Why Miss Teen USA, North Jersey 17-Year-Old Is Giving Up Her Crown Why Miss Teen USA, North Jersey 17-Year-Old Is Giving Up Her Crown
Why Miss Teen USA, North Jersey 17-Year-Old Is Giving Up Her Crown Miss Teen USA, a Morris Plains native, is giving up her crown. UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, May 8, saying her personal values no longer fully align with the "direction of the organization." "I am grateful for all the support from my family, my state directors, my sister queens, and the fans who have cheered me on since I won my state title," said Srivastava, who was crowned last September in Reno, NV.  "I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-I…
44-Foot Dead Whale Caught On Cruise Ship's Bow Towed To Jersey Shore: NOAA 44-Foot Dead Whale Caught On Cruise Ship's Bow Towed To Jersey Shore: NOAA
44-Foot Dead Whale Caught On Cruise Ship's Bow Towed To Jersey Shore: NOAA A dead whale was towed to the Jersey Shore after it was caught on the bow of a cruise ship, officials said. The cruise ship in the Port of Brooklyn, New York, reported the sei whale was caught on the front of the vessel on the morning of Saturday, May 4. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries service for New England and the mid-Atlantic issued a news release about the incident on Wednesday, May 8. The roughly 44-foot-long whale was brought to shore in Sandy Hook to give better access to heavy equipment. A necropsy was performed on Tuesday, May 7 and t…
NJ Hospital In Financial Duress Given 24 Hours To Draw Up Disaster Plan NJ Hospital In Financial Duress Given 24 Hours To Draw Up Disaster Plan
NJ Hospital In Financial Duress Given 24 Hours To Draw Up Disaster Plan A beleaguered hospital in Essex County has just 24 hours to draw up a financial disaster plan, the state Department of Health ordered. In a letter sent to Carewell Health Medical Center in East Orange, Gene Rosenblum, the director of the Office of Program Compliance paints a dire financial picture for the hospital. CareWell Health Medical Center has low cash on hand, maintains negative operating margins and has cited other issues with emergency cash flow, he said. The hospital has not made any payments for the entire fiscal year for the assessments it owes the Department of Health, accordin…
One-Way NJ Transit Tickets Will Soon Expire After 30 Days One-Way NJ Transit Tickets Will Soon Expire After 30 Days
One-Way NJ Transit Tickets Will Soon Expire After 30 Days NJ Transit is rolling out a new policy for its one-way tickets. Beginning Monday, July 1, all one-way tickets will expire after 30 days, NJ Transit announced. All tickets purchased prior to July 1, will expire on July 31, regardless of their original date of purchase. There will be no changes to the existing refund policy, NJ Transit said. The 20-trip FLEXPASS pilot fare will be discontinued on July 1, NJ Transit said. The last date to purchase a FLEXPASS is Sunday, June 30, NJ Transit said. "We understand this change may require adjustments, and we are here to assist you," NJ Transit sai…
'Rock Of The Family:' Loved Ones Struggle To Make Sense Of Deadly NJ Home Explosion 'Rock Of The Family:' Loved Ones Struggle To Make Sense Of Deadly NJ Home Explosion
'Rock Of The Family:' Loved Ones Struggle To Make Sense Of Deadly NJ Home Explosion A New Jersey family is in shambles following a home explosion that took their patriarch and left his brother-in-law seriously injured. Retired Newark officer Kevin Gilbert Sr., 62, was being remembered on a GoFundMe as the rock of his family, one day after the explosion at his Continental Court home that claimed his life. "Our hearts ache not only for Kevin Sr. but also for his brother-in-law Curtis, who remains in critical condition as a result of the home explosion," reads the campaign, which had raised more than $34,000 as of Friday evening, May 3. Gilbert, a 26-year veteran of the Newa…
Victory Pints: Four NJ Breweries Win Gold At 'The Olympics Of Beer' Victory Pints: Four NJ Breweries Win Gold At 'The Olympics Of Beer'
Victory Pints: Four NJ Breweries Win Gold At 'The Olympics Of Beer' Four breweries from South Jersey are toasting to victory after bringing home top prizes at what's known as "the Olympics of beer." The brewers won four gold medals and a bronze medal at the 2024 World Beer Cup. The competition hosted by the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America held its award ceremony in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Apr. 24. Kane Brewing Company in Ocean Township was the only Jersey brewery to take home two medals. The Monmouth County company won gold in the wood- and barrel-aged strong stout category for its beer called "Dripping Maple". Kane Brewing also earned b…
Retired Cop Dad Killed, Another Victim Severely Burned In NJ Home Explosion (UPDATE) Retired Cop Dad Killed, Another Victim Severely Burned In NJ Home Explosion (UPDATE)
Retired Cop Dad Killed, Another Victim Severely Burned In NJ Home Explosion (Update) A retired Newark police officer died and another victim was severely burned in a South River home explosion, officials tell Daily Voice. Kevin Gilbert, a 26-year veteran of the Newark Police Department, died in the mysterious explosion around 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, South River Mayor Peter Guindi tells Daily Voice.  Gilbert was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim suffered burns over 90 percent of his body and was transferred from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to St. Barnabas Hospital, according to Guindi. Guidni said it wasn't immediately clear how the two v…
Estate Of Welder Blown Through Roof At New Jersey Job Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Estate Of Welder Blown Through Roof At New Jersey Job Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Estate Of Welder Blown Through Roof At New Jersey Job Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit The family of a 48-year-old welder killed in an explosion that blew him through the roof of a business in Gloucester County has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his former employer. Bruce A. Cheeseman, of Cedarville, was working at Timberlane Welding & Services Inc. in Mullica Hill when the fatal accident occurred on June 15, 2022. The company performs truck and trailer repairs. The lawsuit filed by Lisa Labrusciano, as Executor of the Estate, does not mention a dollar amount sought but also names Taylor Oil Co. — which owned the truck being worked on — a yet uniden…
Epicenter Of Latest NJ Earthquake Just West Of Hamilton Farm Golf Club: USGS Epicenter Of Latest NJ Earthquake Just West Of Hamilton Farm Golf Club: USGS
New Jersey Earthquake Yet another aftershock rattled New Jersey. This one 2.6 in magnitude just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, the USGS website shows. This one had an epicenter just east of the Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone (Somerset County). A 2.9 magnitude aftershock was reported last Saturday, April, 27 in the same area. People as far as Massachusetts and Connecticut reported feeling the earthquake, but it appeared to have been clearest felt in the Garden State, with Boonton, Caldwell, and Carteret residents reporting a II or III on the MMI scale. 
Beloved Lion With 'Majestic Roar' Dies After 10 Years At South Jersey Animal Refuge Beloved Lion With 'Majestic Roar' Dies After 10 Years At South Jersey Animal Refuge
Beloved Lion With 'Majestic Roar' Dies After 10 Years At South Jersey Animal Refuge A beloved lion has died after spending a decade in the care of an Ocean County animal refuge. Simba died "after a very long and full life" at Popcorn Park Animal Refuge, the Lacey Township sanctuary announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Apr. 30. He was brought to the park with three other big cats in 2014. Popcorn Park said Simba was among several animals that needed care after their owner in Alabama became sick and could no longer help them. "Simba was very personable and when we'd walk by he'd always get up to greet us," Popcorn Park executive director John Bergmann said in a sta…
WINNER! Powerball Ticket Sold In Somerset Wins Big WINNER! Powerball Ticket Sold In Somerset Wins Big
Winner! Powerball Ticket Sold In Somerset Wins Big It was a lucky Monday for a Powerball player in Somerset. A ticket sold in Somerset County matched four numbers plus the red Powerball in the drawing held on Monday, April 29, winning $50,000. The ticket was sold at Quick Mart in Somerset. The winning numbers were 11, 38, 47, 67, 69 and the red Powerball was 14.
WINNER: Powerball Lottery Player Takes Home $50K At Liquor Store WINNER: Powerball Lottery Player Takes Home $50K At Liquor Store
Winner: Powerball Lottery Player Takes Home $50K At Liquor Store There was a $50,000 Powerball winner over the weekend in Mercer County, state Lottery officials said. One ticket matched four of the five white balls and the Powerball drawn winning the third-tier prize on Saturday, April 27. That winning ticket was sold at Empire Liquors, 1200 S. Broad St. in Trenton. The winning numbers for the Saturday drawing were: 09, 30, 53, 55 and 62. The Red Power Ball number was 23. The Power Play was 3X. The Powerball jackpot rolls to $164 million for the Monday, April 29, drawing.
Winning $1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold In NJ Winning $1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold In NJ
Winning $1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold In NJ Someone in New Jersey won big bucks in the Saturday, April 27 Powerball drawing. According to the Powerball website, a player in the Garden State won the $1 million prize, along with someone in Georgia, in the Saturday, April 27 Powerball drawing. The winners matched all five numbers drawn. The winning numbers were 9, 30, 53, 55, and 62. The red Power Ball drawn was 23. Lottery officials are expected to announce where the tickets were sold this week. The jackpot rolls to $164 million in the next drawing, held on Monday, April 29.
'Crazy Left Wingers Who Hate America:' NJ Bakery Receives Bizarre Anti-Pride Letter 'Crazy Left Wingers Who Hate America:' NJ Bakery Receives Bizarre Anti-Pride Letter
'Crazy Left Wingers Who Hate America:' NJ Bakery Receives Bizarre Anti-Pride Letter A New Jersey bakery has received an influx of sweet support after receiving a bitter anti-Pride letter in the mail. Sweet n' Fancy Emporium on South Avenue East in Cranford a letter in the mail earlier this month, signed by the Citizens of Cranford. "As a concerned citizen that was about to shop at your site… I noticed the rainbow flag hanging in your window," the typed letter reads "I have notified all of my girlfriends who in turn have decided to boycott your store. It is not that we despise the flag… it is just we do not want to be associated with crazy left wingers who hate America." O…
Hackensack Rite Aid To Close Hackensack Rite Aid To Close
Hackensack Rite Aid To Close A Rite Aid is Hackensack is closing. Rite Aid announced the location at 219 Essex St. is set to shutter. The pharmacy closing on Thursday, May 16 and the front end of the store closing on Sunday, June 16, a spokesperson tells Daily Voice.  The closure comes after Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last October. More than 200 stores across the country have shut down with another dozen set to close as of last October (click here for a list of New Jersey stores closing). "Rite Aid regularly assesses its retail footprint to ensure we are operating efficiently while meeting the need…
Pig Kidney Gives Terminally-Ill New Jersey Woman New Lease On Life Pig Kidney Gives Terminally-Ill New Jersey Woman New Lease On Life
Pig Kidney Gives Terminally-Ill New Jersey Woman New Lease On Life Renewed hope comes in the form of a pig's kidney and mechanical heart for a New Jersey woman. Lisa Pisano, 54, who had been suffering from both heart and end-stage kidney disease, became the first-ever patient to undergo the combination transplant surgery, according to NYU Langone Health, whose doctors performed the procedures. Pisano was getting sicker and sicker, and her life expectancy was getting shorter and shorter, according to Dr. Robert Montgomery, who chairs the LYU Langone Health surgery department. Life's simplest tasks like walking around the house, cooking, or cleaning, l…
JACKPOT! Lotto Ticket Sold In Somerset Wins Big JACKPOT! Lotto Ticket Sold In Somerset Wins Big
Jackpot! Lotto Ticket Sold In Somerset Wins Big It was a magical Monday for a lottery player in Somerset County. One ticket matched all five numbers in the Jersey Cash 5 jackpot on Monday, April 22, winning $197,163. The ticket was sold at Bernardsville Shop Rite. The winning numbers were 16, 26, 33, 40, 42 and the XTRA number was: 03. 
Veteran Severely Injured In Costa Rica, South Jersey Mom Fighting To Get Him To U.S. Hospital Veteran Severely Injured In Costa Rica, South Jersey Mom Fighting To Get Him To U.S. Hospital
Veteran Severely Injured In Costa Rica, South Jersey Mom Fighting To Get Him To U.S. Hospital A Forked River woman is fighting for her veteran son to return to the U.S. after he was severely injured in Costa Rica, according to a fundraising campaign. On a GoFundMe page, Debra Vargas said that her son Codey Vargas suffered several injuries in an accident, including severe head trauma, a collapsed lung, several fractured ribs, paralyzed intestines, pneumonia, facial fractures, and several scrapes. Codey's accident happened on Wednesday, Mar. 20, but Debra wasn't aware of it until the U.S. embassy in Costa Rica told her on Tuesday, Apr. 2. The GoFundMe page for Codey raised more than $…
Demolition Of Nabisco Site Resuming Year After Postponement Demolition Of Nabisco Site Resuming Year After Postponement
Demolition Of Nabisco Site Resuming Year After Postponement Almost a year after it was called of amid public outcry, plans to demolish the shuttered Nabisco factory in Fair Lawn have once again been finalized. "Demolition at the Nabisco site is expected to resume shortly, with state approval. A non-explosive demolition will be undertaken," said a post on the borough's website on Monday, April 22. No other details were provided. Last May, Greek Development, which is redeveloping the property, announced the building will not be imploded and they would use an alternative method. The implosion was originally set for April 2023 but was postponed. …
WATCH: State Authorities Release Bodycam Videos Of Police Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man WATCH: State Authorities Release Bodycam Videos Of Police Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man
Watch: State Authorities Release Bodycam Videos Of Police Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man UPDATE: An Englewood police officer was justified in shooting a man who'd just stabbed three people, a grand jury ruled on Monday, April 22, following a state-required review. Chilling bodycam videos clearly show Englewood Police Officer Luana Sharpe and other officers were struggling over a knife with 22-year-old city resident Bernard Placide when she shot him on Labor Day 2022. A grand jury review was nonetheless required under New Jersey law because Placide died during an encounter with law enforcement. Evidence was collected by investigators with the state Office of Public Integrity an…
WINNER: Mega Millions Lottery Player Takes Home $10K WINNER: Mega Millions Lottery Player Takes Home $10K
Winner: Mega Millions Lottery Player Takes Home $10K There was a $10,000 Mega Millions winner on Friday, April 19 in Central Jersey, state Lottery officials said. The winning Mega Millions lottery numbers were 19, 30, 34, 46 and 58 and the Mega Ball was 3 The Megaplier option was 3x. The winning ticket was sold at Drinq Linq at 1826 Route 27 in Edison.
Jawbone Of Marine Who Died In Training Exercise ID'd By NJ College Students Jawbone Of Marine Who Died In Training Exercise ID'd By NJ College Students
Jawbone Of Marine Who Died In Training Exercise ID'd By NJ College Students Students at Ramapo College helped identify the missing remains of a marine who had been dead for 73 years. In July of 1951, Leland Yager, a U.S. Marines Captain, died in a military training exercise. His remains were recovered in California and buried in Missouri. Years later, a child was doing a scavenging exploration in Arizona when they discovered an unidentified human jaw bone. Last year, enforcement in Arizona referred the case to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center and students began working on the case, along with the North Texas Center for Human Identification …
TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App?
TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? Another sell-or-be-banned TikTok legislation is working its way up to the Senate. The House passed the sell-or-be-banned bill for the app (360-58) on Saturday, April 20 as part of a larger foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, giving Chinese TikTok owner ByteDance up to a year to sell the app. Otherwise, TikTok will be subject to a nationwide ban. According to Politico, the bill is expected to pass the Senate as it's considered "priority legislation" for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. A previous, standalone bill was passed by the House in March over national security co…
Conspiracy Theorist Who Set Himself On Fire Outside Trump Trial Has NJ, PA Ties Conspiracy Theorist Who Set Himself On Fire Outside Trump Trial Has NJ, PA Ties
Conspiracy Theorist Who Set Himself On Fire Outside Trump Trial Has NJ, PA Ties Maxwell Azzarello, a conspiracy theorist who set himself ablaze outside of a Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump's hush money trial was under way, appears to have ties to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At 1:30 p.m., Azzarello, 36, walked into the center of a park near the courthouse, took out pamphlets containing conspiracy theories and propaganda from a backpack, and threw them in the air. Then, he took out an accelerant and lit himself on fire, NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maggi said. Civilians and nearby officers extinguished the blaze and Azzarello was taken to the&nb…
New Jersey Lottery Player Wins $1K Week For Life New Jersey Lottery Player Wins $1K Week For Life
New Jersey Lottery Player Wins $1K Week For Life Talk about a nice nest egg. A lottery player in New Jersey matched the five white balls in the drawing held on Thursday, April 18, winning $1,000 a week for life. The winning ticket was sold online via the Jackpocket app, which is based in Hewitt in Passaic County. The winning numbers were 05, 36, 38, 45 and 59. The Cash Ball was 01. 
Mortgage-Free Smart House Gifted To Injured New Jersey State Trooper Moving Back Home Mortgage-Free Smart House Gifted To Injured New Jersey State Trooper Moving Back Home
Mortgage-Free Smart House Gifted To Injured New Jersey State Trooper Moving Back Home A New Jersey state trooper and Air Force veteran has a newly renovated accessible home, thanks to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.  The Foundation even paid off the mortgage for Sgt. First Class Sean Acker’s new home in Howell. The renovation features a 1,000-square-foot addition with an ADA-compliant bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. The Foundation also removed the existing metal ramp and installed a permanent masonry ramp. In February 2022, Acker experienced a severe medical injury, enduring three weeks of fighting for his life in the critical care unit before living away from hom…
Bomb Threats Disrupt Schools For Second Day In NJ District Investigating Teacher For Abuse Bomb Threats Disrupt Schools For Second Day In NJ District Investigating Teacher For Abuse
Bomb Threats Disrupt Schools For Second Day In NJ District Investigating Teacher For Abuse Bomb threats caused a scare for parents for a second straight day in a Monmouth County school district investigating sexual abuse accusations against a teacher. In a news release, the Marlboro Township School District said the FBI and other law enforcement agencies investigated the second emailed bomb threats on Friday, Apr. 19. All schools delayed the start of classes for two hours. The school district said investigators determined the threat was "non-credible." "Although we are dealing with another non-credible threat, the district takes any instance of this nature seriously and will con…
Trenton Animal Shelter Taken Over By City Police Department Trenton Animal Shelter Taken Over By City Police Department
Trenton Animal Shelter Taken Over By City Police Department Trenton Animal Shelter will now be overseen by the city's police department. The reorganization is part of an executive order meant to strengthen management and ease overcrowding. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora's executive order also creates a new five-member animal welfare advisory board. Trenton Police Lt. Alexis Durlacher will call the shots as the shelter’s new chief. Durlacher has had past animal control experience, the mayor said. Animal welfare, adoption services, pet ownership education and humane animal control enforcement will be among the priorities, the mayor said. "The welfare …
WINNER! Bergen County Quick Draw Player Wins Big $$ WINNER! Bergen County Quick Draw Player Wins Big $$
Winner! Bergen County Quick Draw Player Wins Big $$ A Bergen County lottery player got a nice treat on Tax Day. The lucky player purchased a winning Quick Draw Progressive ticket on Monday, April 15, netting $80,950, 20 percent of the progressive jackpot. In Quick Draw, a set of nine “Your Jackpot Numbers” (01-80) are randomly selected and printed at the bottom of every Quick Draw ticket. If all nine of the player’s numbers are selected in any of the Quick Draw drawings the ticket is eligible for, the ticket wins a portion of the Progressive Jackpot based on the amount wagered per draw. The winning ticket was sold at Boulevard Bar & Gri…
Schools Closed Following Bomb Threat In NJ District Probing Teacher For Abuse (UPDATE) Schools Closed Following Bomb Threat In NJ District Probing Teacher For Abuse (UPDATE)
Schools Closed Following Bomb Threat In NJ District Probing Teacher For Abuse (Update) UPDATE: Schools in Marlboro Township were closed Thursday, April 18 after a bomb threat initially prompted a 2-hour delay, officials announced. Marlboro police confirmed threats were sent to the middle school and the Board of Education buildings, the day after news spread that a middle school teacher was being investigated for abusing a student. At 6:12 a.m., Daily Voice was bcc'd on a hateful email saying bombs had been placed in various Marlboro schools. The email also said the Marlboro school district "is either extremely incompetent or outright evil... You not only allowed but you encou…
Ford Recalls Over 450K Of Some Of Its Most Popular Models Over Safety Concerns Ford Recalls Over 450K Of Some Of Its Most Popular Models Over Safety Concerns
Ford Recalls Over 450K Of Some Of Its Most Popular Models Over Safety Concerns Ford announced that it would recall over 450,000 Bronco Sport SUVs and Maverick vehicles because of an issue with the battery that can cause the drive train to lose power and increase the likelihood of wrecks.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report on Friday, April 12, saying sensors in the car could fail to notice a change in the battery's power. If the power drops too low, the vehicle could turn off or lose important components such as hazard lights if the car breaks down.  The Broncos were produced from February 2020 until March 2024. Ford Maveric…