My email is karen.wall@patch.com and I welcome your questions, concerns and news tips. I do my best to answer all reader emails. I cover Brick, Toms River, Manchester, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, and Lakewood and do my best to keep readers informed on what's happening in their towns. I have been with Patch full-time since July 2014 but have more than 35 years in journalism, including 20 years at the Asbury Park Press. I love sports and fishing (and yes, I bait my own hook); I was the editor of Hook, Line & Sinker for four years. I have lived at the Jersey Shore since August 1979, with the exception of my college years and an 18-month stint in Northern California. I'm a Brick Township High School graduate and have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
The Lakewood man charged with arson has convictions for driving a school bus on a sidewalk and aggravated assault, court records show.
Manchester Township will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000, including a township resident.
The man sped down Lanes Mill Road at 73 mph and was caught after a foot chase, police said.
The man was arrested more than a week after the fire, which happened on a residential street, police said.
Six people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries following the crash that happened Friday in Howell, police said.
The crash happened late Friday on Route 34, Howell police said.
The mom and boy were headed to school when the incident happened; two public works employees helped him reach school safely, officials said.
The number of layoffs has surged from June through August, and nearly 13,000 have been announced for 2026 to the NJ Department of Labor.
The fire hydrant flushing is part of regular maintenance of the township's water system.
Two people have been charged with reckless driving that state police say led to the crash; the SUV caught fire, killing its 3 occupants.
The man was reported missing Friday, the sheriff's office said.
Authorities said a body believed to be 81-year-old Carolyn Taylor has been found after a two-week search.
The Arizona man was removed from the American Airlines flight in Baltimore and has since been fired from his job, reports said.
The borough is hosting a parade and a block party including a Revolutionary War reenactment and family friendly activities.
The last weekend of the summer of 2026 is here. See what's in store at the Jersey Shore's beaches.
The store announced a liquidation sale but said it is seeking a new location.
Eileen Ziesmer, beloved wife and mother and devoted St. Denis Church staffer, was killed when the driver ran a red light, authorities said.
See the top 20 districts for median administrator salaries along with how many administrators your district has and their median pay.
Some of the victims were assaulted while Robert Sinnott Jr. under a pretense of police training, authorities said.
He also admitted to stealing more than $1.8 million in COVID business loans from the federal government, authorities said.
