Democrat Rebecca Bennett Unseats Tom Kean, Flips NJ's 7th Congressional District
It's back to blue for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
Rebecca Bennett, a Democrat and former Navy helicopter pilot, has defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., following a monthslong absence from Congress, Decision Desk HQ, a leading provider of election results, projected just after 9:45 p.m.
The healthcare executive defeated the two-term incumbent in one of New Jersey's most closely watched congressional races on Tuesday, Nov. 3, leading Kean by more than 53,000 votes with 76% counted as of 9:46 p.m., according to Decision Desk HQ.
Bennett had 145,664 votes (60.30…
AAA Ranks NJ's Worst Towns, Counties For Deer Crashes
New Jersey drivers are hitting deer at record rates, and the most dangerous time of year is here.
A record 11,692 deer-related crashes were reported across the Garden State in 2025, up nearly 2% from the previous record set in 2024, according to AAA Northeast, citing state crash data from Numetric. With deer mating season peaking in October and November, AAA is warning motorists to stay alert, particularly around dawn and dusk, when deer are most active.
Between 2020 and 2025, New Jersey recorded 64,780 deer-related crashes, including more than 4,252 involving injuries and 15 involving…
Morris Plains Motorcyclist, 36, Killed In Labor Day Crash
A 36-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a Sussex County Labor Day crash, police said.
On Monday, Sept. 1, around 1:32 p.m., troopers responded to County Road 521 near milepost 38.2, New Jersey State Police Trooper Christopher Postorino said.
Efrain AlvaradoMaradiaga, 36, was operating a Kawasaki motorcycle south on County Road 521 when the motorcycle left the roadway to the left, struck a tree and overturned, Postorino said.
AlvaradoMaradiaga died as a result of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation, and no additional information is available, police said.
4 More Illegal Immigrant Child Predators Busted In NJ, ICE Says
Federal agents in New Jersey say that they have arrested four more illegally present immigrants convicted of sex crimes against children — bringing the total to eight arrests since late July.
The sweep, carried out by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark, targeted criminal non-citizens across Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Sussex counties, the Office of Homeland Security said in a news release.
The most recent arrest was Daniel Garcia Cruz, 35, of Mexico, who was convicted of criminal sexual contact in Hudson County and sentenced to …
Republican Branchville, Frankford Commissioner Faked Military Status For Tax Break: AG
A sitting Sussex County Commissioner has been indicted for falsely claiming a veteran’s exemption on a New Jersey tax return, officials said.
William "Bill" Hayden, 58, of Frankford Township, was charged with one count of filing a fraudulent tax return (3rd degree), according to an announcement made by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) on Tuesday, July 15.
Hayden, who was elected to the Sussex County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 8, 2022, is also employed as a Region North Permit Supervisor with the New Jersey Department of Trans…
Storms Knock Out Power To Thousands Across NJ; Thunderstorm Watch In Effect Until 10PM
Thousands of homes and businesses lost power across New Jersey on Thursday, July 3, as storms moved through the state, according to outage data from JCP&L and PSE&G.
As of 6:15 p.m., Sussex County had the most widespread outages, with 3,029 customers in the dark, JCP&L reported. The hardest-hit towns included:
Sparta, with 1,724 outages
Ogdensburg, with 404 outages
Andover, with 298 outages
Stillwater, with 210 outages
In Morris County, 1,295 customers were without power, including:
646 in Chester
265 in Mendham Borough
136 in Mendham Township
Smaller outages were reported in…
Stanhope Man, Father Of Two, Missing Since May
Dan Butkus, a 36-year-old Sussex County resident, has been missing since Friday, May 16, his family said.
Butkus was last seen leaving his apartment in the 500 section of Stonegate Village in Stanhope, his aunt Peggy McNichol Peterson said. He left his wallet, cellphone and glasses behind, Peterson said.
He has light brown hair, brown eyes and is 5'11", weighing between 170 and 200 pounds, Stanhope Police said.
"His family and friends believe his disappearance is suspicious and are concerned for his safety and well-being," Stanhope Police said.
Police said they searched the apa…
Registered Sex Offender Admits Instructing Sparta Woman To Perform Sex Acts On Toddler: Feds
A Sussex County, NJ, woman and a Texas man admitted to exploiting a child and producing child pornography, as well as to other child pornography offenses, authorities said.
Dominique Saczawa, 34, of Sparta, and Russell Lynn Davis, Jr., 47, of Heller, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said.
Court documents say Saczawa admitted to sexually exploiting a then-4-year-old by engaging in sexual contact and then producing images and videos of that sexual contact. She also admitted to sharing these videos and…
Drug Bust: Sparta Man Ran Narcotics Lab Out Local Shop, Cops Say
One man has been charged with operating a drug production facility out of a local storefront in Sussex County, and another is facing charges for distribution, authorities said.
Devin Pupo, 38, of Sparta, and Anthony Buff, 25, of Newton, were arrested on Friday, May 23, after an extensive investigation by the Sparta Township Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Sahil K. Kabse said.
Investigators executed search warrants at several locations in Sparta, including two businesses: Green Remedies at 53 Sparta Ave. and Zenshine Smoke Shop at …
Erratic, Speeding Route 206 DWI Jeep Driver Had Open Container: Byram PD
A 35-year-old man was arrested after police say he was driving drunk with an open container of alcohol in his vehicle on Route 206 in Sussex County.
The arrest happened just after 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, according to a Byram Township Police Department media release.
An officer saw a white Jeep traveling at a low rate of speed, then noticed it weaving between lanes and speeding up and down in an erratic manner, the report said. As officers got closer, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, prompting a traffic stop.
Police say the driver, identified as Johnathan Valdez, of Warren, app…
Hamburg Dad Bryan Evans Dies Suddenly, 39
Shock and sadness spread following the sudden death of Bryan Evans, a Sussex County father of four. Evans, 39, died on Sunday, April 27 in Morristown, according to his obituary on the Pinkel Funeral Home website.
Bryan, of Hamburg was a devoted husband to Laura and a proud father to sons Bryce and Sylas, and daughters Taylor and Aryana, his obituary says. He worked at Givaudan in East Hanover since 2021 and was named Employee of the Month multiple times for his dedication and work ethic, his obit says. He was known for his kind heart, loyalty, and quiet strength.
In addition to his wife and…
