Swimming Bans At N.J. Beaches / New Graduation Requirements / 911 Call Mixup Shooting / Bear Attack? / $5M Lotto Winner

Check out the top news that made headlines this week across the Patch network in New Jersey:

PARCC Test Becomes Graduation Requirement In New Jersey

tarting with the class of 2021, all New Jersey students will have to pass the PARCC tests to graduate from high school, under regulations adopted by the state Board of Education on Wednesday.

4 New Jersey Men Arrested In Major Mob Bust

Four New Jersey men are among the more than 40 alleged mobsters from four crime families that were arrested in a wide-ranging mafia bust.

Car Crash That Closed Major N.J. Highway Was Suicide: Cops

Jorge J. Torres, 27, of North Arlington, who was in the passenger seat, jumped from a moving vehicle on Route 3. Police found him in the roadway and CPR was performed, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.

Swimming Bans At Several N.J. Beaches Due To Bacteria

Four Ocean County beaches remain closed to swimming Friday afternoon after another round of water quality testing showed bacteria levels remained at unsafe levels, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

Elderly N.J. Man Shot By Police After 911 Call Mixup

An investigation into the State Police shooting of a 76-year-old New Jersey man — whose attorney said was shot by "mistake" — is underway.

These Are The Highest-Paying Jobs In New Jersey, New Analysis Says

There are at least 81 careers that pay on average $100,000 or more in New Jersey, according to career site Zippia. The website, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recently compiled a list of the 100 highest-paying jobs in the Garden State.

Man Says He Was Attacked By 500-Lb. Bear, Police Say That's 'Not Supported By Evidence'

A man's account that he was attacked by a 500-pound bear Wednesday is not supported by evidence, Pohatcong Police said Thursday.

$5M Mega Millions Ticket Sold In N.J.

A $5 million Mega Millions Ticket was sold in New Jersey, and lottery officials also announced the winning Powerball ticket locations.

N.J. Man Dies After He's Shot In Head At Kid's Birthday Party, Cops Say

A man died after he was shot in the head Saturday at a child's birthday party in New Jersey in what was described as a random incident, police said.

Trump Taj Mahal In Atlantic City Is Closing

Trump Taj Mahal, one of three Atlantic City casinos that Donald Trump owned when his company suffered huge losses and filed for bankruptcy, will close after Labor Day weekend, officials confirmed.