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Will smoking be banned in Atlantic City casinos? Lawmakers to consider bill next week

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Will smoking be banned in Atlantic City casinos? Lawmakers to consider bill next week


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State lawmakers are inching closer to potentially imposing a complete smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos with an important hearing set next week.

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The bill – S264 – would no longer allow an exemption for designated casino smoking areas in the “New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act,” a landmark 2006 law that prohibited indoor smoking in almost all indoor public places.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday in Trenton on the measure that has received considerable bipartisan support. The Senate bill has 26 sponsors while the Assembly version has 57.

Supporters say it would protect casino workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opponents have often said the ban would hurt casino revenues, the economic engine of the Atlantic City region.

The bill and its many earlier versions have stalled in Trenton over the years. But following November’s elections, the legislature has entered its lame-duck session where bills are often advanced at a rapid-fire pace with the two-year session expiring in January. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin seemed to throw support behind the bill at a news conference this month where he said his members would “take a look and see what we can get done,” according to press reports.

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The bill would also ban smoking indoors at simulcast facilities. The Meadowlands Racing complex in East Rutherford only allows smoking at designated areas outdoors.

Smoking is permitted on about 20% of a casino floor in Atlantic City. A temporary ban had been implemented at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but smoking returned when Gov. Phil Murphy lifted the temporary ban.

At an Assembly hearing in March, supporters and opponents came out to testify on the bill.

Dozens of members of CEASE, Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, attended the hearing with members saying they shouldn’t be subject to secondhand smoke. Workers are at “great risk to the health hazards caused by secondhand smoke, including heart disease, lung cancer, and acute and chronic respiratory illnesses,” according to a report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

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Members of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey and the Unite Here Local 54 hospitality workers’ union said a ban may prompt some gamblers to go to other casinos in nearby states that allow smoking.

Public places in NJ that still allow smoking

If the ban on casino smoking were to pass, New Jerseyans would be able to light up in only a few public places including:

  • Cigar lounge or tobacco shop
  • A golf course
  • Designated areas on beaches
  • Research laboratories studying the effects of smoking



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New Jersey

New Jersey community mourning death of Justin Rivera, Hudson County sheriff’s officer who fell from building

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New Jersey community mourning death of Justin Rivera, Hudson County sheriff’s officer who fell from building


The Bayonne, New Jersey, community is devastated over the loss of one their own – Hudson County sheriff’s officer Justin Rivera, who fell nine stories to his death Friday morning.

The 29-year-old was on duty when he fell from a window at the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. Officials said the building was closed to the public due to an unrelated power outage at the time, and the fatal fall appears to be accidental in nature.

Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, in a statement, described Rivera’s death as “one of the saddest and most horrific days that the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has ever experienced,” calling Rivera an “excellent officer and outstanding young man.”

The Hudson County prosecutor’s office has no new details on the investigation surrounding his death at this time.  

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“It doesn’t even feel real”

Rivera ran Bayonne Boxing along with his father. A sign on the door says the gym is closed due to a family emergency.

A memorial was growing outside the front door of the beloved business Saturday as passersby offered prayers and dropped off flowers in Rivera’s memory.

A memorial was growing outside Bayonne Boxing on May 31, 2025, after the death of Justin Rivera, who ran the gym with his father.

CBS News New York

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“It’s unbelievable, honestly, like how this could just happen out of nowhere. So it was like, it was honestly like it doesn’t even feel real,” said Jayden Morales, who has been training at the gym for the past year.

Morales said Rivera and his father were both great coaches.

“You could tell they loved each other,” Morales said. “He was funny, too, always cracking jokes.”

A neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, lived near Rivera’s childhood home, where he lived with his daughter. The neighbor describes the Riveras as a beautiful, hardworking family she’s come to know for the past 20-plus years.

“He would meet my daughter at the gym and say, ‘I love your mom. I’m here for her if she ever needs anything.’ And I knew that … ’cause that’s the kind of kid he was,” the neighbor said. “They kissed goodbye in the morning, and he got in his car and he went to work and that was it. We never know.”

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“He loved to box, police officer, being a family man. That was him as a person,” Morales said.

“We’ll miss that wave, that smile. We’ll miss it,” the neighbor said.

Rivera’s father told CBS News New York his son is now with God and that there’s nothing he can say that will bring him back.

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The oldest ice cream parlor in New Jersey is right here in Monmouth County

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The oldest ice cream parlor in New Jersey is right here in Monmouth County


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It’s no secret that New Jersey is known for it’s beautiful boardwalk and beaches, but there are many historical entities nestled in quaint towns of the Garden State.

According to mashed.com, New Jersey is home to a historic ice cream parlor that’s been satisfying customers at the Shore since 1876.

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The multi-platform publication dedicated to food, took a look at the oldest known ice cream parlors in every state to find which unique, century-old, family-owned establishments evolved into full-service dessert destinations that’s more than just places that you go to grab a cone but also serves as living history.

“Whether you’re a history buff, an ice cream lover, or a bit of both, these time-honored establishments offer a delicious glimpse into America’s frozen dessert heritage,” said mashed.com.

Nestled in a popular resort town with quaint Victorian houses, known as ‘God’s Square Mile,’ is Day’s Ice Cream in Ocean Grove.

The Monmouth County dessert shop has been serving ice cream one scoop at a time for more than 135 years. Day’s, is currently Ocean Grove’s oldest operating business that is still occupies its original location on Pitman Avenue. According reports, Day’s Ice Cream had three locations; Asbury Park, Morristown, and Newark in the earlier years. In 2017, Day’s launched another shop in Ocean Grove, Just Another Day’s, that closed due to a massive fire in 2019.

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Here’s the story behind New Jersey’s oldest sweet institution, Day’s Ice Cream, according to mashed:

“Day’s Ice Cream opened in 1876 in Orange Grove, consistently serving ice cream to its customers ever since. It was opened by two brothers, William and Pennington Day, who were already in the ice cream business. The parlor has since become a local institution, known not only for its longevity but also for its classic homemade flavors and nostalgic atmosphere that reflect its rich history.”

Day’s Ice Cream is located at 48 Pitman Avenue on Auditorium Park in Ocean Grove. Operating hours are daily from noon to 10 p.m. through October.

Popular flavors incclude toasted coconut, black raspberry chocolate chip, peanut butter moose tracks, cinnamon, almond joy, salted caramel pretzel and hazelnut truffle latte. There is also an alternative menu with low fat frozen yogurt, sugar free ice cream, dairy free sorbets, dairy free soy, coconut milk and almond milk options.



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Rite Aid files bankruptcy, to close 300 stores. Which NJ Rite Aid stores are closing?

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Rite Aid files bankruptcy, to close 300 stores. Which NJ Rite Aid stores are closing?


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If you frequent drug stores, you could soon be in for a longer ride.

Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy for a second time this month, and will close more than 300 stores during its restructuring.

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“As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible,” Rite Aid CEO Matt Schroeder said in a news release.

Which Rite Aids are closing in New Jersey?

Here is the list of stores closing, according to USA Today.

  • Bayville: 424 Route 9
  • Blairstown: 151 Route 94
  • Bridgeton: 1070 North Pearl St.
  • Bridgeton: 52 East Broad St.
  • Highland Park: 332 Raritan Ave.
  • Little Egg Harbor: 220 Mathistown Road
  • Neptune: 75 South Main St.
  • Parlin: 3553 Washington Road
  • Penns Grove: 130 East Main St.
  • Perth Amboy: 76 Smith St.
  • Pilesgrove: 865 Route 45
  • Point Pleasant: 3258 Bridge Ave.
  • Sicklerville: 403 Sicklerville Road
  • Toms River: 220 Route 70
  • Vineland: 7 West Landis Ave.
  • Whitehouse Station: 531 US Highway 22 East



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