New Jersey
Mystery drone sightings keep happening in New Jersey. Here's what we know (and don't know)
A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey and the East Coast in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X.
Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft.
The FBI is among several agencies investigating and has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the drones.
Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones in New Jersey starting in November.
At first, the drones were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, a waterway that feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City.
But soon sightings were reported statewide, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.
The aircraft have also recently been spotted in coastal areas.
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said a Coast Guard commanding officer told him a dozen drones closely followed a Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend.
Drone sightings have now been reported in New York City, where a permit is required, and Mayor Eric Adams says the city is investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials.
The runways at Stewart International Airport – about 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of New York City — were shut down for about one hour Friday night because of drone activity in the airspace, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
“This has gone too far,” she said in a statement.
The governor called on Congress to pass legislation to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more authority to state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the activity.
“Extending these powers to New York State and our peers is essential,” she said. “Until those powers are granted to state and local officials, the Biden administration must step in by directing additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding region to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people.”
The White House has said that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully, echoing the opinion of officials and drone experts.
The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security, said the reported drones have been up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights switched off. This is much larger than those typically flown by drone hobbyists and she said they appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio.
Authorities say they do not know who is behind the drones.
The FBI, Homeland Security and state police are investigating the sightings. Authorities say they don’t know if it is one drone that has been spotted many times or if there are multiple aircraft being flown in a coordinated effort.
Speculation has raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drone or drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents. Officials stress that ongoing state and federal investigations have found no evidence to support those fears.
Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, Smith and U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones, citing safety concerns.
The Pentagon insists the drones do not represent a threat from abroad.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that the military’s initial assessment after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council — that the drones are not of foreign origin — remains unchanged.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the aircraft are not U.S. military drones.
President-elect Donald Trump has posted that he believes the government knows more than it’s saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on his social media site.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Thursday said the drowns should be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft.
“We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Blumenthal said.
Experts, however, warn not to shoot at anything in the sky.
Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings and said she doesn’t believe the assertion that the drones aren’t a risk to public safety.
“How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.”
The flying of drones for recreational and commercial use is legal in New Jersey, but it is subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions.
In New York City, a permit is required to take off or land an unmanned aircraft.
Operators must be FAA certified.
Sightings also have been reported in Virginia and elsewhere.
Two people said they spotted an aircraft Thursday night near Virginia Beach that was unlike any other they’ve seen.
The flying object was over the ocean and they watched as it slowly moved over a Virginia Army National Guard facility, John Knight told The Virginian-Pilot.
“It was definitely different,” said Knight, who took videos of what he thinks was a drone the size of a small truck.
“It flew like a helicopter but made no noise,” he added.
The Virginia National Guard did not have any aircraft operating in the facility’s area Thursday night, according to spokesperson A.A. “Cotton” Puryear. Its leadership is aware of the incident and it’s under investigation, Puryear said.
Another military installation in the area is Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex. NAS Oceana, the East Coast master jet base in Virginia Beach, is aware of recent reports of drone sightings in the area and is coordinating with federal and state agencies to ensure the safety of its personnel and operations, Katie Hewett, public affairs officer, said in an email Friday.
Knight submitted the videos Thursday night to the FBI tip line.
Drones were also spotted last month in the U.K. The U.S. Air Force said several small unmanned aircraft were detected near four military bases in England that are used by American forces.
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Miller reported from Oklahoma City. Bruce Schreiner contributed from Shelbyville, Kentucky.
The owners of a New Jersey restaurant held a community celebration and are set to officially reopen their business more than a month after they were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On Sunday, March 30, 2025, Emine and Celal Emanet held a celebration in Haddon Township, New Jersey, and served food to show their gratitude for their community’s support and to also mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.
“We are a small business,” Emine Emanet said. “You know everywhere is small. But we have a big heart for all of everybody.”
The couple’s restaurant, Jersey Kebab, officially reopens on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
“I’ve been missing them,” Steve Barton, a Haddon Township resident, told NBC10. “They’ve been sorely missed throughout this entire ordeal.”
The restaurant – located on 150 Haddon Avenue – has been closed since Feb. 25, 2025, when ICE officers raided the business and arrested Emine and Celal Emanet. An ICE spokesperson said the two Turkish citizens were in the United States illegally. While Celal Emanet was released from custody with an ankle monitor, Emine Emanet remained in custody at an ICE detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, for two weeks.
Immigration attorney Joseph Best told NBC10 the couple moved to the United States from Turkey in 2008 on a religious visa. According to Camden County officials, Celal Emanet applied for a green card before the visa expired. Emanet said his application was denied three times and the couple has been in limbo since 2016.
During Emine Emanet’s detainment, the couple received support from both New Jersey leaders as well as community members. During a press conference in late February after their arrest, Haddon Township Mayor Randall Teague described the couple’s restaurant as a “pillar” in the community.
“We consider this situation maybe somewhat different than some of the other ones that we hear on TV where there’s criminals and rapists and so forth coming into our country,” Mayor Teague said. “They came in here legally and they’re trying to stay here legally.”
Teague also said the family has participated in Toys for Tots drives and organized food drives that have “left a lasting impact” on the area.
The couple’s arrest occurred amid a nationwide push from President Donald Trump’s administration to detain immigrants who entered the United States without the proper documents.
“This family is a family that embodies the very best of Camden County. And now they’re torn apart by this broken immigration system,” Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said in February. “It is time to stand up for good people. It is time to stand up for humanity. These folks do not deserve this. These folks do not deserve this. Fix the immigration system and let’s fix it now.”
Haddon Township residents also donated more than $327,000 to a GoFundMe in support of the family.
On Tuesday, March 11, a judge set a $7500 bond for Emine Emanet’s release. She was released and reunited with her family the next day after the nonprofit Envision Freedom Fund successfully posted the bond.
Emine Emanet and her son Muhammed Emanet during Sunday’s community celebration
While the family is back in business, their legal battle continues.
“We have to prove ourselves,” Celal Emanet said on Sunday. “We are here. We have business. We’re regular people. We don’t have a criminal record. We pay our taxes so I hope they are going to accept it.”
Community members who attended Sunday’s celebration said they will continue to support them.
“They never let us down,” Barton said. “We are not going to let them down.”
The couple’s next court date is scheduled for the end of May 2025.
Watch these seniors bring the Olympic spirit to a mock Olympic Games
Sixty seniors at Belmont Village Senior Living Community in California take part in a mock Olympics to mark the start of the Summer Games in Paris.
USA Today
Retiring in the Garden State does have it perks.
According to the yearly report from Seniorly, Best of Senior Living Awards for 2025, New Jersey has the second best senior living facilities across the country and 19 award-winning facilities. The Garden State also has the top two best retirement communities in the Northeast.
The online marketplace for senior living communities analyzed data from 500,000 online reviews, across 60,000 facilities across six categories: cleanliness, dining services, staff ratings, value, care services and overall resident satisfaction. Only 336 facilities were chosen, according to the report.
To qualify for the award, communities must be in the top 5% of their consumer sentiment ratings, be free of serious licensing violations for the last 36 months and have no evidence of negative media coverage for the last 24 months.
New Jersey was recognized on three lists. Here are the findings:
Best Senior Living Facility
New Jersey’s Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel in Burlington Country lands in the No. 2 spot on the list. The facility offers Memory Care and cost for this community starts at $5,500.
“Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel offers a harmonious blend of expert care and vibrant community life, designed to enhance the well-being of its residents. With a focus on personalized care, the community provides an environment where residents can thrive, supported by a team that understands the importance of deep connections,” the website reads.
Best Senior Living Facility: Northeast Region
According to the report, New Jersey also has two of the best senior living facilities in the Northeast Region.
- Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel in Mount Laurel
- Brandywine Living Monarch at Livingston
Top states with award-winning facilities
These communities are vital to our senior living infrastructure and often provide high-quality care at exceptional value, said Seniorly.
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Arizona
- Washington
- New Jersey
- Georgia
- New York
- Illinois
- Michigan
New Jersey
N.J. health officials issue stop work notices after loss of federal funds – New Jersey Globe
Public health programs funded by the federal government were ordered to shut down on Monday after the Trump Administration pulled back their subsidies.
The New Jersey Department of Health issued a stop work notice late yesterday.
On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a stop work order cancelling about $11 billion in grant agreements across the U.S. All 21 counties receive funding under these grants, which go to county, municipal and regional health departments across New Jersey.
“The disruptive impacts created by the Trump Administration ripping away $350 million in congressionally-approved federal funding for the New Jersey Department of Health and the New Jersey Department of Human Services endanger critical public health programs in communities across New Jersey,” said Tyler Jones, a spokesman for Gov. Phil Murphy. “Our office shares our partners’ frustration over the unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for frontline public health work resulting from the Trump Administration’s actions.
No guidance has been sent to recipients, but it could mean a permanent end of some heath services and layoffs.
Linda Brown, the executive director of the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials, said on Friday she was confident that their Enhancing Local Public Health Infrastructure and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure grants would be affected and that costs incurred after March 28 would not be reimbursed.
“Being very frank, we know far less than we do. I want to identify that the impacts of this stop work order will have profound impacts on NJACCHO programming, operation and staff,” Brown said. “We have gotten inconsistent communication shared with the organization from some local health agencies from different NJDOH sources. There is still much we need to determine.”
Jones said the Murphy Administration is “committed to fighting these illegal clawbacks and is working tirelessly to get more information to share with each impacted organization and resident.”
“Our priority remains protecting public health,” Jones stated.
The chair of the Assembly Health Committee, Carol Murphy, said she was “exploring all options to fight back and protect our residents.”
“The reckless and irresponsible stop work order issued by the federal government immediately removes $350 million in federally approved funding for the State of New Jersey, jeopardizing the public health of our residents,” she said. “The dire consequences will be immediate, as mass layoffs devastate healthcare services and outcomes. The disruptive actions of the Trump Administration are harmful.”
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