Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Wednesday:

⬛ NJ youth soccer coach accused of sex crimes faces more charges

Ryan Gunsauls, of Union Beach (MCPO, Canva) Youth soccer coach arrested sexual images with minors
Ryan Gunsauls, of Union Beach (MCPO, Canva)
loading...

A 32-year-old youth soccer coach is facing additional and upgraded charges three months after being arrested on charges of distributing sexually explicit images to children.

Ryan Gunsauls, of Union Beach, was also accused of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with student-athletes under his supervision and inappropriately touching at least two of the victims.

⬛ Worker files police report against MCSPCA director

MCSPCA executive director Ross Licitra carries a dog removed from a home in the Belford section of Middletown.
MCSPCA executive director Ross Licitra carries a dog removed from a home in the Belford section of Middletown in 2020. (Lindsay Sanator, Monmouth County SPCA)
loading...

A former employee of the Monmouth County SPCA has filed a police complaint because he felt threatened by a comment made by executive director Ross Licitra during a meeting.

The meeting was about the decision by senior staff at the shelter to euthanize a dog named Shy Baby who was deemed unadoptable. The dog was "not comfortable in her own skin," was afraid of males and bangs its head on the cage wall until she bleeds," according to

⬛ Man on bike decapitated by car running red light on NJ highway

Route 1&9 (Google Maps/Canva)
Route 1&9 (Google Maps/Canva)
loading...

ELIZABETH — A bicyclist is dead after a horrific crash on a chaotic multi-lane highway just south of Newark Liberty International Airport this weekend.

The 35-year-old male victim was crossing Route 1&9 at the intersection with North Street in Elizabeth when he was hit by a car, according to city spokeswoman Ruby Contreras.

Shockingly, the man on the bicycle was decapitated by the hit.

⬛ Calling all Bluey fans: You can visit the Heeler house in “real life”

(Credit: CAMPxBluey, Canva) Bluey experience King of Prussia Mall Philadelphia PA
(Credit: CAMPxBluey)
loading...

New Jersey fans of the animated smash hit “Bluey” can get ready to visit the Heeler home in “real life.”

CAMP — which offers ticketed immersive family experiences — has added the Philadelphia area as the fourth U.S. stop of Bluey x CAMP.

The shop-and-play retail experience billed as “part toy store, part party venue, part immersive theater space” is currently in the Boston area, after stops in Chicago and Los Angeles.

⬛ Don't miss out: NJ changes some rules for newest ANCHOR rebates

Canva
Canva
loading...

Notices are about to hit millions of mailboxes throughout New Jersey, to get the ball rolling on another round of property tax relief.

Many residents likely won't have to do anything at all in order to receive the newest round of ANCHOR payments. But for those who do need to apply or make changes, deadlines attached to the perk are earlier than usual this year, and the state's taking extra steps to deter fraud.

The New Jersey Department of Treasury announced on Tuesday that letters will be mailed to about 1.5 million residents, starting Aug. 19, to confirm their automatic eligibility for this year's payment.

Items now too expensive for NJ so spend money on

Buzzfeed recently conducted a survey that asked folks what they're cutting back on in an effort to try and save money. Although not everything on that survey relates to New Jerseyans, the ones that mainly do are listed below.

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant

The 10 best and 10 worst states to retire

For their 2024 report, Bankrate.com analyzed factors such as cost of living, health care and crime to rank the 50 states as places where you might want to consider retirement. Visit this link for the complete report.

Gallery Credit: Bankrate/New Jersey 101.5

loading...

Start your day with up-to-the-minute news, traffic and weather for the Garden State.

New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the longest running news program in New Jersey. Eric Scott began hosting the program in 1991.

It airs live on New Jersey 101.5 each weekday morning from 5:30 - 6 a.m.

New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the winner of the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.

National Murrow Award Winner featured
loading...

Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM