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N.J. pastor returns to Sunday service after being released by ICE. Here’s what he experienced.

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N.J. pastor returns to Sunday service after being released by ICE. Here’s what he experienced.


Yeison Cortes Vasquez was back at his church in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Sunday, one day after being released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.

Why Pastor Vasquez was detained

Vasquez was detained back on March 20, with the Department of Homeland Security saying he had overstayed his tourist visa from Colombia that expired in 2016.

In a recent statement, the agency said, “Cortes Vasquez has been released on bond with a GPS monitor while he undergoes further removal proceedings. He will receive full due process.”

Enid Almanzar, a fellow pastor with the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, said ICE detainments have ravaged the Latino church community.

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“We’ve seen anywhere from a 30% to an even 80% drop in attendance because people are just simply afraid to come out,” Almanzar said.

“God had a purpose”  

Vazquez’s parishioners at The Gathering Place in Elizabeth were relieved to see their pastor return to Sunday service.

Pastor Yeison Cortes Vasquez, left.  

The Gathering Place Church

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Speaking through a translator, Vasquez said of his time being detained, “I cried a lot for my wife and daughters and my church, but God had a purpose.”

Vasquez read part of a letter he wrote to his church community while detained at Delaney Hall. The father of three shared that he was head of discipleship and bible study at the ICE detention facility.

“A thousand and a thousand thank you for taking care of my daughters and my wife,” Vasquez said.

“It’s a feeling you just can’t explain”  

Parishioners were overjoyed to see Vasquez, saying his absence was deeply felt since he was detained on March 20 while working his day job in food delivery. His community rallied and helped him get legal counsel.

“We all cried today at the service. Like, everyone cried,” Margarita Lainez said.

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“It’s a feeling you just can’t explain,” Guido Rodriguez added.

While parishioners say their prayers have been answered, the pastor, himself, told them to “keep praying that [they] are still at the detention center.”

He is also asking the faithful to pray for the authorities. 



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New Jersey online casinos set another revenue record in May

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New Jersey online casinos set another revenue record in May


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The Garden State set a record for monthly iGaming revenue in May. Read how much for the biggest month ever in New Jersey iGaming.

New Jersey online casinos have been going strong all year, but May 2026 was especially notable. The Garden State’s iGaming market earned a record-breaking $276.3 million last month. This amount eclipsed the previous record of $273.2 million set in December 2025.

NJ online casino revenue for May 2026: $276.3 million

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The $276.3 million earned in May 2026 represents an 11.9% year-over-year (YoY) increase from May 2025, when NJ online casinos earned $246.8 million. 

This was yet another strong month and double-digit increase for New Jersey iGaming. The state had an identical 11.9% YoY uptick last month, when iCasinos made $263.1 million. 

Year-to-date earnings for New Jersey gaming sites are $1.32 billion through May 2026. That’s up 14.4% compared to the same time period last year, when New Jersey had $1.16 billion through May 2025.

Golden Nugget enjoyed the strongest month

According to the May 2026 New Jersey iGaming revenue report, the Golden Nugget brand led all NJ iCasinos with $86.45 million. Of the three online casinos operating under Golden Nugget’s license, FanDuel made the most with $63.24 million from casino games online. BetRivers and Golden Nugget Online earned $12.43 million and $10.79 million, respectively.

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Resorts Casino Hotel had the second-best month with $53.89 million. It doesn’t break down revenue by each online casino. But DraftKings is the biggest operator on this license on account of its progressive jackpot slots.

Retail casinos stay flat

Last month, brick-and-mortar casinos joined in the party with an 11.7% YoY increase. This month was a different story. New Jersey land-based casinos made $265.6 million in May 2026, just a 0.1% increase over the $256.3 million made the previous May.

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa had the best month among NJ retail casinos, earning $72.9 million. Hard Rock Atlantic City also had a solid month with $49.9 million, while Ocean Resorts rounded out the top three with $46.8 million.

Sports betting sees a big revenue decrease

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In April 2026, sports betting had the largest growth out of New Jersey gambling verticals with a 12.8% YoY increase. However, May 2026 was a different story since NJ bookmakers earned $85.2 million—a 16.9% decrease from the $102.5 million made in the previous May.

The Garden State isn’t an outlier here since other states, like New York and Pennsylvania, also struggled with sports gambling revenue last month. US sportsbooks largely saw a smaller hold in May 2026 and are also dealing with increased competition from prediction markets.

iGaming continues to lead the way

Total gaming revenue for the state was $627.1 million in May 2026, representing a 2.0% YoY increase from the $614.7 million made in the previous May. 

iGaming definitely looks to carry the torch moving forward. Many gambling operators are banking on real-money online slots to boost their revenue, while retail casinos and sports betting are currently struggling.

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Responsible gambling

Legal US online casinos promote responsible play by allowing players to limit losses, sessions, wagers, and logins. They also offer timeout options for account breaks lasting days to weeks. Self-exclusion is a long-term option that shuts off access to an account for months or years.

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World Cup match to impact NJ Transit service during rush hour

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World Cup match to impact NJ Transit service during rush hour


NEW YORK (WABC) — Commuters are being warned to plan ahead Monday as the FIFA World Cup match between Norway and Senegal at MetLife Stadium is expected to create significant travel disruptions during the evening rush hour.

City officials have issued a Gridlock Alert Day for Monday, citing the 8 p.m. kickoff, expected heavy traffic and the potential for severe weather, including strong thunderstorms and heavy rain.

The biggest impact will be felt at Penn Station, where NJ Transit service to New Jersey will be restricted beginning at 3:20 p.m.

From 3:20 p.m. until 7:01 p.m., New Jersey-bound trains departing Penn Station and Secaucus Junction will be reserved exclusively for World Cup ticket holders traveling to MetLife Stadium. Fans must have both a match ticket and an NJ Transit ticket to board.

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That means regular commuters heading home to New Jersey during that time will need to find alternate transportation, including PATH trains, ferries or buses.

Officials are encouraging commuters who normally rely on NJ Transit to leave earlier in the day if possible.

Round-trip NJ Transit tickets to MetLife Stadium are still available for $98. However, all 12,000 seats on shuttle buses departing from Grand Central Terminal, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Columbus Circle have sold out for Monday’s match.

Street closures around Penn Station will also begin no later than 2 p.m. to accommodate security screening and fan queues. Officials say 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues and 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues will remain closed until after 8 p.m., while 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues is expected to reopen after 1 a.m.

The restrictions mirror what travelers experienced during last week’s World Cup match, when thousands of fans packed transit hubs across the region.

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NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri thanked city officials for helping manage crowds around Penn Station.

“I’m so grateful to the City of New York and Mayor Mamdani for setting up a great system outside Penn Station to process the fans from a security standpoint,” Kolluri said.

He also urged commuters to remain patient as the region hosts the international tournament.

“My one ask is that this is a very amazing opportunity for the region and for the state of New Jersey. I know commuters have busy lives and they are trying to earn a living. We’re asking for a little patience,” Kolluri said.

Officials say NJ Transit transported more than 26,000 fans during the June 16 World Cup match, with additional crowds expected for Monday night’s game.

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Drivers are also being warned to expect significant delays near MetLife Stadium, particularly along Route 3.

City officials continue to encourage residents and visitors to walk, bike or use public transportation whenever possible.

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New Jersey

3 killed after plane taking off from NJ crashes near Maryland homes

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3 killed after plane taking off from NJ crashes near Maryland homes


Three people were killed when a small plane taking off from New Jersey crashed into a neighborhood in Maryland, according to authorities.

A Piper PA-28 carrying a pilot and two passengers plummeted into a residential area in Bowie around midnight on Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and Maryland State Police.

A Piper PA-28 carrying a pilot and two passengers plummeted into a residential area in Bowie around midnight on Sunday. Channel4

The possible training flight was en route from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airport in Gaithersburg when the plane suddenly crashed in a wooded area close to homes, Elena Russo, spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, said at a press conference on Sunday.

The pilot and two passengers, who were all adults, were pronounced dead on the scene.

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Emergency responders rushed to search for the plane after receiving an alert of a possible crash nearby, but were unable to reach the wreckage until roughly 3:45 a.m., cops said.


Landing gear wheel of a plane.
Officials believe the plane belongs to a Montgomery County flight school and was “possibly participating in a training flight.” Channel4

Officials believe the plane belongs to a Montgomery County flight school and was “possibly participating in a training flight,” Russo said.

Photos captured debris from the single-engine plane strewn near a playground in the city, less than 20 miles from Washington, DC.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.



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