Olofsson scored his sixth power-play goal, Linus Ullmark was magnificent in making 41 saves and the Buffalo Sabres beat the slumping New Jersey Devils 4-1. Rasmus Asplund and Dylan Cozens broke the game open early in the third period with goals in a 1:34 span that send the Devils to their third straight loss. Cody Eakin scored an empty-net goal with less than a second to play.The win was the Sabres’ second over the Devils in three days and only their second in the last seven games. They lost to the Islanders on Monday night.

Woman, child found dead in NJ pond, authorities say

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 03:08:23 +0000

An adult woman and an 11-year-old child were found dead in a New Jersey body of water Tuesday officials said, with another young child found alive at the scene.Authorities are investigating the discovery at Boonton Pond where the bodies were found Tuesday at about 5:40 p.m.Officers responded to the Upper Pond section of Grace Lord Park for a report of an unattended child. When searching the area, they discovered the bodies of a 35-year-old woman and a child approximately 11 years old in the water.The unattended child, 6, was unharmed, police said.Officials said more information will be released at a later date; the identities of the individuals are not being released at this time.This is a developing story.

New Jersey art teacher inspires students through superhero Tiktok videos

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 02:56:51 +0000

From Superman to Thor, in a time when we could all use a superhero, New Jersey art teacher and football coach Timothy Carr has transformed into one on Tiktok every day.He does it all to keep his students at the Avon Avenue Elementary School in Newark engaged. In 2020, when remote learning started, his students just weren't showing up to class."When we first made the transition, I had no students,” Carr said. "I would maybe be at one student"Unlike other school districts that have implemented hybrid learning, Newark schools have been fully remote since the beginning of the pandemic, because the city of Newark was one of the hardest hit by the virus. It’s caused many students — particularly younger kids — to lose interest in their classes, but Mr. Carr’s videos have motivated his students to show up."Now it’s full class.”Daveion Harriett is a 5th grader in Mr. Carr's art class."Mr. Carr's class is fun cause we get to watch Tiktok videos,” he said.Some of his students have even started dressing up as superheroes. Sometimes he teaches in full costume.Mr. Carr has a track record for motivating his students. In 2019, we featured the flag football team he coaches at the school, where he helped team members improve their grades and pushed them to show up to class, which boosted the school's attendance rate."This is my passion," he said. "My classroom is my second home for over 20 years."