New Jersey

Senator on Trial: Day Twenty-Eight – New Jersey Globe

Published

3 days ago

July 4, 2024

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

Lawyers for U.S. Senator Bob Menendez rested their case on Friday after calling four witnesses, with the New Jersey’s senior senator declining to testify in his own defense, which is his right. Menendez, in his own words, told reporters on his way out of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse in Lower Manhattan: “From my perspective, the government has failed to prove every aspect of its case. And for me to testify and give them another chance to have, in essence, a second summation, go through the whole case again, and then go ahead and have their summation, and then have a rebuttal case at the end, is simply not something that makes any sense to me whatsoever. So we look forward to the summations, and I expect my lawyers will produce a powerful and convincing summation, deduce how the evidence came out, where they failed across the board, and have a jury render a verdict of not guilty.”

No witnesses were called by co-defendant Fred Daibes’ lawyer, while the attorney representing another co-defendant, Halal meat executive Wael Hana, will call a defense witness when the trial resumes on Monday.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Jurors are expected to begin deliberating next week.

DAYS SINCE THE INDICTMENT: 284

DAYS SINCE MENENDEZ’S LAST CRIMINAL TRIAL ENDED: 2,419

MISSED VOTES: 34
There have been no votes in the Senate since June 20 and is not expected back in session until next week.

And in case you’re keeping track: it’s been 43 years and 61 days since a United States Senator from New Jersey was last convicted of accepting a bribe.

NEW JERSEY ABSTAINS, COURTEOUSLY
— Sen. Menendez rests his defense in federal bribery trial from New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “Sen. Bob Menendez, in his first words in court since his federal bribery trial started eight weeks ago in Manhattan, told the judge Wednesday that he would not speak in his own defense and rested his case after just two days of witnesses testifying on his behalf. ‘I’m not seeking to take the stand at this time,’ New Jersey’s senior senator told Judge Sidney H. Stein, assuring the jurist he had discussed the matter ‘at length’ with his attorneys … After testimony by the senator’s sister and sister-in-law riveted jurors Monday, Wednesday was an anticlimactic end to the senator’s defense in a trial that was expected to end a week ago. Stein, as well as attorneys for all three defendants, have increasingly expressed concerns about “losing jurors” as the trial has fallen behind … Stein on Wednesday doubled down on his frequent vows to speed proceedings up, telling Hana’s attorney Lawrence Lustberg that he won’t wait on a witness Lustberg aims to call to the stand Monday — who’s now stuck in Egypt awaiting a visa. “We’re all going to be as efficient as possible in the use of this jury. I’m not going to significantly delay things for that issue,” Stein said. ‘The rule in my court is: If you don’t have a witness, you rest.’”

CRITCHELY: MENENDEZ DIDN’T NEED TO INTERVENE BECAUSE GREWAL HAD “A WEAK CASE”
More from DiFilippo: “Jurors also heard a prerecorded video deposition of attorney Michael Critchley, who represented a trucking company owner in an insurance fraud case filed by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office/ Prosecutors have said Hana and codefendant Jose Uribe bribed Menendez to derail the office’s prosecution of E&K Trucking owner Elvis Parra … Critchley testified that Menendez called him in March 2019 to complain that Parra’s case was ‘an abuse of prosecution,’ and the men agreed the Attorney General’s Office was being used by insurance companies to collect private debt. Under Weitzman’s questioning, Critchley said the senator did nothing ‘inappropriate or improper’ and that he occasionally talked with Menendez about criminal cases that made the news. Parra eventually agreed to a plea deal with a sentence of noncustodial probation, but Critchley said the plea offer was made because state prosecutors had ‘a weak case’ and not, as prosecutors allege, because Menendez called and met with Gurbir Grewal, then the attorney general, in a deal with Uribe that required the senator to ‘kill and stop all investigation.’

AND NOW, THE END IS NEAR
— Menendez Defense Rests Without Senator Testifying from New York Times’ Benjamin Weiser and Tracey Tully: “After calling just four witnesses, lawyers for Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey rested their case late Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court, setting the stage for jurors to begin deliberations in his international bribery conspiracy trial early next week.”

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO GO OUT AT ANY TIME
— Bob Menendez’s defense rests without New Jersey senator testifying in bribery trial by CBS News’ Caitlin Yilek: “A handful of witnesses testified on his behalf, compared to the 30 witnesses called by the prosecution during the trial, which has so far spanned eight weeks. Menendez’s defense attorneys called his sister and the sister of his wife, Nadine Menendez, to testify on Monday as they sought to show it was not unusual for the couple to keep gold and large amounts of cash in their home.”

* Sen. Bob Menendez declines to testify in his bribery trial as the defense rests

* Bob Menendez’s lawyers bring in family as they argue his trial defense
* Bob Menendez says he didn’t testify because prosecution failed to prove its bribery case against him

* Senator Bob Menendez rests defense case in federal bribery trial

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New Jersey

NJ air quality alert: High levels of ground level ozone predicted Sunday for Jersey Shore

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

NJ air quality alert: High levels of ground level ozone predicted Sunday for Jersey Shore

1 minute read

High levels of ground level ozone will lead to an air quality alert in New Jersey from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, July 7, according to the National Weather Service.

The region will be under a “Code Orange Air Quality Action Day” as breathing outdoors will become unhealthy for some vulnerable groups of people, according to the Mount Holly station of the weather service.

The Air Quality Index for much of central and southern New Jersey, including Monmouth and Ocean counties, is predicted to be over 100 on Sunday. People with asthma, young children, elderly adults and outdoor workers are among the groups who may experience symptoms from breathing ozone-contaminated air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Breathing ozone can lead to coughing and sore throats, pain with breathing and lung inflammation, according to the federal agency. Exposure can aggravate lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and lead to more frequent asthma attacks, according to the EPA.

Ground level ozone is created when sunlight, heat and pollution from gas-powered cars, factories and power plants interact. Even low levels of ground level ozone can be harmful, according to the EPA.

To limit the affects, stay indoors, avoid outdoor exercise and activity mid-day, or move activities to the early morning or evening hours, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

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New Jersey

From Imperial Porters to NE IPAs, here’s the most-loved beers in New Jersey

Published

10 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

From Imperial Porters to NE IPAs, here’s the most-loved beers in New Jersey

Want to taste the highest-rated beers in New Jersey?

They are pitcher perfect.

The Garden State has become a mecca of frothy, golden goodness over the years. And According to the Brewer’s Guild of New Jersey, there are more than 100 breweries around the state today.

So which beer IPA or Lager is the best?

To determine which beer has the highest-rate, Stacker.com released a report that compiled the best beers in New Jersey by using rankings from BeerAdvocate.com.

BeerAdvocate.com is a consumer-based website that uses a point-value rating system comprised of five ratable attributes, such as aroma and appearance, that gets calculated amongst a weighted rating system.

Below are the top 21 rated beers from in New Jersey.

Highest-rated beer in New Jersey

A maximum of five beers per brewery were included in the rankings, says Stacker.com.

Sunday Brunch: No. 1

Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
Rating: 4.55 (858 ratings)
Type: Imperial Porter
ABV: 9.20%

Mexican Brunch: No. 2

Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
Rating: 4.55 (613 ratings)
Type: Imperial Porter
ABV: 9.20%

Sunday Brunch, Bourbon Barrel-Aged: No. 3

Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
Rating: 4.57 (130 ratings)
Type: Imperial Porter
ABV: 11.00%

Mexican Brunch, Bourbon Barrel-Aged: No. 4

Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
Rating: 4.51 (79 ratings)
Type: Imperial Porter
ABV: 11.40%

A Night To End All Dawns: No. 5

Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
Rating: 4.41 (631 ratings)
Type: American Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.20%

Cafe Y Churro: No. 6

Brewery: Carton Brewing Company
Rating: 4.41 (243 ratings)
Type: Cream Ale
ABV: 12.00%

St. Kitts Coffee: No. 7

Brewery: Carton Brewing Company
Rating: 4.4 (47 ratings)
Type: Cream Ale
ABV: 12.00%

Gravitational Waves: No. 8

Brewery: Conclave Brewing
Rating: 4.37 (64 ratings)
Type: New England IPA
ABV: 6.84%

Ramstein Winter Wheat Eisbock: No. 9

Brewery: High Point Brewing Company
Rating: 4.35 (76 ratings)
Type: Eisbock
ABV: 11.50%

Epitome: No. 10

Brewery: Carton Brewing Company
Rating: 4.29 (326 ratings)
Type: Black IPA
ABV: 10.30%

Imperial Cold Side: No. 11

Brewery: Magnify Brewing Company
Rating: 4.39 (30 ratings)
Type: New England IPA
ABV: 8.50%

Peak Oil: No. 12

Brewery: Magnify Brewing Company
Rating: 4.3 (93 ratings)
Type: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.00%

077XX: No. 13

Brewery: Carton Brewing Company
Rating: 4.26 (1,450 ratings)
Type: Imperial IPA
ABV: 7.80%

Peak Of Ripeness: No. 14

Brewery: Magnify Brewing Company
Rating: 4.29 (64 ratings)
Type: New England IPA
ABV: 6.50%

All Orange Everything: No. 15

Brewery: Carton Brewing Company
Rating: 4.25 (140 ratings)
Type: Imperial IPA
ABV: 10.50%

Heady Jams: No. 16

Brewery: Brix City Brewing
Rating: 4.3 (45 ratings)
Type: New England IPA
ABV: 8.00%

Kalashnikov: No. 17

Brewery: Icarus Brewing Company
Rating: 4.38 (21 ratings)
Type: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.50%

Gravitational Pull: No. 18

Brewery: Conclave Brewing
Rating: 4.37 (22 ratings)
Type: American IPA
ABV: 6.60%

Up Up & Away: No. 19

Brewery: Magnify Brewing Company
Rating: 4.3 (41 ratings)
Type: New England IPA
ABV: 8.50%

Maine Event: No. 20

Brewery: Magnify Brewing Company
Rating: 4.25 (92 ratings)
Type: New England IPA
ABV: 6.50%

Mexican Morning: No. 21

Brewery: Conclave Brewing
Rating: 4.3 (36 ratings)
Type: Sweet/Milk Stout
ABV: 5.00%

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New Jersey

Can you smoke weed in public? What you need to know in New Jersey

Published

17 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

Can you smoke weed in public? What you need to know in New Jersey

As summer rolls in, more people are out and about, and you might notice the distinct smell of pot wafting through the air. Cannabis, whether you call it weed, pot, dope, grass, herb, or reefer, goes by many names. But before you light up, there are a few things you should know.

Recreational marijuana is legal in New Jersey. But what does that really mean? Can you smoke weed in public?

According to NJ’s Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization (CREAMM) Act, the sale and use of weed and other cannabis products is legal for adults over 21.

However, the law doesn’t give users free range to light up anywhere.

Can you smoke weed in public in New Jersey?

New Jersey’s laws on marijuana say it’s illegal to use weed in public places where smoking is prohibited by the New Jersey Smokefree Air Act (NJ SFAA).

So, restaurants, schools, gyms and libraries are clearly pot-free spots. But where else should you not be smelling someone else’s recreational marijuana?

Parks and recreational areas such as Liberty State Park, Six Flags Great Adventure, or any public playgrounds.
Beaches and boardwalks like the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach, or any other beach or boardwalk.
Schools and educational facilities including Rutgers University, Princeton University, and local public and private schools.
Public transit stations such as NJ Transit train stations, bus stops, or the Newark Liberty International Airport.
Office buildings, such as those in downtown Newark or corporate offices in Jersey City.
Restaurants and bars including The Chart House in Weehawken and The Ashford in Jersey City.
Event venues like MetLife Stadium, Prudential Center, and any concert or sports venues.
Public housing facilities managed by entities like the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
Daycare centers such as The Learning Experience or KinderCare locations.
Shopping malls like the Mall at Short Hills and the Cherry Hill Mall.