NJ assemblyman victim of home invasion/car theft

Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Thursday:

⬛ Cooler brand YETI opening its first NJ location inside a mall

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

PARAMUS — The popular cooler and drinkware brand YETI is opening its first New Jersey brick-and-mortar location.

The company has more than 20 locations across the country. It plans to add another in November, to Westfield Garden State Plaza.

According to public job listings by the store, YETI is hiring "store experience guides" and other positions to join the opening in "early November."

⬛ Police: NJ 15-year-old had over 900 child sex abuse files

Harmon Cove Towers, Secaucus (Secaucus Police, Google Maps)

SECAUCUS — A 15-year-old local boy has been arrested, as Secaucus Police said the teen had a massive collection of child sex abuse files, which he's accused of sharing on multiple apps.

Officers launched an investigation after receiving a tip that several images and videos had been uploaded by a resident of Harmon Cove Towers in Secaucus to Snapchat, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Telegram messaging apps.

⬛ Cowardly NJ man agrees to fistfight, shoots opponent in back

Jawaun Yeoman (Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office/Google Maps)

ATLANTIC CITY — An Atlantic City man is going to prison for shooting another man in the back during a preplanned fight.

Jawaun Yeoman, 27, was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 years in state prison, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

He won't be eligible for parole for 92 months, and when does finally get out, he will face another three years of probation.

⬛ These NJ towns spend the most of their tax bills on schools

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In 2023, New Jersey's 21 counties collected over $33.3 billion in taxes. But where do those tax dollars go?

Nearly $17.5 billion, or around 52.4%, went to local schools, according to a New Jersey 101.5 analysis of data from the state Department of Community Affairs.

How much each county, town, or city puts toward its schools varies greatly.

For residents of Freehold Township, around 69 cents of every dollar paid in property taxes goes toward local education. That comes out to $107.6 million for the district's 3,447 students.

⬛ Assemblyman victim of home invasion/auto theft

Facebook/Paul Kanitra/Townsquare Media Illustration

A New Jersey Assemblyman learned first hand the dangers of home invasion and car theft.

Paul Kanitra says thieves broke into the home his family is staying in in Hazlet and then stole his BMW.

The car had his state Assembly license plates on it.

Kanitra says his family is afraid to go to sleep at night.

Home invasions connected to car thefts have been rising in communities across New Jersey.

Northern Lights Visible Over New Jersey

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are not a common site for most of the United States. Thanks to two solar storms all of New Jersey saw them in the early hours of 10/6 and 10/7.

Gallery Credit: Dan Alexnader

NJ towns spending the most of their taxes on schools

Taxpayers in these municipalities have the greatest share of their property tax bills going to their local school districts. The list is ranked from 30 to 1, the highest share going to schools.

Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5