NJ Sheriff reportedly kills self

Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Wednesday:

⬛ Sheriff kills himself, reports

Passaic County Sheriff's Office

New Jersey's law enforcement community has been rocked by the apparent suicide death of the Passaic County Sheriff.

Sheriff Richard Berdnick was at a the Turkish restaurant Toros in Clifton on Tuesday afternoon when reports say he went into the bathroom and shot himself.

Here is what we know so far.

⬛ Residents frustrated by strong odors from NJ landfill

Monmouth County landfill in Tinton Falls smell issue (Google Maps, Canva)

TINTON FALLS — Operators of the Monmouth County landfill in town have been working to explain just why the site is reeking stronger than ever lately, amid frustration by local residents.

At a Tinton Falls Township Council Meeting on Jan. 16, Monmouth County Commission Director Tom Arnone addressed the room, joined by fellow Commissioners Ross Licitra and Nick DiRocco.

⬛ 'Rambling' NJ man drove around Hamilton with pipe bombs, feds say

Jeremy Giliberti (Hamilton police/U.S. Attorney's Office)

HAMILTON (Mercer) — Federal prosecutors have filed a new charge against a Mount Laurel man they claim displayed bizarre behaviors during a traffic stop in Mercer County.

Jeremy Giliberti, 52, of Mount Laurel is charged with possessing destructive devices, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was scheduled to appear in Trenton federal court Tuesday afternoon.

⬛ NJ town warns that thieves are targeting a new car brand

BMW emblem (Artiom Vallat on Unsplash)

Are car thieves in New Jersey targeting a different brand of car?

Three burglars were captured on home security video attempting to break into a home on Crane Parkway in Cranford where two BMWs were parked early Sunday morning.

⬛ Van filled with NJ school kids erupts in flames on Parkway

School bus on fire on the Garden State Parkway in Lakewood 1/22/24 (The Lakewood Scoop)

WALL – The driver of a transit van carrying students acted quickly on Monday afternoon to get them outside moments before it burst into flames on the Garden State Parkway.

The Ford van with 10 students was headed north on the Parkway near Exit 98 (Route 195) around 3:20 p.m. when it caught fire. No injuries were reported, State Police Det. Jeffrey Lebron said.

Nasty, unpleasant illnesses to watch out for this winter in NJ

These illnesses will be at their peak this winter all across New Jersey.

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant, Megan Carter

These NJ towns have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases

Looking at data compiled by the Department of Health in 2019, the most recent year for which reports are available, we determined the rate of STDs for 1,000 people in every municipality. The data combines reports of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. For a different look, you can check out this article for a list of New Jersey towns that saw the highest increase in STD/STI cases in recent years.

Gallery Credit: Sergio Bichao/Dino Flammia