HOWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ – A house fire at 13 Woodstown Drive prompted a rapid response from the Howell Township Police Department at approximately 3:35 PM today.
Upon arrival, officers reported the residence was fully engulfed in flames. Thankfully, all occupants evacuated safely without injuries.
Firefighting units from Adelphia Fire, Squankum Fire, Southard Fire, Jackson Station 55, and Freehold Township Independent Fire worked together to extinguish the fire. Support was also provided by Howell Township Police EMS and Howell Township First Aid.
Currently, the Howell Township Fire Bureau and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported among the responding emergency personnel.
- Wall Township Cancels Firecracker 5 Race After Storm Brings Down Large Trees
Wall Township, NJ – The Wall Township Police Department announced that the annual Firecracker 5 race scheduled for Saturday has been canceled after severe thunderstorms brought down two large trees overnight.
Police said the decision was made following Friday night’s storms, which caused significant tree damage in the area and created safety concerns for runners, volunteers, and spectators.
Storm damage forces cancellation
According to the department, two large trees fell during the storm, making it unsafe to hold the Independence Day event as planned.
“The safety of our participants, volunteers, and spectators is our top priority,” the department said in announcing the cancellation.
Officials direct residents to township updates
Township officials encouraged residents seeking additional information or future updates to visit the Wall Township website.
The cancellation comes as utility crews and public works departments across central New Jersey continue cleaning up storm damage from Friday night’s severe weather, which brought strong winds, heavy rain, and widespread power outages to the region.
Key Points
- Wall Township canceled its Firecracker 5 race after two large trees fell during Friday night’s storms.
- Officials said safety concerns prompted the cancellation of the Independence Day event.
- Residents are encouraged to visit the township website for additional information and updates.
- Marlboro Township Urges Residents to Stay Off Roads as Severe Storm Causes Flooding and Road Closures
Police warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel Friday night as heavy rain and strong winds created hazardous conditions on roads across Marlboro Township.
Marlboro, NJ – Marlboro Township officials are urging residents to stay off the roads Friday night as severe thunderstorms continue to impact the area with heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous driving conditions.
The Marlboro Township Police Department issued a storm update advising motorists to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary as emergency crews respond to numerous weather-related incidents throughout the township.
Police said hazardous conditions have been reported at multiple intersections and roadways, including Crine Road and Opatut Court, Route 79 and School Road West, Route 79 and Harbor Road, Knob Hill Road and Yorkshire Drive, Calgary Circle, Spring Valley Road, School Road East, Gordons Corner Road, Secretariat Square, Tennent Road and Duncan Road, Topanemus Road and Wyncrest Road, Route 79 and Tennent Road, and Wyncrest Road and Robertsville Road.
Emergency crews responding across township
Officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and Department of Public Works crews are actively responding to storm-related calls as severe weather moves through Monmouth County.
The advisory comes as powerful thunderstorms swept across central New Jersey Friday evening, producing damaging wind gusts, torrential rainfall, localized flooding, and widespread power outages.
Residents urged to avoid unnecessary travel
Police encouraged drivers to seek alternate routes around flooded or obstructed roadways and to continue monitoring local weather conditions as storms move through the region.
Officials have not reported any serious injuries related to the storm but warned that conditions can change rapidly as additional heavy rain and strong winds pass through the area.
Key Points
- Marlboro Township police urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel because of severe storm conditions.
- Heavy rain and strong winds created hazardous conditions at numerous intersections and roadways throughout the township.
- Police, firefighters, EMS, and Public Works crews are actively responding to storm-related incidents.
Photo: Generated Photo – Storm Event
Related: Marlboro Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey Storms, Route 79, Severe Weather
- Sweet Jackson pup looking for second chance after long shelter stay
The 6-year-old dog has passed her temperament tests, knows basic commands and is still waiting for the permanent home she’s been hoping for.
JACKSON, N.J. — Amber, a 6-year-old dog at the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility, is looking for a family after spending an extended time waiting for adoption.
Weighing 56 pounds, Amber is described by the shelter as friendly, affectionate and eager to spend time with people. Staff members say she already knows her basic commands and would benefit from continued training in a permanent home.
Photo: house fire displaces family in howell According to the shelter, Amber passed all temperament testing and does not display resource guarding behavior. She is also spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccinations.
Shelter officials said Amber previously lived with a cat but appeared fearful during a recent cat evaluation. They recommend she be the only dog in the home and say a household with children older than 10 would be the best fit.
Amber is available for adoption at the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility, located at 615 Freemont Ave. in Jackson. The shelter is open daily from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Key Points
- Amber is a 6-year-old, 56-pound dog available for adoption in Jackson.
- She has passed temperament testing, knows basic commands and is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated.
- Shelter staff recommend she be the only dog in a home with children older than 10.
- You Should Be Ashamed: New Jersey Lawmaker Slams Third Trimester Abortion and Gender Reassignment Surgeries for Children
The Republican lawmaker sharply criticized Democratic policies on transgender medical care for minors and abortion during a heated Assembly debate, calling for greater protections for children.
Trenton, NJ – Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, a Republican representing parts of Ocean County, delivered an emotional speech on the floor of the New Jersey General Assembly Tuesday night, denouncing gender-affirming medical care for minors and third-trimester abortions.
Kanitra told a room full of disineterested Democrats that the state should not be calling genital mutilation ‘healthcare’ and that quack doctors could wait until the children are in the 20s and ‘cut off whatever they want’ at that time.
In a social media post after the debate, Kanitra described the address as “my most important floor speech ever,” saying he became emotional while thinking about his 10-month-old son, children he believes have been harmed by medical treatments, and babies lost through abortion.
Kanitra says speech was inspired by his family
“The whole time I was thinking of my little 10 month old boy,” Kanitra wrote. “I thought of myself who was born two months premature and lived in an incubator for a few weeks. I thought of detransitioners like Chloe Cole. I thought of countless kids who had body parts chopped off and futures destroyed.”
He added, “I thought of all the little babies who have been violently ripped apart in the most agonizing deaths imaginable. And I got emotional. I said all the things I’ve wanted to say for years. I said all of the things that needed to be said.”
Kanitra concluded his post by urging supporters to “start protecting” children “from the left’s BS rhetoric, factless preying on of emotions, and packaging insane things in cute terminology.”
Criticism of abortion and transgender medical care
During his remarks on the Assembly floor, Kanitra argued that most New Jersey residents oppose both gender-affirming surgeries for minors and third-trimester abortions.
“The average person in New Jersey doesn’t support drastic trans surgeries. They don’t support third trimester abortions,” Kanitra said. “But you guys wrap it up in these cutesy terms. You’ve pulled the wool over everybody’s eyes. You call it healthcare.”
Kanitra went on to describe third-trimester abortion procedures in graphic terms, saying they involve “a multi-hour surgery where they dismember children that can dream, dismember children that have a heartbeat, dismember children that can feel within the womb.” He called the procedure “abhorrent” and accused supporters of portraying it as healthcare.
Medical organizations and abortion-rights advocates dispute Kanitra’s characterization of abortion procedures and note that abortions later in pregnancy are uncommon and are often performed because of serious fetal conditions or significant risks to the pregnant patient’s health.
Calls for delaying irreversible medical decisions
Kanitra also argued that minors experiencing gender dysphoria should receive treatment focused on underlying mental health issues rather than irreversible medical interventions.
“You aren’t treating the root cause,” he said. “These are 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 14 years old. They don’t know themselves. Literally, scientifically, their brains aren’t fully developed until they’re in their early 20s.”
He suggested some children may be coping with trauma, depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions and alleged that some medical providers have financial incentives to recommend gender-related treatments.
“I talked with Chloe. I talked with her family,” Kanitra said, referring to detransitioner Chloe Cole. “I heard the stories of hundreds of detransitioners who say that they’re never going to be able to have kids again. That’s ruining somebody’s life.”
Kanitra said adults should be free to make their own decisions but argued that permanent medical procedures should wait until adulthood.
“Live your own best life, whatever your sexual identity is, whatever you want to be,” he said. “Do that. Do it at 21 years old. Live your authentic self. Chop off whatever the hell you want to at 21 years old. Why are we doing this to 12, 13, 14, and 15-year-old kids? It’s abhorrent, and you should be ashamed.”
Key Points
- Assemblyman Paul Kanitra delivered an emotional speech criticizing gender-affirming medical care for minors and third-trimester abortions.
- Kanitra said his remarks were inspired by his young son, detransitioners, and his opposition to current Democratic policies.
- Medical organizations and abortion-rights advocates dispute several of Kanitra’s characterizations regarding abortion procedures and gender-affirming care for minors.
Related: Paul Kanitra, New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey, Chloe Cole, gender-affirming care
- Gov. Sherrill Asks New Jersey to Turn Down the AC and Reduce Energy Usage During Heat Wave
With dangerous heat expected through Saturday, Gov. Mikie Sherrill urged residents to conserve electricity, lower their utility bills through off-peak usage, and take precautions to avoid heat-related illness.
Trenton, NJ – Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Wednesday urged New Jersey residents to reduce electricity use during an extended stretch of dangerous heat, encouraging households to adjust air conditioning settings and shift energy-intensive activities to overnight hours.
Her remarks came as the National Weather Service warned that heat index values between 100 and 110 degrees are expected across parts of the state through Saturday under an Extreme Heat Warning.
Governor urges conservation during heat wave
“As many of you have heard, we are expecting a heat wave coming in right now, the worst we’ve seen in about 15 years,” Sherrill said. “Please make sure that you stay in the shade, that you wear sunblock, that you hydrate, drink a lot of water.”
The governor also encouraged residents to check on elderly neighbors and family members, noting that homes without adequate air conditioning can become dangerous during prolonged periods of extreme heat.
“It’s not just people outside,” she said. “Many times seniors inside whose air conditioning has broken or it’s not turned down cool enough can really get into some trouble. So check on your neighbors.”
Sherrill reminded beachgoers to swim only where lifeguards are on duty, saying, “No matter how strong a swimmer you are, the ocean’s stronger.”
Off-peak electricity use encouraged
Addressing energy use, Sherrill suggested residents could reduce both strain on the electric grid and their monthly bills by making small changes at home.
“So if you turn your air conditioning up just 1 or 2 degrees, that can really save you on your electric bills,” she said.
She also encouraged residents to run major appliances and charge electric vehicles during overnight hours instead of peak daytime periods.
“You can also help out our grid by making sure that if you’re running major appliances, your washing machine, your dishwasher, or charging your EV vehicle, that you do so at night, not in peak hours,” Sherrill said.
The governor did not announce any emergency measures affecting electricity rates or utility billing during her remarks, instead focusing on conservation and available public resources.
Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect
The National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office said the Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday for portions of central and southern New Jersey, including Ocean County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Somerset County, and southeastern Burlington County.
Forecasters expect highs near 102 degrees Thursday and Friday, with heat index values reaching as high as 109 degrees. Overnight temperatures are forecast to remain in the upper 70s to around 80, providing little relief from the prolonged heat.
Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms are possible through the holiday weekend, with some storms capable of becoming severe.
Residents needing relief from the heat can call 2-1-1 or visit nj211.org or nj.gov/heat to locate cooling centers, report power outages, and access additional safety information.
Key Points
- Gov. Mikie Sherrill urged New Jersey residents to conserve electricity and shift major energy use to overnight hours.
- The governor advised raising thermostat settings by 1 to 2 degrees, staying hydrated, and checking on vulnerable neighbors during the heat wave.
- An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through Saturday, with heat index values expected to reach between 100 and 110 degrees.
Related: New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill, National Weather Service, Extreme Heat Warning, Ocean County
