Here's the stories you'll be talking about on the New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show with Eric Scott on Monday:

⬛ Is cursive still essential? NJ may require a comeback in schools

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TRENTON — Teaching cursive has not been part of New Jersey's school standards for more than a decade. But in a world dominated by keyboards and touchscreens, learning such a skill is absolutely essential, according to a piece of legislation moving through Trenton.

A Senate committee on Thursday unanimously approved a measure that would require public school boards of education to include instruction on how to read and write in cursive, for students in grades kindergarten through fifth.

⬛ Escaped sex offender last seen near NJ hospital, police say

Nicholas Voutsas (NJ State Police/Google Maps)
Nicholas Voutsas (NJ State Police/Google Maps)
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NEWARK — State police are asking the public for help to find a registered sex offender who they say escaped several days ago.

Nicholas Voutsas, 25, is a Tier 2 registered sex offender, police said. State records show he was convicted of second-degree child endangerment for luring in 2022.

The designation means he is at a "moderate" risk of committing another sex offense. Under state law, schools, daycares, and summer camps must be notified about Tier 2 sex offenders.

⬛ Accused killer of mother and 2 kids in US illegally, ICE says

Luisa Urbano and her two children. Napoleon Romero-Anduray has been charged with their murder. (Photos via Facebook)
Luisa Urbano and her two children. Napoleon Romero-Anduray has been charged with their murder. (Photos via Facebook)
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JERSEY CITY — A man charged with fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend along with her two children was in the U.S. illegally, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Napoleon Romero-Anduray, 31, faces three counts of first-degree murder after he broke into an apartment on Hutton Street just after midnight Thursday morning and stabbed Luisa Urbano and her two children ages 5 and 9, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.

⬛ Immigration standoff: Murphy dares ICE to raid his home

YouTube Screengrab/Office of the Governor/Bing Maps/U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
YouTube Screengrab/Office of the Governor/Bing Maps/U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Gov. Phil Murphy has dared ICE to raid his multi-million-dollar property, giving the impression that he may be harboring someone who is in the country illegally.

Murphy made the startling admission during an event held by the group “Blue Wave New Jersey” and hosted by Montclair State University on Saturday.

During a broader discussion on issues ranging from illegal immigration to anti-trans policies of the new Trump administration, Murphy dared immigration agents to act.

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

Eric Scott hosts the New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show from 6 - 10 a.m. on New Jersey 101.5.

Join the conversation by calling 1-800-283-1015 or download the NJ101.5 app.

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

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New Jersey home price increases in 2024 by county

The New Jersey real estate market continues to chug along.
Below is a county-by-county breakdown of median home prices and how they much they jumped in 2024. Many counties saw double-digit increases in home values, according to the data from New Jersey Realtors from November 2023 to November 2024.

Gallery Credit: Rick Rickman

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