Author: umer

Since 1986, Party City has been a go-to for party supplies, balloons and costumes.But now the party’s over.The New Jersey-based chain, which is the largest party supply store in the country, is shuttering all of its stores and going out of business. CNN reports that Party City CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees in a video conference meeting Friday that it would be their last day on the job. “It’s really important for you to know that we’ve done everything possible that we could to try to avoid this outcome,” Litwin said at the meeting. “Unfortunately, it’s necessary to commence…

Gio Urshela and the Athletics are in agreement on a free agent contract, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.Martín Gallegos of MLB.com reports that it is a one-year deal, which indicates that it is likely a major league contract.Urshela, who spent 2024 with the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves, will be joining his eighth major league clubUrshela’s best big league seasons came from 2019-21, with the Yankees. Over those three seasons, he hit .292 with 41 home runs and a 119 OPS+ in 1,092 plate appearances.Since making his major-league debut with Cleveland in 2015, 33-year-old has also…

New Jersey has had more than its fair share of colorful lights glowing in the night sky during recent weeks and months — some mysterious and some easily explained.Here’s a new one. And although it’s very unusual, it’s not as head-scratching as all those sightings of large drones with unknown operators.A rare type of lightning known as “red sprites” was seen flashing in the sky over the Atlantic Ocean near South Jersey earlier this month and captured on video by a space expert from the area.Chris Bakley, a freelance spaceflight photojournalist and imaging specialist for NASA who spends a lot…

Authorities are investigating how a 4-year-old girl was left alone for hours on an Egg Harbor Township school bus earlier this week.The bus driver and bus aide who were involved are no longer employed in the district, according to a statement issued Thursday by Egg Harbor Township School District Superintendent Kim Gruccio. Their names were not disclosed.The child’s father, Miguel Lugo, told authorities that he put his daughter on the school bus at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday to go to the Bargaintown Preschool in Bargaintown, according to a township police report.Lugo’s wife, Darielle Lugo, said her husband learned their daughter was…

Nearly 450,000 New Jersey residents signed up for health insurance through the state’s healthcare marketplace during the first five weeks of open enrollment, a new record, the state Department of Banking and Insurance announced Thursday.Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 5, 448,809 New Jerseyans used “Get Covered New Jersey” to sign up for 2025 benefits. That’s a dramatic 36% increase from the same five-week period last year, said Justin Zimmerman, commissioner of the agency.“Since New Jersey launched its marketplace four years ago, the number of people seeking coverage has expanded, which continues to demonstrate the real need for quality, affordable health…

After New York became the eighth state to prohibit the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits, Kathleen Schatzmann feared the worst.The legislative affairs manager for the Animal Legal Defense Fund realized it would only be a matter of time before the ban — which went into effect Sunday — would encourage a New York City pet store to move to New Jersey.It took only one day, she said.“We are opening the welcome mat for New York stores to set up shop in New Jersey,” Schatzmann told New Jersey lawmakers Monday.Under the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, which was signed into…

NEW JERSEY — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” as it remains unclear who owns them.”We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill.People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said.The White…

The Clemson Tigers face the Texas Longhorns in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K. Royal Texas Stadium in Austin, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. TICKETS: Fans who want to attend the first round playoffs game can buy tickets at SeatGeek, Stubhub, Ticketmaster, or Vivid Seats.According to Vivid Seats, the cheapest tickets available are $66.Here’s what you need to know:What: College Football PlayoffsWho: Clemson vs. TexasWhen: Saturday, Dec. 21 2024Where: Darrell K. Royal Texas StadiumTime: 4 p.m. ETTV: TNTLive stream: DirecTVStream (free trial)Tickets: SeatGeek, Stubhub, Ticketmaster, or Vivid Seats***Here’s a preview story via the Associated…

Charlene Kilinski declares she is a proud “Swiftie over Fifty.”There are several groups with similar names found all over social media. They connect Taylor Swift fans with other fans to chat, hang out and enjoy everything about the music icon.“Swifties are unlike any other fans I’ve known,” Kilinski said. “They are kind, loyal and the most welcoming, ready to create new friendships in the name of love for her music, writing ability and sheer talent.”Fans all over the world gathered for Swift’s Eras tour, which spanned 51 cities across 21 countries, with 149 performances between March 2023 and December 2024.…

President-elect Donald Trump praised the House Republicans for their report investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack after releasing their findings on Tuesday. The House GOP concluded on Tuesday that they believe former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) should be prosecuted for her role in probing the riots as a member of the Jan. 6 Select Committee.Trump reacted to the GOP’s new report in a 3 a.m. post on Truth Social, warning that Cheney could be in “trouble.” He also commended House Administration Committee Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) for his work into the probe. “Liz Cheney could be in a lot of…