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Paterson Councilman Arrested For Triggering False Fire Alarm In City Hall: Prosecutor
A Paterson councilman was arrested Tuesday, Aug. 5, for allegedly pulling a false fire alarm inside City Hall last fall, prosecutors announced.
Luis Velez, 58, of Paterson, was taken into custody in Totowa without incident and charged with third-degree false public alarms, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said.
The charge stems from an incident on Sept. 8, 2024, around 2:30 p.m., when Velez allegedly entered the basement of Paterson City Hall with two women and pulled a fire alarm box, according to Valdes. Surveillance video showed Velez using his hand to set off the alarm, even …
Tax Judge Slices $850M Off American Dream Mall’s Valuation, Reports Say
A New Jersey tax court judge has slashed the assessed value of the American Dream megamall in East Rutherford by $850 million, marking a nearly 50% drop this year alone, Bloomberg reports.
The ruling made last Thursday, July 31, brings the property's 2025 valuation to $1.65 billion, down from the $3.3 billion figure earlier this year. The initial $800 million cut came in March, followed by this latest reduction, according to CoStar.
The move represents a win for Triple Five Group, the mall's owner, which has long argued that the complex was overvalued, Bloomberg said. However, the dec…
Trooper Followed Ex From Work Before Killing Her, BF, Himself In Johnson Park: Officials
New harrowing details have been released in the double-murder suicide, in which authorities say a New Jersey State Police trooper followed his ex-girlfriend home from work before killing her, her new boyfriend, and then himself.
Ricardo Jorge Santos, 37, a sergeant first class with the New Jersey State Police, is believed to have followed 33-year-old Lauren Semanchik home from work as a veterinarian in Long Valley and hid in a wooded area near her Franklin Township home until 29-year-old Tyler Webb arrived on Friday, Aug. 1, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson said.
Santos then k…
Two Lodi Stores Sell Winning Lottery Tickets In One Week
Bergen County lottery players cashed in big in the last week, taking home tens of thousands of dollars in winnings, state officials said.
Three prizes of $20,000 or more were claimed at retailers in Lodi and Ridgefield Park between July 28 and Aug. 3, 2025, according to the New Jersey Lottery.
The wins include:
$25,000 on a Crossword Bonanza ticket sold at Hometown Grill & Deli, 25 Union Street in Lodi on July 28
$20,000 on a Crossword ticket sold at Park Stationary, 204 Main Street in Ridgefield Park on July 28
$40,000 on a Mega Millions ticket sold at QuickChek #137, 116 Route 46 Ea…
