HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)– The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office reported that the deceased victim discovered this morning in the cemetery in Hamilton Township has been identified as Lisa Lloyd, 39, of Ewing. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force continues to investigate and has identified a person of interest in the case. No charges have been filed at this time.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. on July 26, Hamilton police received a call from someone in the area of Clover Avenue who observed what appeared to be human remains near the cemetery. Police arrived and located a severely burned deceased victim
An autopsy is pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org
Hamilton Police and Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office detectives with a possible person of interest in custody in back of a police vehicle Chambers Street by East Franklin Street this morning. MidJersey.News has held the photo of the person in the back of the police vehicle pending official determination by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Photo by: Brian McCarthy
TRENTON – The Murphy Administration today asked residents and businesses to conserve water as the state continues to experience a persistent period of hot and dry weather.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for monitoring and protecting the state’s water supply to ensure ample clean, safe water for drinking and other needs. DEP’s Division of Water Supply and Geoscience has been closely monitoring the drier than usual conditions this summer.
While these conditions have not significantly impacted drinking water supply indicators statewide, persistently hot and dry conditions could adversely affect water supplies. It is important that residents and businesses take proactive steps to help moderate their use of water to help ensure ample supplies throughout the summer.
“Now is the time for New Jersey to be especially mindful of water usage and proactively moderate our consumption,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Although our reservoirs and other indicators are healthy, persistent hot and dry weather coupled with the high water demands of summer can quickly impact water supply. Simple steps, like reducing lawn and landscape watering, go a long way in preserving our water supplies and avoiding the necessity of significant restrictive measures.”
Current water demands are being met and New Jersey’s water systems are capable of handling periods of low precipitation. Reservoir levels are near long-term averages for this time of year and groundwater supplies are near normal, with the central and southern portions of the state tending to be drier. Local conditions can vary, so it is normal for individual water systems and municipalities to periodically request that their customers reduce water use.
The DEP will continue to monitor water supplies very closely and advise the public, local governments, and water systems as appropriate. For a DEP microsite on water conservation measures visit https://dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/
The most up-to-date information about the status of New Jersey’s water supplies can be found at www.njdrought.org, where you can also find more water conservation tips for your community.
Other government and academic institutions also prepare drought-related indices and maps. One well-known example is the US Drought Monitor, which defines drought more broadly than DEP. These other resources may suggest drought or pre-drought conditions are present before actual water supplies are technically determined to be below normal by DEP’s Division of Water Supply and Geoscience.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Due to increasing sales across the nation, the Mega Millions jackpot has been increased again to an $830 million annuity, the third largest in Mega Millions history. The estimated cash value is $487.9 million.
Over one million New Jersey players have already won prizes during this jackpot roll, including one ticket worth $1,000,000 and another worth $3,000,000. Another 27 New Jersey players have won prizes of $10,000 or more by matching four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball drawn.
Our website features important information for players, including Mega Millions odds & prizes and tips and guidelines for group or lottery pool play. If a player believes they have a winning ticket, we recommend signing the back of the ticket and taking a picture of both sides for security before checking the ticket with our app, website, or any New Jersey Lottery retailer. A winner of a large prize may wish to seek financial and legal consultation.
The Lottery promotes responsible play through its cooperation with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ and by promoting the Council’s helpline phone number, 1-800-GAMBLER, on all Lottery marketing and advertising materials.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Around 12:24 p.m. Trenton Fire Department responded to the area of 7 North Broad Street for a smoke condition and a fire was found at 7 South Broad Street. Upon arrival an “all hands” was called sending additional apparatus and manpower to the scene. Firefighters found a fire in the rear of the property and stretched a 2 1/2″ hose line. Within a few minutes firefighters had the bulk of the fire knocked down. A fire marshal and building inspector were called to the scene for the investigation. No additional details are available at this time.
Wawa Retail Store and Fuel Purchase Transactions Impacted; NJ to Receive $2.5 Million from Overall
$8 Million Multistate Settlement
July 26, 2022
TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today that New Jersey is co-leading an overall $8 million multistate settlement with Wawa Inc. that resolves the states’ investigation into a data breach that compromised approximately 34 million payment cards used by consumers to buy food and gas and other items at Wawa stores and fueling locations.
The data breach extracted consumer payment card data, including customers’ card numbers, expiration dates and cardholder names, from transactions that took place between April 18, 2019 and December 12, 2019, and affected stores in New Jersey and five other states – Pennsylvania, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia – as well as Washington, D.C.
Acting Attorney General Platkin is co-leading today’s settlement announcement along with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Under an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance filed with the Division of Consumer Affairs, New Jersey is to receive approximately $2.5 million of the overall Wawa settlement payout.
In addition to paying New Jersey and the other affected states, the settlement requires that Wawa take multiple steps going forward to strengthen its network protections and better safeguard consumer payment card data.
“This settlement is as important for the strengthened cyber security measures it requires as for the dollars Wawa must pay,” said Acting Attorney General Platkin. “When businesses fail to maintain solid data security systems or train their employees to recognize suspicious web overtures, criminal hackers can be counted on to move in and exploit the situation. This settlement should serve as a message to the industry that we are serious about holding businesses accountable when they fail to protect consumers’ sensitive personal information.”
“Businesses have a duty under our laws to protect the sensitive personal information consumers are sharing when they pay by card instead of cash,” said Acting Division of Consumer Affairs Director Cari Fais. “Unfortunately, identity theft is a real concern, and criminal hackers are always on the lookout for weaknesses in retailer data systems. Given this reality, retailers must periodically reassess their data protection systems and strengthen them as needed. We will hold accountable any retailers whose failure to do so results in a compromise of consumers’ privacy.”
The Wawa data breach occurred after hackers gained access to Wawa’s computer network in 2019 by deploying malware that may have been opened by a company employee.
A few months later, the hackers deployed malware that allowed them to obtain magnetic stripe data from cards processed at Wawa’s point-of-sale terminals inside the stores, as well as at the outside fuel pumps.
Specifically, the malware harvested Wawa customers’ card numbers, expiration dates, cardholder names and other sensitive payment card data. It did not collect PIN numbers or credit card CVV2 codes (the three- or four-digit security codes printed on the back of the card). Payment cards using chip technology were not compromised.
Acting Attorney General Platkin and Attorney General Shapiro allege that Wawa failed to employ reasonable information security measures to prevent such a data breach, and therefore violated state consumer protection and personal information protection laws. Under the settlement, Wawa makes no admission of wrongdoing or liability.
Wawa was unable to determine with specificity how many payment card transactions were compromised by the breach. However, in documents related to a private class action lawsuit over the breach, Wawa provided a breakdown of all consumer pay card transactions that took place at its stores during the nine-month period at issue.
During that period, approximately 27.2 percent of all Wawa payment card transactions occurred in stores in New Jersey, while another 27 percent occurred at Wawa locations in Pennsylvania. Company stores in Florida had the next highest percentage of overall payment card transactions (22.1 percent), followed by Virginia (11.4 percent), Maryland, (6.4 percent), Delaware (5.6 percent) and Washington, D.C. (0.2 percent.)
Wawa is required under today’s settlement to create a comprehensive information security program within six months.
The program must be overseen by a credentialed expert in the field, include security awareness training for all Wawa personnel with key responsibilities for implementing the program, and incorporate data protection “Best Practices” designed to prevent attackers from obtaining credentials and other sensitive data through malicious downloads and other threats.
The program must also comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards and employ controls to ensure company systems are accessed only by those with appropriate credentials – controls such as multi-factor authentication, one-time passcodes and location-specific requirements, among others.
Within a year, Wawa also must obtain an information security compliance assessment and related report from third-party professional – a certified information systems security professional or certified systems auditor with at least five years’ experience in evaluating the effectiveness of computer systems or information systems security. Under the settlement, the compliance assessment report must be shared with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Section Chief Kashif Chand and Deputy Attorneys General Thomas Huynh and Mandy Wang of the Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Section within the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group represent the State in the matter. Investigator Aziza Salikhova of the Office of Consumer Protection within the Division of Consumer Affairs conducted the investigation.
Trenton Water Works asks customers and consumers in its five-municipality service area to discontinue nonessential outdoor water use until further notice during this unprecedented heat wave. TWW’s service area comprises Trenton, Ewing Township, parts of Hamilton Township, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Township.
“Although TWW systems are operating normally, the heat wave has significantly increased water demand,” said Mark Lavenberg, Director of the city’s Department of Water and Sewer, which operates the water utility. “Therefore the water utility is being proactive in requesting that its customers and service-area consumers restrict their outdoor use of water, which will help ease demand on TWW’s water supply.”
Here are exceptions to this Advisory:
—> Watering of new sod or seed if daily watering is required. We recommend that any planting of new sod or seed that has not already taken place be delayed until the fall.
—> Use of private wells for irrigation.
—> Commercial uses of outdoor water, such as for nurseries, farm stands, power washing, plumbing, athletic fields, and car washes.
—> Watering of athletic fields.
Questions can be directed to TWW’s Office of Communications and Community Relations at (609) 989-3033 or 1-866-TWW-BLUE.
3:28 p.m. UPDATE: Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office confirms that the victim is an adult female. Further details to follow.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Hamilton Police Division are investigating a suspicious death in Hamilton Township, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. on July 26, Hamilton police received a call from someone in the area of Clover Avenue who observed what appeared to be human remains near the cemetery. Police arrived and located a severely burned deceased victim
An autopsy is pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org
EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Mayor Janice S. Mironov administered the oath of office to new police officer Oksana Kopyto, who fills a police department vacancy. Police Officer Kopyto will be assigned to a Uniform Services Platoon of the police department.
Police Officer Oksana Kopyto is an East Windsor resident who graduated from the Mercer County Police Academy in July 2022 and has an Associate of Science Degree from Mercer County College.
Mayor Mironov welcomed family members and police officers in attendance, along with Council Members Denise Daniels, Alan Rosenberg and John Zoller, and stated, “I congratulate new Police Officer Kopyto who graduated from the Mercer County Police Academy last week and successfully passed the scrutinous selection process to become part of our East Windsor team. We wish her a great and satisfying career here and expect her to serve our community in an outstanding manner.”
East Windsor Township Mayor Janice S. Mironov administered the oath of office to new Police Officer Oksana Kopyto (center) in a ceremony attended by Chief of Police James Geary (right), elected officials and other police officers.
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Receives State’s Highest Score in Cancer Specialty
July 26, 2022
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), a RWJBarnabas Health facility, has been recognized as one of the top five hospitals in New Jersey and a top 20 Regional Best Hospital in the New York Metropolitan area by U.S. News & World Report in the annual Best Hospitals rankings. The hospital earned High Performing ratings in 12 adult specialties, common adult procedures and conditions.
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the only program in the state designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), received the highest score in New Jersey in the Adult Specialty category for cancer, earning a High Performing rating. Rutgers Cancer Institute together with RWJBarnabas Health is at the forefront of cancer research and care and will soon be home to the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, New Jersey’s only freestanding cancer hospital, slated to open in 2024 in New Brunswick. Only 92 cancer programs nationwide achieved this rating in the 2022-23 US News & World Report Best Hospitals survey.
RWJUH earned a total of twelve High Performing ratings, including cancer, gastroenterology and GI surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, kidney failure, lung cancer surgery, and stroke. A High Performing rating recognizes care that was significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News & World Report awards for common adult conditions and procedures.
The annual Adult Specialty and Adult Procedure and Condition ratings are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
“RWJUH has earned a top spot on the Best Hospitals rankings in New Jersey and in the New York metropolitan area year after year due to our academic partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers Cancer Institute, as well as our stellar network of community physicians and our Magnet nursing program,” said Bill Arnold, President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “As New Jersey’s premier academic medical center, RWJUH is committed to delivering access to the most advanced and equitable interventions and care designed to sustain and build healthier communities.”
“Our cancer program’s score and rating by U.S. News and World Report demonstrates the high quality, multidisciplinary care we provide, which is informed by innovative research and discoveries alongside exceptional patient experience,” stated Steven Libutti, MD, Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Senior Vice President, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “As New Jersey’s leading cancer program and the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute together with RWJBarnabas Health offers patients access to the most advanced treatment options including clinical trials, many of which are not available elsewhere.”
For the 2022-2023 Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Fewer than half of all hospitals received any High Performing rating, and only four earned this rating in all procedures and conditions. State and metro area rankings reflect the highest performing hospitals in the area across multiple areas of care.
“When patients are considering their options for care, the Best Hospitals ratings are designed to help them identify hospitals that excel in the kind of care they may need,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “A hospital that’s earned a High Performing rating in a service may be a good option for patients in need of that service and their medical professionals to consider.”
U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance using a variety of measures such as survival rates, complication rates, patient experience and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals methodology factors in data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, professional organizations and medical specialists.
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