New Jersey
Staten Island family mourns loss of teen, 18, killed in New Jersey car crash: ‘Lost too soon’
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island community is sending an outpouring of love and support to the family of Madison Alfano, an 18-year-old college freshman who died in a car crash in New Jersey on Saturday morning.
Madison, of Rossville, was a 2023 graduate of Tottenville High School, and a student at Monmouth University with a major in journalism and a minor in photography. She worked during her winter break in the sports equipment department at the college.
While traveling home from college, she was in a crash on the Garden State Parkway near Exit 127 around 6:23 a.m. Saturday — the exit that drivers take to travel over the Outerbridge Crossing into Staten Island — according to her father, Lou Alfano.
“I can speak for myself — for my feelings. I feel like I’ve died 100 times over,” said Alfano.
Madison was transferred to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and underwent several surgeries by the medical team. Unfortunately, Madison succumbed to her injuries, according to Alfano.
“There wasn’t much more they could do but they tried for eight-plus hours to really save her life,” said Alfano. “I will have to say that medical team there, when you know, we lay Madison to rest and that’s all done, they will definitely get my praise in person for their efforts to save her.”
Madison Alfano is shown here with her parents, Michelle and Lou Alfano. (Courtesy/Lou Alfano)Lou Alfano
A GoFundMe was created to help cover funeral and memorial expenses. As of this writing, more than $60,000 had been raised.
A self-employed DJ, Alfano said the outpouring of support from the community has “been great” because he had to pass upcoming events to other DJ companies, resulting in a lack of income.
“That’s just really took the burden off for me not worrying that a funeral was going to bankrupt my family and have the lights turned off. Thank God we got our breathing room now,” he said.
Alfano has a message for families: use the Life360 app. He said he began to pay for the “paid” version of the app when Madison started driving to utilize the safety features. It’s the reason he found out that Madison was in a car crash.
“I want to express to anyone with children that they should purchase Life360,” he said. “I do not work for them. I do not make any money for them. But we got an alert that my daughter was in a crash. They sent out the authorities. I followed her location on the GPS. I was with her at the hospital and me and my wife were there from the minute she walked into the hospital every step of the way. Whether she was conscious or not — known or not, or she knows now — she was not alone there. We knew where our baby was. If we did not have Life360, the way that accident went down, they would eventually probably found out through who owned the vehicle, who to contact, way past when she passed. We would have got news just handed to our door horrifically.”
She is shown here (center) with her sisters Ashley (left) and Lucia, and her bernedoodle Leo. (Courtesy/Lou Alfano)Lou Alfano
In addition to her parents, Lou and Michelle, two younger sisters survive Madison — Lucia, a freshman at Tottenville High School, and Ashley, an eighth-grade student at Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 24).
Madison was always happy, according to her father. She loved her friends, “The Office” sitcom show, and singer-songwriter Billie Eillish.
“She was Billie Eillish’s number one fan because she told me she liked every picture that Billie Eillish posted on Instagram. I said, ‘Madison, you’re gonna get banned from her account.’ But she loved Billie Eillish. She loved her dog Leo that she bought on her own on her 17th birthday, a little Bernedoodle and she just loved him,” said her dad.
Madison was also in the honors program at Monmouth University with a 3.8 GPA in her first semester. Alfano said his daughter loved school and loved residing at the dorm, as she was always independent.
Lou Alfano, Madison’s dad, thanked the community for their support. Madison is shown here (bottom front) with her mother Michelle (right), two sisters, and a family friend. (Courtesy/Lou Alfano)Lou Alfano
“She was independent,” said Alfano. “She loved her family, but she couldn’t wait to be 18, to be a woman, and she was doing a lot of schooling herself. She got a job. She loved having a car and being able to drive and just being independent — for good, just trying to build a good life and unfortunately, tragically she was lost too soon.”
Madison also worked part-time as a hostess at the former Lobo Loco restaurant in New Springville, according to Alfano.
“She was a really sweet girl, young, always smiling, friendly. Good kid,” said a former Lobo Loco coworker of Madison. “As a mom, I just feel so much for her parents, they must be devastated.”
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 1-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. at Scarpaci Funeral Home in Pleasant Plains. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Child R.C. Church in Annadale on Thursday at 10 a.m., followed by a burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
Alfano loved to dorm at Monmouth University. (Courtesy/Lou Alfano)Lou Alfano
New Jersey
Did anyone win Powerball? Winning numbers for April 13, 2026
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Powerball winning numbers are in for the Monday, April 13 drawing with a jackpot that reached an estimated $45 million ($20.5 million cash option).
The winning numbers in Monday’s drawing are 38, 43, 59, 63, and 64, with Powerball number 15. The Power Play number is 3.
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 Wednesday. 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.
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.
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.
New Jersey
Calendar says April, weather forecast says taste of summer for NJ
The calendar may say April, but Mother Nature is giving New Jersey another taste of summerlike vibes this week. Monday will be just as breezy as Sunday, but it will be a warming wind this time around. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees warmer, with highs around 75 to 80 degrees. Clouds will win the sky, and a few quick hit-or-miss rain showers are possible during the day. Tuesday trends even warmer, with highs reaching into the 80s for most of the state. (Although do not plan on making it a beach day, as coastal communities will be held to the 60s thanks to the chilly ocean and bay water.) Widespread 80s are expected for Wednesday and Thursday too, with minimal rain chances. Warm weather will carry into the start of the weekend, with our next cold front set to arrive on Sunday.
Monday NJ weather: 10 to 20 degrees warmer, spotty showers
The past week has been quiet, but relatively cool. You can not deny that New Jersey’s weather has been pleasant. And definitely dry — drought concerns continue to spiral, and wildfire danger remains high. (Although the latter issue will get slightly better later this week as humidity goes up and wind speeds go down.)
Monday will be just as windy as Sunday. But this time around, it will be a warming wind. So temperatures will trend 10 to 20 degrees warmer, as we flip back to summerlike weather for a majority of the state this week.
While you may need a light jacket or sweater early Monday, you can ditch it soon enough. High temperatures Monday afternoon will reach about 75 to 80 degrees around the state. It will be quite breezy, with southwesterly gusts peaking around 30+ mph. Expect more clouds than sun throughout the day.
In addition, a few spot showers may develop as temperatures warm, in the midday and afternoon hours. Just a few brief spurts of light raindrops, not amounting to much.
As skies clear Monday night, it will remain mild and comfortable. Low temperatures will only dip to around 60 degrees overnight.
Tuesday NJ weather: Even warmer, but not for everyone
Tuesday will be even warmer, with high temperatures soaring into the lower 80s for most of the state. It will be mostly to partly sunny, with breezy conditions continuing.
It will feel almost summerlike. I have to say almost because the Jersey Shore will end up considerably cooler. Oceans and bays are still quite cold at this point of the season, with water temperatures around 50 to 55 degrees. That will have a big cooling effect on air temperatures in coastal communities. So just keep in mind if you are thinking about a beach day this week — while inland areas will surge toward hot 90 degree temps, the Shore will be closer to 60.
Wednesday NJ weather: Feeling summerlike
Another very way, summer-ish day. Expect a mix of sun and clouds, with high temperatures in the mid 80s. This will be our first shot of seeing 90+ degrees somewhere in New Jersey this year.
There is a chance for a popup thunderstorm late-day Wednesday, especially to the north.
Thursday NJ weather: More 80s
The warm, dry conditions continue on Thursday, with widespread 80s on thermometers across the Garden State once again.
Temperatures will slide back slightly, with 70s and 80s will carrying through the start of the weekend. There will be some clouds and maybe a stray shower around on Friday, but again temperatures will be unseasonably warm.
Our next big weathermaker will be a cold front arriving on Sunday. That will deliver our next chance of widespread rain — although a wholesale soaking would be great, keep your expectations low for a nice, healthy drought-buster.
Behind that front will come cooler air. By Monday morning, we could be back in frost territory, with morning lows in the 20s and 30s. Afternoon highs will turn more seasonable for early next week, in the lower to mid 60s or so.
Significant or historical events in New Jersey for April (in chronological order)
Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Follow him on Facebook for the latest forecast and realtime weather updates.
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New Jersey
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.
“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.
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.
“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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