Bel Air, MD
News
Measles Cases In US Approaches 25-Year High As CDC Confirms 27 Outbreaks Measles Cases In US Approaches 25-Year High As CDC Confirms 27 Outbreaks
Measles Cases In US Approaches 25-Year High As CDC Confirms 27 Outbreaks America has reached another grim milestone as the number of confirmed cases of the measles hit a record high since the US declared the disease "under control" decades ago. A total of 1,267 confirmed measles cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 38 states and jurisdictions — more than triple the number reported in all of 2024, according to the agency's latest report. At least 27 outbreaks (defined as three or more connected cases) have been reported so far this year, with 88 percent of cases (1,115 of 1,267) linked to outbreaks, health officials …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Paramus, NJ
Real Estate
NJ Mansion Tax: Lawmakers Just Quietly Passed A New Bill That Makes Selling Way More Expensive NJ Mansion Tax: Lawmakers Just Quietly Passed A New Bill That Makes Selling Way More Expensive
NJ Mansion Tax: Lawmakers Just Quietly Passed A New Bill That Makes Selling Way More Expensive New Jersey’s luxury real estate market was thrown into turmoil after lawmakers passed a sweeping mansion tax bill on Monday, June 30, shifting the state’s high-end realty transfer fee from buyers to sellers and adding steep new tiers up to 3.5%. Under the new law, Assembly Bill 5804, sellers of homes over $1 million will absorb what had historically been a 1% buyer-paid fee, with significant increases for higher-value properties. The rates for sellers rises to: 2% over $2 million 2.5% over $2.5 million 3% over $3 million 3.5% over $3.5 million That means a seller of a $4 million home will …

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
9 People Caught In North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ 9 People Caught In North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ
9 People Caught In North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ A New Jersey man and eight foreign nationals from China and Taiwan have been charged in Boston in what federal officials call a major scheme to secretly funnel money to North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction program. Zhenxing “Danny” Wang of New Jersey was arrested and accused of helping North Korean IT workers pose as Americans to get remote jobs with American companies, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The workers allegedly used stolen identities to land jobs at major businesses, including a defense contractor. Authorities say this scam helped generate at least $5 million …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Saratoga Springs, NY
News
37-Year-Old DoorDash Exec, 3 NY Residents Among 8 Killed In Lake Tahoe After Boat Overturns 37-Year-Old DoorDash Exec, 3 NY Residents Among 8 Killed In Lake Tahoe After Boat Overturns
37-Year-Old DoorDash Exec, 3 NY Residents Among 8 Killed In Lake Tahoe After Boat Overturns A young executive for on-demand food delivery service DoorDash and his mother and father were among eight people killed when a boat with 10 onboard capsized in Lake Tahoe, on the border between California and Nevada. The other boaters who died were all friends of the exec, Josh Pickles, including his 72-year-old uncle, Peter Bayes, according to San Francisco's KTVU, which reported the group was celebrating the birthday of Pickles' mother, Paula Bozinovich, who turned 71. Pickles' father, Terry Pickles, was 73 years old. Three other victims were from New York, according to the…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Simsbury, CT
Politics
Judge Cites Simpsons Episode In Ruling Against Trump Affecting 14 States Judge Cites Simpsons Episode In Ruling Against Trump Affecting 14 States
Judge Cites Simpsons Episode In Ruling Against Trump Affecting 14 States “Electric van only has 20 minutes of juice left!” That’s the line from The Simpsons a federal judge used to deliver a legal blow to President Donald Trump, quoting a 1995 episode as she struck down his administration’s freeze on electric vehicle infrastructure funding. In a preliminary injunction issued from the bench of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, Judge Tana Lin invoked Homer Simpson’s long-lost goodbye to his mother as a pop culture parable for a very real-world problem: “range anxiety.” The phrase refers to the fear that electric vehicle drivers might r…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Saratoga Springs, NY
News
COVID-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom COVID-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom
Covid-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom A painful new symptom is drawing attention from doctors as another COVID-19 variant begins to spread across the US. The sore throat has been described as “razor-blade throat” — an intensely sharp, uncomfortable sensation that can be an early warning sign of infection.  Lately, it’s been linked to a newly identified strain: NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, a descendant of the Omicron subvariant JN.1. The World Health Organization has labeled NB.1.8.1 a Variant Under Monitoring, and public health officials say existing vaccines are still expected to protect against severe illness. The var…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Bethesda, MD
Business
Mini Fridges Cause $360K+ In Fire Damage, Sparking Massive Recall Mini Fridges Cause $360K+ In Fire Damage, Sparking Massive Recall
Mini Fridges Cause $360K+ In Fire Damage, Sparking Massive Recall Nearly a quarter million mini fridges are being recalled due to electrical issues that can increase the chances of a fire, officials said. AstroAI is recalling 249,100 of its four-liter/six-can mini fridges, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Wednesday, June 18. The fridges were sold on Amazon and AstroAI's websites between 2019 and 2022 for about $40.  According to the CPSC, the fridges can short circuit, posing fire and burn hazards. At least 70 incidents have been reported, including two fires that caused over $360,000 in property damage. The fridges…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Albany, NY
Business
Ready-To-Eat Meals Sold Nationwide At Walmart Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak Ready-To-Eat Meals Sold Nationwide At Walmart Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak
Ready-To-Eat Meals Sold Nationwide At Walmart Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak Several popular ready-to-eat chicken pasta meals sold across the country at a pair of supermarkets are being recalled following a deadly outbreak of listeria. Federal officials say 17 people across 13 states have become sick after eating products linked to a strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Three people have died, and one fetal loss has been reported, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). They products were sold at Walmart and Kroger stores. The recall includes chicken fettuccine alfredo meals under the Marketside and Home Chef labels, produced by FreshRealm establishments…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Albany, NY
Business
Kraft Heinz Says It Will Stop Using Artificial Colors In All Food Products Kraft Heinz Says It Will Stop Using Artificial Colors In All Food Products
Kraft Heinz Says It Will Stop Using Artificial Colors In All Food Products The maker of Kraft Mac & Cheese and Heinz ketchup says it’s phasing out all artificial colors from its US products, and halting any new ones that use them, effective immediately. Kraft Heinz, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the country, announced Tuesday, June 17, that it will eliminate the remaining FD&C (Food, Drug & Cosmetic) artificial dyes from its US product portfolio by the end of 2027.  Already, nearly 90 percent of its domestic products are free of such colors. The move comes as part of what the company called a long-term effort to reformulate re…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
North Adams, MA
Business
Hidden Risk Prompts Recall For Apricots Sold In MA Hidden Risk Prompts Recall For Apricots Sold In MA
Hidden Risk Prompts Recall For Apricots Sold In MA A dried fruit product sold in 19 states has been recalled due to a labeling issue that could pose a risk to some consumers. Turkana Food Inc., based in Kenilworth, New Jersey, is recalling 352 cases of Floria Dried Apricots because the product contains sulfites that were not listed on the package label, according to the company’s announcement on Thursday, June 12. The recalled 200-gram Floria Dried Apricots were distributed in retail locations across: Florida Kentucky Virginia New York New Jersey Tennessee Massachusetts Texas Illinois Indiana Michigan Rhode Island Pennsylvania North Carol…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Alexandria, VA
Sports
‘Noah Could Never’: Tyreek Hill Trolls Alexandria Olympian After Blazing 100M Race ‘Noah Could Never’: Tyreek Hill Trolls Alexandria Olympian After Blazing 100M Race
‘Noah Could Never’: Tyreek Hill Trolls Alexandria Olympian After Blazing 100M Race Tyreek Hill’s foot race feud with Noah Lyles just hit a new gear after Hill’s latest 100m sprint and bold post-win message. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver continues to chase the Olympian from Alexandria after an eye-popping 10.15 in the 100m dash in the prelims of the Last Chance Sprint Series in California.  After the race, Hill shared a video of the event with the caption "Went for a lil Jog today."  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyreek Hill (@cheetah) But it wasn't his impressive speed that had people talking. I…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Drexel Hill-Upper Darby, PA
News
$500K Cocaine Package, FedEx Driver Ambushed At Gunpoint By Philly Men In Broad Daylight: DOJ $500K Cocaine Package, FedEx Driver Ambushed At Gunpoint By Philly Men In Broad Daylight: DOJ
$500K Cocaine Package, FedEx Driver Ambushed At Gunpoint By Philly Men In Broad Daylight: DOJ Two Philadelphia men have been convicted of ambushing a FedEx driver at gunpoint and carjacking his truck in broad daylight while hunting for a $500,000 cocaine shipment, federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Ronald Byrd, 37, and Saikeen Dixon, 32, were found guilty at trial of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. Byrd was also convicted of attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The men’s plan unraveled on August 10, 2022, when a package weighing 29 pounds ar…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora