August 8, 2022
NEWARK, NJ — Earlier today there was a major water main break in Branch Brook Park near the Newark/Belleville border causing low pressure for the City of Newark and Township of Belleville. Several area fire departments and Flynn Water are providing emergency water for the City of Newark until repairs are made and water pressure returns to a safe level for firefighting other use. Tankers and other units will assist Newark Fire Department to supply water to their scenes in the event of a fire.
Jamesburg Fire Company, Monroe Township Fire Department, and South Amboy from Middlesex County are in Newark standing by overnight.
Budd Lake Fire Department and Flanders Fire Department of Morris County answered the call sending Engine 59 staffed by Budd Lake and Flanders Firefighters. Engine 59 is in quarters with Newark Engine 13, Newark Ladder 6 and Tenders from Jefferson and Mt. Arlington.
There are more standing by from around the state for the water emergency in Newark as information becomes available it will be added to the list of department.
Flynn Water of Juliustown, NJ is supplying emergency water to University Hospital in Newark due to the low pressure from the water main break.
bellevillewaterupdate-aug9-2022Download 
Photo Budd Lake FD Facebook Page
Due to a severe water main break in the city of Newark the city’s fire department requested assistance from surrounding counties for tenders, tankers and engines. Budd Lake And Flanders Fire answered the call sending Engine 59 staffed by Budd Lake and Flanders Firefighters. Engine 59 is in quarters with Newark Engine 13, Newark Ladder 6 and Tenders from Jefferson and Mt. Arlington. These Morris County assets will assist Newark Fire Department to supply water to their scenes in the event of a fire. Thank You to these members for taking on this detail. #buddlakefire #flandersfire #newarkfiredepartment
August 10, 2022 Update here:
August 9, 2022
WOODBRIDGE, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–The New Jersey State Police reported that Troopers responded at 6:53 p.m., to a crash involving an overturned bus on the New Jersey Turnpike. The crash occurred south bound near the Thomas Edison Service Area entrance ramp from the outer roadway. There are multiple injuries with 1 confirmed fatality. The New Jersey Turnpike outer roadway and service area ramp are closed for the investigation. Further details to follow.
Sources tell MidJersey.News that there were eight with moderate to severe injuries and fifteen walking wounded. NJSP confirms the one death and multiple injuries.
At approximately 6:53 p.m., troopers responded to the report of a crash involving a bus carrying approximately 20 passengers and a pickup truck on the New Jersey Turnpike south on the outer roadway at milepost 93.1 in Woodbridge Township.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the bus went off the road to the right and overturned onto the entrance ramp to the Thomas Edison Service Area. There is 1 confirmed fatality and 5 serious injuries. The outer roadway remains closed for the accident investigation.
Photos and video provided by: Gary Lee Fortner
New Jersey Turnpike Crash. I ended up being one of the first on the scene. I took these after helping as many as I could get out of the bus. 😔 pic.twitter.com/M1V35WgYtu
— Gary Lee Fortner (@GaryLFortner) August 10, 2022
August 9, 2022
LAKEWOOD, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on August 8, 2022, Matthew Robles, 31, of Lakewood was charged with two counts of Distribution of Child Pornography in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i), as well as Possession of Child Pornography in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(iii). Robles had previously been charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2d(1), on August 5, 2022.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit revealed that Robles – a Megan’s Law Registrant under the supervision of the New Jersey Division of Parole- has been employed at a local business establishment in Brick Township without registering or notifying any law enforcement agencies. Since 1994, Megan’s Law requires certain offenders to register with their local police departments whenever they move and/or change their residential address or place of employment.
On July 26, 2022, Officers from the Division of Parole conducted a home visit and discovered images of child pornography on Robles’ cellular phone. Robles was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail for various violations of his parole. All of Robles’ electronic devices were seized by law enforcement for forensic examination purposes.
On July 28, 2022, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit executed a court authorized search warrant on Robles’ electronic devices. As a result, Detectives discovered that Robles had been uploading and sharing images of child pornography on the internet by way of the WhatsApp Application. On August 5, 2022, Robles was served with a complaint initially charging him with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender at the Ocean County Jail. On August 8, 2022, Robles was served with the previously referenced complaints in connection with the child pornography charges. He remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with relevant information regarding this case or other persons violating Megan’s Law requirements should contact Sergeant John Argento of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929 2027, extension 2903. The information may be provided anonymously. For further information, please visit the State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry at http://www.njsp.org/sex-offender-registry/index.shtml
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, New Jersey Division of Parole, and Lakewood Township Police Department, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Robles’ arrest and appropriate charges.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).
Matthew Robles, 31, of Lakewood
August 9, 2022
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette issued a statewide drought watch as of August 9, 2022, and the Murphy Administration is urging residents and businesses to conserve water as persistent dry and hot conditions continue to stress water supplies throughout the state.
The Commissioner’s declaration of a drought watch is the first in the State’s three-stage drought advisory system. The watch is intended to sow public awareness and appreciation of the stress upon water supply sources and encourage voluntary water conservation measures. If conditions do not improve, declaration of a drought warning or a drought emergency with mandatory water use restrictions may become necessary. Voluntary conservation measures at the watch stage can help to avoid more serious and restrictive drought conditions.
“Stream flow and ground water levels are falling below normal for most of the state and some reservoirs are showing steep rates of decline as hot and dry conditions continue,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “While water conservation is always important, it becomes critical during prolonged dry and hot periods like New Jersey has been experiencing. If residents and businesses do all they can to reduce water demand, together we can ensure ample supplies in the coming weeks and months.”
At this time of year, more than 30 percent of water demand in suburban areas is for outdoor purposes, much of which can be reduced or avoided. The public can make a big difference by reducing watering of lawns and landscaping, reducing the washing of vehicles, and cutting back nonessential uses such as hosing off driveways and sidewalks. Residents and businesses can also practice many conservation measures to reduce indoor water use. For more water conservation tips, visit https://dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/
On July 26, the DEP reminded residents and businesses of the impact hot and dry conditions could have on supplies and asked for the public’s assistance to moderate demand. Water conservation measures are vital tools that will help New Jersey residents and businesses as we continue to confront a changing climate.
As explained in the New Jersey-specific Scientific Report on Climate Change first released in July 2020, while New Jersey will experience a greater frequency of intense rain events, and decreases in precipitation may occur in the summer months, resulting in greater potential for more frequent and prolonged droughts.
The most up-to-date information about the status of New Jersey’s water supplies can be found at dep.nj.gov/drought. The last drought watch or warning to be declared in New Jersey was in 2016. The last drought emergency with mandatory water use restrictions was declared in 2002. In October 2016, the DEP placed 14 counties in the northern, central, and northern coastal areas of New Jersey under a drought warning due to ongoing precipitation deficits and deteriorating water-supply conditions, particularly storage levels in reservoirs. At the same time, regions along the lower Delaware River were placed under a watch. All regional drought warnings and watches were lifted by August 2017. In March 2002, then-Governor Jim McGreevey declared a drought emergency, which was lifted in January 2003.
The DEP is continuing to closely monitor drought indicators, which include precipitation, stream flows, reservoir levels, ground water levels, and water demand. DEP will continue to inform the public, local governments, and water systems of future actions to mitigate the risk of more severe conditions.
The DEP has prepared a Conserve Water Toolkit at dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/toolkit which provides infographics, a flyer, a video and social media resources that can be downloaded and used by organizations and government agencies to spread information on drought conditions and water conservation.
Corn in East Windsor, New Jersey on August 9, 2022 showing crop damage to lack of rain.
