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Plainfield Victim, 25, Killed By Violent Storm Was Coming Home From Work, Campaign Says
Support is pouring in for the family of Bryan Ernesto Valladares, one of the three victims killed during Thursday’s violent thunderstorm in New Jersey/.
As of Saturday, July 5, more than $4,400 had been raised on a GoFundMe to help send the 25-year-old Plainfield man's body back to his home country of El Salvador and support his grieving family.
Bryan, described as a hard-working young man, was driving home from work around 6:56 p.m. on July 3 when a tree collapsed onto his vehicle, campaign organizer Yoselin Melendez wrote.
“Bryan, only 25 years old, tragically lost his life when a tree f…
Three Killed In New Jersey As Storm Uproots Trees, Crushes Cars, Flattens Homes
A violent thunderstorm that ripped through New Jersey Thursday night, July 3, left three people dead — including a Middlesex woman, a 79-year-old man, and a 25-year-old Plainfield resident — and caused widespread destruction across Union and Somerset counties, officials said.
Storm photos in Edison below (scroll for fatal incidents).
Yesterday’s strong thunderstorm caused many wires, countless trees, branches and other debris to come down but... Posted by Mayor Sam Joshi on Friday, July 4, 2025
North Plainfield:
At around 6:30 p.m., a 44-year-old Middlesex woman was driving a 2018 …
Newark Woman Hit With 29 Charges In $600K Real Estate, Rent Scam Spree
A Newark woman is facing nearly 30 charges for allegedly stealing more than $600,000 through a string of frauds across New Jersey, authorities said.
Joyce Kirkland, 59, was arrested at her home on the morning of Wednesday, June 25, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said Friday. Kirkland was charged with 29 counts, including theft, money laundering, forgery, and criminal impersonation.
Prosecutors say Kirkland forged names on deeds, falsified documents, and stole from the State of New Jersey’s Emergency Rental Assistance Programs, taking more than $300,000. She also allegedly forged …
1,700 Lose Power In Bergen County Amid Dangerous NJ Heat
New Jersey is sweltering under dangerously high heat and humidity, with feels-like temperatures hitting 106° in multiple cities on Wednesday, June 25, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
Trenton, Vineland, Allentown, Philadelphia, and Wilmington all reached peak heat indices of 106°, while Easton, PA, topped out at 107°, weather officials said. Long Branch and Sussex hit 100°, and Toms River wasn’t far behind at 103°.
To make matters worse, more than 10,000 residents across the state were without power as of 7:30 p.m., making it even harder to cool off:
PSE&G outa…
Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect For 10 NJ Counties, NWS Warns
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for 10 New Jersey counties through 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, as damaging storms threaten to slam the region with hail, wind, and lightning, according to the National Weather Service.
The counties under watch include:
Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem.
The Storm Prediction Center says conditions are right for frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and wind gusts strong enough to cause property damage and power outages.
Meanwhile, residents in northeast New Jersey—including Passaic, Berg…
Elizabeth Man Learns Fate After Shooting Victim In Head: Prosecutor
A 22-year-old Elizabeth man was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Friday, June 6, after previously pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter, authorities said.
On Friday, June 23, 2023 at 9:39 p.m., Elizabeth police responded to Spring Street and Third Ave where they found David Guevara suffering from gunshot wounds to the head, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca said.
Guevara was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Joel Argueta pleaded guilty on Monday, March 31, authorities said. He wa…
Elizabeth Trio Learn Fate For New Year’s Day Shooting: Prosecutor
Three Elizabeth men were sentenced to prison on Friday, June 6, for their roles in a 2023 New Year’s Day shooting, authorities said.
On January 1, 2023, Elizabeth police responded to Fourth Street on a report of a shooting and found Vladimir Martinez with multiple gunshot wounds, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca said. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Albenys Soto-Fernandez, 26, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter and conspiracy t…
BMWs, Mercedes: Newark Members Of $1 Mil NJ Stolen Car Ring Learn Fate, Prosecutor Says
Five members, including two juveniles were sentenced for their involvement in an auto theft trafficking network that pilfered luxury vehicles throughout North Jersey, authorities announced Thursday, May 22.
Tikeem Shearin, 19, Carlos Espinal, 20 and Sincere Sims, 21, Newark residents, were each sentenced to five years in prison after previously pleading guilty to leader of an auto trafficking ring, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said.
Two juveniles were sentenced to three years in Jamesburg Juvenile Detention Center for their involvement in the ring.
A four-month investigation by n…
Millions In CT Breathing Unhealthy Air, New Study Warns: Here's Why
Nearly half of all people in the United States, including millions across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to a new study.
The American Lung Association released its 2025 edition of the "State of the Air" report on Wednesday, April 23. The study, now in its 26th year, highlights troubling air quality trends in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The report found that 156 million people – about 46% of the U.S. population – are living in counties that earned failing grades f…
$650K: Lake Hiawatha Lotto Player Splits Jersey Cash 5 Jackpot
Three North Jersey lottery players had a terrific Tuesday.
Lottery players in Union, Morris and Hunterdon counties matched all five numbers in the Jersey Cash 5 drawing on Tuesday, April 8, winning $650,486. The winners will split $216,822.
The tickets were sold at Krauszer's Food Store in Lake Hiawatha in Morris County, Two Lucky Convenience Store in Hillside in Union County and 7-Eleven in Flemington in Hunterdon County.
The winning numbers were 03, 06, 08, 10, 11. The Xtra was 02 and the Bullseye was 03.
Office Manager Admits To Embezzling $350K From Scotch Plains Synagogue, Feds Say
A 52-year-old Scotch Plains woman pleaded guilty on Thursday, March 20, to embezzling more than $350,000 from a Union County synagogue she worked at, authorities said.
In 2010, Stacy Margaritondo began working at Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains and was later promoted to bookkeeper and office manager in July 2020, U.S. Attorney John Giordano said.
Margaritondo’s duties included accounting/bookkeeping, payroll, preparing checks for accounts payable, and reporting to the synagogue’s board of directors regarding the synagogue’s financial condition, Giordano said.
From Dec. 2019 to Ma…
Exclusive: SZA Allegedly Scammed By NJ Woman Wanted For $600K+ Lancaster County Hospital Fraud
A New Jersey woman accused of defrauding Pennsylvania hospitals out of more than $600,000 while raising money for assisted suicide has also been accused of scamming Grammy-winning singer SZA.
Taleah McKnight, 30, also known as Abygail Brooks, Chemory Brooks, Taleah Brooks, Leah Osei, and Leah Javon has an active arrest warrant for theft by deception and theft of services, East Hempfield Township Police in Lancaster County announced and Daily Voice previously reported.
McKnight has lived at addresses in Roselle Park and Rahway in Union County as well as Carteret, Middlesex County, New…
Exclusive: NJ Woman Wanted For $600K PA Hospital Fraud Launches Suicide Fundraiser
A New Jersey woman— with ties to multiple other states — is wanted for allegedly defrauding Pennsylvania hospitals of more than $600,000 by faking a sickle cell diagnosis and has been raising money online for assisted suicide in Switzerland, Pennsylvania State Police announced and GoFundMe confirmed to Daily Voice on Tuesday, March 18.
Taleah McKnight, 30, also known as Abygail Brooks, Chemory Brooks, Taleah Brooks, and Leah Osei, has an active arrest warrant for theft by deception and theft of services, East Hempfield Township Police in Lancaster County said on Thursday, March 14.
McK…
Two Men Charged In Wall Home Invasion, One At Large: Police
Two men who were arrested in Union County earlier this month were arrested again following a home invasion in Wall Township in January, authorities said.
On Monday, Jan. 20, three masked men forcibly entered a home on Baileys Corner Road through a rear window, Wall Township police said.
The homeowner said the suspects stole car keys from a counter inside the home but were unable to remove the vehicle from the property, police said.
The suspects fled the scene in a dark-colored vehicle heading west on Allaire Road, toward Route 34, police said.
Yasir Twitty, 21, and Nymir Marks, 19 were ar…
Brazen Dunkin' Bandit Steals $18K From 14 Locations Across New Jersey: Prosecutor
A Newark man is behind bars after authorities say he went on a multi-county Dunkin’ burglary spree, swiping more than $18,000 in cash and leaving a trail of destruction behind.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 24-year-old Enajaim E. Bowman, who turned himself in on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after detectives tracked him down following weeks of investigation.
For nearly two months, Bowman prowled the overnight hours, prying open doors and smashing windows to loot cash registers, safes, and managers’ offices at Dunkin’ Donuts locations across Bergen, Middlesex, Morris, and…
