An Iranian military vessel trained a laser on an American helicopter that was accompanying three U.S. military ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Navy officials said Wednesday. Commander Bill Urban, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, said the Iranian vessel, which came within 730 meters of the USS Baatan assault ship, acted in an “unsafe…
John Valentin, 50, of Holmdel, New Jersey was behind the wheel of an SUV that crashed into a building in Red Bank, New Jersey on Thursday morning. Valentin is a former stand out baseball player for the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. Red Bank Green reported that John Valentin and Divina Valentin were in…
BELMAR — An 83-year-old World War I statue has been vandalized, according to Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty. Someone tried to break the soldier’s rifle, which damaged the scabbard and loosened the statue from its pedestal. It’s not known when the “Spirit of the American Doughboy” was damaged. The Belmar Historical Society plans to raise money to…
TRENTON –Warren County Republican leader Doug Steinhardt has withdrawn his name from consideration as New Jersey state GOP chair after Gov. Chris Christie appointed his wife to the state parole board, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno announced Tuesday evening. “When I read today for the first time that his wife was nominated by the governor to be…
James Devine, a well known New Jersey Democrat operative and local newspaper publisher from Union County, responded to the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and three others yesterday by creating the hashtag #HuntRepublicans and #HuntRepublicanCongressmen on his social media accounts. Devine declared that Democrats are “in a war” with Republicans. New Jersey Democrats will hopefully condemn…
Self-declared “master Democratic Party campaign strategist” James Devine of Rahway doubled down on his assertion that Democrats are “at war” with Republicans. Devine told The Asbury Park Press that James Hodgkinson, the looney tune who gunned down Congressman Steve Scalise and three others yesterday before being shot dead by U.S. Capitol Police, was exercising his Second…
NEW YORK — A 33-year-old woman had 27 pounds of cocaine hidden in her wheelchair when she went through customs at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, authorities said. Yoncela Stanley, of Griffin, Ga., faces federal narcotics smuggling charges after inspectors noticed something unusual about the rear cushion of her wheelchair, U.S. Customs and Border…
BRICK TOWNSHIP – A motorist who spotted flames coming from a Montclair Drive home early Wednesday morning is being credited for rescuing a pair of brothers from the blaze that severely damaged their home. At approximately 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday, a unidentified neighbor who was out for a walk in the area of Montclair Drive and…
SEA ISLE CITY — A popular Cape May County beach town has voted against extending hours for music performances on its boardwalk, according to a report. A proposal to let music continue on the weekends until 10 p.m., instead of 9 p.m. failed to gain support, Councilwoman Mary Tighe told the Press of Atlantic City. Bridge…
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Motorists on the Atlantic City Expressway must have done a double-take on Wednesday when they saw a young man hanging from a speeding luxury car by one arm. A video recorded by another driver and shared with 6abc.com shows the shirtless daredevil dangling by one arm from the roof on the driver’s…
Russia has claimed killing the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in an air strike targeting a meeting of ISIL leaders just outside the group’s de-facto capital in Syria. The Russian defence ministry said it was checking claims that ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a Russian strike in May…
MORRISTOWN — A 64-year-old town man was indicted on Thursday on charges of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in March, the Daily Record reported. Antonio Velasquez faces charges of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and child endangerment, according to the report. Velasquez has denied the charges, the report said. Last year, Velasquez was…
NEWTON — A 28-year-old former volunteer firefighter was sentenced to three years in prison for child endangerment and criminal sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl, authorities said. Kile Burke, of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., was previously indicted on charges of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and child endangerment. As part of a plea deal, the most serious…
BELMAR — The 12-year-old girl who drowned in Belmar Thursday night and her 11-year-old cousin who remains on life support after being pulled from the ocean would have attended their last day of elementary school Friday. Instead, Belmar Elementary School is gripped with grief by the tragedy, school Superintendent David R. Hallman said Friday morning. “They’re…
After seven aborted missions, NASA is going to try again to launch a rocket that will generate colorful artificial clouds in the night sky over the Atlantic coast as part of a study on how air moves in the upper atmosphere. The launch is planned for Friday night, sometime between 9:05 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., weather…
A former dominatrix wanted to change her life and start a career as a sheriff’s officer in Hudson County. She was days away from graduating the police academy when officials found out about her prior life. She was quickly suspended. The sheriff’s office said her conduct was unbecoming a public employee. They said that “the proliferation…
BRICK — Authorities are investigating a teenage boy accused of killing and dismembering a rabbit while others watched and recorded it on video, according to a report. The boy, a resident of the Maple Leaf Park condo complex, allegedly hit the rabbit with a brick and then smashed the animal’s head on June 8, the report…
WALL — Wall Township High School will reprint corrected yearbooks for every student after a photo was intentionally manipulated to cover up a junior’s Donald Trump T-shirt, according to the district. Superintendent Cheryl Dyer announced the decision in a letter to parents on Thursday, a week after the district was first alerted to the altered photo.…
Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a contractor accused of bilking victims of Hurricane Sandy out of more than $1.5 million by skipping out on repair jobs after taking their money. Jamie Lynn Lawson, 42, was arrested early Thursday morning at an extended stay hotel in Florence, SC, by U.S. Marshals in that area, said Michael Schroeder,…
JACKSON – Metropolis is under attack and the Justice League team of superheroes needs help. That is the scenario that riders of Six Flags Great Adventure’s new 4D ride Justice League: Battle for Metropolis – which opened for season pass holders on Thursday – are faced with as they don 3D glasses and head into a…
TRENTON — If you lined up every person who had been arrested on marijuana charges in the Garden State since 2000, according to a new report from the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, they would stretch the entire length of the New Jersey Turnpike — and into Maryland. The advocacy group found marijuana…
TRENTON-Imagine the scenario… You’re walking along the boardwalk with your child and she accidentally lets go of the big pink balloon she just received from a stand or vendor. Then a police officer walks up to you and issues you a $500 fine.
Sounds unlikely, but it could be a possibility if a new bill proposed in the New Jersey legislation becomes law.
As New Jersey reels from a pension funding crisis, some legislators are busy tackling another problem the plagues the Garden State, loose balloons.
New legislation introduced by State Senator Jeff Van Drew (D) and Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D) seek to impose fines up to $500 for the “illegal release of balloons”. That is by anyone but government employees.
Senate bill 3288, if passed will permit municipalities, by ordinance, to prohibit the release of balloons.
“A municipality, by ordinance, may prohibit any person, organization, firm, or corporation from intentionally releasing, organizing the release of, or intentionally causing the release of, balloons, including latex and Mylar balloons, that are inflated with helium, or other gas that is lighter than air, within the municipality’s borders. The ordinance may impose a penalty, not to exceed $500, for the violation of such an ordinance,” the bill reads.
Of course, like many government restrictions, the state will allow the government to continue to release balloons.
“The provisions of this section shall not apply to a balloon released by a person on behalf of a government agency,” the bill states.
Here at the Jersey Shore one local freeholder last week raised his own concerns about the release of balloons, citing several concerns.
“If these metallic-covered balloons strike power cables, they can cause widespread electrical outages,” said Ocean County Freeholder Joe Vicari. “We are getting more and more reports of deflated or shredded Mylar balloons found floating in the bay and in the ocean.”
Vicari said he discussed the Mylar balloon problem with representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection and local environmentalists at the annual Barnegat Bay Blitz.
“We spoke of the importance of educating people about unseen dangers of these balloons,” he said.
Vicari did not mention the new proposed bill that would allow municipalities to fine those who release balloons intentionally.
JACKSON-Jackson Township’s council was united and sent a strong message to real estate agents looking to canvass neighborhoods soliciting real estate sales by supporting a New Jersey senate bill that seeks to outlaw the practice in New Jersey.
New Jersey Senate bill 2376 prohibits canvassing and soliciting by real estate licensees. The council voted unanimously in favor of the bill’s passage.
The bill was introduced by Brian P. Stack of Hudson County, but according to political insiders, has the support of District 12 Republicans Sam Thompson, Ron Dancer and Rob Clifton, who responded to letters from concerned Jackson residents over aggressive real estate tactics occurring here.
“For many months, we’ve been wrestling with real estate agents going door to door harassing our residents,” Nixon said. “We have certain powers under state law, but we don’t have power to ban certain activities. This is the legislature taking that step.”
The bill seeks to prohibit all forms of house to house real estate solicitation.
u. Engaging in the solicitation or canvassing of homeowners as prohibited by section2 of P.L.
Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no real estate broker, broker-salesperson, salesperson, referral agent, or any person who assumes, advertises or represents the authority to act as, or on behalf of, a real estate broker, broker-salesperson, salesperson or referral agent, shall engage in any canvassing or solicitation of homeowners.
- As used in this section:
“Canvassing” means distributing printed material or any other thing from house to house, or calling in person upon the occupants of any house seeking to distribute printed material, or in any way advertising any services or offering anything of value house to house.
“Solicitation” means any attempt to sell or offer to sell property of any kind or description by sample or otherwise house to house, or offer to render services from house to house, with or without accepting payment or partial payment for the same.
JACKSON-Jackson Township’s plan to sell liquor licenses to generate additional revenue fell flat after there were no interested bidders on a new liquor license approved earlier this year.
The township hoped to raise at least $375,000 in revenue with the sale of an additional plenary retail distribution license, a hot commodity in most surrounding towns, but had a frigid reception here.
Township Clerk Ann Marie Eden removed the discussion of the license from June 13th’s meeting agenda.
“There’s no reason to discuss it,” Eden said. “We did not get a pre-qualification, it’s unfortunately not happening.”
BREAKING: Republican U.S. Congressmen Shot at During Baseball Practice, 5 wounded
ALEXANDRIA,VA-Dozens of gunshots rang out from behind a dugout at a DC area baseball field at 7 am this morning, hitting Congressman Steve Scalise, of Louisiana and injuring Congressman Roger Williams, of Texas.
A female Capitol Police Department officer was shot in the foot, according to Rand Paul.
Williams was injured while running and diving into the dugout, seeking cover, injuring his leg.
Three others were shot, but not identified at this point. Witnesses reported a man asking if the softball players were Republicans or Democrats and returned a short time later, firing what they said were between 50 to 100 shots.
Congressman Brad Wenstrup, an Ohio Republican, said he felt like he was in Iraq, but with a weapon. He said Scalise was on second base and dropped to the ground after being shot.
Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona said people were running in every direction after the shooting started.
“He had a lot ammo,” Flake said, adding the gunman was sheltered behind the third base dugout, shooting onto the field.
“We were doing practice and a number of people were batting and fielding and all the sudden we heard a very loud shot, the gunman was by the third base dugout and had a clear view of the field,” Flake said.
Flake said one staffer was shot in the leg and was administered first aid in the dugout.
Scalise dragged himself from second base further into the field to put distance between himself and the gunman, then was motionless according to witnesses.
Once capitol police officer subdued the shooter, Hart and others ran out to administer first aid, including Wenstrup, an U.S. Army Iraq war veteran and doctor. Alexandria police also responded quickly to the scene.
“He was firing rounds all over the place,” Wenstrup said. He said the shooter, who was wearing jeans and blue shirt was moving from position to position shooting into the field with his rifle, eventually switching to a handgun.
Two Capitol Police Department officers were on hand as part of Steve Scalise’s security detail.
“If Scalise wasn’t here, the Capitol Police officers would not have been there,” Wenstrup said. “It would have been a lot worse.”
The Republican congressmen were practicing for a Thursday charity softball game against Democrats, raising $650,000 for underprivileged kids in DC.
25 members of congress were on the field at the time. Scalise suffered a serious injury, but is now in stable condition.
Chief Michael Brown of the Alexandria Police Department said within three minutes his department had three officers on scene to engage the shooter. Brown said five individuals were transported to the hospital.
Matt Vederosa, Chief of the Capitol Police Department said two officers were on scene for a security detail and were able to immediately engage the suspect and said it is too early to release any further details.
The shooter was apprehended and the extent of his injuries are unknown.
Hart said an African American Capitol Police Department officer was shot in the leg, but continued to engage the shooter.
“The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely,” President Donald J. Trump said. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.”
Helicopter arrives on scene where GOP Rep. Steve Scalise was shot at congressional baseball practice https://t.co/NfEnFaJMJr pic.twitter.com/UFP2hmsWwY
— CNN (@CNN) June 14, 2017