Newark, NJ
News
Next Stop, The Future: Self-Driving Shuttles Tested At Newark Airport Next Stop, The Future: Self-Driving Shuttles Tested At Newark Airport
Next Stop, The Future: Self-Driving Shuttles Tested At Newark Airport Newark Airport is taking a page from Silicon Valley. Electric self-driving shuttles will be tested at Newark Liberty International Airport throughout Spring 2026 as officials look to modernize how millions of passengers move through the airport, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Wednesday, Feb. 25. The agency is partnering with three autonomous vehicle technology companies to test zero-emissions shuttles at EWR. The goal is to evaluate automated connections between existing airport facilities and the new AirTrain Newark system currently under construction. The new Air…

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by Cecilia Levine
Spring Lake-Sea Girt, NJ
Lifestyle
Sea Girt Police Officer Auditions On 'American Idol': Tune In Monday Night Sea Girt Police Officer Auditions On 'American Idol': Tune In Monday Night
Sea Girt Police Officer Auditions On 'American Idol': Tune In Monday Night A 20-year-old New Jersey police officer will appear on national television when she auditions for “American Idol,” according to event organizers. Julia Sienna Santiago, who performs under the name Julia Sienna, is a special officer with the Sea Girt Police Department. Her audition will air on the Monday, Feb. 16 episode of “American Idol” at 8 p.m. on ABC. Julia shares clips of her singing on her Instagram page, Julia.Sienna. Julia earned her opportunity after winning a “Golden Ticket Pass” from “Downtown Freehold Idol to American Idol,” which helped her advance to an American Idol pr…

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by Cecilia Levine
Morrisville, PA
News
Strip Club Shooter From NJ Sentenced For Murder In Morrisville Strip Club Shooter From NJ Sentenced For Murder In Morrisville
Strip Club Shooter From NJ Sentenced For Murder In Morrisville A New Jersey man will spend decades behind bars for fatally shooting a Good Samaritan outside a Pennsylvania strip club, prosecutors announced on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Pedro E. Rodriguez, 29, of Trenton, was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in state prison for the killing of 28-year-old Mekhi Norman at The Border Gentlemen’s Club on South Pennsylvania Avenue on Aug. 29, 2024,  Bucks County District Attorney explained. Rodriguez entered guilty pleas before Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller to third-degree murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, possession of …

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by Jillian Pikora
Fort Lee, NJ
News
NJ TRANSIT CEO Apologizes To Customers After Amtrak Wire Failures Snarl Morning Commute NJ TRANSIT CEO Apologizes To Customers After Amtrak Wire Failures Snarl Morning Commute
NJ Transit CEO Apologizes To Customers After Amtrak Wire Failures Snarl Morning Commute NJ TRANSIT CEP Kris Kolluri issued an apology to riders after two separate incidents involving Amtrak overhead wires caused major service disruptions during the Monday morning, Feb. 9, commute. “I want to personally apologize for the difficult and frustrating experience many of you had traveling with us this morning,” Kolluri said in a message to customers. NJ TRANSIT said that at approximately 7 a.m., Amtrak’s overhead wires came down on top of an NJ TRANSIT train on the Northeast Corridor just east of Newark Penn Station, disabling the train. Customers were safely removed from the train a…

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by Cecilia Levine
Bethesda, MD
Business
Scalding Water Burns Dozens, Sparking Massive Clothing Steamer Recall Scalding Water Burns Dozens, Sparking Massive Clothing Steamer Recall
Scalding Water Burns Dozens, Sparking Massive Clothing Steamer Recall Nearly 195,000 handheld clothing steamers are being recalled after dozens of people suffered serious burn injuries. Aterian, Inc. is recalling about 194,400 of its PurSteam-branded steamers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, Feb. 5. The recall includes about 119,000 PurSteam Mighty Lil Steamers and 75,400 PurSteam Elite Travel Steamers. The steamers can expel hot water from the steam nozzle during normal use, posing serious burn hazards. Between December 2020 and 2024, Aterian has received a combined 472 reports of dangerous hot water rel…

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by Chris Spiker
Hackensack, NJ
News
Bergen Sheriff Invites Public Comment Ahead Of Crucial State Accreditation Review Bergen Sheriff Invites Public Comment Ahead Of Crucial State Accreditation Review
Bergen Sheriff Invites Public Comment Ahead Of Crucial State Accreditation Review The Bergen County Sheriff's Office is asking for public feedback as a team of assessors is set to examine all elements of its workplace. The assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to examine all aspects of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Sheriff Anthony Cureton said Thursday, Feb. 5. “Verification by the team that the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office meets the Commission’s 'best practice' standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accredi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Cliffside Park-Edgewater, NJ
Police & Fire
Teen Girl Raped By Legal Guardian Multiple Times In Fairview, Complaint Says Teen Girl Raped By Legal Guardian Multiple Times In Fairview, Complaint Says
Teen Girl Raped By Legal Guardian Multiple Times In Fairview, Complaint Says A 44-year-old Fairview man has been charged with multiple sexual assault-related offenses involving a victim who he was a legal guardian of, authorities said. Carlos M. Leon, 44, of Fairview, raped the girl between ages 13 and 16, between November 2024 and January 2026 while acting as her legal guardian, according to police papers and Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. The criminal complaint says that the alleged conduct included acts of sexual penetration and sexual contact involving a child. Sources say Leon was seized Monday, Feb. 2 by a SWAT team at a Carlstadt m…

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by Cecilia Levine
Old Bridge, NJ
Sports
Teen Old Bridge Wrestler Suffers Spinal Cord Injury During Match Teen Old Bridge Wrestler Suffers Spinal Cord Injury During Match
Teen Old Bridge Wrestler Suffers Spinal Cord Injury During Match An Old Bridge High School wrestler remains hospitalized after suffering a serious neck injury during a match over the weekend, prompting an outpouring of support from the school’s wrestling community. Junior athlete Adriana Maria, 16, was injured at approximately 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, during the final match of the day, when she was taken down and pinned by an opponent, another female wrestler from Perth Amboy, according to Old Bridge wrestling coach John Post.  "It was a very routine move," Post said. "There was nothing malicious or harmful done by Adriana's opponent. It was a sta…

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by Cecilia Levine
Rutherford, NJ
Business
Route 17 Steakhouse Still Sizzling After 90 Years Route 17 Steakhouse Still Sizzling After 90 Years
Route 17 Steakhouse Still Sizzling After 90 Years Steve’s Sizzling Steaks, a restaurant known for sizzling steaks, deep family roots, and generations of loyal customers, is celebrating a major milestone in North Jersey. The Route 17 restaurant in Carlstadt is marking its 90th anniversary this month. The family-owned restaurant traces its beginnings to New Year’s Day 1936, when Steve and Mary Venturini took over a small tavern known as Connie’s Place, according to the family. Mary ran the establishment while her husband continued working at another bar down the road in Carlstadt. Mary’s daughter, Marie Venturini-Damiani, was just 10 years …

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by Cecilia Levine
South River, NJ
Obituaries
Parlin Stagehand, Avid Poker Player Ren Cain Dies Suddenly, $16K Raised For Young Daughter Parlin Stagehand, Avid Poker Player Ren Cain Dies Suddenly, $16K Raised For Young Daughter
Parlin Stagehand, Avid Poker Player Ren Cain Dies Suddenly, $16K Raised For Young Daughter Support is on the rise for one little girl mourning the loss of her father. Ren Cain, who lived most of his life in Central Jersey, died on Friday, Jan. 17, according to his obituary on the Spezzi Funeral Home website. He was 39 years old.  Ren was born on the Beaufort Naval Base in South Carolina and was a stagehand with IATSE Local 21, his obituary reads. Records show he also primarily lived in Parlin. "In his spare time Ren loved to golf and attend sporting events and concerts," his obituary says. "His greatest joy was spending time with his beloved daughter Evie." Ren w…

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by Cecilia Levine
New Brunswick, NJ
Police & Fire
Man Struck, Killed By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit Man Struck, Killed By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit
Man Struck, Killed By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit A man was struck and killed by an NJ Transit train Friday night, Jan. 23 in New Brunswick, authorities said. Northeast Corridor train 3875, which left New York Penn Station at 6:43 p.m., and was due to arrive at the Trenton Transit Center at 8:13 p.m., struck the male trespasser near the New Brunswick station at approximately 7:40 p.m., a spokesperson for NJ Transit said. There were no reported injuries to the crew and the 156 customers on board. The Northeast Corridor remains in service with 60 minute delays in both directions. New Jersey Transit police are leading the investigation.

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by Cecilia Levine
Pascack Valley, NJ
Sports
Montvale Native Hired As Miami Dolphins Head Coach Montvale Native Hired As Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Montvale Native Hired As Miami Dolphins Head Coach A man from the Garden State will be patrolling the sidelines for the Miami Dolphins next season. Jeff Hafley, a native of Montvale, has been named the 12th head coach in Miami Dolphins history. Hafley previously was the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. "I believe great things are ahead for the Miami Dolphins with Jeff Hafley leading the way," said Dolphins Chairman and Owner Stephen M. Ross. "Jeff is an accomplished coach with a proven track record as a leader and motivator. He has tenacity and grit, while at the same time establishing trust with his players in order to get …

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by Sam Barron