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Morristown Minute
NJ DOE Updates 2024 Every Student Succeeds Plan
NEW JERSEY - The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is inviting public comment on the 2024 Draft of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan. Building on the initial plan approved by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) in 2017 and last updated in 2023, the proposed updates introduce several changes aimed at better-capturing student progress and enhancing school accountability.
NJ Residents Gain Free Tax Filing Option in 2025
TRENTON – July 24, 2024: Governor Phil Murphy and U.S. Department of the Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo have announced that beginning in Filing Season 2025, New Jersey residents will be able to use Direct File to submit their federal tax returns. More than 1.3 million New Jerseyans will be eligible to use this free online filing tool next filing season.
$249M Investment in EV Charging for NJ, CT, DE, and MD
NJ and Three Other States Receive Funding to Support Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging on Interstate-95 Corridor. NEW JERSEY – July 22, 2024: The Biden-Harris Administration has announced over $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to support community-driven climate solutions, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America's transition to clean energy. Among the recipients are New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland, awarded $249 million for the Clean Corridor Coalition project. This initiative aims to deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles along the Interstate-95 freight corridor and adjacent roadways.
New Jersey Career Accelerator Offers Nearly 580 Paid Internships
NEW JERSEY – July 25, 2024: The Murphy Administration has announced that 133 New Jersey-based employers have received grants through the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program ("Career Accelerator") to provide 574 paid summer internships to New Jersey college students. These internships are open to students who currently attend or graduated from an in-state college or university in the last 12 months or are New Jersey residents attending college out-of-state.
Morristown Welcomes USS New Jersey Crew
The sailors of the soon-to-be-commissioned USS New Jersey explored Morristown's rich Revolutionary War history during their visit. MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Morris County extended a warm welcome to the crew of the United States Ship New Jersey (SSN 796) as part of their tour through New Jersey, connecting with the state's rich naval history before the submarine's commissioning on September 14. The visit, which included stops at Morristown Green and Washington’s Headquarters, provided the crew—comprising four men and four women—an immersive experience into significant American Revolutionary sites.
NJ TRANSIT Enhances Fleet with 36 New Multilevel Rail Cars
MORRISTOWN, N.J. - NJ TRANSIT's Board of Directors approved the acquisition of 36 new Multilevel III rail cars on July 24, 2024, marking another significant step in the agency's ongoing fleet modernization efforts. This $170 million investment aims to replace the aging single-level cars with more efficient and passenger-friendly options.
NJ AG Backs DEA's Move to Reschedule Cannabis
NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has endorsed a move to reclassify cannabis from a highly restricted substance to one that acknowledges its medicinal benefits. NEW JERSEY - In a significant move supporting drug policy reform, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin submitted a comment letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Monday, advocating for the proposed rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. The DEA's proposal aims to shift "marijuana" from Schedule I, a category for substances considered highly addictive and without medical use, to Schedule III, which includes substances recognized for their medical benefits and lower abuse potential.
British Citizen Pleads Guilty to Child Porn & Travel for Sexual Conduct
NEW JERSEY - In a significant legal development, Stephen Hudson has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing child pornography and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, as announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark, New Jersey.
NJ Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Cocaine Trafficking
Orlando Ayala, a 30-year-old from Westampton, NJ, faces a 60-month prison term for his involvement in a drug distribution network spanning New Jersey and Pennsylvania. NEW JERSEY - Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Camden federal court, Orlando Ayala was sentenced to five years in prison for his active role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy that operated across Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey and extended into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams handed down the sentence following Ayala's guilty plea on March 21, 2024, to charges including conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Man Sentenced 24 Years for Child Sex Crimes
NEW JERSEY - In a significant judicial conclusion on July 24, 2024, Randal Wise was sentenced to 288 months, or 24 years, in prison after being found guilty on four counts of sex offenses related to minors. U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp handed down the sentence in Trenton, marking the end of a case that highlighted the dangers of online exploitation of children.
NJ Mother-Son Duo Plead Guilty in Scheme to Defraud DoD
NEW JERSEY — Linda Mika, 73, of Jackson, New Jersey, and her son, Kenneth Mika, 53, of Ewing, New Jersey, have both entered guilty pleas in a federal court for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme targeting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The scheme, which lasted from March 2016 to April 2020, involved the provision of non-authorized military equipment parts in violation of their contractual obligations.
NJ Woman Faces Federal Charges for $350k Synagogue Embezzlement
Federal Charges Filed Following Extensive FBI Investigation. Newark, NJ — Stacy Margaritondo, a 51-year-old resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, faces serious allegations of wire fraud after being charged with embezzling more than $350,000 from a Union County synagogue. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the charges following Margaritondo's appearance in Newark federal court, where she was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
Six Sentenced in New Jersey for Gun Trafficking Conspiracy
Individuals Involved in Interstate Firearms Smuggling Receive Varied Sentences. Morristown, NJ — Six South Carolina residents have been sentenced for their involvement in a gun trafficking operation that illegally transported firearms into New Jersey. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the culmination of the case on July 23, 2024, with the final sentencing taking place in Newark federal court by U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz.
40-Year Sentence for Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes in NJ
Series of Assaults in Lakewood Result in Severe Legal Repercussions. Morristown, NJ — Dion Marsh, a 29-year-old from Manchester, New Jersey, has been sentenced to a lengthy 40 years in prison for a series of violent hate crimes targeting members of the Orthodox Jewish community in and around Lakewood, New Jersey. This sentencing was announced today by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Guilty Plea: Five Pipe Bombs Discovered at Traffic Stop
Discovery During Traffic Stop Leads to Federal Guilty Plea. Morristown, NJ — Jeremy Giliberti, a 52-year-old resident of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, has entered a guilty plea for possessing five destructive devices, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced July 23, 2024. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn attention due to the dangerous nature of the devices involved.
NJ Housing Discrimination: Denial, Harassment & Lack of Accommodations
Housing Providers Allegedly Denied Rentals, Permitted Residents to Be Harassed Based on Disability, or Denied Reasonable Accommodations. Morristown, NJ — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have issued Findings of Probable Cause against several management companies and property owners for alleged disability discrimination. These findings suggest that multiple housing providers across the state may have violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by denying housing opportunities and failing to accommodate residents with disabilities.
NJ's $120 Summer EBT Feeds Child Nutrition
Officials Celebrate Success and Expansion of Meal Initiatives for Children. Morristown, NJ — State and local officials, including New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, gathered July 18, 2024, at Pemberton Early Childhood Learning Center in Burlington County to spotlight the achievements of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the innovative Summer EBT initiative, which provides substantial support to low-income families during the summer months.
More Roadwork Disrupts Traffic, Extensive Delays Expected
Ongoing Construction on Key Routes Promises Delays and Detours. Morristown, NJ — Commuters in Morris County face a challenging day ahead with multiple construction projects impacting major roadways. As of this morning, ongoing work on I-287, NJ 23, NJ 10, and US 46 is causing significant lane closures and traffic delays, set to continue throughout the day.
Dominican Nationals Extradited in U.S. Grandparent Scam
NEWARK, N.J. – Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman and Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, both from Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, were extradited to the United States on charges connected to a widespread scam defrauding American seniors. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, in coordination with the Justice Department, announced that both individuals made their initial court appearance in Newark yesterday.
Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Kidnapping & Robbery
NEW JERSEY - Reginald Law, a 38-year-old man from Queens, New York, has admitted to his involvement in a violent kidnapping that occurred in Paterson, New Jersey, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. Law's guilty plea came during a session in Newark federal court, overseen by U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin, where he faced charges of kidnapping and committing a Hobbs Act robbery.
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