Murphy Declares Storm Related State of Emergency

Governor Phil Murphy has declared at State of Emergency effective at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, March 3.

“New Jersey will be expecting another winter storm today and tomorrow,” said Governor Murphy. “The safety of our residents is our top priority, and we urge everyone to be informed of weather conditions and to stay off the roads so that we are able to deploy available resources to clean the snow.”

The National Weather Service in Mt Holly issued Winter Storm Warning for Central Jersey effective at 3 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. on Monday morning.

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Middletown Man Charged With Making Terroristic Threats At High School North

Richard D. Thompson, Jr., 35, of Middletown was charged with three counts of of terroristic threats and one count of resisting arrest this morning following an altercation at Middletown High School North, according to an announcement by Det.Lt Paul Bailey, public information officer for the MTPD.

Thompson, who was working as a contractor at the school, got into a verbal altercation with another contract worker.  He become argumentative with security officers and refused to leave the school when instructed to do so.  Thompson reportedly told the security staff that he was going to return to the campus and shoot them.  Thompson then left the school grounds on foot.  Multiple police officers immediately responded to the incident. Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Chris Smith Acknowledges Hotels That Fight Human Trafficking

Representatives of the Junior Leagues of NJ State Public Affairs Committee meet with Rep Chris Smith during the NJ Chamber’s Congressional Dinner. Click on photo for info on JL-NJSPAC’s anti-human trafficking efforts

During his remarks to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s 82nd Walk to Washington Congressional Dinner, Congressman Chris Smith acknowledged five hotel chains for their leadership in fighting human trafficking; Hilton, Carlson, Radisson, Wyndham and Marriott.

Smith introduced legislation yesterday, H.R.1427, which will require that hotels that fight human trafficking be preferred vendors for federal government travel.

Smith remarks to the Chamber, as prepared for delivery, follow:

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Smith’s new legislation will fight human trafficking in the hotel industry

Congressman Smith addressed the 9th annual NJ Human Trafficking and Awareness Event on January 25, 2019 in Trenton

Legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Smith on Thursday will require that U.S. government travel business be prioritized to hotels that have strong anti-human trafficking policies in place.

“U.S. government travelers should be staying at hotels that are part of the solution to human trafficking, not part of the problem,” Smith said. “Six of the 10 major hotels chains in the world have taken the initiative to train their staff to recognize and report when human traffickers use their hotels for crime.  These are the hotels that deserve U.S. government business.”

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Aagre not running for reelection in Hazlet

Hazlet Mayor Scott Aagre and former Senator Joe Kyrillos 

Mayor Scott Aagre has decided not to seek a sixth term on the Hazlet Township Committee, GOP Municipal Chairman Gene Kiley confirmed to MMM.

First elected in 2003, Aagre will have spent 15 years on the Hazlet governing body when he leaves office at the end of this year.

“Scott is a great public servant and a good friend to the people of Hazlet,” said Freeholder Sue Kiley, who served with Aagre from 2014 until she was sworn into her current office. “His wisdom and contributions will be missed.”

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Why Amazon Did Not Choose New Jersey

By Senator Robert Singer

Senator Robert Singer

A whopping 238 cities across the United States sought to be the home of Amazon’s second headquarters, dubbed “HQ2.” Of all city applicants, Newark, New Jersey offered Amazon the largest tax benefits in the country. Regardless of being one of twenty cities to make the final cut, Newark was passed over by Amazon not once, but twice. It speaks volumes that a package of tax incentives totaling $7 billion could not entice Amazon to choose New Jersey.

Our state’s prime geographic location, diverse workforce, state-of-the-art infrastructure, convenient transportation, and best-in-the-nation schools should have made the Garden State an easy sell. The New Jersey Legislature’s successful bipartisan effort to top all other competing tax incentive offers nationwide should have made the Garden State an easy choice. The competition was fierce to court HQ2, and New Jersey was in play.

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Neptune Man Arrested for Child Abuse Porn

Anthony McCray, 50, of Neptune Township has been arrested and charged with the possession and distribution of videos that depict the sexual abuse of children, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

On August 3, 2018, McCray distributed 16 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children via a peer-to-peer file-sharing program – an online connection of computers allowing the sharing of files directly between individual users. On November 18, 2018, McCray distributed an additional 86 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children via a peer-to-peer file-sharing program. On February 21, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McCray’s residence located additional child pornography.

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Greg’s List: Things to Do in Monmouth County This Weekend, March 1-3, 2019:

By Greg Kelly

Friday, March 1

• Bowl for Kids’ Sake (Neptune City) – MORE INFO
• “Nunsense” at Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Butterflies Are Free by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• “Theo” at Two River Theater (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Holodomor: Soviet Genocide in Ukraine Exhibit (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• “James and the Giant Peach” by St. Rose Theater Company (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO

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McAtasney found guilty in Sarah Stern Murder

Liam McAtasney has been found guilty of all seven counts against his in the December 2016 murder of Sarah Stern, according to an announcement by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office via twitter:

#BREAKING : Liam McAtasney has been found guilty for the 2016 murder of then, 19-year old Sarah Stern. McAtasney was found guilty on all 7 counts. #mcponj

— Monmouth Prosecutor (@MonCoProsecutor) February 26, 2019

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Baroni gets 18 months for Bridgegate conviction

Bill Barnoni, 47, a former NJ State Senator and the former Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY/NJ was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today for his role in the September, 2013 George Washington Bridge lane closure known as Bridgegate, Assistant US Attorney Attorney for the United States Mark Coyne announced.

U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.

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