Look! Spectacular Northern Lights over Jersey

Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Monday:

⬛ NJ county using spike strips to take down 'criminals in motion'

Morris County

RANDOLPH — You can't get far in a stolen vehicle or getaway car if the tires are blown out.

According to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, officials expect to stop a lot more "criminals in motion," thanks to a tool that's being rolled out for several police departments within the county.

Specialized training is underway on the use of "spike strips." With the pull of a cord, officers can stretch the accordion-like tool across a roadway in time to puncture the tires of a target vehicle. Then, the tool would be pulled out of the roadway to make room for pursuing police vehicles.

⬛ NJ lawmakers ask president if Rutgers is safe for Jewish students

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway at an Assembly budget hearing 5/9/24 (NJ Assembly), tent at Rutgers encampment (SJP)

Blowback is growing against Rutgers University over its agreement to end a pro-Palestinian encampment on the New Brunswick campus.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway, who was already scheduled to testify on Thursday, told an Assembly Budget Committee hearing that he did not attend the meeting with the organizers of an encampment on the Voorhees Mall campus green.

⬛ 3 Elizabeth, NJ men charged with murder in fatal 2023 shooting

Yoel Sanchez (Essex County Jail/Google Maps)

ELIZABETH — A third city man has been arrested and charged with the New Year's Day murder of an 18-year-old teen last year, according to authorities.

Yoel Sanchez, 22, was arrested in Elizabeth on Tuesday, May 7 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, said Union County Prosecutor William Daniel.

He is charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in connection to an early morning fatal shooting on Jan. 1, 2023, said Daniel.

⬛ NJ mother arrested, charged after infant son's death

Lower Township police cruiser (Lower Township Police)

LOWER TOWNSHIP — A 29-year-old mother has been criminally charged in the death of her infant son last summer.

Michelle Stanton, of the Villas section, was charged on Thursday with second-degree counts of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland announced.

On June 25, 2023, Lower Township Police responded to an emergency call from Stanton's residence on East Wilde Avenue.

⬛ Wow! 'Extreme' geomagnetic storm creates beautiful aurora over NJ

Northern lights shine over Portsmouth, N.H. 5/10/23 (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

The first extreme solar storm in two decades is affected Earth this weekend, creating paintings in New Jersey's night sky.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the extreme conditions first reached the planet around 7 p.m. Friday. More Coronal Mass Ejections are on the way from the Sun and could cause major disruptions to communications.

The solar flares are coming from a sunspot that is 17 times the diameter of Earth.

Trump's 2024 Wildwood, NJ rally draws massive crowds

Donald Trump drew thousands of spectators and supporters to Wildwood for a beachfront rally on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Check out the crowds and spectacle.

Gallery Credit: Rick Rickman

NJ schools that made the most calls to police

These are the 30 schools in New Jersey that made the most notifications to police during the 2022-23 school year for reasons including violence, weapons, vandalism, substances and harassment or bullying. The number of arrests made by police at the schools is also provided when applicable. The schools are listed by number of police calls from least to greatest. The data comes from the state Department of Education's annual School Performance Report.

Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5

UPDATED: Memorial Day Parades in New Jersey 2024 (alphabetical)

New Jersey remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day with parades, solemn services, reenactments and fairs. Most events take place Monday, May 27 unless otherwise noted and are subject to change without notice here.

Add your community's parade to our list with an email to dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander

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.

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

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