New Jersey

Jersey Glacier: how weeks of ice turned daily life into survival mode

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

Jersey Glacier: how weeks of ice turned daily life into survival mode

New Jersey has been literally locked in by ice! What started as a light, friendly, puffy snow turned into what feels like a Jersey Glacier — ice on the ocean, in the bays, up the rivers, lakes, streams… and yes, even in your backyard! It has been weeks now of unrelenting sub-freezing temperatures and nasty winter conditions that just won’t quit.

Snow on car roof | photo by EJ

A New Jersey snow/sleet storm turns everyday commutes into danger zones

For many of us everyday commuters, this isn’t some abstract weather headline — it’s personal. On my daily commute — over an hour each way on most days — I’ve never seen conditions like this. Windshields smashed in from flying ice? Yup, I’ve seen them. That’s not exaggeration — with this bitter cold coating everything, sheets of ice literally become projectiles on the highway.

In fact, in the Bordentown area a sheet of ice flew off a vehicle on I-295, broke a woman’s windshield, and hit her in the head — requiring dozens of stitches. New Jersey has a law on the books that requires drivers to remove snow and ice from their vehicles, and if that ice causes injury or damage, fines can be between $200 and $1,000 or more. But so many drivers still treat it casually — with potentially serious consequences.

Slips, falls and frozen water put residents and pets at risk

The damage doesn’t stop at cars. Whether it’s slick roads or sheet ice hiding underneath that “thin layer of snow,” people and pets are taking dangerous slips. I learned that the hard way trying to chip ice off my landscape lighting — and yep — I took a tumble just yesterday.

Add in the dangerously frozen bodies of water — spots like Barnegat Bay and other coastal inlets now ice-covered but not safe — and this cold snap is truly creating hazards all across the Garden State.

Dramatic ice rescues show how quickly fun turns life-threatening

And it’s not just me having close calls. In Woolwich Township last month, a 13-year-old boy fell through the ice on a local retention pond, prompting a dramatic rescue where police had to crawl out onto thin ice and into the frigid water to reach him as he shouted for help.

Rescue stories like that remind us just how unpredictable this ice can be — and how quickly a fun walk or playtime on “frozen” water can turn dangerous.

Frozen pipes, ice dams and home damage pile on the misery

For homeowners, the freeze-thaw cycle is no picnic either. Ice dams have formed along our roof and gutters, and we’ve been dealing with water sneaking into our windows during the brief thaw that hit yesterday. Unfortunately, it’s already dropping back into freezing again this weekend.

That thaw-freeze snap already caused real trouble for some: in Ocean County, freezing pipes in a nursing home forced the evacuation of nearly 50 residents after the pipes impacted the sprinkler system, flooding ceilings and prompting urgent relocation.

This current ice lock-down traces back to a massive storm nearly two weeks ago that dumped heavy snow and freezing rain across the tri-state area and left New Jersey looking like an iceberg. That storm not only created deep snow and ice pack but brought widespread treacherous travel conditions, easing only slightly before this week’s return to sub-freezing highs.

The lingering effects of that system — the ice build-up, frozen infrastructure, burst pipes and dangerous terrain — are what make this winter one of the most memorable in a very long time for anyone who’s had to walk, drive, or just get through a day outside in the Garden State.

And you know what? Maybe when July and August roll around, and we’re all whining about heat and humidity, thinking back to this death-grip freeze will cool us down — if only mentally. Because if there’s a silver lining to this brutal winter, it’s this: we’ll have stories to tell, laughs to share, and maybe just a tiny bit of appreciation for summer sweat instead of winter ice.

How to prepare for winter in NJ: 11 essential gear tips

Because you never know what may happen in the bipolar type of winter we have here, you should always be prepared. Do you want to get through the season without freezing?

I’m going to give you the 11 must-have cold-weather items to survive a New Jersey winter.

Gallery Credit: Judi Franco/New Jersey 101.5

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New Jersey

Devils Out to Rattle the Leafs | PREVIEW | New Jersey Devils

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Devils Out to Rattle the Leafs | PREVIEW | New Jersey Devils

THE SCOOP

The Devils began their season-high seven-game homestand with a decisive victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. The win was their second consecutive victory after picking up a win in St. Louis earlier in the week.

There’s not a lot of runway left in the season, and stringing together a run of victories is at the top of their minds. New Jersey is 11 points out of the final Wild Card spot, and 13 out of third in the Metropolitan Division. Tuesday will mark the Devils final game before the NHL Trade Deadline, which is on Friday at 3 p.m.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are having a down year, based on where the expectations were set heading into the season. The Leafs have struggled to gain any traction in their season and sit just two points ahead of New Jersey with 64. Toronto is 12 points out of third in the Atlantic Division, and nine points out of a Wild Card spot.

The Leafs have a tendency to give up an abundance of shots to their opponents, ranking first in the league in shots against, per game with 31.8, which bodes will for a Devils team that averages 29.4 shots per game, ranking sixth in the league. Despite their overall struggles, the Leafs do have the league’s fourth-best penalty kill, working at an 83.1 percent efficiency.

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New Jersey

Former Lumberton, New Jersey, mayor Gina LaPlaca pleads guilty to 2025 DUI, sentenced to treatment program

Published

15 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Former Lumberton, New Jersey, mayor Gina LaPlaca pleads guilty to 2025 DUI, sentenced to treatment program

A former mayor in Burlington County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to DUI and child endangerment charges after a 2025 traffic stop, according to prosecutors.

Lumberton Township committee member Gina LaPlaca, 46, was indicted last spring on child abuse charges after county prosecutors said she was observed driving drunk with her young child in the car, while serving as the township mayor.

Police arrested her at her home after reviewing video from a witness showing her swerving out of her lane and nearly hitting a utility pole. Lumberton police discovered her blood alcohol concentration was .30%, over three times the legal limit of .08%.

On Monday, LaPlaca was sentenced to three years in a diversionary program for first-time offenders after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and a fourth-degree child abuse charge. As part of the plea deal, LaPlaca will avoid jail time as long as she abides by the terms of the program.

Under the terms of the Pretrial Intervention or PTI program, she must attend regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and comply with any requirements set by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Judge Craig A. Ambrose also ordered LaPlaca to have an ignition lock device on her car that will prevent it from starting up if the driver has consumed alcohol. She said in court she had already installed one in October 2025, the county prosecutor’s office said.

If LaPlaca violates the terms of the PTI program, she could be prosecuted for the child abuse charge.

LaPlaca completed an intensive treatment program in May 2025 and said in a statement that she is “fully committed to my recovery” and is doing the “daily, intentional work” that comes with it. She apologized to Lumberton residents while acknowledging a private struggle with alcohol addiction that was no longer private.

“The weight of my actions is something I carry deeply,” she said in a statement shared on social media. “What I did was wrong. It was dangerous. It was inexcusable. I drove while intoxicated with my child in the car — a choice that could have caused irreversible harm. That reality is something I will live with, and learn from, for the rest of my life.”

LaPlaca served as mayor through 2025 but remains on the township committee. Terrance Benson was sworn in as mayor of Lumberton this year.

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New Jersey

Newark-bound United flight returns to LA airport for evacuation after reported fire

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Newark-bound United flight returns to LA airport for evacuation after reported fire

NEWARK, New Jersey — A United Airlines flight headed to Newark, New Jersey returned to the Los Angeles airport Monday about 40 minutes after taking off for an emergency evacuation after a reported fire, authorities said.

All flights at the LAX International Airport were ordered to remain on the ground for about half an hour during the flight’s return and evacuation, according to advisories from the Federal Aviation Administration. No injuries were reported.

The flight, which was en route to Newark Liberty International Airport returned to LAX to address an issue with one of the engines, the airline said in a statement. There was no mention of a fire, but the LA Fire Department said it responded and there was a fire that was contained as of an hour after the plane’s landing.

The flight took off at 10:43 a.m., began to turn around at about 11 a.m. and landed again at 11:19 a.m., according to flight tracker FlightAware.

The LA Fire Department said they assisted with the evacuation of more than 250 passengers and crew. Passengers exited the plane on the taxiway using slides and stairs and were taken to the terminal, the airline said.

The airplane was a Boeing 787-9, a variant of the popular line of 787 Dreamliner long-haul aircraft.

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