Sonic booms and fireballs, explained

Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Thursday:

⬛ Report: After bribery conviction, Senator Menendez to resign

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on May 13 in New York City, Question Mark on replacement (Alex Kent, Getty Images)

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has finally begun to talk privately of resigning after his conviction on federal bribery and corruption charges, NBC News first reported on Wednesday evening.

Menendez started calling his closest allies a day after a jury returned its verdict, according to NBC News reporter Julie Tsirkin on X.

Menendez, however, denies that intends to resign and says he hasn't has such discussions with anybody.

⬛ NJ pet business owner arrested after dog dies at appointment

WOODBURY HEIGHTS — A questionable dog death led to an investigation that uncovered illegal drugs.

Police became aware of a dog’s death on July 12 while at a grooming session at K9 Kingdom, which is owned by Trevor Hunt, according to the City of Woodbury Police Department, which provides police service to Woodbury Heights.

Part of the investigation involved a search warrant on the local business, but police described Hunt as being “uncooperative” at one point. The owner was arrested and is being held at Salem County Jail.

⬛ New sex assault charges with another victim for NJ teacher

JulieAnn Whille via LinkedIn, Wall High School (linkedin.com julieann-whille, Google Maps)

JulieAnn [Whille] Rizzitello via LinkedIn, Wall High School via Google Maps (linkedin.com julieann-whille)[/caption]A 36-year-old high school teacher already facing criminal sex charges faces new charges involving another student.

Julie Rizzitello, of Brick, resigned from her position at Wall Township High School shortly before her arrest two weeks ago.

She has been charged with new counts of second-degree sexual assault and third-degree witness tampering, for activities that law enforcement said began in 2017.

⬛ Mystery solved: Why you heard a strange noise in NJ

The mystery sound heard all over New Jersey on Tuesday morning was likely the result of a sonic boom.

The sound described as thunder or a loud truck going over a bump around 11:15 a.m. occurred as a fireball was streaking across the New Jersey at about 38,000 mph. It first appeared over New York City before heading west, according to NASA.

The appearance of the fireball was likely just a coincidence.

⬛ Incredible corruption: Remember the NJ politician who faked his own death? And more…

The conviction of New Jersey’s senior U.S. senator on charges of bribery and influence peddling has only reinforced our image as “The Soprano State,” the moniker coined by journalists Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure in their book by that name.

Some of New Jersey’s most powerful men and woman have been taken down by greed.

Here is a list of some of the biggest corruption convictions in New Jersey’s history.

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