Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Friday:

⬛ NJ man admits to sprawling $325M check casher scheme

A Galaxia branch in Jersey City (Google Street View/Canva(
A Galaxia branch in Jersey City (Google Street View/Canva(
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KEARNY — The owner of a New Jersey check casher business has admitted to a nine-figure scheme.

Ali Hassanein, 68, pleaded guilty to two felony financial charges in U.S. District Court in Camden on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Hassanein owned a New Jersey-based check casher and money services business called Galaxia International Inc., federal prosecutors said.

⬛ NJ teen’s rapist and murderer convicted, over 20 years later

Nancy Noga's killer is convicted, over 20 years after murder (Sayreville PD, Google Maps)
Nancy Noga's killer is convicted, over 20 years after murder (Sayreville PD, Google Maps)
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A 52-year-old Ocean County man has been convicted of the kidnapping, rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found in Sayreville more than 20 years ago.

Bruce A. Cymanski, of Barnegat, was found guilty by a Middlesex County Jury for the 1999 murder of Nancy Noga, a Sayreville resident.

The high school senior was reported missing after she did not return home from work on Jan. 7, 1999.

⬛ Investigation ongoing into death of prosecutor's office sergeant

Sgt. Monica Mosley, End of Watch shield
Sgt. Monica Mosley (Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office), End of Watch shield (Bridgeton police)
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BRIDGETON — An investigation continues into the slaying of a veteran Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office sergeant during a home invasion.

Officials said Monica Mosley, 51, was found dead at her home on Buckshutem Road around 10:30 p.m. late Tuesday night after police were notified about multiple people kicking in the front door. Mosley was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound.

⬛ Drought watch in October: No rain in sight for New Jersey

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Canva
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October 2024 could go down as the driest month ever for the Garden State.

Some areas of New Jersey have not yet seen a drop of rain this month, and outlooks don't call for wet conditions any time soon.

In response to persistently below-average precipitation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch for the entire state on Thursday, the first since a watch that lasted from August to December of 2022.

⬛ Police: Man uses tree branch to rob young woman in Edison, NJ

Edison Police/Townsquare Media illustration
Edison Police/Townsquare Media illustration
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EDISON TOWNSHIP — Police say a man used a tree branch to break the windshield of a car and take jewelry from a young woman with her mother Wednesday afternoon.

Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan said the women were in the back of an office building located at 85 Lincoln Highway around 5:15 p.m. when the man approached them. After breaking the windshield, he pulled the daughter, 20, out of the car. Bryan said he then showed a knife and took her bracelets and necklace.

First flakes: When does snow season start in NJ?

Gallery Credit: Dan Zarrow

NJ DOT's latest humorous safety messages

In the fall of 2024 the NJ DOT continued to use a series of humorous seasonal safety messages on its' over 200 electronic signs around New Jersey.

Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander

These are the long-gone NJ mall stores we miss the most

With so many trends of the 1990's back in style, it's a great time to look back at a strong foundation of 80's and 90's culture — New Jersey mall shopping. Some stores were a highlight, every trip.

Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt

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

New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the longest running news program in New Jersey. Eric Scott began hosting the program in 1991.

It airs live on New Jersey 101.5 each weekday morning from 5:30 - 6 a.m.

New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the winner of the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.

National Murrow Award Winner featured
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Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com

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