13+ hour, 11+ min ago (361+ words) Most New Jersey residents want to leave'and here's why West Long Branch, NJ " New Jerseyans say they enjoy living in their state, but a growing number are ready to move out. A 2022 Monmouth University Poll found that nearly six in ten residents would like to leave the Garden State someday'the highest level since the poll began asking the question. Even as most residents rate New Jersey positively, the state's crushing property tax burden continues to push people toward the exits. According to the survey, 59% of residents say they want to move elsewhere, up from about 50% a decade ago. That figure comes as the Garden State Quality of Life Index'a composite measure of satisfaction with local schools, neighborhoods, and environment'holds steady at +27, near its highest levels in 15 years. Property taxes remain the top reason for the urge to leave, consistent with…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (466+ words) Maple Shade, NJ " A 38-year-old Indian national has been charged in the 2017 homicides of a mother and her young son in Maple Shade. Nazeer Hameed faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon. The victims, Sasikala Narra, 38, and Anish Narra, 6, were found deceased in their Hamilton Road apartment on March 23, 2017. An autopsy revealed each died from multiple slash wounds to their necks, with evidence indicating Anish Narra was nearly decapitated by the attacker. Hameed resided in the same apartment complex as the victims and was an acquaintance of the family through their workplace. After the incident, he returned to India, where he remains while the investigation proceeded. Law enforcement identified Hameed as a person of interest due to his stalking behavior toward…...

1+ mon, 2+ week ago (285+ words) WILDWOOD, NJ " Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli fired up a packed crowd at Seaport Pier on Saturday, delivering one of his most energetic campaign rallies yet as the race for governor heads into its final weeks. Before a sea of waving signs and cheering supporters, Ciattarelli declared that "New Jersey is ready for change," framing the event as a turning point for his campaign. The boardwalk crowd filled the pier and surrounding area, with chants of "Save our state!" echoing over the Atlantic breeze. Ciattarelli told supporters it's time to "protect our Shore, support our police, and get New Jersey back on track," calling out what he described as years of mismanagement, high taxes, and "broken schools." The candidate's remarks emphasized pocketbook issues and local pride, key themes that have defined his campaign since the primary. The Wildwood rally, one…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago (337+ words) TRENTON, N.J. " A new Emerson College polling partnership with PIX11 and The Hill shows New Jersey's governor's race locked in a 43%"43% dead heat between Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, with 11% undecided. Voters under 40 back Sherrill 58%"24%, while those over 50 favor Ciattarelli 52%"36%.Women lean Sherrill by 10 points and are more undecided than men, while men back Ciattarelli by 12 points. Independents are pivotal, giving Ciattarelli a 25-point edge and comprising a large share of the undecided bloc. Support by age tightens among voters in their 40s, where Sherrill leads 47%"40%.Turnout dynamics are uncertain in the off-year contest, with no clear advantage for either party. State issues dominate the agenda, led by the economy at 51%, followed by threats to democracy at 13% and housing affordability at 11%, placing pocketbook concerns at 62% when economy and housing are combined. Gov. Phil Murphy's job rating stands at 41% approve to…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago (210+ words) JERSEY CITY, NJ " A 26-year-old man has been charged in connection with a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a city resident last week. Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello announced the arrest of Shakeem Clarke of Jersey City in the fatal September 28 shooting of 27-year-old Jamaal George. Clarke was taken into custody Friday at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his court appearance. Investigators said the shooting occurred shortly after 5 a.m. near Union Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, where officers found George suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center and pronounced dead around 5:30 a.m. Clarke faces multiple charges, including murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering an injured victim, and…...

1+ mon, 4+ week ago (232+ words) TRENTON, NJ " A Jersey Cash 5 jackpot worth $1.3 million is about to slip away, as the winning ticket purchased in Monmouth County last November remains unclaimed and is set to expire in just weeks. The ticket, valued at $1,300,245, was sold at the Wawa located at 3303 Route 9 in Freehold. It matched the winning numbers for the November 25, 2024, drawing. Under New Jersey Lottery rules, winning tickets must be redeemed within one year. "Players really should check their tickets," Lottery Executive Director James Carey urged. "We have several ways our players can verify if they are winners. More than once, I've seen players come to us after a period of time saying they won a prize after finding a misplaced ticket." The reminder comes as several other large prizes approach their expiration dates. A $150,000 Jersey Cash 5 ticket purchased at White Oak Liquors in Belleville…...

1+ mon, 4+ week ago (250+ words) Jersey City, NJ " The 36th Annual Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST) kicks off Friday, transforming the city into a sprawling gallery with more than 120 venues across all six wards from October 3 through October 5. Founded in 1990 as a small downtown studio tour, JCAST has grown into one of the region's longest-running open studio festivals, drawing more than 5,000 visitors annually and reinforcing Jersey City's status as a major cultural hub. Mayor Steven Fulop praised the event's citywide reach, saying JCAST "showcases what makes Jersey City special: world-class creativity in every ward and a community that celebrates its artists and small businesses." Produced by The Creative Side under founder and director Atim Annette Oton, along with Donna Kessinger, Melissa Ulto, Judith Rahilly, and Shantel Asante-Kissi, the 2025 edition includes two major curated shows: "Convergence: Pivoting a Renaissance" at Eden Wood Realty and "The Art…...

2+ mon, 3+ day ago (348+ words) Newark, NJ " A federal judge shut down an independent journalist's civil-rights lawsuit on Thursday, granting multiple motion to dismiss bids from New Jersey ... Judge tosses free speech suit against Republican Brian Stack, Jersey City and state police Newark, NJ " A federal judge shut down an independent journalist's civil-rights lawsuit on Thursday, granting multiple motion to dismiss bids from New Jersey officials and agencies and ending a case that challenged removals from public meetings and a church service. Court grants Rule 12(b)(6) and abstention arguments U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton granted motions to dismiss filed by Mayor"State Sen. Brian Stack, State Sen. Paul Sarlo, the City of Union City, the City of Jersey City, and the New Jersey State Police, disposing of Leonard Filipowski's claims under Section 1983. The opinion cites Rule 12(b)(6) and the Colorado River abstention doctrine as the bases for dismissal....

2+ mon, 3+ day ago (199+ words) Jersey City man sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatal shooting of woman in 2023 JERSEY CITY, NJ " A 41-year-old Jersey City man has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison for the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old woman inside a Bergen Avenue apartment last year, Hudson County prosecutors announced. Lucus Cooper received the sentence on Thursday, September 25, from Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez after previously pleading guilty to one count of aggravated manslaughter in the death of Temara King. The sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning Cooper must serve at least 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole. The shooting occurred on the morning of January 24, 2023. Just after 7 a.m., Jersey City Police officers responded to reports of gunfire at 340 Bergen Avenue. Upon arrival on the third floor of the building, officers found King suffering from…...

2+ mon, 1+ week ago (292+ words) Trenton, NJ " Lyft has agreed to pay nearly $19.5 million to New Jersey after state officials determined the ride-sharing company wrongly classified more than 100,000 drivers as independent contractors, depriving them of unemployment insurance, disability coverage, and other safety-net benefits. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) and the Office of the Attorney General announced Thursday that the settlement follows a years-long audit covering 2014 through 2017. The review found Lyft failed to make mandatory contributions to state benefit funds, leading to a $10.8 million assessment in unpaid contributions and another $8.5 million in penalties and interest. The case escalated when drivers filed for unemployment and disability benefits, exposing gaps in Lyft's compliance. Lyft initially contested the findings, even paying a portion of the assessed contributions to stop interest from accruing, but ultimately dropped its legal challenge last month and paid the remaining…...