Here's the stories you'll be talking about on the New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show on Tuesday:

🔗 Where is Gov. Sherrill? NJ power outages stretch into Day 4

Fallen trees and power lines in Morris County Sat., July 4, 2026

⚡49,625 JCP&L and PSE&G customers were still without power Monday morning
⚡Lawmakers are criticizing communication and demanding better restoration updates
⚡NJ Transit rail service remains disrupted

Frustrations for tens of thousands of New Jersey residents face a fourth day without power and elected officials press utility companies for better answers about restoration.

The utilities have met with mayors and legislators to discuss restoration.

Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn, R-Monmouth, is not happy with the level of communication and fears the lessons from Sandy have been lost. She is concerned that restoration in adult communities is not being prioritized and wants communities to receive more notice about crews in town.

She is also surprised that Gov. Mikie Sherrill has not come to view the damage herself and has not declared a state of emergency to free up resources.

"I think it would go a long way if the governor was out in the community talking to the residents, talking to our mayors and local officials," Flynn told New Jersey 101.5.

Sherrill's office had no events listed on the governor's Monday schedule.

The governor's office pushed back on GOP criticism and insist she has been on top of the storm response.

A spokesman for the governor told NJ.com, “Governor Sherrill has activated a whole-of-government response, with agencies and departments working with local partners to assess their needs and coordinate resources to recover from severe heat and violent storms over this holiday weekend."

Flynn said she hopes the governor's response will be similar to last winter's major storms in the early days of her administration, in which she held regular briefings and got assistance to where it was needed.

🔗 Body of missing teen found after Delaware River storm search

✅A 19-year-old tuber who disappeared in the Delaware River was found dead Sunday
✅Jason Blanco vanished after getting out of his tube
✅Blanco is a 2024 Hunterdon Central graduate

ALEXANDRIA — A summer night on the Delaware River turned into tragedy when a 19-year-old Hunterdon County man vanished in the water as powerful thunderstorms swept across New Jersey.

After an intense search that stretched through Saturday, authorities said Jason Blanco, of Flemington, was found dead Sunday, ending an ordeal that began when he disappeared while tubing during one of the strongest rounds of storms to hit the state this summer.

State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said Blanco got out of his tube in the Delaware River around 9:40 p.m. Friday near Alexandria. He fell into the water and never resurfaced.

Powerful thunderstorms were in the area around that time, which caused thousands of people to lose power.

Members of the State Police marine unit and other agencies continued the search on Saturday.

A boater found his body near the Riverview park area in the D&R Canal State Park on Sunday.

🔗 Dad watches toddler son's organs fly after NJ pool drowning

(Brittnie Hutchinson via GoFundMe)

❤️ A 3-year-old Gloucester County boy's organs will help save the lives of three children.
➡️ Elijah Stephen died days after drowning in his family's backyard pool.
⭐ Community donations are helping support Eli's parents and his two siblings.

WASHINGTON (Gloucester) — A heartbroken Gloucester County family is finding solace in the fact that their son's tragic death will save three other children.

Elijah Stephen was declared dead at 12:14 a.m. on July 3, 2026, according to his father Michael Stephen. Eli was 3 years old.

It came six days after he drowned in the backyard pool at his family's Washington Township home. The blonde boy's lips were blue and he had no pulse when his father pulled him from the pool. He did compressions as his wife, Sandi, called 911.

"The images will forever be burned into my mind. I wasn't fast enough. I failed," Michael Stephen said.

First responders were there within minutes, and Eli's pulse later returned at the hospital. But even the doctors at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia could not bring Eli back to consciousness. The swelling in his brain was too severe. His parents spent the next few days preparing to say goodbye.

Now, Eli's organs will save three other children. His heart has already been transplanted over the Fourth of July weekend. Eli's liver will save another child, and his kidneys and pancreas will help a third, according to his dad, who said he could find some closure in knowing other dads wouldn't feel his pain.

"Eventually those children will get their Independence. Independence from hospitals, cords, machines and medicines. Next year, they will get to truly enjoy Independence Day," Michael Stephen said.

🔗 $24,200 Pokémon card stolen in crypto scam at NJ police station

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⚠️ Police say a Philadelphia man used fake cryptocurrency to steal a rare $24,000 Pokémon card.
➡️ The exchange happened inside the Safe Exchange Zone at the Evesham police station.
🔴 Investigators said surveillance cameras, license plate readers and other evidence identified the suspect.

EVESHAM — A Philadelphia man is charged with carrying out a bold plan to steal a valuable Pokémon card in the lobby of a police station, according to authorities.

Christian Elam, 26, of Philadelphia is charged with second-degree computer-related theft and third-degree theft by deception. He was arrested after returning from a trip overseas and was taken to Burlington County Jail, Evesham police said.

Investigators found that Elam pulled off a scheme to steal a $24,000 Pokémon card during a sale inside the Safe Exchange Zone at the Evesham police station. The zone is open 24 hours a day at 984 Tuckerton Road in Marlton. Police said cameras at the exchange zone were vital to catching him.

"While the zone provides a well-lit, video-monitored location for in-person exchanges, residents are reminded to independently verify payment before transferring property, especially when cryptocurrency, electronic payments, or high-value items are involved," police said.

The Pokémon card seller said he put up a rare Poncho-Wearing Pikachu XY-P promo card for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Its art features the iconic Pokémon mascot in a black and blue outfit resembling Mega Charizard X.

The seller and Elam agreed to meet at the Safe Exchange Zone around 6:30 p.m. on June 14, police said. Elam transferred $24,200 worth of cryptocurrency to buy the valuable card; however, investigators said it was counterfeit crypto that held no real value.

🔗 Novartis announces 322 more NJ layoffs, as 2026 cuts exceed 9,200

(Google Maps)

⚠️ Novartis announced 322 more New Jersey layoffs, effective by October.
➡️ More than 9,200 layoffs have now been announced across the state in 2026.
🔴 New WARN notices also include cuts at Sheraton Atlantic City, Samsung, Fusion Transport, and ADP.

Novartis started July with a massive new round of layoffs, as the pharmaceuticals giant has jumped to the third most layoffs in New Jersey for this year, so far.

Announcing 322 cuts effective by October, Novartis previously issued a combined 250 layoffs of workers who also report to East Hanover, as confirmed in March, April and May.

Only Amazon and FreshRealm have announced more in-state layoffs in 2026 — with the respective closure of all Amazon Fresh stores and the bankruptcy filing of the fresh foods platform in Linden.

Within the first six days of July, Novartis was among a handful of employer notices announcing at least 684 layoffs across New Jersey, bringing the cumulative total for the year above 9,200.

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

The New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show airs from 6 - 10 a.m. on New Jersey 101.5.

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You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com

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