Category: North Jersey

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Feds Sue NJ Water Utility Over Open-Air Reservoirs Serving 800,000 Residents

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Feds Sue Passaic Valley Water Commission Over Uncovered Drinking Water Reservoirs

the staff of the ridgewood blog

Little Falls NJ, Federal and state authorities have taken legal action against one of Northern New Jersey’s primary drinking water providers. The U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office have jointly sued the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), alleging the utility has violated the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for nearly two decades by leaving three key drinking water reservoirs open to the elements.

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Did You Feel It? New Jersey Shaken by Late-Afternoon Earthquake in Morris County

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1.1-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes North Jersey on Saturday Afternoon

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Chester NJ, North Jersey experienced another seismic rumble this weekend. According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a minor 1.1-magnitude earthquake struck Morris County on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at approximately 3:50 p.m.

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NY Harbor Fatal Boat Capsizing: Unlicensed Captain Was an Illegal Immigrant

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Federal Authorities Arrest Unlicensed Operator in Fatal Statue of Liberty Speedboat Capsizing

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Jersey City NJ, Federal immigration authorities have taken custody of Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, the unlicensed speedboat pilot involved in the fatal August 8 capsizing near the Statue of Liberty. The tragic accident resulted in the drowning deaths of 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.

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Tragic New York Harbor Boat Crash: Captain Charged Following Deadly Liberty Island Overturning

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Tragic New York Harbor Boat Crash Victims Identified: Mother and 5-Month-Old Infant Die After Vessel Capsizes Near Liberty Island

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York NY, A weekend outing turned into a fatal disaster in the waters of New York Harbor late Saturday night when a 21-foot motorboat capsized near Liberty Island, resulting in the tragic deaths of a 27-year-old mother and her 5-month-old infant daughter. The infant’s father was also on board during the incident.

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Tragedy in Passaic: Body of Missing 10-Year-Old Girl Located After Devastating Two-Day Search

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Body of Missing 10-Year-Old Girl Located in Passaic River After Multi-Agency Search

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

PASSAIC, NJ — A tragic multi-agency search operation came to a heartbreaking end on Friday, July 31, after the body of a missing 10-year-old girl was discovered in the Passaic River near the Market Street Bridge.

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Wild Scene at Montclair 16 Handles: Woman Exposes Herself After Refusing to Pay for Frozen Yogurt

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Denial of Free Frozen Yogurt Sparks Bizarre Public Lewdness Incident at Montclair Shop

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montclair NJ, A routine Tuesday afternoon took a wild turn at a popular Essex County dessert spot after a customer’s refusal to pay led to an act of public lewdness.

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Woman vs. Bear Viral Debate Meets Reality: NJ Hiker Forced to Escape Black Bear in Kittatinny Valley

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Woman vs. Bear Reality Check: NJ Hiker Escapes Close Encounter in Kittatinny Valley State Park

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Andover Township NJ, A viral TikTok trend asked women whether they would rather be stuck in the woods with a man or a bear—a question millions answered with a resounding preference for the bear. But for one New Jersey hiker in Sussex County, a real-life encounter with a black bear proved that nature can get a little too close for comfort.

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Maplewood Man Held Without Bail in NJ Transit Armored Vehicle Joyride and Theft

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Judge Orders Maplewood Man Detained After Alleged Early-Morning Joyride in Stolen NJ Transit Armored Vehicle

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Maplewood NJ, A 39-year-old Maplewood resident will remain behind bars pending trial after being accused of stealing a massive SWAT truck from an NJ Transit facility and taking it on an early-morning joyride across Essex and Hudson counties.

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The Sweet Life Leaves NJ: Candy Giant Mars Wrigley Abandons Newark HQ in Latest Corporate Exodus

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The Sour Truth: Mars Wrigley Abandons Newark HQ as New Jersey’s Corporate Exodus Spikes

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, The corporate landscape in New Jersey just lost a massive piece of its sweetness. Mars Wrigley, the global confectionery powerhouse behind iconic brands like M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, and Skittles, has officially announced it is leaving its Newark headquarters. The candy titan filed a formal WARN notice indicating it will eliminate 307 local jobs by mid-October, shifting operations following a massive $100 million expansion of its Chicago headquarters.

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21 Years on the Run: How a 56-Foot Sailboat and an Online Sleuth Brought Down a Fugitive Doctor in North Jersey

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Caught at Sea: Online Sleuth’s Tip Ends 20-Year Run for One of Rhode Island’s Most Wanted Fugitives

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Jersey City NJ, A dramatic multi-agency maritime operation has officially ended one of the longest-running fugitive hunts in Rhode Island history. Ronald L. Fischer, a former Rhode Island anesthesiologist who vanished more than two decades ago during his criminal trial, was captured aboard a 56-foot sailboat off the coast of New Jersey. The breakthrough in the cold case came not from standard surveillance, but from the digital world—thanks to a crucial tip provided by an online sleuth.

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What Caused the Early Morning Car Blast That Damaged Multiple Homes in Totowa?

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Early Morning Car Explosion Shakes Totowa Neighborhood, Damaging Multiple Homes

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Totowa NJ, A quiet New Jersey neighborhood was violently awoken early Monday morning, July 13, 2026, when a vehicle unexpectedly exploded, injuring one person and causing widespread property damage.

The blast, which occurred in a residential development, triggered a massive multi-agency response, including local police, federal investigators, and bomb technicians. Thankfully, authorities have already identified the root cause of the terrifying incident, ruling out any immediate threat to the public.

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Former Hudson County Democrat Parks Director Admits to Massive 5-Year Kickback Scheme

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Kickbacks in the Park: Facing 20 Years: Ex-NJ Official Pleads Guilty in Million-Dollar Honest Services Fraud Case

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Bayonne NJ, A major public corruption investigation in North Jersey has culminated in another high-profile guilty plea.

Democrat Russell Fallacara, the 59-year-old former Director of the Hudson County Parks Department and resident of Bayonne, officially pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.

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Chaos in NJ: Over 200,000 in the Dark as 50 MPH Gale Winds Batter Holiday Festivities

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Over 200,000 Without Power: Severe July 3rd Storms Tear Through New Jersey, Halting Transit and Holiday Events

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Jersey City NJ, A powerful line of severe thunderstorms tore through northern and central New Jersey during the evening of Friday, July 3, leaving more than 200,000 residents in the dark, scattering travel plans, and disrupting early Independence Day festivities across the state.

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How an FBI Takedown of a New Jersey ‘Catfish’ Shattered an International Dark Web Kiddie Porn Ring

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New Jersey Tech Predator ‘The Artist’ Sentenced to 26 Years for Catfishing and Exploiting Hundreds of Boys

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

West New York, NJ, A massive international dark web investigation has culminated in a lengthy federal prison sentence for a Hudson County man who methodically targeted and exploited hundreds of children online.

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Historic Hinchliffe Stadium Set to Host New Jersey’s Ultimate World Cup Fan Experience

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Passport to Paterson: Thousands Gather as Paterson Emerges as New Jersey’s Premier World Cup Destination

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paterson, NJ — The FIFA World Cup 2026™ fever has officially taken over Northern New Jersey. Following a massive opening weekend that drew roughly 2,000 fans to South Paterson, the city is rapidly transforming into the region’s go-to destination for multicultural soccer celebrations.

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