New Jersey
What should be done with accused seagull killer? NJ Top News
Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Friday:
Townsquare Media illustration
If you are in your yard or basement and pick up a foul stench, it might not be a skunk. It might be a snake.
Some people say it smells like rotten cucumbers, others say it’s just rancid.
New Jersey is home to one of the smelliest snakes. Unfortunately it is also the most common snake you will find in the Garden State.
(Kathy Wagner, NOAA / GSL, Canva)
Once again, Canadian wildfires are in the news. And some of my meteorological colleagues have been quick to ring smoke alarm bells for New Jersey, harkening those frightening images of choking smoke and hazy days from last year’s crisis.
But let’s hold on a second here. The smoke situation is very different this time around. While I can not say there will be “no” impacts to New Jersey’s air and weather, it is very important to keep potential impacts in perspective and in check.
Matthew Szejnrok
A man from New Jersey and his Florida girlfriend were killed in cold blood by the woman’s teenage child who told police that she disapproved of her mother’s dating age gap and reluctance to accept her transition.
Matthew Szejnrok, 22, and girlfriend Kelly McCollom, 41, were shot and stabbed by the 16-year-old girl on July 7 in the Palm Bay home they all shared, investigators said.
The bloodbath began shortly after the 16-year-old told the couple “welcome home” as they walked through the door, police said, citing the teen’s confession.
(6ABC Action News)
TRENTON — A city police officer responding to a call about a possible gunman on Thursday morning ended up in the hospital after crashing into a building.
City officials said the crash was caused by an unlicensed driver speeding through a stop sign on the corner of Second and Bridge streets.
The collision sent the officer’s and driver’s vehicle hurling into a residential building. The crash caused considerable property damage and injured the officer, his police dog, and the driver, Mayor Reed Gusciora said
Franklin Zeigler via Facebook/Canva/Townsquare Media illustration
Lots of disgust from the public after a Cape May man was charged with animal cruelty for a deadly attack on a seagull at the Jersey Shore.
The 29-year-old has been accused of beheading a seagull at a popular Wildwood location.
On July 6, North Wildwood police were called to Morey’s Pier at 2501 Boardwalk Avenue, where witnesses said that a man later identified as Franklin Zeigler had decapitated one of the birds.
Animals gone wild in NJ: Turkeys, tigers, snakes, bears and more
The best of animal encounters — real and a few rumored — from around New Jersey.
Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt
Why Jersey Shore locals must embrace the Benny’s and Shoobie’s of New Jersey
Five reasons why the Jersey Shore wouldn’t be the same without them.
Gallery Credit: Mike Brant
Dennis and Judi brunch cruise: PHOTO TOUR
Gallery Credit: Dennis Malloy
Start your day with up-to-the-minute news, traffic and weather for the Garden State.
New Jersey’s First News with Eric Scott is the longest running news program in New Jersey. Eric Scott began hosting the program in 1991.
It airs live on New Jersey 101.5 each weekday morning from 5:30 – 6 a.m.
New Jersey’s First News with Eric Scott is the winner of the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.
Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
NJ voter turnout hard to predict due to low response rates
Conducting surveys during elections becomes difficult due to low responses from voters, according to experts.
While this fall’s midterm election may still feel like ages away, the process has already started for potential candidates.
March 23 was the filing deadline for politically affiliated folks to get on the ballot in this June’s primary election – the stepping stone for November.
All 12 seats representing New Jersey in the House are on the ballot as well as one seat in the U.S. Senate.
The heated contest to succeed Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman in District 12 is going to draw much of the attention this spring.
There are more contested races as well, though only three involving incumbents.
Here’s a breakdown of who is running to represent the Garden State in Washington this year, according to the unofficial list made available by the state’s Division of Elections.
U.S. Senate
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is running for his fourth term. He won’t face any opposition this spring. The Republicans running for a chance to represent their party this fall are Richard Tabor, Justin Murphy, Alex Zdan and Robert Lebovics.
Congressional District 1
Democratic Rep. Donald Norcross is running unopposed in the primary. Republican Damon Galdo will also run unopposed.
Congressional District 2
Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew is running unopposed in the primary. There are four Democrats running, Tim Alexander, Terri Reese, Zack Mullock and Bayly Winder.
Congressional District 3
Democratic Rep. Herb Conaway is running unopposed in the primary. Three Republicans will face off to represent their party. They are Justin Barbera, Jason Culler and Michael McGuire.
Congressional District 4
Republican Rep. Chris Smith is running unopposed in the primary. Two Democrats, John Blake and Rachel Peace, will face off in their party’s primary.
Congressional District 5
Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer is running unopposed in the primary. Republicans Sean Kirrane and John Aslanian will square off to represent their party.
The story continues below the gallery.
Congressional District 6
There are three challengers running against Rep. Frank Pallone in the Democratic primary. They are Katie Bansil, Hillary Herzig and John Hsu.
Congressional District 7
Republican Rep. Tom Kean is running unopposed in the primary. There are four Democrats squaring off to run against him this fall. They are Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela.
Congressional District 8
For the Democrats, Rep. Rob Menendez will face off against Mussab Ali, a former Jersey City school board member.
Congressional District 9
Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou is running unopposed in the primary. Republicans Tiffany Burress and Rosie Pino will square off in their primary.
Congressional District 10
Rep. LaMonica McIver is facing one challenger in the Democratic primary, Lawrence Poster. Carmen Bucco is running unopposed for the Republicans.
Congressional District 11
The story continues below the gallery.
This seat is currently vacant after Gov. Mikie Sherrill resigned to run the state. Democrat Analilia Mejia won a special primary in February and is on the ballot for a special election in April to fill her seat. Mejia is running in the primary in June against Justin Strickland, Donald Cresitello and Joseph Lewis. Republican Joe Hathaway, who is also on the ballot in April, is running unopposed in the June primary.
Congressional District 12
There are 13 people running in the Democratic primary to fill the seat being left by Bonnie Watson Coleman, who announced earlier this year that she would retire at the end of her term.
They are Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Brad Cohen, Squire Servance, Samuel Wang, Sue Altman, Sujit Singh, Adrian Mapp, Adam Hamawy, Elijah Dixon, Kyle Little, Jay Vaingankar, Matt Adams, Shanel Robinson and Gregg Mele.
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Ranney School student plays music for Monmouth Medical Center patients
Ava Silva Costa, a sophomore at the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, has started Arturo Healing Hearts, bringing her violin music to area hospitals.
Hospitals are an important need in the world.
And finding a facility with high-quality medical care that’s reliable is also important.
Newsweek, the premier news magazine and website, has partnered with Statista to release a dependable guidance list of the World’s Best Hospitals – United States for 2026.
In it’s eight year, these ranking highlights the leading hospitals around the globe so readers can find information tailored to their needs and location the report stated.
Each hospital was reviewed and given a score based on four data sources: recommendations from medical experts; hospital quality metrics, existing patient experience data and Statista’s Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Implementation Survey.
In typical New Jersey fashion, the Garden State makes the list among the 2,500 hospitals that were evaluated this year.
Nine hospitals from the Garden State made the list with one representing Monmouth County. With an overall score of 61.79% and the Infection Prevention Award, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch made the top 9 list for roster in World’s Best Hospitals 2026 from Newsweek.
World’s Best Hospitals 2026 in New Jersey
- No. 53: Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center in Morristown; overall score: 70.74%
- No. 56: Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack; overall score: 70.07%
- No. 134: The Valley Hospital in Paramus; overall score: 65.36%
- No. 186: Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center in Summit; overall score: 64.42%
- No. 254: Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood; overall score: 63.13%
- No. 320: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick; overall score: 62.26%
- No. 364: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark; overall score: 61.82%
- No. 366: Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro; overall score: 61.80%
- No. 367: Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch; overall score: 61.79%
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