Category: CONSUMER NEWS

Sherrill’s Policies Put Illegal Immigrants First

Believe it or not, Governor Sherrill’s policies are adding another $12 million of taxpayer dollars to New Jersey’s deportation defense program, bringing the total to more than $20 million.At the same time in New Jersey, school budgets are being cut, property taxes are going up, and utility bills have never been higher. And the state found another $12 million for this? All to protect illegal immigrants, many facing criminal charges, who should not be in our country in the first place.It is truly unbelievable. New Jersey citizens should always come first.Click here to read my full statement on this announcement. 

CPSC Report Highlights Persistent Risk of Childhood Drowning

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report. An average of 376 children under the age of 15 fatally drowned in pool- or spa-related incidents each year from 2021 to 2023. Nearly 80 percent of those victims were under the age of five. Fatal drownings are consistently the highest during the summer months (June, July and August), emphasizing the importance of ensuring children’s safety throughout the peak of swimming season.

In addition, CPSC’s latest data show the following for children in the U.S. younger than 15 years of age:

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AI Vocal Remover: Separate Vocals and Instrumentals From Any Audio File

Remixing a track, preparing a karaoke version, or building a backing track for live performance all start with the same problem — the vocals and instrumentals are locked together in a single audio file, and separating them manually takes hours of precision editing in a professional DAW. SongAgent AI Music Agent solves this with its built-in Vocal Remover: an AI-powered separation tool that splits any audio file into a clean instrumental version and an isolated vocal track in seconds, with no audio editing experience required.

Whether you are a producer building a remix, a musician preparing karaoke content, a filmmaker extracting dialogue from a soundtrack, or a content creator isolating vocals for sampling, SongAgent’s Vocal Remover delivers precision separation without manual equalization, phase cancellation, or spectral editing.

What Is AI Vocal Remover?

Traditional vocal removal requires spectral analysis, phase inversion, and careful frequency filtering — a technical process that produces inconsistent results on complex mixes and demands significant editing expertise. AI-powered vocal separation works differently: the model has learned to distinguish vocal characteristics — timbre, pitch patterns, formants, breath sounds — from instrumental frequencies across thousands of audio examples, producing cleaner separation than manual techniques on most commercial recordings.

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Gloucester City Power Outage Weather Related, said PSE&G

UPDATE: The power outage was not the reason why electricity was lost in the Riverview Heights section of the city, according to a spokesperson for Public Service Electric and Gas.

iStock graphic

Kathy Hennessy Riley, PSE&G Corporate Communications, said the cause was weather-related. “I wanted to clarify that the traffic light pole that was struck at Broadway and Market Street was not the cause of the local power outage that affected the Riverview Heights section of the City on Monday night.

The outage, which affected approximately 2500 customers, was weather-related. Crews worked to safely identify and address the issue and restore service to affected customers as quickly as possible.”

A thunderstorm was happening in Gloucester City and the surrounding area when the power outage occurred.

RELATED :https://gloucestercitynews.net/2026/06/local-power-outage/

DEP Forest Fire Service Releases First Annual Wildfire Report

The DEP Forest Fire Service released a report on the 2025 wildfire season that saw substantial increases in the number of wildfires and acreage burned statewide, and reminds residents and visitors to New Jersey of the important role they have in protecting their communities and reducing wildfire risk.

The report is the first of what will become an annual analysis by the Forest Fire Service looking back at the previous year’s wildfire metrics in the context of wildfire trends, causes and response efforts, while helping New Jerseyans better understand the need for wildfire vigilance to help protect lives and property. Of the 1,322 wildfires that burned 27,229 acres statewide last year, nearly all were caused by humans, according to the report. The figures represent a 22% increase in the number of wildfires and a 116% increase in acreage burned compared with the 20-year average.

“Public education and awareness are part of our comprehensive strategy to understand wildfire risk in New Jersey,” said Acting Commissioner Potosnak. “This report is a key component of that approach, helping to explain the many factors influencing wildfires and how communities can partner with the Forest Fire Service to prevent them.”

The 2025 report is available on the Forest Fire Service’s website at wildfire.nj.gov, and on the agency’s social media profiles on Instagram, X and Facebook.

“The Forest Fire Service’s first annual report provides a detailed look at wildfire activity in New Jersey and the factors driving it,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “Understanding the scope and causes of wildfire activity helps us better protect New Jersey’s forests and communities and is an important step in improving transparency and guiding future prevention efforts.”

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Virtua Lourdes Celebrates Construction Milestone

Virtua Health celebrated a key construction milestone on June 9 at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden. The not-for-profit health system held a topping-off ceremony to mark the placement of the final steel beam atop the hospital’s new patient tower. The Marvin Samson Pavilion is part of a $500 million renovation and expansion at the Haddon Avenue institution, which marked its 75th anniversary last year.

The nearly 200,000-square-foot addition is slated for completion in the spring of 2028. It will increase the hospital’s size by 35%, and will serve as the hospital’s main entrance. The seven-story pavilion will have six floors for patient care.

The building is named for businessman and philanthropist Marvin Samson, who has pledged $5 million – the largest gift in Virtua’s history – in support of the health system’s education and workforce development programs. 

Samson, a Virtua board member and longtime supporter, is also the namesake of the Virtua Samson Cancer Center in Moorestown, N.J.

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Penn State Extension to offer watershed-friendly native plant kits for sale

To help foster more watershed-friendly properties, Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward program will offer watershed-friendly native plant kits for sale through July 4.

This sale is aimed at native plant lovers and individuals wishing to incorporate more native plants into their property.

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Why Tracking Oral Health History Improves Future Care

You might be feeling a little stuck right now. Maybe every dental visit at a dental office in Santa Rosa, CA feels like starting from scratch, repeating the same story about old fillings, sensitive teeth, or a scare you once had with gum disease. You try to remember which tooth had the root canal, or when your child last had X-rays, and it all blurs together. It is frustrating, and it can feel like your mouth has a past that no one is really tracking.end

Then something shifts. A new dentist asks the right questions, pulls up clear notes, remembers that your mother lost teeth early because of diabetes, and suddenly your care feels calmer and more tailored. You are no longer reacting to problems. You are working with someone who sees the pattern and plans ahead.

That is the heart of why tracking oral health history improves future care. When your dentist keeps a clear, consistent record of your mouth and your medical background, you get fewer surprises, better treatment choices, and care that fits your life and your risks. In simple terms, a strong history means fewer emergencies, less confusion, and more control for you.

So where does that leave you if your history feels scattered or incomplete right now.

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Sofitel Welcomes French Soccer Fans with Watch Parties, Caviar Nuggets and French Flair

French Luxury Hotel Brings an Elevated Match-Day Experience to the Heart of the City

Philadelphia, PA – As the world’s most celebrated soccer tournament comes to the Philadelphia region, Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square is bringing its distinct French heritage to the pitch. The iconic French luxury hotel is positioning its Liberté Restobar as Philadelphia’s premier elevated viewing destination for international football – blending the energy of the global game with the refinement of a Parisian-inspired experience unlike anything else in the region. Sofitel will host three gameday watch celebrations to lead the charge in cheering on the French team – on Tuesday, June 16th (vs. Senegal), Monday, June 22nd (vs. Iraq), and Friday, June 26th (vs. Norway). Each will have multiple large-format screens and an enhanced sound experience,. a dedicated elevated bar menu, specialty cocktails, currated exclusive beverage offerings, and vibes that blend the excitement of the games with French flair.  No reservations required – all matches are first come, first served. For those wishing to cheer on the French team or experience French culture while visiting Philadelphia, Sofitel will also offer Weekend Brunch, Champage and Vinyl Nights, Afternoon Tea Service and more from June 11 to July 19. Sofitel also has room packages available for those wishing to spend the night for a fuller experience.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

With France among the most anticipated teams in the tournament, no hotel in Philadelphia is better positioned to celebrate than Sofitel, a brand born in France and rooted in the art of French hospitality.

“As a French luxury brand, there is a natural connection when France takes the field,” said Pierre Jotterand, General Manager of Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square. “We wanted to create a place where fans can celebrate in a way that’s uniquely Sofitel.”

That vision comes to life inside Liberté, the hotel’s French-inspired Restobar, which has undergone a significant transformation over the past year.

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Congrats on the Growth—Now About That Tech Situation… 

If you own a business in South Jersey, you are operating in one of the most exciting economic regions in the country. The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia ranks the region as the #13 Global Startup Ecosystem, with major momentum in Life Sciences, AI, and Advanced Manufacturing. Altogether, those industries have helped generate about $76 billion in economic value across the region. This statistic represents thousands of entrepreneurs, startups, family-owned businesses, contractors, professional service firms, manufacturers, retailers, and local companies working every day to build something meaningful.

Gloucester County Continues to Lead

The momentum is especially noticeable right here in Gloucester County. New Jersey is home to more than 1 million small businesses, representing 99.7% of all businesses across the state. In Gloucester County, small businesses account for 93% of all companies operating in the local economy, which also means that the county has become a major commercial engine for the South Jersey and Philadelphia metro market. With a median household income of $105,100 and a stable economic environment, businesses continue to find opportunities to grow, expand, and invest in their future. The good news is, that growth is creating new opportunities, but at the same time, it is also creating new technology challenges.

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