Local Beat is the NJ News Commons’ weekly roundup of the best reporting by community news sources.
SIX MORE LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS ARRESTED IN $673K WELFARE FRAUD
Two days after eight Lakewood residents were arrested for alleged abused of the state’s welfare system, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of six more individuals on similar charges. Daniel Nee of Brick Shorebeat says all six were arrested in raids just after midnight on Wednesday.
BARAKA AND BROTHER NAMED IN FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED BY FORMER CITY ATTORNEY
A former city attorney for Newark has filed a federal complaint against the City of Newark over alleged retaliation he faced related to the negotiation of a multimillion-dollar development deal. Mark Bonamo of TAP into Newark says William Parker named Mayor Ras Baraka, along with Baraka’s brother and chief of staff Amiri “Middy” Baraka, Jr., as defendants in the suit.
‘SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE’ CAUSES ALARM AT AIR FORCE RECRUITING STATION ON ROUTE 18
Members of five different agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, descended upon the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Station in East Brunswick this week to investigate a “suspicious package” that was left in the doorway of the recruiting office. Maureen Berzok of TAP into East Brunswick says the package was eventually determined to have posed no immediate danger.
TAP INTO WESTFIELD AWARDS 3RD ANNUAL JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP
Westfield High School graduate Eric Storms is the winner of the third annual TAP into Westfield Journalism Scholarship award. Jackie Lieberman of TAP into Westfield says the $1,000 scholarship was awarded based on participation in the publication’s student journalism program, the student’s willingness to learn and their intent to continue using those skills in college.
STATE BROADCAST NEWS PROVIDES LOCAL NEWS CONTENT TO RADIO JERSEY
Steve Lubetkin has announced that State Broadcast News will provide a daily local newscast for a newly launched live music program streamed via AsburyMusic.com. Lubetkin, who serves as News Director for SBN, will anchor the newscasts from SBN’s Cherry Hill newsroom and provide coverage of local news from around the state.
TOM KANACH RETURNS WITH ‘UNDERTOW’
Gary Wein of New Jersey Stage sat down with Tom Kanach, a veteran of the Jersey Shore music scene, to talk about the Monmouth County native’s first new music release in more than two decades: Undertow.