New Jersey
‘Repetitive compulsive’ NJ sex offender Nicholas Voutsas on the lam after escaping from hospital van
New Jersey cops have launched a manhunt for a 25-year-old “repetitive compulsive’’ sex offender who broke out of a health department van on his way to a Newark hospital last week.
Nicholas Voutsas, who is listed as a Tier 2 sex offender on the Garden State’s registry, was being transported to University Hospital on Thursday when he broke free around 9 a.m. — and is still on the loose, state police said in a press release.
“As a result, the initial investigative agency, the New Jersey Human Services Police Department, charged Nicholas Voutsas with escape,” the release said. “He was last seen in the area of University Hospital near South Range Avenue and Bergen Street in Newark, Essex County.
“At the time of his escape he was wearing a burgundy or maroon winter coat.”
State police did not provide details of Voutsas’ sex offenses, but records show he lured a child and was convicted of second-degree endangerment in 2022, according to the outlet New Jersey 101.5.
It wasn’t clear why he was being taken to the hospital.
Voutsas is listed on the state registry as being a “moderate risk ” of re-offense, a designation that means schools and daycares must be notified about him.
He is listed as 5 feet, 11inches tall, with brown hair and blue eyes and a mole on his right cheek.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit tip line at 1-800-437-7839 or at fugitiveinformation@njsp.gov.
New Jersey
11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend
A teenager was shot to death in Jersey City, a woman was killed in a fiery crash with a dump truck in Ocean County, and a man is in critical condition after an SUV hit him in a Princeton crosswalk.
Here are the headlines from the weekend in New Jersey you may have missed.
Teen Shot Dead In Jersey City Apartment, Prosecutor Says
A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in Jersey City on Friday night, prosecutors said.
Woman Killed In Fiery Head-On Dump Truck Crash In Ocean County
A woman was killed Friday when her van hit a dump truck head-on in Jackson and burst into flames, Jackson police said.
Evelin Villanueva-Detejeda, 43, of Perth Amboy, was killed in the crash that happened about 2 p.m. on Toms River Road (Route 571) near Osprey Place, Sgt. Edward Travisano said.
Six people sustained minor injuries in the collision late Friday afternoon, according to State Police Tpr. Christopher Postorino.
Read more: 11-Vehicle Crash, Overturned Truck Shut Down Turnpike In South Jersey: Police
NJ College Student Abducted From Campus, Sexually Assaulted By Armed Man, Police Say
A Union County man is facing a slew of charges after kidnapping a woman, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Akram Elsayed, 28, of Roselle, has been arrested after an investigation found that he’d kidnapped a woman and handcuffed her to the door of a car, police said.
New Jersey
School closings and delays in NY, NJ, CT for Monday, Dec. 15
NEW YORK – Track school closings and delays for Monday, Dec. 15 in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
JUMP TO: NEW YORK l NEW JERSEY l CONNECTICUT
- MORE: Click here for real-time school closing updates.
List of school closings and delays
New York
- Central Islip School District: 2 Hour Delay
- Deer Park School District: 2 Hour Delay
- East Islip School District: 2 Hour Delay
- Half Hollow Hills School Dist.: 2 Hour Delay
- Marlboro Central School District: 2 Hour Delay
New Jersey
- Franklin Township School District: 2 Hour Delay
- Somerset Co. Educational Svcs. Comm. Sch. Dist.: 90 Minute Delay
- Watchung Borough School District: 2 Hour Delay
Connecticut
- Norwalk High School: 2 Hour Delay
New Jersey
New Jersey lottery player wins $1M as Powerball hits $1.1 billion
A New Jersey ticket was one of seven to win million dollar prizes in the Saturday, Dec. 13 Powerball drawing, according to the Powerball website.
Nobody won the billion-dollar jackpot, but seven tickets matched the five white balls to become millionaires.
In New Jersey, a Morris County lottery player won $1 million buying a ticket at a Sunoco station on East Hanover Avenue in Morristown, according to the New Jersey Lottery.
Five other tickets won $50,000 by matching four white balls and the Powerball. Here’s where:
- $50,000, Food Village on Midland Avenue in Garfield (Bergen County)
- $50,000, Main Line Deli on Shiloh Pike in Bridgeton (Cumberland County)
- $50,000, Wawa on Route 70 West in Marlton (Burlington County)
- $50,000, 7-Eleven on West Kings Highway in Mount Ephraim (Camden County)
- $50,000, third-party app Jackpot.com
Million-dollar prizes won
In addition to the NJ ticket, two tickets sold in North Carolina and Pennsylvania won $2 million having the Power Play option.
Tickets sold in Florida, Michigan and Virginia also won $1 million each, while a ticket sold in California won $1,975,554. Non-jackpot prizes won in California are based on actual sales in the state.
Powerball climbs to $1.1 billion
It has been 42 Powerball drawings since there has been a winner so the jackpot for the Monday, Dec. 15 drawing will grow to an estimated $1.1 billion with a cash value of $503.4 million.
It will be the sixth biggest Powerball and 12th largest US lottery jackpot ever (see lists below).
“This jackpot streak is bringing people together to dream big during this festive time of year,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Please play responsibly. Just one $2 Powerball® ticket gives you a chance to win this jackpot while also supporting good causes in your community.”
The jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 when two lottery players from Missouri and Texas $1.787 billion jackpot – the second largest ever.
What are the 12/13/25 winning Powerball numbers?
Here are the Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025:
1 – 28 – 31 – 57 – 58 and Powerball 16
Powerplay was 2x
When is the next Powerball drawing?
Powerball drawings are held three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Monday drawings were added in 2021.
How late can I buy Powerball tickets?
The deadline for purchasing Powerball ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. The deadline in New Jersey is 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing, while New York’s deadline is 10 p.m.
Click here is a complete list of Powerball ticket deadline times by state or jurisdiction.
How do I play Powerball?
The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Power Play for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot and Match 5). There is also a 10x Power Play possibility when the jackpot is less than $150 million.
Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a quick pick ticket with random numbers for you.
Prizes vary from $4 for the matching the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can check all the prize payouts on the Powerball website here.
Where is the Powerball available?
You can play the game in 45 states plus the Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
How can I watch Powerball drawing?
The Powerball drawing is broadcast live on the lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can watch the drawing by clicking here.
The drawing may be broadcast on a local television station in your market as well.
What are my odds of winning?
Playing the Powerball can be exciting, but just don’t go spending those millions before you win.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 292,201,338-to-1.
The odds to match all five white balls are 11,688,053-to-1.
Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery
Lump sum or annuity?
The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.
The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.
The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades for all the money.
Can I win jackpot and remain anonymous?
In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn’t always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
In other states, a winner’s name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.
Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots
Here are the Top 10 jackpots since the Powerball lottery began in 1992:
- $2.04 billion, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
- $1.787 billion, Sept. 6, 2025: Won in Missouri and Texas
- $1.765 billion, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
- $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
- $1.326 billion, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
- $1.1 billion, Dec. 15, 2025:
- $1.08 billion, July 19, 2023: Won in California
- $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
- $768.4 million, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
- $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?
Here’s a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:
- $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
- $1.787 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025: Won in Missouri and Texas
- $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
- $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
- $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
- $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
- $1.269 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27: Won in California
- $1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
- $1.1 billion, Powerball, Dec. 15, 2025:
- $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
- $980 million, Mega Millions, Nov. 14, 2025: Won in Georgia
- $842.4 million, Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
- $810 million, Mega Millions, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
- $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
- $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
- $754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
Gambling problem?
If you need help with a gambling problem, you can get help by calling 1800-GAMBLER or clicking on www.800gambler.org
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
-
Alaska1 week agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Texas1 week agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Washington6 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa1 week agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
-
Iowa2 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Miami, FL1 week agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS
-
World1 week ago
Chiefs’ offensive line woes deepen as Wanya Morris exits with knee injury against Texans