The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) is excited to announce a new service that makes it easier for customers who have difficulty communicating in English to receive help at agencies across the state.
All NJMVC agencies are now equipped with handheld Pocketalk translation devices, enabling staff and customers to engage in real-time, two-way conversations in over 80 languages. These devices are also dispatched with NJMVC Mobile Units as they make visits throughout the state.
“These advanced language translation devices represent a significant step forward in our customer service capabilities,” said Acting NJMVC Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson. “By bridging language gaps more effectively, we are affirming our commitment to improving service for every New Jerseyan and making sure all of our customers are supported, respected, and understood.”
New Jersey’s linguistic diversity is among the highest in the nation, with over 30% of residents aged five and older speaking languages other than English at home. Nearly 1.2 million New Jerseyans report some degree of limited English proficiency, underscoring the importance of this initiative.
The Pocketalk devices are user-friendly and deliver quick, accurate translations, reducing confusion and enhancing service interactions. They facilitate clear communication and guide customers through their NJMVC experience with greater ease and efficiency, ultimately reducing the time needed to complete their in-person business.
Following a successful pilot in fall 2025, the statewide rollout of these devices has been met with enthusiastic feedback from both customers and staff. Currently, each agency and mobile unit are outfitted with between five and twelve translators.
For years, the NJMVC has championed language accessibility alongside other New Jersey State agencies. Some notable NJMVC initiatives include offering an award-winning, multilingual website; publishing an annual driver manual in a half-dozen languages; conducting driver knowledge tests in more than a dozen languages; and providing a bilingual phone system with support and answers to questions in both English and Spanish.
For the latest NJMVC news, services, and detailed customer information, please visit NJMVC.gov.
Joseph R Krawczyk entered into eternal rest on 2/8/2026. Joe is survived by his loving wife Jean Dwyer. As Joe would say “we’ve been married 30 1/2 years”
Joseph attended Sacred Heart grade school and graduated from Haddon Heights High. Joe went on to complete a 4 year Apprenticeship as a tool dye and model maker at RCA. He was very involved as an EMT with Haddon Heights, and retired both after 45 years. He was an usher at Sacred Heart Church for many years and also at St. Rose.
Joseph liked to bowl, fish, hunt and competed in ballroom dancing. His great love was for the Philadelphia Phillies! Joe had a kind and gentle spirit and will be remembered with love.
In lieu of flowers Jean asks donations in Joe’s name be made to:Temple University Hospital Lung Center. Temple University Institutional Advancement P.O. Box 2890 NY NY 10116-2890
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Obituary published on Legacy.com by The Star-Ledger on Feb. 11, 2026.
On November 26, 2019. Of Gloucester City. Age 82. Born in Camden, he is the son of the late Howard and Caroline (Wiedeman) Theckston. Tex is survived by his loving children; Dorothy Passini (Dennis), Teresa Theckston, Jacqueline Sherriton (Brian), James Theckston; step-children, Gerald Sheridan, Eileen Nemeroff (Dave) and Kathleen Chiodi (John); grandchildren, Nichole, Nicholas, and Edward Sheridan, Daniel Theckston, Matt Nemeroff, Katherine Bradley, Olivia, Joshua, Jenna and Philip Sherriton: brother, Howard Theckston, Jr.; sister, Carol Monforte. He was predeceased by his wife, Jacqueline Theckston; step-children, Margaret Sheridan, Edward Sheridan, granddaughter, Heather Nemeroff and his brother, Norman Theckston.Mass of Christian Burial WAS celebrated on Saturday, December 7, 2019 in St. Mary’s Church, 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, where family and friends may visit from 10 to 10:30 am. Burial will be held at a private later date in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Tex to help with his daughters needs thru:https://www.gofundme.com/f/diggers-for-teresa or sent to Mr. Frank Lopergolo, Detect America, 144 East Arbor Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360, Attn: Diggers for Teresa Theckston, or to her sister: Jacqueline Sherriton, 820 NW 120 Avenue, Plantation, FL 33325.Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Warren A. Theckston. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142
Tex was an entrepreneur in Florida and Gloucester City, NJ
The Diocese of Camden has agreed to pay $180 million to more than 300 survivors of clerical sexual abuse, marking one of the largest such settlements in New Jersey history and representing a significant expansion of compensation for victims who have waited years for justice. The agreement, announced Tuesday in a letter from Bishop Joseph A. Williams to diocesan clergy and faithful, more than doubles the $87.5 million settlement the diocese reached in 2022. The victim support fund will be financed through contributions from the diocese, its parishes, and insurance carriers following a protracted legal dispute. The settlement represents a breakthrough after years of contentious negotiations between the diocese, claimants’ attorneys, and insurance companies that had resisted earlier payment demands. The agreement must still receive approval from the bankruptcy court, as the Camden diocese has operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2020.
In his letter dated February 17, Bishop Williams acknowledged the profound significance of the moment for those who suffered abuse at the hands of clergy members. The bishop offered a direct apology to victims, calling their suffering the result of “grave sin and a devastating betrayal of the trust you placed in the Church that you loved.”
Years of Legal Battles
According to a statement from Lowenstein Sandler, the law firm representing plaintiffs in the case, the new agreement supplements rather than replaces the earlier settlement, bringing total compensation to victims to more than a quarter-billion dollars.
For the more than 300 survivors involved in this case, the settlement offers financial recognition of their suffering, though many advocates note that no amount of money can truly compensate for the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong consequences.
Context and Implications
The agreement also reflects the ongoing financial and moral reckoning facing the Catholic Church as it continues to confront the legacy of clergy sexual abuse scandals that have spanned decades.
Suddenly, On January 31, 2026. Age 70, Of Haddon Heights. Cherished Son of the late Vincent and Irene Kavalunis. Beloved brother of the late Sandra Kavalunis.
Funeral Arrangements are pending at this time. Please contact McCann – Healey Funeral Home, Gloucester City Ph: 856 – 456 – 1142 for additional information.
Burlington Township High School alumna Shannon Daly has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 45th College Television Awards. The annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs from colleges nationwide. Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at thered carpet awards ceremony on March 28, 2026, at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.
Daly received a nomination in the News category, along with fellow classmates at Montclair State University, for her work as a producer and writer on a project titled San Francisco: On the Edge.
San Francisco: On the Edge is a special edition of Montclair NewsLab. In the spring of 2025 students traveled to San Francisco to report on the urgent issues impacting the city including the Fentanyl crisis, LGBTQ rights, the homelessness epidemic and climate change’s effect on local fishing. They spoke to people living with addiction on the streets of the Tenderloin, a fisherman facing disappearing seasons, and volunteers providing aid to undocumented immigrants.
As an active participant in the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, Jefferson Washington Township Hospital and Jefferson Stratford Hospital are proud to announce that they have achieved special recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System — Committed to Care Excellence by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Earning this distinction required working toward the reliable practice of a set of four evidence-based elements of high-quality care for all older adults, known as the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mind, and Mobility.
Globally, more than 5,200 hospitals, practices, convenient care clinics, nursing homes, and home health care organizations have been recognized as Age-Friendly Health Systems – Committed to Care Excellence.
“Jefferson Health has always been committed to care excellence and is proud and humbled to have achieved this recognition,” said Aaron Chang, President of Jefferson Health- East. . “The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative continues to be an important part of our overarching vision to provide every older adult with the best care possible. Above all, we aim every day to earn recognition of excellence from the older adults and carers whom we serve.”
“I applaud the team at Jefferson Health-East for continuing their journey to advance age-friendly care. Age-Friendly Health Systems and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement celebrate their recognition as an Age- Friendly Health System — Committed to Care Excellence,” said Camille Burnett, PhD, MPA, APHN-BC, BScN, RN, DSW, FAAN, Vice President for Health Equity, Institute for Healthcare Improvement. “We know that older adults and staff alike want equitable, evidence-based quality care centered on what matters most to each individual. Together, we can move toward a future in which every older adult, during every care interaction, receives age-friendly care. Thank you, Jefferson Health-East, for all that you do to improve care for our neighbors, colleagues, and friends.”
Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the US (CHA). For more information, visit www.ihi.org/agefriendly.
Camden County, NJ – An Essex County man has been arrested and charged for attempting to engage in sexual conduct with an underage girl whom he met online, reported Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay.
Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and a coalition of 21 other states and the District of Columbia asked a U.S. District Court today to enforce its December 2025 order prohibiting the Trump Administration from terminating the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which provides New Jersey communities with critical resources to fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters.
As today’s filing explains, the multistate coalition won a December 2025 order from the U.S. District Court barring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from terminating the BRIC program, but the Trump Administration has not yet signaled that it has any intention of complying with the court order, and FEMA regional offices appear to be delaying implementation of the court’s order.
The motion filed today seeks immediate action from the court to ensure that the Trump Administration does not continue to deprive states of the essential funding provided through the BRIC program. For 30 years, the BRIC program has provided communities with resources that have saved lives, reduced injury, protected property, and saved money that otherwise would been spent on post-disaster costs. Every dollar FEMA spends on mitigation—primarily through the BRIC program—saves an average of six dollars in post-disaster costs. In New Jersey alone, federally funded grants for disaster mitigation have saved New Jerseyans more than $10 billion in post-disaster costs.
“New Jersey is no stranger to natural disasters that have devastated our state. Instead of working with us to prepare for the next major natural disaster and reduce the massive costs these catastrophic storms impose, the Trump Administration is doing everything in its power—now even going so far as to ignore court orders—to keep New Jerseyans from accessing critical federal resources for disaster preparedness,” said Acting Attorney General Davenport. “The Trump Administration’s actions are as unconscionable as they are unlawful, and they will dramatically increase the costs that hard-working New Jerseyans will bear when the next natural disaster strikes. Make no mistake: We will do everything in our power to protect these critical programs from unlawful attacks out of Washington.”
“By funding innovative and proactive flooding resilience projects, the BRIC program is critical to reducing the cost of post-disaster relief,” said Acting Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “We stand firmly with our partners from across the nation in fighting to ensure the continuation of this program. I commend Acting Attorney General Davenport and her team for helping us to protect lives and property while delivering on Governor Sherrill’s promise of efficiency and affordability for the people of New Jersey.”
As outlined in today’s motion, the states have seen no signs that the Trump Administration has reversed the unlawful termination of the BRIC program. Projects that are ready to move forward remain stalled, and FEMA has been unable to provide any information or guidance. States have been unable to obtain any grant information or to move their projects from planning phases to construction phases.
Some communications from FEMA regional offices appear to indicate that the agency may have unilaterally decided it can delay its implementation of the court’s order. In one instance, regional FEMA staff said they had no information to share because of “ongoing litigation.” In another instance, an acting director told a state “that the situation is ‘wait and see’” and that there was a “litigation hold.” Today’s filing argues that these examples demonstrate that FEMA is actively delaying compliance with the court’s order.
The December 2025 order issued by the District Court affirmed the states’ position that FEMA’s decision to abruptly terminate the BRIC program contravenes Congress’s decision to fund it, and that the Executive Branch has no lawful authority to unilaterally refuse to spend funds appropriated by Congress. The order also concluded that FEMA’s actions violate the separation of powers, the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, and the Administrative Procedure Act.
The states now ask the court to enforce the December 11 order by requiring the federal government to make pre-disaster mitigation funds available as required by statute, communicate the status and next steps for current BRIC projects to the states, communicate the reversal of the BRIC termination to all relevant stakeholders, and file status reports with the court outlining any actions taken or planned to comply with the order.
The BRIC program supports often difficult-to-fund projects, such as constructing evacuation shelters and flood walls, safeguarding utility grids against wildfires, protecting wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and fortifying bridges, roadways, and culverts. Over the past four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects to receive roughly $4.5 billion in BRIC funding nationwide.
Joining Acting Attorney General Davenport in filing this motion are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Washington, and the governors of the Commonwealths of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
New Jersey American Water is investing approximately $400,000 to upgrade critical water infrastructure in Camden. The project includes replacing 1,700 feet of water pipe originally installed in the early 1900s with new 8 inch ductile iron water main, helping improve reliability, water quality, and fire protection for local customers.
As part of this work, crews will also install new meter pits at the curb area—within the company’s rightofway—at properties where none currently exist. Affected customers will be contacted directly to schedule appointments to relocate their water meter from inside the property to the new pit. Work will take place along the following streets: Grand Avenue from Berkley Street to Baird Boulevard Benson Street from Eutaw Avenue to Marlton Avenue This investment is part of New Jersey American Water’s ongoing, multi-year commitment to strengthen water infrastructure in more than 100 communities across the state. Planned upgrades like this help reduce the likelihood of service interruptions, improve water flows for homes and businesses, and support dependable fire protection. These improvements are designed to deliver long-term value by reinforcing the system before issues arise.
Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026. Crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekend work is not expected unless needed to maintain the project schedule. Contractors will ensure customers can enter and exit their driveways as needed, and access to homes and businesses will be maintained.
Work is being performed by New Jersey American Water’s local, qualified contractor Pioneer Pipe Contractors, Inc., with traffic control coordinated in partnership with local officials. Motorists should use caution near work zones and expect typical construction noise during work hours. Daily cleanup will occur, and driveway and sidewalk restoration will be completed as construction concludes. Where excavation is required, temporary surface restoration will be provided, with permanent restoration after the soil has time to settle.
