Tag: new jersey

Alert! The East Coast Is Being Buzzed By “Very Sophisticated” Giant Drones Every Night That “Go Dark” When Approached By U.S. Aircraft

Enormous “mystery drones” are buzzing rooftops and flying freely through the skies in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and our government is powerless to stop it.  As I discussed yesterday, these drones have been spotted over military facilities, water reservoirs, transportation hubs, police departments and other sensitive installations.  But even though some of these drones are the size of cars, and even though they are buzzing us at rooftop level in some cases, we can’t seem to track them effectively and when our aircraft do approach they “go dark” and disappear.

What in the world is going on?

These drones have been appearing just about every night since mid-November, and there are countless eyewitnesses.

In fact, New Jersey State Senator Doug Steinhardt says that he saw them from his own front porch…

And State Senator Doug Steinhardt says that’s simply not good enough.

“I’d be happy with an explanation that we’ve looked at it, and we don’t have information, or for law enforcement to say it’s an ongoing something or other, you know, and that’s as much as we can tell you, but we’re not even getting that which is unfortunate,” said Steinhardt.

And Steinhardt says he’s not just speaking as a lawmaker, he’s speaking as a witness.

“I walked out of my front porch last night and saw it would look like drone activity to me. I mean, I’ve seen airplanes cross the sky before and this wasn’t that,” he says.

We have never seen anything quite like this before, and people are really starting to freak out.

Many can’t seem to understand why nothing is being done to stop these unidentified drones from doing whatever they want in our airspace.

Keep reading

NJ Gov. Addresses Drones that ‘Go Dark’ When Spotted, Lawmaker Calls for ‘State of Emergency’

New Jersey’s Democrat governor acknowledged public sightings of “sophisticated” drones that “go dark” when viewed, as a state lawmaker has called for issuing a state of emergency over the mystery drones.

Addressing numerous reports over the past few weeks of unexplained drones spotted in the sky, sometimes hovering over critical infrastructure, Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s working with federal agencies to tackle the issue, at the same time assuring the public there’s no threat to public safety.

“The most important point to say is we don’t see any concern for public safety,” Murphy said at a press conference on Monday.

“These are apparently very, as I understand it, very sophisticated. The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark,” the New Jersey governor stated, noting the drones have been spotted over the Picatinny Arsenal military research facility in Rockaway, as well as Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.

“We’re obviously most concerned about sensitive targets and sensitive critical infrastructure,” he said. “See, we’ve got military assets. We’ve got utility assets. We’ve got the president-elect, one of his homes here. This is something we’re taking deadly seriously.”

The governor concluded by telling the press, “If we have news, I’ll let you know the minute we know something,” and encouraging residents to report sightings to law enforcement.

Keep reading

Mystery Drones Invading New Jersey Airspace Are Keeping Officials on Edge as Feds Probe for Answers

Ongoing sightings of mysterious drones in the skies over New Jersey have sparked alarm among residents as officials continue to investigate the odd nightly incursions.

Although authorities maintain that the drones pose no apparent threat to the public, many questions remain about the mysterious objects, and their operators and ultimate purpose remain unknown.

This week, sightings of the small aircraft, which have reportedly been occurring over New Jersey now for several weeks, have extended into surrounding states, with recent observations occurring over Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, New York.

In New Jersey, many of the recent sightings reported by residents have occurred in Morris County, home to the U.S. Army’s Picatinny Arsenal. One of the earliest known sightings of the New Jersey mystery drones occurred there on November 13, when a security officer was reportedly one of the first to have observed the objects.

Since then, at least ten more confirmed sightings have taken place near the arsenal, and seven more potential sightings remain unconfirmed.

In a statement provided to The Debrief, a spokesperson with Picatinny Arsenal said officials there quickly began investigating and increasing outreach and coordination with multiple local, state, and federal organizations after the initial sightings several weeks ago.

“While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities,” said Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander, in a statement provided to The Debrief.

The investigation into the drone sightings is ongoing, a Picatinny Arsenal spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Several days after the initial sightings, Morris County officials acknowledged that the mystery drones had also been observed by area law enforcement officers on the evening of Monday, November 18.

Keep reading

Workers Can’t Sue Employers Who Violate New Jersey’s Marijuana Anti-Discrimination Law, Federal Court Says, Siding With Walmart

A federal appeals court panel sided with Walmart this week, ruling that although New Jersey explicitly forbids employment discrimination against marijuana users, private individuals are unable to sue employers under that law because it failed to create any specific remedies.

“The lack of an express remedy is better understood as a deliberate choice not to provide a remedy rather than an oversight of an intended remedy,” Judge Peter Phipps, a Trump appointee, wrote in the new opinion for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

That interpretation, Phipps continued, “is reinforced by the New Jersey Legislature’s comparative responsiveness in enacting safeguards against other forms of employment discrimination.”

The case stems from a 2022 lawsuit filed by Erick Zanetich, whom Walmart denied a job as a security guard after he tested positive for marijuana. Zanetich asserted that the drug screening policy was unlawful under New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law, which is included in the Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act (CREAMMA).

CREAMMA was passed by New Jersey lawmakers after citizens voted in 2020 to amend the state constitution to legalize marijuana.

At the district court level, Judge Christine O’Hearn, a Biden appointee, had dismissed Zanetich’s case, ruling that only a state cannabis board can enforce the law and that private individuals don’t have a right of action to sue. Zanetich appealed.

The appeals panel’s 2–1 ruling, handed down on Monday, also denied Zanetich’s request to ask the New Jersey Supreme Court to decide the issue.

Phipps wrote that sending the matter to the state’s high court “is an act of judicial discretion…and here none of the common considerations associated with the exercise of that discretion counsels strongly in favor of the certification.”

As for the importance of the case, he said the issues neither “involve questions of state constitutional law, nor are they particularly transcendental.”

Keep reading

Drones Reported in at Least 11 New Jersey Counties – FOX News Host Captures Footage from Her Yard

Several mysterious drones were spotted flying over New Jersey last week prompting mayors to contact the governor and demand answers. The drones were spotted over at least 12 counties.

FOX News host Rachel Campos Duffy and her children caught footage of the drones in the sky over their home.

Local mayors sent this message to Governor Phil Murphy: “While the benefits of drone technology are widely recognized when used responsibly and transparently, the lack of information and clarity regarding these operations has caused fear and frustration among our constituents. Despite inquiries made to relevant authorities, we have yet to receive satisfactory answers about the purpose, operators, or safety protocols governing these flights.”

Last week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted all drone flights over the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

The ban on flying drones over Trump National Golf Club was first initiated on November 22 and will last until December 6. But the continued sightings forced the FAA to extend the drone ban.

Any unauthorized drone flying over the Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in Rockaway is also included in the drone flying ban.

Keep reading

The Steal is On In NY, NJ–But There Are CLUES FOR POLICE TO FOLLOW

You have to ask yourself: if this is what we’re seeing, how much voter fraud are we missing?

Two dark-complected individuals in a white Alfa Romeo Giulia with temporary/dealer plates were spotted in Crown Heights, Brooklyn stealing two large sacks of what are presumably ballots. Crown Heights is a heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and they have been notably pro-Trump in the lead-up to the election.

The plate number was O23582V, but in all likelihood, it was fake or from another vehicle. Two notable mistakes by the perps:

1) using a relatively rare make/model car. The Alfa Giulia is an uncommon car to spot, even in New York City. A white one? The Manhattan can think of maybe one or two we’ve seen in the past two years. The preferred colorway is maroon or navy.

2) The bag handler’s sweatshirt is from the clothing brand Sp5der, an Atlanta based outfitter owned by raper Young Thug. They aren’t a common sight in NYC, but they are out there. This particular hoodie is emblazoned with an “I [red heart shape] sp5der” graphic.

Keep your eyes peeled, New York.

Keep reading

New Jersey Governor Signs Controversial Bill Restricting Sales Of Hemp Cannabinoid Products

New Jersey businesses are temporarily banned from selling hemp products without a cannabis license under a controversial bill Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed into law Thursday, a response to years of complaints about legal loopholes that allow minors to buy sketchy hemp products.

The measure will put hemp products, which are federally legal, under the purview of the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission, the agency that oversees New Jersey’s recreational and medicinal marijuana markets.

In a signing statement, Murphy called the bill flawed, but said in the two-and-a-half months since the bill landed on his desk, he’s held discussions with supporters and critics that convinced him it’s “very unlikely that revisions to the bill would have the broad support necessary to move through the Legislature quickly.”

“Unlike many issues, the status quo poses an immediate risk to health and safety, as these unregulated intoxicating hemp products are widely available to minors. Because the bill would address this present danger, I have concluded that the wiser course is to sign the bill now and commit to working with the Legislature to address the technical issues and other challenges in separate legislation,” he said in the statement.

Congress legalized hemp in 2018, but with little regulation, testing or enforcement, intoxicating products have been spotted on shelves of corner stores and gas stations. Lawmakers moved to pass the bill amid concerns that children are buying products advertised with thousands of milligrams of THC.

Hemp products have a lower form of THC than cannabis, and they do not get users high in the same way marijuana products with delta-9 THC (the kind someone would buy at a cannabis dispensary).

Under the new law, it’s illegal to sell products with any detectable amount of THC to a person under 21 years of age. And within 30 days, businesses will have to pull any hemp products off their shelves until the cannabis commission establishes new rules regarding sales.

The bill—amended with last-minute changes—elicited “significant concerns” from the cannabis and hemp industries, Murphy noted. Wording in the bill has created confusion, specifically the definition of hemp product as “any product cultivated, derived, or manufactured in this state from hemp,” Murphy said.

That language could either allow businesses to sell hemp products made outside of New Jersey without violating the law, or limit sales to those products made exclusively in New Jersey, Murphy said, noting the former would largely defeat the purpose of the bill by creating “an enormous loophole,” while the latter could violate the Constitution’s dormant commerce clause.

The bill’s supporters applauded the long-awaited signing.

Keep reading

NJ’s AR-15 ban is unconstitutional, but 10-round magazine limit OK, federal judge rules

New Jersey’s ban on the AR-15 rifle is unconstitutional, but the state’s cap on magazines over 10 rounds passes constitutional muster, a federal judge said Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan’s 69-page opinion says he was compelled to rule as he did because of the Supreme Court’s rulings in firearms cases, particularly the 2022 Bruen decision that expanded gun rights.

Sheridan’s ruling left both 2nd Amendment advocates and the state attorney general planning appeals. The judge temporarily delayed the order for 30 days.

Pointing to the high court’s precedents, Sheridan suggested Congress and the president could do more to curb gun-related violence nationwide.

“It is hard to accept the Supreme Court’s pronouncements that certain firearms policy choices are ‘off the table’ when frequently, radical individuals possess and use these same firearms for evil purposes,” he wrote.

Sheridan added: “Where the Supreme Court has set for the law of our Nation, as a lower court, I am bound to follow it. … This principle — combined with the reckless inaction of our governmental leaders to address the mass shooting tragedy afflicting our Nation — necessitates the Court’s decision.”

Keep reading

School APOLOGISES For Teaching Children That ISIS Is A Terrorist Group After Muslims Complain

A middle school in New Jersey has issued an apology for teaching children that the Islamic State (ISIS) is a designated terrorist organisation.

Students at Schuyler Colfax Middle School in Wayne, New Jersey, were asked to select one answer in a multiple choice test that fits with the description, “It is a terrorist organization that commits acts of violence, destroys cultural artifacts, and encourages loss of life in order to achieve its goal of global rule under strict Islamic Sharia law.”

The choice of answers was the Islamic State, Peru’s The Shining Path, al Qaeda, and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, with Islamic State being the ‘correct’ answer.

In response, a group known as ‘Teaching While Muslim’ (TWM), charged “We have seen anti Muslim & anti Palestinian sentiments, teachers, and content in our schools over and over again. But we must not allow it to continue.”

The social media post from the group continued “Call and email everyone that you can. This is NOT okay on a million levels. Go. And yes. This is real.” 

The post ended with the hashtags “anti-Muslim racism” and “Islamophobia.”

In a further statement, the group claimed that the test “wrongly implies that terrorism is a fundamental part of an ‘Islamic State,’ and has a ‘goal of achieving global rule under strict sharia law.’” 

The group further described that as “anti-Muslim hate” and “factually inaccurate,” asserting “This is a continuation of US and Zionist propaganda aimed at fear mongering against Muslims AND Palestinians.”

“Why is the PLO on that quiz?” The statement continued, despite it being the incorrect answer to the question. 

“This is indoctrinating children to hate Muslims and making Muslim students targets of bigotry and prejudice in a place where they should feel safe,” the statement concluded.

Following this, the school caved and issued an apology.

Keep reading

New Jersey Panel Approves Amended Psilocybin Bill, Removing Broad Legalization To Focus On Therapeutic Program

A New Jersey Senate panel approved an amended psilocybin bill on Thursday, advancing substitute language that removed earlier provisions that would have broadly legalized possession, use and cultivation by adults in order to instead focus exclusively on therapeutic access to the psychedelic.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee voted 6–2 to release the bill, S.2283, sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari (D) and others.

Initially, the legislation was introduced this year in identical form to what Scutari proposed last session—a plan that included personal legalization provisions, which the recent amended version takes out. Those components would have made it legal for adults to “possess, store, use, ingest, inhale, process, transport, deliver without consideration, or distribute without consideration, four grams or less of psilocybin.”

The new measure would nevertheless significantly expand on legislation Scutari introduced in late 2020 to reduce penalties for possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin. That reform that was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy (D) in 2021.

In its amended version, the bill would charge the Department of Health (DOH) with licensing and regulating the manufacture, testing, transport, delivery, sale and purchase of psilocybin. There would be five license types: manufacturer, service center operator, testing laboratory, facilitator and psilocybin worker.

A Psilocybin Advisory Board would establish qualifying medical conditions for use, propose guidelines for psilocybin services and dosage, craft safety screenings and informed consent practices and oversee facilitator education, training and conduct.

Keep reading