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.
New Jersey
New Jersey online casinos set another revenue record in May
Content on this page may include affiliate links. If you click and sign up/place a wager, we may receive compensation at no cost to you.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
New Jersey
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.
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.
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.
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.
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More Manhattan news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
New Jersey
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.
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.
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.
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.
-
Delaware4 minutes agoComcast Xfinity cable down: TV streaming outage hits New Hampshire, Texas, Delaware, Wyoming and Maine
-
Florida11 minutes agoFlorida man accused of using rifle in threatening another man at Wawa
-
Georgia14 minutes agoThree Reasons Why Georgia Tech Can Beat The ACC Best Teams
-
Hawaii19 minutes agoGreat Waikoloa Rubber Duckie Race Returns on July 4th – Big Island Video News
-
Idaho26 minutes agoIdaho family wants millions for Potato Drop injuries
-
Illinois29 minutes agoJimmy Awards: Park Ridge, Tinley Park students to make Broadway debut
-
Indiana34 minutes ago
WHAS11
-
Iowa41 minutes agoIowa basketball star slides down CBS NBA Draft board in new mock
