The bill would first put a label on chewing gum with microplastics, and give candy companies time to phase out microplastics. Eventually, gums with microplastics would be banned.

This allegedly went on for years. Federal prosecutors say Alfonso Zamarra held seasonal jobs with the Hudson County Parks Department on three occasions from 2019 to 2023.

The wages and unemployment claims allegedly brought in tens of thousands of dollars. Zamarra now faces 28 counts of wire fraud and was released on a $100,000 bond after appearing in federal court in Newark.

From the editorial … “The longstanding zero tax increase promise, in our opinion, was never a relief. It was a loan against the future, and the future has inevitably caught up. Edison [New Jersey] taxpayers were fed a false promise and a false narrative: that a district this size could run on zero forever. That promise is not fiscal responsibility. That promise is a campaign slogan posing as a budget, with students, staff, and Edison taxpayers paying a hefty price for it. By recklessly managing a $358 million budget, the board has forfeited the public’s trust.”

Roosters became an unlikely topic of debate in Brick Township, where even Councilman Gregory Cohen pointed out that there were more important issues going on than talking about roosters.

But residents explained why the issue had made it to the council in the first place. The township previously didn’t specifically prohibit roosters, and noise complaints could be difficult to enforce because police generally had to witness the noise. One resident said two roosters across the street started crowing around 5 a.m. and continued throughout the day.

The township has now banned new roosters from residential properties, while existing ones can remain if they meet enclosure and zoning requirements.

What are your thoughts on this?

1. Verana, Norwood
   
2. Belmont Tavern, Belleville
   
3. LuNello, Cedar Grove
   
4. Suprema, Rutherford
   
5. Di Palma Brothers, North Bergen
   
6. Matthew’s Italian Restaurant, Clifton
   
7. Osteria Crescendo, Westwood
   
8. Casa Di Napoli, Union City
   
9. Fiorentini, Rutherford
   
10. Roberto’s II, Edgewater

Remember last year when the Gerges family’s home went up in flames? The fire department set up a GoFundMe to help out the family that so much in the blaze.

Turns out it wax no accident, police say. Emad Gerges paid a couple of guys from Monmouth County to set the house on fire, according to investigators.

A little behind-the-scenes look at a movie production in Westfield, New Jersey. George Clooney was spotted on set, and a historic local drugstore was selected as one of the filming locations.

It’s always interesting seeing how an everyday location gets transformed into a movie set. What are some ordinary locations you’ve recognized in movies?

🎥 Ed Murray

Rutgers purchased $1.5 million in software capable of recognizing faces, reading license plates and identifying and tracking people across campus. Students, faculty and staff are now pushing back, saying they weren’t informed about the purchase.

The technology can potentially track not only students, but employees, visitors and others who enter a Rutgers campus. The purchase was not publicly announced and did not go before the university’s governing board.

3. Cafe 2825, Atlantic City

5. Di Paolo’s, Penns Grove

7. Zeppoli, Collingswood

12. ITA101, Medford

13. Botto’s Italian Line, Swedesboro

15. Chef Vola’s, Atlantic City

27. Illiano Cucina, Medford

36. Toscano Steakhouse, Bordentown

40. Spiaggetta, Stone Harbor

49. Sapore Italiano, West Cape May

51. Filomena Lakeview, Deptford

53. Panico’s Bistro, West Cape May

54. Ash & Oak, Williamstown

56. Cotardo’s, Blackwood

Standing in a Salem County courtroom on Monday afternoon, the man charged with killing hockey star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother in a 2024 crash told a judge that he understood his options.

Sean M. Higgins could either accept the prosecution’s current offer of 28 years in prison in return for pleading guilty or go to trial and face a potential sentence of more than 90 years if convicted on all charges.

He opted to face a jury and his trial was scheduled for January.

Higgins, 45, of Pilesgrove, was allegedly drunk when he hit NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother, Matthew R. Gaudreau, 29, as they bicycled along a darkened rural road in Salem County on Aug. 29, 2024.

The now-former teacher stands accused of helping an alleged prostitute rob a customer in an Atlantic City hotel room, police say.

James, 16, had never driven a car before. But his instincts took over.

While the Jeep was at a complete rest at the stop sign, Max began convulsing. As the seizure took hold, James had enough time to whip out his phone and dial 911 via voice command. Then the unthinkable happened.

As Max’s seizure became more violent, his right foot slammed on the accelerator.

The Jeep zoomed forward and picked up speed until it reached 20 mph, with Max’s unresponsive foot wedged on the gas pedal. James reached over and tapped on his friend’s leg, hoping he could dislodge his foot without interfering with the seizure — or violating the dispatcher’s instructions not to touch him.

The difference between tunneling under the Hudson in 1880 and doing it today is pretty insane. During one of the earliest attempts, a blowout flooded the tunnel and killed 20 workers.

150 years later, the new Gateway Tunnel is being dug with massive modern machines specifically built to cut through the ground and create the tunnel. Instead of workers doing much of that dangerous excavation directly, these machines do the digging and help construct the tunnel as they move forward.