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Family-run bus company could go out of business, stranding NJ riders

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Family-run bus company could go out of business, stranding NJ riders


A nearly century-old bus company in New Jersey could soon be out of business, leaving riders stranded.

A&C Bus runs four routes along Jersey City’s west side, but now the company says it will likely have to shut down in October unless it can get help from NJ Transit.

The company announced it would be discontinuing service last week, after nearly 100 years in business. Mary Beth Callahan’s grandfather moved to the U.S. from Italy and started the business with one bus in 1927.

“I’ve been losing money since COVID and I can’t hold on. This wasn’t an easy decision and it breaks my heart,” Callahan said.

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Since the pandemic in 2020, A&C owners say they’ve seen ridership on the 30, 31, 32, and 33 lines plummet by 40 percent. Without help from NJ Transit, Callahan says she’s losing more money every day.

“We have not recovered from COVID, the only thing that sustained us were the two grants we got of federal money,” Callahan added.

NJ Transit said it will offer jobs to all A and C employees, but added it may not have the resources to replace the discontinued bus lines.

While NJ Transit may absorb some of the A and C routes, people like Norma Lozaro and Anita Corpuz may find themselves searching for another way to get around.

Lozaro, 77, and Corpuz, 82, are sisters who rely on the bus to do their shopping at Newport Mall. They also the bus to church every Sunday on a route that may no longer by running by Halloween.

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The Jersey City mayor is trying to ensure that there is enough public transportation on the city’s west side. Vía, the rideshare company, is operating in the area for $2 a ride as part of a subsidized effort by the city and may be able to fill in some of the gaps left when A&C shuts down at the end of October.



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New Jersey

Renewed wildfire escapes containment and prompts evacuation near New York-New Jersey border

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Renewed wildfire escapes containment and prompts evacuation near New York-New Jersey border


Windy conditions renewed a wildfire that escaped a containtment line and prompted emergency officials to enact a voluntary evacation plan for a small number of houses in a community near the New York-New Jersey border on Saturday.

The voluntary evacuation enacted out of “an abundance of caution” impacted about 165 houses in Warwick, New York, as firefighters continued working to tame the Jennings Creek blaze, New York Parks Department spokesman Jeff Wernick said in an email Saturday night.

On Friday, the wildfire was 90% contained on the Passaic County, New Jersey, side of the border, and about 70% contained in Orange County, New York, officials said.

The wildfire had burned 7 1/2 square miles (19.4 square kilometers) across the two states as of Friday, although New York officials said that number was likely to increase as stronger winds were forecast for the weekend.

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On Saturday, Wernick said New York Army National Guard helicopters dropped 21,000 gallons (79,493 liters) of water and a New York State Police helicopter dropped nearly 900 gallons (3,406 liters).

The fire was burning primarily in Sterling Forest State Park, where the visitor center, the lakefront area at Greenwood Lake and historic furnace area remained open but woodland activities including hunting were halted, Wernick said, noting residences around the lake have not been impacted.

A National Weather Service forecast for Warwick did not call for rain until Wednesday night. Firefighters previously said they will remain on the scene until significant rainfall occurs.

The blaze claimed the life of an 18-year-old New York parks employee who died when a tree fell on him as he helped fight the fire in Sterling Forest on Nov. 9.

The fire’s cause remains under investigation.

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Democratic US Rep. Josh Gottheimer announces run for New Jersey governor

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Democratic US Rep. Josh Gottheimer announces run for New Jersey governor


NEW JERSEY — Democratic U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey launched a long-expected campaign for governor Friday, pledging to make the state more affordable.

Gottheimer’s announcement comes just over week after he won reelection for a fourth term in the House in his northern New Jersey district, and he joins an already crowded field for the Democratic nomination in next year’s gubernatorial contest.

He announced his run at a diner in populous suburban Bergen County, which he partly represents. Acknowledging the state’s heavy tax burden and reflecting some of the themes that played out in the recent White House race, Gottheimer pinned his campaign to bringing down prices.

“I am running to be the lower taxes, lower costs governor,” he said. “Life in Jersey has become too damn expensive.”

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Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s second term expires after next year’s election, and he is barred by term limits from running again.

Also seeking the Democratic nomination to be governor are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, teachers union president Sean Spiller and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Republicans are also lining up to run. Among them are state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli, former state Sen. Ed Durr and radio host Bill Spadea.

Gottheimer, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton and adviser to the head of the Federal Communications Commission, toppled conservative Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in 2016. He has since become known as a more moderate member of Congress, co-chairing the Problem Solvers Caucus with Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, of Pennsylvania. He is also known as a prolific campaign fundraiser.

If Gottheimer has to resign his House seat, state law calls for the governor to call a special election to fill the vacancy if the seat opens up 70 days before the election.

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New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with races for governor next year.

Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.



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MTA worker wins $1 million Powerball payday — and she doesn't care who knows it

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MTA worker wins  million Powerball payday — and she doesn't care who knows it


A New Jersey woman just entered the millionaire club.

The state’s lottery program announced that Stacey Fiore, an MTA supervisor stationed on Staten Island, won the Powerball prize last weekend.

Fiore plays the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries weekly, according to lottery officials.

She ran into her local Quick Stop last Saturday and pulled a quick pick, which turned out to the payday she had long been hoping for.

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“I checked the numbers on Monday on the (Lottery’s phone app),” Fiore told the state lottery. “It said ‘Congratulations. You won a million dollars.’”

The winning numbers were 11, 24, 50, 56, and 66.

Fiore was missing the Powerball number, though, keeping her from the big jackpot.

The Barnegat woman has been spreading the good news. She said she does not care about remaining anonymous.

“I went to the bank and asked to speak to the manager. I said ‘You know somebody won $1 million here in town? Well, that’s me!’” Fiore said.

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What are her big plans for the money? Fiore is considering a nice vacation with her husband.

Like many others, the MTA supervisor joked to her colleagues about not returning to work if she wins big. Jokes aside, Fiore was back at work this week on Staten Island.



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