Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Tuesday:
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., leaves federal court Monday, 7/8/24 (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister)Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., leaves federal court Monday, 7/8/24 (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister)
NEW YORK — A prosecutor accused Sen. Bob Menendez in a closing argument at his bribery trial Monday of putting his power up for sale to benefit three New Jersey businessmen who bribed him with gold and cash.
The presentation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni that will continue on Tuesday prompted the Democrat to scoff as he left the courthouse, saying: “The government is intoxicated with their own rhetoric.”
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Minutes earlier, Monteleoni urged the Manhattan federal court jury to follow a trail of hundreds of emails and text messages between the businessmen and Menendez and his wife to see the link between the businessmen and the bribe proceeds found in an FBI raid on the Menendez residence in June 2022.
PLAINFIELD — Somebody has answers and they’re not coming forward.
Authorities are seeking the public’s help with recovering information related to a cold case: the deaths of two individuals in April 1973.
During the overnight hours of April 19 that year, John Sabbatino, 27, of New Brunswick, and Jeanne Biondo, 37, of East Brunswick, were found shot to death in separate areas of the state, hours apart.
Sabbatino was found deceased near Otis and Grove Avenues in Edison shortly before 4 a.m., according to authorities. Approximately three hours later, Biondo was found dead in a vehicle parked near the motor vehicle inspection center in Plainfield.
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An interstate and a state highway in New Jersey are both entering months’ worth of lane closures for maintenance work.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation on Monday announced that Tuesday, July 9 is the expected start date for the major projects.
The work will interrupt traffic on the interstate highway during both daytime and overnight hours. The state highway work is scheduled to occur when the sun is down.
Work is scheduled to wrap up next spring.
⬛ Rutgers hiking tuition…again
Rutgers University Faculty Vote To Go On Strike, A First For The 257 Year Old University
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Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Rutgers’ Board of Governor has approved a 4% tuition hike.
Tuition has now increased 10% in two years. With room and board, the average cost to attend Rutgers is over $33,000 per year.
The increase also makes Rutgers the second most-expensive in-state tuition in America. Only Oregon residents pay more.
Rutgers officials blamed inflation, however one the biggest drains on the Rutgers budget remains record expenditures for an athletics department that spends millions more than it brings in.
Students pay nearly $13 million in additional fees to support Rutgers sports.
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It’s been more than 3 months since New Jersey Lottery recorded its largest jackpot hit of more than $1 billion.
But as of right now, the Garden State still has its hands on all of the money.
According to a press release from New Jersey Lottery on Monday, the $1.13 billion jackpot from March remains unclaimed.
Ahead of the March 26 Mega Millions drawing, someone purchased the sole winning ticket at ShopRite Liquor in Neptune Township, lottery officials announced with a buzzing press conference the day after the drawing.
NJ Mosquitos and what colors make them bite you the most
Plus the colors that help repel them.
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Gallery Credit: Mike Brant
Cape May is one of NJ’s great vacation destinations
Gallery Credit: Dennis Malloy
Most wanted in Hunterdon County
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office has created a list of their most wanted fugitives.
Gallery Credit: Dino Flammia
Start your day with up-to-the-minute news, traffic and weather for the Garden State.
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New Jersey’s First News with Eric Scott is the longest running news program in New Jersey. Eric Scott began hosting the program in 1991.
It airs live on New Jersey 101.5 each weekday morning from 5:30 – 6 a.m.
New Jersey’s First News with Eric Scott is the winner of the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.
National Murrow Award Winner featured
Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com
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NEW YORK (WABC) — Commuters are being warned to plan ahead Monday as the FIFA World Cup match between Norway and Senegal at MetLife Stadium is expected to create significant travel disruptions during the evening rush hour.
City officials have issued a Gridlock Alert Day for Monday, citing the 8 p.m. kickoff, expected heavy traffic and the potential for severe weather, including strong thunderstorms and heavy rain.
The biggest impact will be felt at Penn Station, where NJ Transit service to New Jersey will be restricted beginning at 3:20 p.m.
From 3:20 p.m. until 7:01 p.m., New Jersey-bound trains departing Penn Station and Secaucus Junction will be reserved exclusively for World Cup ticket holders traveling to MetLife Stadium. Fans must have both a match ticket and an NJ Transit ticket to board.
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That means regular commuters heading home to New Jersey during that time will need to find alternate transportation, including PATH trains, ferries or buses.
Officials are encouraging commuters who normally rely on NJ Transit to leave earlier in the day if possible.
Round-trip NJ Transit tickets to MetLife Stadium are still available for $98. However, all 12,000 seats on shuttle buses departing from Grand Central Terminal, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Columbus Circle have sold out for Monday’s match.
Street closures around Penn Station will also begin no later than 2 p.m. to accommodate security screening and fan queues. Officials say 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues and 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues will remain closed until after 8 p.m., while 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues is expected to reopen after 1 a.m.
The restrictions mirror what travelers experienced during last week’s World Cup match, when thousands of fans packed transit hubs across the region.
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NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri thanked city officials for helping manage crowds around Penn Station.
“I’m so grateful to the City of New York and Mayor Mamdani for setting up a great system outside Penn Station to process the fans from a security standpoint,” Kolluri said.
He also urged commuters to remain patient as the region hosts the international tournament.
“My one ask is that this is a very amazing opportunity for the region and for the state of New Jersey. I know commuters have busy lives and they are trying to earn a living. We’re asking for a little patience,” Kolluri said.
Officials say NJ Transit transported more than 26,000 fans during the June 16 World Cup match, with additional crowds expected for Monday night’s game.
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Drivers are also being warned to expect significant delays near MetLife Stadium, particularly along Route 3.
City officials continue to encourage residents and visitors to walk, bike or use public transportation whenever possible.
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Three people were killed when a small plane taking off from New Jersey crashed into a neighborhood in Maryland, according to authorities.
A Piper PA-28 carrying a pilot and two passengers plummeted into a residential area in Bowie around midnight on Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and Maryland State Police.
A Piper PA-28 carrying a pilot and two passengers plummeted into a residential area in Bowie around midnight on Sunday. Channel4
The possible training flight was en route from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airport in Gaithersburg when the plane suddenly crashed in a wooded area close to homes, Elena Russo, spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, said at a press conference on Sunday.
The pilot and two passengers, who were all adults, were pronounced dead on the scene.
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Emergency responders rushed to search for the plane after receiving an alert of a possible crash nearby, but were unable to reach the wreckage until roughly 3:45 a.m., cops said.
Officials believe the plane belongs to a Montgomery County flight school and was “possibly participating in a training flight.” Channel4
Officials believe the plane belongs to a Montgomery County flight school and was “possibly participating in a training flight,” Russo said.
Photos captured debris from the single-engine plane strewn near a playground in the city, less than 20 miles from Washington, DC.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
