November 15, 2022

Press Pool Story by: Colleen Wilson, NorthJersey.com

NEWARK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy received a tour of the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday.

“This is a game-changer,” said Murphy. “Folks will find something that is not only modern, high-tech, open, transparent, plenty of light, easy to maneuver, but it’s Jersey.”

The significance of the $2.7 billion building was on display at its christening with 700 invitees, a procession of the state police color guard and bagpipe musicians, and a band to greet the governor and First Lady Tammy Murphy on their tour.

The December opening of the first 21 gates was slightly delayed due to “a revenue downturn” that resulted from the pandemic and slowed construction, according to Port Authority board chairman Kevin O’Toole. The 12 remaining gates will open in nine months.

United Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada and American Airline will be the first companies to transition to the new Terminal A, with Delta moving over next year.

Bids on a more than $2 billion replacement of the Newark AirTrain came in over budget, which has delayed the bid process for construction on that project, too, but the current monorail will service the new Terminal A in the meantime.

Construction on the new facility began in 2018, the bulk of which took place during unprecedented times with the pandemic and supply chain issues from the invasion of Ukraine.

“The most extraordinary part of this is that we overcame COVID, over a year-and-a-half of decimating our labor force, men off sick on quarantine, replacements, late delivery of materials because of manufacturing problems,” said Ron Tutor, CEO of Tutor Perini, the construction company that built the new terminal.

The current Terminal A at Newark Airport was designed for nine million passengers to pass through annually, but has served millions more than that per year for years, making the building feel cramped and overall outdated. The new building will be able to handle at least 13 million passengers annually, with nearly double the number of gates as the old one, 60 kiosks that can be used by flyers from any airline to check in and take care of baggage labels, and vastly increased space and lines for security. Those parking or renting a car will be able to walk directly to that new facility, as opposed to driving to the old parking lot serviced by the previous terminal.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton said, “We have worked hard to create a truly New Jersey sense of place.”

The airport’s artwork features local artists, whose choosing came with the assistance of the First Lady, and bathrooms that are themed for four areas of the state, like Ocean. There are six local concession spaces of local businesses that stick out for their industrial-inspired design using shipping container framing, paying homage to the birthplace of the steel containers with Port
Newark and its cranes visible from the terminal’s floor-to-ceiling windows.

Press Pool Photos by: Chris Pedota

---

Govenor’s Office photos below:

---

Governor Also Signs Executive Order Paving Way for Regulated Hunt to Occur on State Lands

November 15, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER) – Today, the Fish and Game Council voted to approve emergency regulations amending the Game Code and adopting a new Comprehensive Black Bear Management Plan (CBBMP) to control the black bear population and reduce the threat of dangerous encounters between bears and humans through regulated hunting and non-lethal management measures.

Following the Council’s vote, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved the new CBBMP and agreed with the Council’s finding that a hunt is necessary this December to protect the safety of New Jersey residents. Governor Murphy then concurred with the Council’s finding and signed Executive Order No. 310, which rescinds a prior executive order (No. 34) from 2018 instructing the Commissioner to take action to protect black bears on State-owned land.

In accordance with Executive Order No. 310, the Commissioner then rescinded the Department’s own prior Administrative Order (No. 2018-24), which prohibited the hunting of black bears on all State-owned land.

“The facts on the ground have shown that we cannot rely on nonlethal methods alone to protect New Jersey residents from a growing black bear population,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s actions will facilitate the reinstatement of a regulated black bear hunt this year to help limit dangerous interactions between people and bears to protect public safety.”

This action is being taken in response to an increase in the black bear population and a rise in black bear incidents of 237% from January through October this year as compared to the same time period in 2021. These incidents include 62 aggressive encounters with humans, 89 instances of property damage, and attacks on both livestock and pets.

For additional information about bear hunting season this year, visit https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/bear-hunting-season-information/.

Bear Hunt Will Occur December 5 to 10, 2022

---

Black Bear in residential area in Vernon, New Jersey. File photo

November 15, 2022

 A Guyanese citizen was arraigned today on drug conspiracy charges, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Dennis Edwards, aka “Death,” 38, is charged in an indictment returned in 2012 with conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine from St. Maarten into the United States. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court and was detained without bail

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Edwards was part of a criminal conspiracy that arranged to import cocaine into the United States. Edwards was arrested on November 14, 2022, when he arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport after having been deported from the Dominican Republic.

The conspiracy charge against Edwards carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, and deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr., with the investigation leading to the charges. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Edwards’ arrest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger thanked officials in the Dominican Republic for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

22-420

Defense counsel: Jose L. Ongay Esq., Camden, New Jersey

---

---