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NJ’s William Paterson University lost professor’s 380-million-year-old fossils — which ended up in a Tenn. dump, lawsuit claims

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NJ’s William Paterson University lost professor’s 380-million-year-old fossils — which ended up in a Tenn. dump, lawsuit claims


He has an ancient bone to pick.

A professor is suing a New Jersey university after it allegedly caused his collection of 380-million-year-old fossils to end up in a Nashville landfill, ruining more than 18 years of work.

Martin Becker, a professor of environment science and a paleontologist at William Paterson University in Wayne, accused the school of negligence over failing to pay outstanding fees to UPS, which was supposed to transport about 200 of his fossils from the campus to Florida, NBC News reports.

Instead, the error caused Becker’s life work to be tossed out at a Tennessee dump, upending the “hundreds upon hundreds of hours” the paleontologist spent collecting rare ancient fossils from the Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era on New Jersey’s High Mountain.

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William Paterson University professor Martin Becker accused the school of negligence when it lost his 380-million-year-old fossils. William Paterson University
Becker claims his collection was the most comprehensive one of its kind from the ancient bones found in Northern New Jersey. NJ Spotlight News

“Plaintiff’s assemblage of the fossils is the most unique and comprehensive collection of marine fossils ever reported in Northern New Jersey,” the lawsuit states.

“The fossil assemblage was an integral part of plaintiff’s life and all aspects of his career, and was a critical factor in plaintiff’s good name and stupendous reputation at William Paterson and the fields of paleontology and geology,” it added.

Becker’s nightmare began on June 18, 2024, when he packed his 200-fossile collection inside 19 separate boxes to be sent off from the university’s mailroom to a colleague in Florida for a collaborative project.

The packages were handed off to mailroom supervisor Raymond Boone, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, with UPS picking up the boxes that same day, according to the lawsuit.

Becker had trusted the school to ship some 200 fossils to a colleague in Florida. NJ Spotlight News

Boone allegedly told Becker he would receive tracking and insurance information from UPS, but Becker says he never received the documents.

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When the professor learned that the fossils never arrived in Florida, he made multiple calls to the mailroom and finally received tracking information on Aug. 20, according to the suit.

It allegedly showed that the packages were still in New Jersey, and Becker said he repeatedly contacted Boone to resolve whatever issue was stalling the delivery.

William Paterson University allegedly accepted Becker’s shipment even though its UPS account had been terminated for months. Google Maps
The error caused the fossils that Becker spent 18 years collecting to be tossed in a Nashville landfill. NJ Spotlight News

By Sept. 20, Boon told Becker the fossils might have been held up by the UPS fraud department, according to the lawsuit.

Becker went on to contact UPS directly 10 days later, learning that his packages were intercepted because the university’s account had been canceled over its failure to pay outstanding invoices, the lawsuit states.

The school’s account had already been canceled on April 24, with Boone knowing about the lapse by July 8 despite telling Becker at the time that he was “working on the issue,” according to the lawsuit.

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Becker is accusing the school and Boone of negligence and breaching their duty of care over his fossils for failing to pay the UPS invoices and for shipping his packages before the issue was resolved.

Becker also claims Boone was unfit for his job at the mailroom and alleges William Paterson was negligent in hiring him.

Becker is seeking unspecified damages for his lost collection, as well as medical expenses for the distress the whole ordeal has caused him, according to the suit.

Boone and William Paterson University did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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New Jersey mom hits jackpot at casino slots in Atlantic City

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New Jersey mom hits jackpot at casino slots in Atlantic City


ATLANTIC CITY (WABC) — A mom from New Jersey brought home more than flowers for Mother’s Day, raking in a jackpot worth over a hundred thousand dollars at a casino in Atlantic City over the holiday weekend.

Jacqueline B, a mom from Toms River, NJ, placed a $5 bet on a Dragon Link slot machine at Ocean Casino Resort on Saturday.

She hit the jackpot, winning $101,566.53 to be exact.

The jackpot paid out $101,566.

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Jacqueline hasn’t yet revealed how she plans to spend her newfound cash.

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Did anyone win Powerball? Winning numbers for May 9, 2026

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Did anyone win Powerball? Winning numbers for May 9, 2026


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Powerball winning numbers are in for the Saturday, May 9 drawing with a jackpot that reached an estimated $47 million ($21.0 million cash option).

The winning numbers in Saturday’s drawing are 15, 41, 46, 47, and 56, with Powerball number 22.  The Power Play number is 2.

Did anyone win the Powerball jackpot?

No one won the Powerball jackpot.

When is the next drawing of the Powerball?

The next Powerball drawing is Monday. Drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

How late can you buy a Powerball ticket?

In New Jersey, in-store and online ticket sales are available until 9:59 p.m. on the night of the draw.

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What does it cost to play Powerball?

Powerball costs $2 to play. For an additional $1 per play, the Power Play feature can multiply nonjackpot prizes by two, three, four, five or 10 times.

Are you a Powerball winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All New Jersey Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.99. For prizes over $599.99, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at New Jersey Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to New Jersey Lottery, Attn: Validations, PO Box 041, Trenton, NJ 08625-0041.

Winners can drop off their claim form and winning ticket in person at the New Jersey Lottery office where a secure drop box is available. Claim forms are also available at the office. Hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Lawrence Park Complex, 1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle, Trenton, NJ 08648.

To find a lottery retalier, you can search the NJ lotto website.

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What is the Powerball payout?

The complete guide to winnings is:

  • Match 5 White Balls + Powerball: Jackpot
  • Match 5 White Balls: $1 million
  • Match 4 White Balls + Powerball: $50,000
  • Match 4 White Balls: $100
  • Match 3 White Balls + Powerball: $100
  • Match 3 White Balls: $7
  • Match 2 White Balls + Powerball: $7
  • Match 1 White Ball + Powerball: $4
  • Match Powerball: $4
  • Match 5 White Balls with Power Play: $2 million
  • Match 4 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $200,000
  • Match 4 White Balls with Power Play: $400
  • Match 3 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $400
  • Match 3 White Balls with Power Play: $28
  • Match 2 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $28
  • Match 1 White Ball + Powerball with Power Play: $16
  • Match Powerball with Power Play: $16

What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?

The overall odds of winning the Powerball are 1 in 292.2 million.

How do I find the Powerball winning numbers?

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings are also lived streamed on Powerball.com. The winning numbers are posted to the Powerball and New Jersey Lottery websites.



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NJ ex-fireman ‘ready for war’ when he launched into violent rampage triggered by breakup: prosecutors

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NJ ex-fireman ‘ready for war’ when he launched into violent rampage triggered by breakup: prosecutors


A crazed ex-fireman allegedly launched into a violent rampage after his ex-girlfriend dumped him — and was “ready for war” when he drove eight hours intending to kill her family in New Jersey, according to prosecutors.

Brian John Lanzim, 37, was armed with two guns and a bulletproof vest when he headed from Bangor, Maine to South Toms River, after the mother of his two kids broke up with him and filed a temporary restraining order against him, authorities said.

He allegedly wanted to kill off his ex’s family to get custody of his kids, according to prosecutors — but his lawyer claimed he was actually trying to die “by suicide by cops,” according to Patch.com.

Brian Lanzim allegedly was armed and dangerous when he approached the home. Facebook/Brian Lanzim

“He absolutely f–ked up. He f–ked up big time,” Lanzim’s good friend, who asked not to be named, told The Post.

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The former Toms River firefighter allegedly sent terrifying threats to his ex on April 29 — letting her know he was armed, dangerous and on his way over.

“If your father is there I’m going to take him out” and beat him “pulseless,” he allegedly told the woman, as Ocean County Judge Pamela M. Snyder read aloud in court Friday morning.

“You don’t know crazy yet,” he also allegedly warned his ex during a chilling FaceTime call, NJ.com reported.

The people inside the home he was targeting fled the scene and alerted police long before he arrived, authorities said.

When Lanzim showed up after 9:40 p.m., he allegedly floored his Toyota 4Runner over the lawn in a sick attempt to run over the waiting cops, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

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He was booked into Ocean County Jail. Ocean County Corrections

The officers then dove behind a fence and watched as gun-wielding Lanzim pounded on a locked door of the vacant house, prosecutors said.

“Brian, put it down!” one of the Toms River police officers demanded, according to NJ.com.

“No!” Lanzim resisted, per the body camera footage.

Police then fired at Lanzim, striking him in his hand and pelvis nonfatality. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune before being moved to Ocean County Jail.

Investigators found a loaded rifle and a large amount of ammunition magazines in his car, prosecutors said. He reportedly had a handgun on him when he was shot.

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He appeared in court Friday for his detention hearing. Thomas P. Costello/Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

He’s been charged with three counts of attempted murder, two counts of weapons possession for an unlawful purpose, unlawful use of body armor, burglary, terroristic threats and 22 counts of possession of a large capacity of ammunition magazines.

“He was ready for war,” Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater said at his detention hearing — warning that if the victims hadn’t fled the home and called police before he arrived, he would have committed even more heinous crimes.

Brater went on to claim that Lanzim’s sinister plan was to kill or harm his ex’s family so he could get full custody.

But Lanzim’s lawyer Marissa Koerner brazenly argued his alleged violent outburst was caused by a mental breakdown triggered by the breakup. He also has bipolar disorder and was in treatment for it, she said.

“‘I f–king lost her, man. Tell her and the boys I love them,’” Lanzim allegedly said, per an affidavit Koerner read aloud.

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“He loves his family,” she argued.

By wearing a bulletproof vest, Lanzim was trying to “force a kill shot to the head” during his heated exchange with police, the lawyer told the court.

But Brater shot down these claims — alleging that his targets begged him not to go through with his horrifying plot.

Lanzim was a firefighter who moved to Maine for another job. Facebook/Brian Lanzim

He also allegedly has a track-record of violence — including an instance where he pulled a gun on his ex and said, “If I can’t have you, no one can.”

The judge ordered that Lanzim will remain in custody awaiting trial, according to court records. He’s due back in court on May 18.

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Lanzim was a fireman and EMT in Ocean County for about 18 years before heading to Bangor in September 2025 for a new job.

“He couldn’t find employment in New Jersey,” his close friend claimed. “I’m not sure what was going on, I guess things fell apart up there [in Bangor].”

Lanzim’s friend spoke with him just days before the incident.

“I had messaged him and asked him if he was okay. He said no. I said, ‘does it have to do with the kid’s mother?’ And he said yes,” the man said.

“I asked, ‘you need me to call you?’ and he was like, ‘I’m okay, I’m just at Applebee’s trying to find the bottom of the glass right now.’”

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The next time he heard Lanzim’s name was when he made headlines for the alleged horrors.

“I hope that kid [Lanzim] gets the help he needs,” the friend said. “Brian sometimes doesn’t act like an adult, and where he is now and where he’s going to be going, he has no choice but to. I would say man up.”

Lanzim’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.



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