Newark’s Top News Of 2023: Patch Year In Review

NEWARK, NJ — It’s been a memorable year in Newark. Catch up with some of 2023’s top news stories here (click headlines to read the article).

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS

Newark Is 'Leading The Way': Watch Mayor's 2023 State Of City Speech

VIDEO: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka touched on issues including housing, jobs, public safety, education and health.

Obama Praises Newark's Efforts To Stop Violence By Boosting Its Youth

Barack Obama: "Cities like Newark have changed the odds – creating opportunities for our young people to achieve their full potential."

Tax Hike Approved In Newark; City Council Passes 2023 Budget

Property taxes are going up in New Jersey's largest city.

Newark City Council Approves Sewer, Water Rate Hikes

Sewer and water bills are about to go up in Newark. Here's how much more you'll be paying over the next five years.

'Free Palestine' Protesters Storm Sen. Cory Booker's Office In Newark

Pro-Palestine activists are keeping the pressure on Sen. Cory Booker in his home city of Newark as the Israel-Hamas war rages on.

Newark Sees Huge Drop In Unsheltered Homeless Population, State Says

Here's how it was done, officials say.

Newark Can't Sidestep Unions As It Reforms Police Department: Court

Newark has been changing the way it approaches policing in the wake of a landmark federal agreement.

City Council Beefs Up Rent Control Laws In Newark (VIDEO)

Nearly three out of four Newark residents rent their homes. A new ordinance will prevent "unconscionable increases" for tenants.

Bribery Conspiracy At Newark Airport; NJ Man Pleads Guilty

"Greasing someone's palm for a lucrative contract not only isn't fair – it's also illegal," an FBI special agent said.

Newark Cardinal Asks NJ Gun Owners To 'Set Aside' 2nd Amendment Rights

"Not for this Catholic, that's for damn sure!" a critic tweeted.

Longtime Activist From Newark Guns For Menendez's Senate Seat

Lawrence Hamm, a Montclair resident with deep ties to Newark, is running for Senate in 2024.

Goodbye Columbus, Hello Tubman: Statue Marks New Age In Newark

An unveiling of the city's new Harriet Tubman monument – which replaces a statue of Christopher Columbus – drew some high-profile guests.

Diversity Triumphs In Essex County's State Races: 2023 Election

A new roster of state lawmakers is on the brink of taking office in Essex County – and they may be the most diverse delegation in New Jersey

The U.S. Food Industry Is Giving Cory Booker An Upset Stomach

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is shooting for sweeping reforms in the nation's agriculture industry with four proposed laws.

Newark Sees Huge Drop In Unsheltered Homeless Population, State Says

Here's how it was done, officials say.

Civil Rights Activists In Newark Push For NJ Police Reform Bill

A proposed New Jersey law would give towns and counties the power to create "civilian review boards" to act as a watchdog over local police.

EDUCATION

Newark Has Plan To Improve 'Alarming' Student Reading Scores

The numbers are stark: only 19% of Newark's grade 3 students passed a state reading exam last year. Here's the plan to turn things around.

Newark's Teacher Of The Year Has 'Unwavering Devotion' (VIDEO)

School officials held a surprise ceremony for Juanita Greene at Newark Vocational High School. Check it out here.

Newark's Latest 'Blue Ribbon' School Earns Prestigious Award For 2023

Technology High School is an "example of the greatness of Newark," an administrator said.

Voting At 16? Newark May Lower Age For School Board Elections

Advocates: If a 16-year-old is mature enough to learn about racism, guns, reproductive health and taxes, why can't they also vote?

Feds Examine Years Of Sex Harassment Claims In Newark Schools

New Jersey's largest public school district failed to properly investigate sexual harassment involving students for years, authorities say.

Newark Boys Chorus School Closes Amid Money Woes – For Now

The Newark Boys Chorus is being forced to temporarily shut its doors as it tries to overcome financial difficulties.

Student Enrollment Skyrocketing In Newark Public Schools, Board Says

Newark's public schools are seeing a rise in student enrollment that is among the highest in the nation, administrators say.

Israel-Palestine: Feds Probe Alleged Discrimination At Rutgers Newark

Federal officials have launched an investigation at Rutgers-Newark as a fierce debate continues over the Israel-Hamas war.

Newark Native Fights To Empower Deaf, Hard Of Hearing Students

"I've broken through a glass ceiling, but opportunities for advancement for people with hearing loss remain limited."

Newark Teacher Fights Youth Violence With Black History, 'Self-Esteem'

Newark's youth need to learn more reasons to be proud of themselves – and it just may lead to a change in their worldviews, a teacher says.

Every HS Senior At This Newark Charter School Applied For College

The class of 2023 has earned more than $16 million in four-year renewable scholarships, Great Oaks Legacy Charter School administrators say.

New Jersey Teen Shatters District's GPA Record, Scores 40 Scholarships

A high school senior in Newark earned an unfathomable 4.625 GPA – and full rides to dozens of the nation's top colleges.

CRIME/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Newark Crime Rates Remain Historically Low, New FBI Data Shows

Crime rates in Newark increased after dropping amid the pandemic. But a look at the larger picture shows big improvement over the years.

Homicides At Historic Low In Essex County, Prosecutors Say

Here's how the numbers break down for 2023.

2 Newark Firefighters Killed While Battling Cargo Ship Blaze

Two firefighters died after they were trapped inside a burning cargo ship at Port Newark, authorities said. (Read our update here)

Here's How Newark Plans To Fight Crime This Summer (VIDEO)

Newark police are launching a "summer crime reduction initiative" in 2023. Here's what that means for public safety in the city.

3 Dead After 'Tragic' Shooting In Newark, Including Child (UPDATED)

The tragedy was the third multiple shooting the city has seen in less than three weeks.

Newark Mom Lost 3 Sons To Violence. She's Helping Her City Fight Back

VIDEO: A radical new approach to public safety has gained the support of a bereaved mother in New Jersey's largest city.

6 Injured, 31 Displaced By Explosion At Newark Apartments: Reports

Demolition of the building at the Stephen Crane Housing Complex began Saturday; the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

DNA Renews Hope For Catching Newark Woman's Murderer – 50 Years Later

There is renewed hope for solving a gruesome homicide that took place half a century ago. Do you know this woman?

Videos Released Of Fatal Shooting, Police Chase In Newark

NJAG: Police officers chased and shot a man who was leaving the scene of a multiple shooting that killed two people, including a child.

No Criminal Charges For Newark Cop Who Shot Unarmed NJ Man, Jury Rules

A Newark police officer shot and killed a South Orange man on New Year's Day in 2021. A state grand jury decided on the case this week.

Newark Woman Set Off Amber Alert On Halloween; Police Make Arrest

A woman carjacked a vehicle while a 3-year-old was still inside, authorities said. She was arrested after a police search.

Newark Child 'Critical But Stable' After Mom Stabbed Him: Prosecutors

A Newark woman faces several charges – including attempted murder – after she allegedly stabbed her 5-year-old son, authorities said.

Fatal Fire In Newark Claims Life Of 57-Year-Old: Authorities

A Newark man died after a fire engulfed a building on Franklin Avenue, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Newark Cops Team Up With Mental Health Workers Under New Program

Public safety officials say the goal is to take a "clinical" approach during emergencies involving police – not a punitive one.

Woman Is Suspect In NJ Pastor's Shooting, Newark Police Say

A pastor and "well-known philanthropist" in East Orange was shot at his home in Newark. A warrant has been issued for a suspect in the case.

Drive-By Shooting Near School In Newark, Teen Wounded: Police

A drive-by shooting took place outside a school in Newark on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Newark Bank Evacuated After Man Gives Teller 'Tainted' Cash: Police

Three bank workers were taken to the hospital after they felt sick, Newark authorities said.

Nurses, Medical Worker Stabbed At Newark Beth Israel Hospital: UPDATE

Three staff members at the hospital were stabbed after a domestic argument between two visitors turned violent, authorities said.

Ex-NJ Cop Sentenced For Killing Nurse While Drunk Driving: Prosecutor

A former Newark police officer from Bloomfield fatally struck a Garfield resident with his car, then drove home with the body.

Another Fire Strikes Former Beer Baron's Mansion In Newark

Another fire has been reported at the Kastner Mansion in Newark, the vacant former mansion of a 19th century beer magnate.

Body Found In Essex County Lake; Cops Offer $5K Reward For Arrest

Essex County police are offering a reward to catch the person responsible for the death of a man whose body was recovered from a lake.

Dye Pack Explodes On Convicted Bank Robber In Newark (VIDEO)

A New Jersey man was found guilty after he robbed a bank in Newark, leaving a cloud of pink smoke trailing behind him.

WEATHER/ENVIRONMENT

Canada Wildfire Smoke In NJ: Expert Answers Common Questions (VIDEO)

A professor at NJIT in Essex County has answers to some of your most pressing questions about the hazy smoke wafting across New Jersey.

Air Hits 'Unhealthy' Level In Newark Due To Wildfire Smoke (Update)

People with sensitivities to air pollution should take extra care, officials say. About one out of four kids in Newark have asthma.

Activists Keep Up Blitz Against Proposed Power Plant In Newark

"It is an environmental injustice to place a fourth gas plant in an already overburdened community."

Dead Fish Found In Essex County Lake – But Don't Blame Wildfire, Expert Says

VIDEO: A local resident went for a walk at a local park after the smoke from the Canada wildfires began to clear. Here's what she found.

NJ Hits Accused Newark Polluters With 'Environmental Justice Actions'

Two sites in Newark are among several with "toxic legacies," officials alleged as part of a statewide enforcement sweep.

Weird Lights Seen In New Jersey Skies: 'Elon Musk, Is This You?'

The sightings lit up social media across New Jersey. Some said they were UFOs – others had a different theory: Space X satellites.

'Rodent-Proof' Trash Bins Debut In Newark; City Launches Pilot Program

Newark's initiative is based on a similar program that was launched last year in NYC's Times Square, using the same supplier: Citibin.

REAL ESTATE/DEVELOPMENT

Average Property Tax Bill In Newark Is Growing, Latest Data Shows

See where Newark landed on a list of the highest – and lowest – property taxes in New Jersey.

Corporations Own Most Of Newark's Homes. New Laws Are Pushing Back

A study cast a dark shadow on property ownership in New Jersey's largest city. Here's what officials have been doing since it came out.

Buy A House For A Buck? Newark Can Sell Homes For $1 Under New Rule

Under a new program, Newark is able to sell vacant, city-owned properties to local residents for less than the price of a candy bar.

Newark Council Gives Final Green Light To Zoning Changes: VIDEO

Some say the sweeping zoning changes will create more housing. Others say it will lead to unwanted development in New Jersey's largest city.

Essex-Hudson Greenway Takes Leap Forward: Here's Where It Will Begin

An old railway will become a hiking-biking path in Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City.

Lionsgate Will Get Extra Tax Breaks To Make Movies, Shows In Newark

A huge production studio is being built in Newark. Lionsgate will get tax breaks from NJ to help it pay directors, producers and actors.

'Appalling Conditions' Found At Newark Homeless Shelter: Officials

Newark city inspectors found insects, no hot water, trash, a lack of security and broken heaters/toilets, among other alleged violations.

Newark Residents Get 'First Dibs' On Affordable Housing Under IZO

The new policy will help families who have lived in Newark "generation after generation" to stay in the city, Mayor Ras Baraka said.

$10M Cherry Blossom Center At Branch Brook Park Opens In Essex County

The park features a grove of 5,000 cherry blossom trees that is larger than the national display in Washington D.C.

BUSINESS

10 Things NJ Can Learn From Newark's 'Guaranteed Income' Experiment

Newark gave hundreds of residents "free money" with no strings attached. Many used it to literally put clothes on their kids' backs.

Newark Activists Spotlight 'Redlining' Case As 2 Banks Try To Merge

Lakeland Bank wants to merge with Provident Bank. It was accused of "redlining" Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Newark area.

Wu-Tang Clan Rapper Gives Peek Inside His Newark Weed Dispensary

Raekwon says that Hashstoria's newest location in Newark will have "the finest greenery on the planet." (Read the update here)

JetBlue Would Give Up Spots At Newark, LaGuardia If Merger Is Approved

JetBlue says it plans to transfer slots at Newark and LaGuardia to other airlines if its controversial merger with Spirit is approved.

Audible Tries To Lure More Companies To Newark With $1M Program

Audible is offering funds for moving assistance, office space and even stipends for employees – including a $500 per month rent subsidy.

New Careers Help Former Offenders Turn Lives Around In Newark

"As a 74-year-old man, I've been blessed to have this opportunity to start my business."

Newark Construction Workers Will Get $18K In Missing Pay, Union Says

Six construction workers did a job at an apartment building in Newark – then got stiffed on their wages, labor leaders say.

Newark Is Struggling To Afford Internet – But This Program Is Helping

High-speed internet access isn't a luxury these days: it's a necessity. This federal program offers a $30 per month discount.

Newark Business Owner Credits NJ Program For Her Latest Success

Learning how to bid on government contracts opened a big can of worms. But that's how you catch the big fish, Karima Jackson says.

Viral Meme About $78 Meal At Newark Airport Stirs Up The Internet

"This is why Americans think the economy is terrible," someone posted. The internet begged to differ.

'The Jetsons' Inspired Real Life 'Roboburgers' In Newark

These artificially intelligent vending machines can cook a burger in four minutes. Their mastermind says he was inspired by a cartoon show.

Newark Entrepreneur's Love For Community Saved His Restaurant

Who says that generosity doesn't pay off? Not Walter "Uncle Willie" Green, the Army veteran who owns Uncle Willie's Wings.

Family-Owned Puerto Rican Restaurant Is Success Story In Newark

Taino's Kitchen is opening a new location and expanding its footprint in Newark. And it fills its owner's heart with "much pride."

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL

People Fleeing Israel Arrive At Newark Airport After Harrowing Journey

Federal officials say they continue to "work on potential options" for departure from Gaza for U.S. citizens.

Coach Drops 3 North Jersey Bus Routes, Leaving Riders Fuming

The impacted bus lines serve Newark, Elizabeth and the Oranges. Would more government subsidies help keep the wolves from the door? (Read our update here)

Bigger, Better $2.7 Billion Terminal At Newark Airport Unveiled: VIDEO

A brand-new terminal is taking flight at Newark Airport, and it's a game changer for passengers, officials say. (Read our update here)

Robotic Shuttle Van Drives Itself Around Newark Airport (VIDEOS)

A 14-passenger van was retrofitted with "autonomous driving technology" and taken for a spin at Newark Airport. Here's what happened next.

Major Construction Begins At Port Newark, Elizabeth Terminal

The busiest port complex on the East Coast is getting a $220 million upgrade. Work is scheduled to be completed in 2028.

Pedestrian Bridge In Newark Will Reunite Long-Separated Neighborhoods

The massive new walkway is expected to be a big boost for the economy and a symbol of "unity" in New Jersey's largest city. (PHOTOS)

Wealthy Companies Ripped Off NJ Truck Drivers In Newark: Lawsuit

The truckers are owed millions in back wages. "Improper deductions" would sometimes gobble up their entire paychecks, prosecutors allege.

Newark Is Among 'Best Places To Live Without A Car,' Report Says

Only one U.S. city ranked above Newark in the study.

Another Amtrak Train Station In Newark? Plan Keeps Chugging Along

It may soon be possible – for the first time in decades – to take a train from Pennsylvania through New Jersey on your way to New York City.

Shortage Of Air Traffic Controllers In Newark Earns Lawmaker's Wrath

Getting on a plane for the holidays? Here are some troubling stats to consider, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer says.

E-Scooters, Bikeshare Are Here To Stay In Newark, Mayor Says

An e-scooter and bicycle share program in New Jersey's largest city has hit a big milestone: a million rides.

Port Authority Approves $1 Billion Budget Hike In NJ, NY

The bi-state agency's $9.3 billion budget for 2024 has money for some big-ticket projects at its airports, bridges and bus/train stations.

OBITUARIES

Essex County Native Sheila Oliver Dies; NJ 'Hero' Had Deep Local Roots

The sudden death of New Jersey's lieutenant governor is hitting hard in Essex County. "The world needs more Sheila Olivers," a mourner said.

Retired NJ Sen. Ron Rice Dies: 'Trailblazer' Mourned In Essex County

Trailblazer. Straight shooter. Free thinker. These are some of the words that mourners are using to describe Ronald Rice.

Newark Family Stunned After Boy Dies During Football Practice

Elijah Jordan Brown-Garcia passed away doing what he loved, his family says: playing football.

Wayne Shorter Dead At 89; Newark Mourns Passing Of Jazz Titan

A legendary figure in the world of jazz is gone, but his memory in Essex County – especially his hometown of Newark – won't be forgotten.

Newark Vigil For Trans Lives Lost To Violence: 'Stories Of Resilience'

A day of remembrance paid tribute to Ashley Moore, a young Black trans woman who was tragically lost on the streets of Newark.

NJ Clean Energy Advocate, Utility Board President Dies: Joe Fiordaliso

Joseph Fiordaliso, a Newark native and former mayor of Livingston, served on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for decades.

Newark Activist Was 'Loud Voice For Social Justice': Natasha Allen

A longtime activist with the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition recently passed away, advocates say.

Tom Conway Mourned: Newark Native, Steelworker Union Leader Dies At 71

"Tom followed two simple guiding principles: the dignity of work and the power of working people."

Newark Police Officer's Death Echoes 'Profoundly' Among His Peers

Newark officials are mourning a longtime member of the police department after his sudden passing.

Newark Mourns Firefighter After Unexpected Death At 46

"He was a role model exemplar, and inspiration to not only his colleagues – but our entire city," Newark's mayor said of Rafael Padilla.

OTHER NEWS

The Face Of Happiness: Newark Dog Finally Leaves Shelter After 2 Years

Want to see what true happiness looks like? Take a look at Red the dog – and learn how the "depressed" doggo spent his first day of freedom.

'24 Hours Of Peace' Begins In Newark With Free Hip-Hop, Entertainment

An inspiring display of neighborly love will kick off in Newark with the launch of the city's annual "24 Hours of Peace" event.

Newark HS Football Player Overcame Bullying, Stepped Up For Family

A high school football standout from Newark has earned a nomination for a prestigious "Heart of a Giant" award.

Migrants Find Welcoming Arms In Church Parishes Across North Jersey

Several church-affiliated groups in Newark, Montclair and Jersey City have been reaching out to immigrants with aid – not scorn.

Migrants Find Welcoming Arms In Church Parishes Across North Jersey

Several church-affiliated groups in Newark, Montclair and Jersey City have been reaching out to immigrants with aid – not scorn.

Newark Library Will Take Sign Language Classes On Tour This Summer

The Newark Public Library's popular American Sign Language classes will make visits across the city this summer. Here's the schedule.

Avoid New Jersey's 3 Largest Cities In A Zombie Outbreak, Study Says

What would your survival odds be in a zombie apocalypse? It's not as dumb of a question as it seems, New Jersey – here's why.

Newark Man Needed A Wheelchair. These Cops Made Sure He Got One

It isn't the first time that Newark police officers have reached into their own pockets to help a community member out.

Avoid New Jersey's 3 Largest Cities In A Zombie Outbreak, Study Says

What would your survival odds be in a zombie apocalypse? It's not as dumb of a question as it seems, New Jersey – here's why.

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