N.J. Named Most 'Hated' State, Hot Car Rescue and Shark Sightings: July 2015 on Patch

We are presenting our “12 days of 2015 on Patch” by looking at New Jersey Patch’s top 10 stories of each month in 2015.

During July, shark sightings were reported at the shore, a police officer made a hot-car rescue on tape and New Jersey was named “the Most Hated State in America.”

RELATED

• Top Stories of January 2015
• Top Stories of February 2015
• Top Stories of March 2015
• Top Stories of April 2015
• Top Stories of May 2015
• Top Stories of June 2015

Here is the full list of the top 10 stories on Patch sites across New Jersey during July 2015:

1. New Jersey: The Most Hated State In America, New Poll Says (July 2)

A survey ranked New Jersey as the least liked state in the nation. “New Jersey is the only state in the country which people tend to have a negative opinion of,” YouGov said in its summary.

2. Lifetime Walmart Banishment For North Jersey Woman Who Shoplifted (July 29)

A Hopatcong woman is no longer permitted to shop in any of the chain’s stores in the country.

3. WATCH: Swarm Of Sharks Appearing At Jersey Shore (July 7)

Sharks have been appeared at the Jersey Shore over the summer.

4. WATCH: Cop Smashes Window To Save Toddler From Hot Car (July 30)

The incident unfolded around 4 p.m. at Costco in Hackensack, when a store employee told police there was a child in a hot car, reports say.

5. Family Dogs Save Child From Backyard Bear (July 2)

A pack of family dogs intervened when a bear began approaching a three-year-old in her own backyard Wednesday morning, with one canine sustaining injuries to the face and leg before scaring off the wild animal.

6. Teacher Blames Brain Condition For Alleged Sex Crimes (July 27)

Caldwell resident Nicole Dufault says “frontal lobe syndrome” was behind sex acts with six male students.

7. WATCH: Naked Woman Takes Stroll Through South Jersey Convenience Store (July 9)

The woman left the Wawa in Delran empty handed after employees apparently threatened to call the police.

8. Essex County Politician Punches Blind Army Vet In Face: Report (July 9)

One of Essex County’s leading politicians has been captured on a surveillance video apparently throwing punches at a 75-year-old, blind Army veteran.

9. Cops: Drunk Driver Crashes, Kills 3 in Fiery Multi-Car Wreck on Route 80 (July 11)

A man, woman, and baby were killed when the vehicle they were driving in was sandwiched between two other vehicles.

10. South Jersey Dads Arrested After Fight At Youth Softball Game (July 16)

Michael Barbella allegedly drove to Maryland to confront Michael Duffy and other parents of players on a travel softball team.