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Tuesday, jul 8

Cecilia Levine

Managing Editor

clevine@dailyvoice.com

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News

Video: Hundreds Of Tow Trucks Roll Out To Honor Driver Killed On Route 287 A massive convoy of tow trucks gathered Tuesday morning, July 8 to honor the life of Daniel “DJ” Ortiz, a tow operator killed last week while on the job along Route 287. The event, described as a “final ride,” brought more than 400 trucks together at Landing Softball Field. The procession began at 8:30 a.m. and escorted Ortiz to his final resting place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. "Let’s show up, loud and proud — lights on, hearts heavy — united as one towing family to give DJ the sendoff he deserves," wrote Ron & Sons Towing, DJ's former employer. DanaMarie Swansinger s…

by Cecilia Levine

07/08/2025

Business

Award-Winning Chef Opens 12,000-Square-Foot Hotspot In Morristown A 12,000-square-foot food and drink destination from a Food & Wine award-winning chef is opening in the heart of Morristown, and it’s all about celebrating Jersey. The Morris Proper is being billed as a “culinary love letter to the Garden State” by the Chelsea Hospitality Group. It opens this month at 100 Morris St., offering a locally focused, ingredient-driven menu that reflects the roots of its founders. Created by Gensler and Stokes Architecture + Design, the space includes a 360-degree bar, open kitchen views, vintage-meets-modern design, and a wraparound patio at Morris and Spring…

by Cecilia Levine

07/08/2025

Police & Fire

Speeding BMW Driver Crashes Near Ikea After Fleeing Cops On Route 17, Police Say (Update) A 22-year-old New York man is facing charges after police say he fled a traffic stop and crashed off Route 17 in Paramus Monday night, July 7. Jason Kortbawi, of Arverne (Queens), NY, was behind the wheel of a white BMW SUV with out-of-state registration that failed to stop for Upper Saddle River Police on Route 17 south around 9 p.m. Monday, according to Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti. Paramus police were alerted, and Officer Matt Orefice spotted the vehicle heading southbound near the Garden State Parkway, Guidetti said. Orefice activated his lights and sirens to initiate a traffic…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

Police & Fire

Cops Intercept Philadelphia Murder Suspect En Route To NJ Hospital: Police A Philadelphia fugitive accused of shooting a School Safety Officer and firing at three cops was caught at a New Jersey hospital after allegedly crossing state lines with a stolen gun, police in Paramus said on Monday, July 7. Ariza Giansteban, 29, was arrested around 9:25 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at New Bridge Medical Center, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said. Paramus police got a call from Philly detectives warning them that Giansteban — wanted on a full extradition warrant — might be headed to New Bridge for treatment, Guidetti said. The Philadelphia native had allegedly shot a 68-…

by Jillian Pikora & Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

Police & Fire

Man Accused Of Holding Victim Against Their Will On GWB Approach: Port Authority PD A Georgia man was arrested Thursday, July 3, after Port Authority police say he was holding someone against their will on the approach to the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey. James Reese, 53, was taken into custody after police received a report from New Jersey State Police describing a vehicle involved in a possible abduction, according to Port Authority officials. The incident occurred on the New Jersey side of the bridge approach. Officers located the vehicle and arrested Reese on charges of simple assault and criminal restraint, officials said. Reese was taken to the Bergen Coun…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

Police & Fire

Heroin, Crack, And A 2-Year-Old: Duo Charged In 7-Eleven Rochelle Park Traffic Stop, Cops Say A Lodi man and woman were arrested after police say they were driving with heroin, crack cocaine, and a 2-year-old in the car on the Fourth of July in Rochelle Park. Officer Chris Kiszka stopped a Ford F-150 at 11:45 p.m., after the vehicle was seen being driven carelessly into the 7-Eleven parking lot on Rochelle Avenue, police said in a release from Capt. James DePreta. The driver, Reginald Murph, 40, refused to take field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI, police said. A search of the vehicle turned up suspected heroin, crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia, according to police. M…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

Weather

Tropical Chantal Brings Heavy Rain, Stifling Heat To Bergen County: Here's Timing New Jersey is bracing for multiple rounds of dangerous weather as the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Chantal sweep through the region this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned Monday, July 7. A Flood Watch is in effect for much of the state from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday. Forecasters say locally heavy rain from scattered storms could dump 2 to 5 inches in some areas, especially in central and southern New Jersey. At 3 p.m., the NWS Mount Holly said storms have already started to develop across the region. “Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing today will be capable of pro…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

News

Officials ID Mom Of Two, 44, Killed By Storms That Swept Through North Plainfield Officials have identified the 44-year-old woman killed by storms that swept through New Jersey last week. Diana Ospina, of Middlesex, had pulled over to the side of Greenbrook Road on Thursday, July 3 in North Plainfield, when a large tree and a large portion of the sidewalk uprooted, landing on her 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, local police said. A GoFundMe launched by Pedro Bessa for Diana's family said she was a mother of two boys, Derek and Jacob. She also leaves behind a loving husband, Robert Ospina. The campaign had raised more than $9,000 as of press time. "Diana’s love for her f…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

News

NJ Releases List Of Cops Suspended, Fired In 2024: See Why The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has released its 2024 Major Discipline Report, giving the public a detailed look into disciplinary actions taken against law enforcement officers across the state. The report — published Monday, July 7 — lists the names of 543 officers from 172 agencies who were suspended for more than five days, demoted, or fired last year. The release is part of a broader transparency initiative launched in 2021, aimed at increasing public access to police misconduct records. The searchable report, available on the Attorney General’s website, includes summaries des…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

Obituaries

Young Driver Killed In I-84 Crash Mourned As Devoted Retro Car Enthusiast Spencer Jorgenson wasn’t just part of the car community — he was the community. The 19-year-old from Newtown was known for his heart, his hustle, and for always showing up with tools in hand — ready to help a fellow car enthusiast. On Saturday, July 5, that vibrant life was cut short in a crash on I-84 in Southbury, Connecticut. News of his death has devastated the tight-knit community of Northeast car lovers. “He had a lot of dreams and ambitions,” members of the RAD Stallions, a regional 80s and 90s RAD Stallions, wrote on Instagram. “He was a friend and a dedicated person in the car com…

by Cecilia Levine

07/07/2025

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