New Jersey
New Jersey death investigator fired for sharing details of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s fatal bike crash
A New Jersey offficial upheld the firing of a death investigator who leaked details of the crash that killed NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau in 2024, according to court documents.
A court filing shows a Gloucester County death investigator shared details of the Aug. 29, 2024 crash with a group chat. Someone in that chat later posted information about the Gaudreau brothers’ deaths — and a New Jersey State Police trooper’s cell phone number — on social media, prior to the information being released to the public.
The Gaudreau brothers — Johnny, a Columbus Blue Jackets winger, and Matthew, a Gloucester Catholic High School hockey coach — were riding bicycles on County Route 551 in Oldmans Township when a driver, Sean Higgins, allegedly struck them while under the influence.
Defense attorneys have argued Higgins’ blood alcohol level was below the legal limit of .08 at the time of the crash, while prosecutors say he was intoxicated. The Gaudreaus were struck the night before their sister’s wedding.
The Gloucester County Medical Examiner’s office worker sent a picture of his notes to a text message group with members of his hockey team, after receiving news of the crash from a state trooper, documents filed with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission say.
The worker said he took the photo because he was emotional and knew the victims, and that it would also serve as a way of informing the team he could not make it to their scheduled game that night. Someone from that group chat posted the photo on Twitter, the documents say. The post at some point made it to Reddit.
Overnight, multiple articles were written based on the social media post that originated from the group chat. The trooper whose phone number was visible in the picture received about a dozen phone calls from the media trying to confirm details of the crash, documents say.
The worker was accused of failing to safeguard confidential patient information, conduct unbecoming of a public employee and other offenses.
An administrative law judge recommended the worker be suspended for six months before the Civil Service Commission ruled to fire him.
While the worker had no prior disciplinary record, the commission said that “some disciplinary actions are so serious that removal is appropriate notwithstanding a largely unblemished prior record … the [worker’s] offense … constituted a serious breach of the standard of conduct expected from all public employees who have access to confidential personal information.”
The weather overnight sent trees toppling onto cars and homes in New York and New Jersey.
The clean-up began Sunday, though rain is expected to return Monday.
Weather damage in New Jersey
In Linden, New Jersey, a fallen tree damaged Robert Goldson’s house.
“All we heard was– it felt like an earthquake,” he said. “We seen all the trunk basically tore up my garage in the back end of my house, so basically, the fire department got it.”
In Secaucus, New Jersey, part of Route 3 flooded near the Rodeway Inn. Crews were on scene to pump out the water. Local businesses did not appear to be affected, but traffic was impacted.
Weather damage in NYC
Meanwhile, in New York City, a large tree fell across bike lanes in Central Park.
Over in Brownsville, Brooklyn, a tree fell on Aaron Williams’ family car.
“So we don’t know the nature of the vehicle and how it’s going to function until the tree is removed,” he said. “And I’m hurting more than anything. And I know financially at the moment, we don’t have the finance to really fix this vehicle at the moment.”
He’s now thinking about how he’s going to take his children to school, swim practice, and how he’ll be getting his groceries.
Stay with CBS News New York for the latest on the forecast and weather damage across the region.
Watch Betty’s Icebox in Asbury Park prepare for a great summer
Local shops on the beaches and boardwalks prepare for the summer season as Memorial Day weekend approaches.
It’s o-fish-ial!
New Jersey fishing industry is the reel deal.
FishingBooker, the online fishing guide company has released it’s report on America’s Fishing Index of 2026 which evaluates performance across Anglers’ Interest, Facilities, Financial, and Geographic pillars.
The extensive research was compiled from hundreds of thousands of fishing trips, reviews, and reports, as well as industry research based on 17 different criteria’s the report stated.
For the four edition, the report details the best US fishing states and real changes compared to last 2025.
Below are the results of the search for the Garden State:
New Jersey’s 2025 rank was 28, and its 2026 rank is 15. There is a 13-spot jump, and here’s why.
- With a total of 86 points, New Jersey has officially moved from the bottom tier into the upper half of the nation, proving that its diverse mix of urban freshwater and world-class saltwater access is a major draw for modern anglers.
- While the state is rising fast, Angler Interest remains a growth area. With a score of 22 out of 55, the data suggests that New Jersey’s actual fishing quality is currently outpacing its national reputation.
- A Geography score of 15 out of 25 reflects the state’s elite saltwater infrastructure. In 2026, the state’s Artificial Reef Program, one of the most active in the country, saw new vessel deployments (such as the Susan Rose), creating immediate hotspots for black sea bass, fluke, and tautog.
- New Jersey’s 2026 rise was fueled by a massive overhaul of its Trout Stocking program. By adding 19 extra days to the season and expanding stocking to 23 new ponds, the state has made freshwater fishing more accessible to suburban and urban families than at any point in the last decade.
Key Findings of the from research:
- The 2026 top 5 looks very different than in previous years, with North Carolina and South Carolina surging into shared 4th place and Michigan rising from 4th to 3rd.
- Florida takes the top spot in 2026, climbing from 2nd place last year and reclaiming its position as the best fishing state in the US.
- There are 3 more newcomers in the top 10 compared to 2025:
- The top 10 contains:
- 6 Atlantic states
- 2 Great Lakes states
- 3 Gulf Coast states
Top 20 Fishing States in the US
- Florida
- Maryland
- Michigan
- North Carolina and South Carolina (tied)
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Wisconsin
- Rhode Island
- Hawaii and Delaware tied
- Georgia
- Alaska and New Jersey tied
- Virginia
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Ohio
New Jersey
Jersey Shore beach roped off to protect nesting birds just in time for Memorial Day weekend
They took them under their wing.
A large stretch of a Jersey Shore beach is roped off to protect a bird’s nest just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
A pair of American Oystercatchers made their home on the sand in Belmar — and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is prohibiting beachgoers from trespassing in the area to protect them and their eggs, according to NJ Advance Media.
The agency erected signs at 7th Avenue Beach — one of the most popular spots in Belmar — that say “Do Not Enter,” and explain that the area is a nesting area for the shorebirds, which are protected under federal law.
The placards also warn that “harassing these birds, their eggs or their young” can incur a $50,000 fine or jail time.
The birds are not listed as endangered or threatened species in New Jersey, according to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.
However, their status has been to changed to one of “special concern.”
Many on social media agreed with the agency’s efforts to protect the creatures, which are known for their black and white body and long orange-red bill.
“Love love love this!!!! Beautiful birds! One of my favorite!” one gushed.
“Leave that cute birdie alone people,” another added.
Others thought even more safety precautions were needed.
“We should send a biologist or conservation police to guard the area,” one wrote.
DEP officials told the outlet that the length of time the area would be closed will be determined by whether the chicks opt to remain there after hatching.
If the baby birds decide to relocate to another spot on the beach, that new area will be closed off instead, the agency added.
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