Boardwalk Pipe Bomb / Suspicious Clowns / Gas Tax Increase: Patch's Top News In 2016

We're recapping 2016 with a look at the year's top stories across Patch sites in New Jersey.

Here are the top ten most-read stories in New Jersey over the last 12 months:

At Least 138 N.J. Towns Have Drinking Water Toxin Made Famous By Erin Brockovich: Study

At least 138 NJ communities have the cancer-causing toxin in drinking water made famous in the 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich," a study released in September said.

308 New Jersey School Districts With Most Drug, Alcohol Cases

New Jersey releases a list of substance abuse cases reported by each school district every year. Here's the latest data.

Powerball Winners: 76 Staff Members At N.J. Elementary School

76 staffers at a New Jersey elementary school - the principal, school nurse, teachers, a physical therapist and more - were Powerball winners in January.

Details Of Major N.J. Child Porn Bust Involving 16 Men, 14 Towns Revealed

A major statewide New Jersey child porn bust was announced in April involving 16 men in 14 towns, including a teacher and a school bus driver, according to authorities.

Pipe Bomb Explodes Along 5K Seaside Park Racecourse on Jersey Shore

The boardwalk area in Seaside Park was evacuated - and a lockdown was in place - because of an explosion in September.

Suspicious Clown Sightings Under Investigation By N.J. Police

An outbreak of suspicious clown sightings reported across the country spread to New Jersey.

Meet the 35 Olympic Athletes From New Jersey

They're New Jersey's finest, and they represented the Garden State and all of America at the 2016 Summer Olympic games.

ISIS Publishes List Of Targets That Includes N.J. Police Officers

The Islamic State released a 39-page list online that identifies past and present New Jersey police officers as potential targets.

N.J. Teen Who Lost Her Home And Parents Found Dead In Woods

The 19-year-old woman was found dead in Alloway Township.

N.J. Gas Tax Increases By 23 Cents

Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey lawmakers reached an agreement to fund the Transportation Trust Fund through a 23-cent increase in the state's gas tax.

Man Rescues 4-Month-Old Baby Left In Car At Shopping Center

A Jackson man was hailed as a hero after he smashed the window and rescued an infant who had been left alone in a locked car outside of Kohl's.