Passes

High Winds, Rain, Power Outages Expected Across Southern New Jersey as Major Storm Passes

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. — The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for portions of northern Delaware, central and southern New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon. Forecasters warn of west winds between 25 to 35 mph, with potential gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph. Strong winds could bring down trees and power lines, leading to widespread power outages and hazardous travel conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles. The storm system will bring rain and thunderstorms Sunday morning, followed by falling temperatures and strong winds. By Sunday night, temperatures will drop to the 20s and

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Flooding Possible as Winter Storm Passes Through Newark This Weekend

NEWARK, N.J. — Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda Sr. has issued a traffic advisory ahead of a wintry mix expected to impact the area this weekend, warning of possible flooding in certain locations. Drivers are advised to avoid traveling on flooded streets. According to the forecast, there is a 30% chance of snow beginning after 1 p.m. on Saturday, with snowfall expected before 1 a.m. The precipitation will then transition into a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulation could total between three to five inches. On Sunday, snow and sleet, possibly mixed with rain,

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Hail to the King: Beloved lion Aslan passes away at Popcorn Park Animal Refuge

FORKED RIVER, NJ — Popcorn Park Animal Refuge announced the passing of Aslan, a cherished lion who had become a favorite among visitors and staff. Aslan succumbed to an aggressive form of cancer that spread rapidly despite extensive care from the refuge’s staff and veterinary team. He passed peacefully with his sister, Savannah, by his side. Aslan and Savannah arrived at Popcorn Park after experiencing multiple relocations, eventually finding stability and care at the refuge. Aslan was known for his curious and social nature, often delighting in enrichment activities like new toys and treat-filled boxes scented with catnip. The refuge

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Jackson Council Passes Ordinance to Close High Density Housing Loophole

JACKSON, NJ – Grappling with the prospect of new and massive apartment and townhome projects throughout the community, the Jackson Township Council passed an ordinance on Tuesday night that would limit the overall number of units in Highway Commercial Mixed Zones. That zone was created to accommodate entertainment and commercial developments like Adventure Crossing, which were built around commercial ratables and some housing. However, a loophole in the zoning ordinance would allow developers to use their total project scope to calculate housing units and not the land mass of the specific housing complex. That would have allowed for city-like density

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Retired Brick Police Department Worker Passes Away in South Carolina

The Brick Township Police Department recently shared a heartfelt message announcing the passing of Mr. Robert Paul Ragati, a former Public Safety Telecommunications Operator who served with the department from 1982 until his retirement in 2012. He passed away on October 7, 2024, at Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at the age of 67. In addition to his service with the police department, Mr. Ragati was also an Exempt Member of Breton Woods Fire Company #1. Arrangements for his memorial services have not yet been completed but will be announced in the near future. This news

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Virginia K9 Who Helped Police Find Missing People Passes Away

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Newport News Police Department has announced the passing of Maddy, a K9 from GARD K9 Search and Rescue, who assisted law enforcement in several missing persons and homicide investigations. In a statement shared on social media, the department expressed their condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of GARD K9 Search and Rescue K9 Madison (‘Maddy’).” The K9 had worked across the state of Virginia, including in Newport News, where her efforts were instrumental in multiple cases. The Newport News Police Department extended their sympathies to GARD K9 Search and Rescue,

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Lakewood Bloc Vote Founder Passes Away After Longtime Illness

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Lakewood has lost a major figure this week with the passing of Rabbi Israel Schenkolewski, a key force in Ocean County politics. Schenkolewski, who passed away at 80 after a long illness, was not only a beloved spiritual leader but also a political strategist who helped shape Lakewood’s growing influence in local elections. He played a critical role in pioneering block voting in Lakewood, a tactic that gave the town major sway in both county and state elections. By the late 1990s, the Vaad, a coalition of rabbis, was formed under his influence and continues to deliver

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Grand Ol’ Man of the Ocean County GOP Passes at 88

LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre expressed their deep condolences following the passing of John C. Parker, the Chairman of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and former Mayor of Lacey Township. Parker, a long-serving public servant, was remembered for his profound impact on the community and his unwavering commitment to those he represented. “Today, we lost a tremendous individual who earned the respect of so many people he interacted with during his decades of dedicated public service,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They emphasized Parker’s extensive knowledge and wisdom,

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Parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania Under Tornado Warning As Debby Passes

STATE COLLEGE, PA—The National Weather Service in State College, PA has issued a tornado warning effective until 9:00 AM EDT for southeastern Adams County and southwestern York County. The warning follows the detection of a severe thunderstorm with tornado capabilities near Littlestown, moving north at 35 mph. The storm, noted for radar-indicated rotation, poses significant hazards including potential tornado formation. Flying debris from the tornado could pose a danger to anyone caught outside without proper shelter. Mobile homes may suffer severe damage or destruction, and substantial damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles is likely, along with probable tree damage. Areas

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Bill to Block U.S. Immigrants from Voting Passes House, Biden Promises Veto

The Republican-majority US House of Representatives has passed the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act,” a significant piece of legislation aimed at tightening voter registration requirements. The bill, passed on Wednesday with a vote of 221-198, mandates proof of US citizenship for voter registration and instructs states to remove suspected non-citizens from voter rolls. This legislative move comes less than four months before the upcoming presidential election on November 5, where former President Donald Trump will face Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. The bill’s approval in the House reflects ongoing concerns among some Republicans about illegal voting, despite such claims being widely

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New Jersey Passes New Tax to Fund Broken NJ Transit System and Immigrant Services

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed the FY2025 state budget, which reinstates a substantial tax on wealthy corporations to support public infrastructure and immigrant services. The budget includes the introduction of the Corporate Transit Fee (CTF), a 2.5% surcharge on corporate profits exceeding $10 million, labeled as the largest of its kind nationally. Make the Road New Jersey, a prominent advocacy group, has been instrumental in this legislative success, having campaigned vigorously against the previous termination of the Corporate Business Tax. Their efforts included organizing local mayoral and gubernatorial support, unfurling a 534-foot scroll in front

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New Jersey Assembly Passes Bill to Curb Dangerous Pop-Up Car Rallies

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Assembly approved a new bill on Friday aimed at curbing unauthorized pop-up car rallies by imposing stricter penalties. This legislation comes in response to a deadly incident in Wildwood in September 2022, where a pop-up car rally resulted in two fatalities due to a drunk driver’s actions. Assemblyman Antwan McClellan (R-Cape May) spearheaded the bill, citing the need to prevent similar tragedies and ensure public safety at the state’s popular beach and boardwalk destinations. The 2022 event in Wildwood drew over 500 vehicles and included illegal activities such as drag races and burnouts, ultimately

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House Passes Bill Designed To Rein In Federal Regulatory Blitz Targeting Appliances

The House passed a bill Tuesday that would restrict the federal government’s ability to issue energy efficiency regulations for household appliances. The House passed the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act by a 212-195 bipartisan vote, with seven Democrats joining Republicans present to send the bill to the Senate. The bill would alter the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from issuing new or updated energy efficiency standards for appliances that are not technologically possible and economically justifiable, according to its text. The Biden administration, led chiefly by the DOE, has promulgated a number

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New Jersey Could Soon Require Voter Identification if New Law Passes

TRENTON, NJ – Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia of District 24 (Morris, Sussex, and Warren) has introduced Bill A4248, aimed at implementing stricter voter identification requirements in New Jersey. Introduced on May 2, 2024, the bill mandates that voters present specific documentation as proof of identity to vote, starting with the first election held after January 1, 2025. This documentation includes a New Jersey driver’s license, nondriver’s identification card, or other government-issued document containing the voter’s name, photograph, non-expired status, and issuance by either the federal government or the state. First-time voters must provide this documentation in addition to any federally acceptable

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Kansas Legislature Passes Bill Banning Chinese Land Purchases Near Military Sites After DCNF Investigation

The Kansas legislature passed a bill Tuesday that will prevent companies from China or other adversarial countries from buying land near military sites. The state House passed SB 172 by an 86-39 vote on Monday before the state Senate passed the bill by a 24-14 vote on Tuesday. according to The Kansas City Star. The bill was partly in response to efforts by Cnano Technology USA, a subsidiary of a Chinese company planning to invest in a massive factory in the state. The Daily Caller News Foundation first reported that Cnano Technology USA’s parent company had extensive ties to the

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Rain and Cool Weather Expected After New Jersey Mini-Summer Passes

New Jersey Weather Forecast NEW JERSEY, NJ — Today will be partly sunny with temperatures reaching up to 68 degrees. Calm winds will shift east at about 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight, the area will experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, some of which may produce gusty winds. The sky will remain mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 50 degrees. The northeast wind will continue at about 5 mph. There is a 40% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts likely to be less than a tenth of an inch, although thunderstorms could bring higher amounts. Wednesday morning may

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Senate Passes Foreign Aid Package, Bill That Could Ban TikTok

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted to pass House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s foreign aid supplemental on Tuesday that provides billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as language that could trigger a ban on the social media app TikTok. The Senate voted 79 to 18 to advance the legislation, sending the package to President Joe Biden’s desk. The supplemental approved of sending $60.8 billion to Ukraine, $15 billion to Israel — with an additional $9 billion in humanitarian aid — and $8 billion to Taiwan, among other provisions. The legislation also includes measures to put pressure on

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Biden Regulator Passes Rule With Massive Implications For Millions Of Workers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule Tuesday banning noncompete agreements nationwide, affecting millions of Americans. Regulators argue that banning noncompetes will promote competition by giving workers greater ability to switch jobs, increasing innovation and leading to more businesses being created, according to an announcement from the FTC. The FTC estimates that around 18% of U.S. workers, or 30 million people, are covered under a noncompete, with the new rule applying to anyone not in a senior executive role, which is defined as someone who is making more than $151,164 and in a policy-making position. “Noncompete clauses keep

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House Passes Mike Johnson’s Foreign Aid Package

The House of Representatives voted to approve Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s expansive package of foreign aid bills in a series of votes on Saturday. A bipartisan coalition successfully pushed through Johnson’s plan to deliver $95.3 billion in aid to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and other American allies, after a similar coalition cleared a key procedural vote on Friday. The package, which was initially four separate bills that will be wrapped into one before advancing to the Senate, includes bills that would allocate $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine, $15 billion in military aid to Israel with an additional $9 billion for

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New Jersey Bill to Lower Requirements for School Bus Drivers Passes Unanimously

New Legislation Eases Requirements for Type S School Bus Drivers in New Jersey TRENTON, NJ — The Assembly Education Committee recently advanced Assembly Bill No. 2180, incorporating committee amendments that would allow Type S school bus certificate holders to operate buses without a commercial driver license and other endorsements, provided they meet specific requirements outlined in the bill. The legislation aims to streamline the process for school bus operation, ensuring drivers are still held to stringent legal standards. On Monday, the bill passed with a unanimous 70-0 vote in the assembly. 10 assemblypersons abstained on the vote. The bill stipulates

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House Passes Earmark-Laden, $1.2 Trillion Consolidated Spending Bill Hours Before Shutdown Deadline

House Passes Earmark-Laden, $1.2 Trillion Consolidated Spending Bill Hours Before Shutdown Deadline Arjun Singh on March 22, 2024 The House of Representatives on Friday passed a $1.2 trillion consolidated spending bill including millions of dollars in earmarks to fund the remainder of the U.S. government for the 2024 fiscal year. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 was released by the House at 2:48 a.m. EDT on Thursday, less than 48 hours before Friday’s deadline to pass a bill to fund the government for the fiscal year and is 1,012 pages long. It will allocate $1.2 trillion of public money to fund over

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New Jersey Legislature Passes New Gas Tax, EV Tax

TRENTON, NJ — In response to the recent legislative action increasing the gas tax and introducing a new fee for electric vehicles (EVs), Jim Appleton, President of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), has voiced significant concerns. The New Jersey Legislature has approved measures to raise the gas tax and impose a $250 fee on electric vehicles, escalating by $10 annually over the next four years. The intent behind these measures is to fund the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) for the maintenance of the state’s roads and bridges. While acknowledging the need for EV drivers to contribute

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Hong Kong legislature passes third reading of national security bill

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong lawmakers on Tuesday passed a third reading of a new national security bill which edged a step closer to being fully passed. Nearly 90 lawmakers in the financial hub’s largely pro-Beijing legislature are expected to vote through the bill intended to safeguard national security later on Tuesday. (Reporting by James Pomfret, editing by Ed Osmond)

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Wisconsin Legislature Passes Bill Banning Men From Women’s Sports

Wisconsin Legislature Passes Bill Banning Men From Women’s Sports Kate Anderson on March 12, 2024 The Wisconsin Senate passed a bill banning biological males from women’s sports Tuesday and sent the legislation to the governor’s desk, according to The Associated Press. The bill was introduced in August 2023 and requires high school athletes in public and private schools to compete according to their biological sex. Wisconsin senators passed the legislation in a 20 to 11 vote, with one Republican joining Democrats against on the last day of the session, according to the AP. The bill was passed in October 2023

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Biden Signals He Will Sign TikTok ‘Ban’ As His Campaign Uses Platform to Attract Young Voters

Biden Signals He Will Sign TikTok ‘Ban’ If Congress Passes Legislation Jake Smith on March 8, 2024 President Joe Biden signaled on Friday he would sign off on new legislation in Congress that could potentially result in the ban of TikTok. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to advance a bipartisan bill that would force Bytedance, a Chinese-based company, to sell its subsidiary app TikTok or face removal from U.S. Biden told reporters on Friday that he would greenlight the legislation if Congress can pass the bill. “If they pass it, I’ll sign it,” Biden said before

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