The Local Girl A nor’easter is set to bring strong winds, coastal flooding, and rain throughout the state, while a deadly restaurant crash in Lavallette has left the community mourning. Travelers at Newark Airport faced another disruption after an equipment outage temporarily halted flights, and the state is taking action against a Vineland data center over environmental violations. On a lighter note, Rutt’s Hut is bringing its famous hot dogs to Prudential Center, Toys’R’Us is expanding in NJ, and the historic Loew’s Jersey Theatre is getting ready to reopen. Keep reading for the biggest New Jersey news stories from the week of September 24th.
PS: Every week, we round up the top news stories of the week from both our site and aggregate across the web from various sources because there’s SO much happening. You can read more at the links below, and always feel free to submit any news tips to or via DM @thenewjerseygirl on IG. Our email newsletter also shares more of our top stories on a twice-weekly basis, which you can sign up for here.
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– A developing nor’easter is expected to bring coastal flooding, high surf, strong winds, and rain to the Jersey Shore through the weekend, with inland parts of NJ seeing milder impacts. (The Jersey Shore Girl)
– Flights were temporarily halted at Newark Airport after a New Jersey construction crew accidentally cut a fiber-optic cable, disrupting FAA equipment and air traffic operations. (The New Jersey Girl)
– Lysol maker Reckitt plans to build a 145,000-square-foot research and innovation center in Nutley as part of a larger $600 million investment in its U.S. operations. (The Montclair Girl)
– New Jersey is mourning Montclair-born musician and composer Duncan Sheik, best known for Barely Breathing and the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening. (The Montclair Girl)
– Rutt’s Hut has opened a stand inside Prudential Center, where Devils fans can grab its famous deep-fried Rippers throughout the 2026-27 season. (The Montclair Girl)
– A vehicle crashed into the outdoor dining area of Meg’s Grill in Lavallette on September 19th, killing one woman and injuring seven other patrons. (The Jersey Shore Girl)
– The Loew’s Jersey Theatre is set to reopen November 13th following a major restoration project that will bring live entertainment back to the 1929 venue. (The Hoboken Girl)
– Toys’R’Us is making a comeback in NJ with a new location at The Mall at Short Hills, while its American Dream store will also get a new Creator Space for influencers and toy brands. (The Montclair Girl)
– The Masked Singer will tape its upcoming season in East Rutherford beginning September 30th (The New Jersey Girl).
– Someone smashed a display case and stole jewelry from Bloomingdale’s at Riverside Square Mall, prompting shoppers to report what they thought were gunshots and bringing in a SWAT team. (Patch)
– The Republican National Committee is suing New Jersey state and county election officials to obtain records related to thousands of noncitizens who were mistakenly registered to vote. (New Jersey Monitor)
– The state fined Data One in Vineland $1.07 million after inspectors found 62 large natural-gas generators operating without required environmental permits. (Office of Gov. Mikie Sherrill)
– New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow merchants to round cash transactions to the nearest five cents as pennies become harder to keep in circulation. (NJ Spotlight News)
– New Jersey joined an eight-state coalition challenging federal payments to companies to cancel offshore wind leases. (New Jersey Monitor)
– A national survey of more than 3,000 drivers named the Clara Barton Service Plaza on the NJ Turnpike as New Jersey’s top public restroom. (American River Wellness)
– Animal rescue group Pet ResQ Inc. in Tenafly took in 27 puppies, including two that are blind, and is providing them with veterinary care before they are placed in homes. (NorthJersey.com)
– Some New Jersey residents could get a piece of a $96.5 million multistate settlement involving alleged anticompetitive practices among the manufacturers of 114 generic drugs purchased from 2009-2019. (NJ Spotlight News)
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