New Jersey
Arson investigation launched after fire at Bayer executive’s New Jersey home
Health insurance industry faces backlash after UnitedHealthcare CEO death
There’s a common theme in the wave of unsympathetic posts about UnitedHealth exec Brian Thompson’s death: rage against the health insurance industry.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Multiple federal and state agencies are investigating a possible arson attempt at the New Jersey home of an executive of global pharmaceutical giant Bayer, authorities said.
Earlier this week, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said a fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. on March 4 at an occupied residence in the borough of Madison. The suburban community is about 15 miles west of Newark, New Jersey.
The prosecutor’s office told the Morristown Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Madison firefighters responded to the incident and that the fire was quickly extinguished. No significant property damage or injuries were reported.
The prosecutor’s office declined to identify the residents of the home, citing an “active and ongoing” arson investigation. Bayer spokesperson Nicole Hayes confirmed to the Daily Record that an incident occurred at the “private home of one of Bayer’s U.S. executives,” adding that the “family is safe and unharmed.”
“The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer,” Hayes said. “The incident is under active investigation. The company is cooperating fully with the investigation. We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement.”
Several agencies, including the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit, Morris County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office K-9 Unit, New Jersey Transit Police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, and the New York City Police Department are investigating the incident as a possible arson.
On Thursday, the prosecutor’s office told NBC News and CNN that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also assisting in the investigation. The incident was first reported by Yahoo Finance last Friday.
What is Bayer?
Bayer, an international pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, was founded in Germany in 1863. The company initially focused on manufacturing and selling synthetic dyestuffs, according to the Bayer website.
It is now one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and known for making prescription drugs and other consumer health products such as aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Claritin, and Aleve.
Bayer consolidated its U.S. operations in 2013, opening a new $250 million headquarters in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, New Jersey. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who approved a $35.1 million business incentive grant to keep the company in the state, attended the grand opening.
In recent years, the company has been under intense scrutiny after it acquired Roundup under the $63 billion takeover of agrochemical company Monsanto in 2018. Roundup is a popular residential and commercial herbicide widely used by landscapers and agricultural workers.
Reuters reported last Friday that Bayer told U.S. lawmakers it may halt the sales of Roundup if it does not receive stronger legal protections against product liability litigation.
The company has faced thousands of lawsuits that claimed victims developed a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma from exposure to glyphosate, which was the active ingredient in Roundup sold for home use until 2023, according to Reuters.
Bayer has paid about $10 billion to settle disputed claims. About 67,000 cases are pending, for which the group has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions.
Incident follows increased security measures for companies
Last week’s incident comes amid heightened security measures and social media vitriol aimed at the health insurance industry and corporate America. Authorities and companies feared potential attacks targeting industry executives after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December.
Thompson, 50, was shot outside a New York City hotel while on his way to speak at an annual investor conference. Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested following a massive manhunt and faces state charges of murder as an act of terrorism. He pleaded not guilty in December.
The shooting sparked an outpour of contempt toward health insurers with people on social media sharing their grievances over denied claims and complaints about perceived greed in the industry. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, videos posted online appeared to show “wanted” posters in New York with the names and faces of other corporate executives.
Thompson’s death prompted industry peers to remove biographies and photographs of top executives from their websites. Some companies also closed offices or canceled in-person events.
“It was an eye-opening experience for many CEOs. … Most of them think they’re anonymous. A great deal of them, they drive themselves to work or just jump in a cab,” Matthew Peters, vice president of protective services at security provider Guidepost Solutions, previously told USA TODAY.
Contributing: Bailey Schulz, Ken Alltucker, Jeanine Santucci, and N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY; Reuters
New Jersey
Yellowcard Brings Ocean Avenue to New Jersey’s Own Ocean Avenue
Yellowcard played the Stone Pony Summer Stage on Friday June 12th. It was an astounding set. The band performed nineteen tracks from every era and iteration of the band. It was a special night for anyone who is a fan.
Openers Plain White T’s and New Found Glory also deserve special credit for fitting the bill flawlessly. It was the perfect way to set the stage for the show to come. Both bands have a strong stage presence and were able to captures the crowd’s full attention.
Yellowcard opened with a video of the Paramount stars. They continued their set by playing interlude snippets of other major movies such as “Back To The Future,” “Top Gun,” “The Goonies,” and the “Ghostbusters.” It really felt like we were watching a cinematic experience as well as a concert. The production was second to none. There was even pyro during certain moments of the show.
The band played six tracks off their new album Better Days. This was a huge highlight of the show. Better Days is not only the best Yellowcard album since Ocean Avenue, it’s one of the best pop-punk releases of the decade. The band worked tightly with Travis Barker, Avril Lavigne, and Alkaline Trio to enhance all aspects of the genre. The new tracks warranted even more of a reception than older tracks. We were truly watching a band in their prime.
Overall, Yellowcard are showing us the new heights bands can reach within the pop-punk genre. Their breakup and triumphant return displays to us that anything is possible. Please enjoy our gallery below from photographer Anthony Vito Cosentino.
Plain White T’s
New Found Glory
Yellowcard
All Photos by Anthony Vito Cosentino
New Jersey
Historical marker recognizing Lawnside, New Jersey, to be unveiled Friday
From Camden and Cherry Hill to Trenton and the Jersey Shore, what about life in New Jersey do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know.
The borough of Lawnside in Camden County will be honored with a historical marker from the New Jersey Historical Commission as part of the state’s Black Heritage Trail.
A ceremony unveiling the marker will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at Lawnside Borough Hall on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Road.
Marsharee Wright, aide to Lawnside Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow and long-time resident, said everyone is thrilled about the marker unveiling.
“We’ve invited the entire community and neighboring towns to come share the celebration with us,” Wright said.
Linda Shockley, president of the Lawnside Historical Society, said it’s “an extreme honor” for the borough to be included in the state’s program, especially as Lawnside is amid a year-long celebration of its centennial.
“It really lifts our profile and hopefully more people will understand and know what Lawnside is about and what it means in the nation,” Shockley said.
Lawnside was one of six sites selected in Camden County in 2024, including “The Point,” a historic Black neighborhood in Haddonfield. Its marker was unveiled last June.
During the ceremony, the borough’s history will be showcased, along with the original documents signed by Gov. A. Harry Moore in 1926, which made way for the borough’s creation.
Though there are many Black enclaves in South Jersey, the borough is the state’s only incorporated antebellum Black community. First known as Free Haven, and later Snow Hill, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Peter Mott built a three-floor dwelling in 1844 that was once part of sprawling farmland where he helped slaves escape.
Mott’s house, now owned by the Lawnside Historical Society, serves as an Underground Railroad museum.
New Jersey
Is ICE giving up on Roxbury detention center? NJ leaders laud report
See the Roxbury warehouse scouted by ICE as possible deportation site
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were in Roxbury recently apparently scouting a Rt. 46 warehouse as a possible migrant deportation facility.
Federal officials are considering abandoning plans for a controversial immigration detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey, according to a June 18 report by The New York Times, prompting local leaders and state officials to declare a victory after months of legal and political opposition.
The proposed facility, a warehouse property purchased to serve as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, faced intense criticism from local residents, environmental advocates and elected officials who argued the site was unsuitable for housing detainees.
In a joint statement issued Thursday, Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the Department of Homeland Security appeared to be backing away from the project following legal challenges that halted development.
“Today the New York Times is reporting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is backing down on its mass detention center in Roxbury,” the statement said. “That is a big win for public safety, for the township of Roxbury, and for New Jersey.”
According to the Times report, the Roxbury facility is one of seven ICE is planning to dispense with by transferring ownership to other federal agencies or selling them.
Opponents argued the warehouse was designed as a logistics facility and lacked the infrastructure necessary to support a large detention center. They also raised concerns about the potential strain on local water and sewage systems and the impact on environmentally sensitive land surrounding the site.
State officials said they joined Roxbury Township in court to challenge the project, contending that federal plans violated local regulations and posed risks to the community.
“DHS’s plans were always illegal,” the statement said. “The Roxbury warehouse is a logistics center fit for packages, not thousands of people.”
Rep. Rob Menendez said in a statement on Thursday: “We are working to confirm reporting that ICE is abandoning its Roxbury warehouse plans, but if true, this would be big news. From day one, we have fought to stop this facility, bringing together thousands of New Jerseyans in opposition. Now we are on the cusp of an important win for our state.”
The detention center was expected to become part of the federal government’s broader immigration enforcement and detention network. However, the project became a flashpoint in New Jersey, drawing opposition from both local officials and residents concerned about public safety, environmental impacts and the facility’s compatibility with surrounding land uses.
Federal officials have not publicly confirmed whether the property will be sold or formally removed from consideration. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the reported change in plans.
Opponents vowed to continue monitoring the situation until the project is officially terminated.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” the statement said. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the Roxbury community as we keep DHS’s feet to the fire to ensure this facility is never opened.”
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