Tragic badminton accident claims life of Jersey girl on family vacation in Maine

A six-year-old girl, Lucy Morgan of Stockholm, New Jersey, died this week after she was accidentally hit by a badminton racket, causing severe head trauma. The incident occurred June 1 during a family vacation in Limerick, Maine, about 30 miles west of Portland.

Lucy was watching her siblings play badminton in the front yard of their lake house when the accident happened. Her father reported that a racquet broke on the downswing and a sharp piece flew into Lucy’s skull as she sat on the sidelines.

The family was enjoying her last day at a lake house, a sabbatical gift from her church, when tragedy struck. After the accident, Lucy was unresponsive and was quickly flown by helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

At the hospital, doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve pressure on Lucy’s brain and treat her injuries. Despite all rescue efforts, Lucy remained in critical condition with minimal brain function and sporadic breathing. She was intubated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

The family continues to grieve and cling to memories of Lucy. Just weeks before the accident, she had expressed a desire to understand religious salvation, which her mother Bethany explained to her. Lucy decided to pray herself, thus reaffirming her faith.

DENVILLE, NJ—Denville invites locals and visitors alike to celebrate the inaugural Garlic Festival at Todd Johnson Field from noon to 6 p.m. on June 9. The festival promises a day of delicious culinary experiences highlighting the versatile and popular garlic, affectionately known as the “stinking rose.”

Visitors can enjoy an array of dishes from various food trucks and vendors, all of which use garlic in unique and tasty ways. The event also offers plenty of entertainment for all ages, including games for children, making it a perfect family outing.

Held at 33 St. Marys Place, the festival not only serves as a community gathering, but also supports a good cause. Admission is $10, but visitors can receive a $5 discount if they bring new toothpaste, mouthwash, or a toothbrushing kit, with proceeds benefiting the Denville Food Pantry. Don’t miss the chance to kick off the summer festival season with great food, fun, and community spirit.

SILVER SPRING, MD—Several fights broke out on the steps of John F. Kennedy High School’s Constitution Hall this week, casting a shadow over the school’s graduation ceremonies. Principal Vickie Adamson called the events “an embarrassment for our community.”

Adamson revealed that some recent graduates were involved in the altercations, but the majority of the fighters were adults and other community members. Despite efforts by school staff to de-escalate the situation, the conflicts escalated to the point where one of the adults involved used pepper spray.

The situation caused significant disruption, exacerbated by traffic during the graduation ceremony, and posed a challenge for police. Officers eventually managed to separate the parties involved and began an investigation based on statements collected at the scene.

In a letter to the community, Adamson thanked those who tried to intervene and made responsible decisions during the incident. She stressed, “These types of altercations are unacceptable and do not represent the values ​​of our larger John F. Kennedy High School community.”

New Jersey Republican Chairman Bob Hugin has signed a petition by disgraced U.S. Senator Bob Menendez allowing him to run as an independent candidate in this year’s New Jersey Senate election.

The petition was published by Julie Tsirkin of NBC News on X. Typically, signing a person’s political petition for office constitutes an endorsement of their inclusion on the ballot.

Hugin, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate after leaders across the state saw dollar signs from the independent, wealthy politician, eventually rose to become chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party.

His signature on Menendez’s petition signals one of two things. Hugin is the “RINO” many New Jersey Republicans see him as, or there is a more sinister, political conspiracy at play.

Bob Menendez is getting something from the GOP to run as a spoilsport in the election and to divide the Democratic vote for the Republicans. We would put it past Menendez to do that.

To fuel the conspiracy theories that are emerging around this news, it’s important to note that Hugin ran against Menendez in 2018. At the time, rumors circulated that most New Jersey GOP leaders realized Hugin had no real chance against Menendez, but that didn’t stop them from accepting thousands of dollars in donations from Hugin to local campaigns.

Hugin spent $39,000,000 in his losing campaign, while Menendez spent only $13 million.

That year, millions of dollars of cash flowed through Republican consulting firms in New Jersey. These elections are usually not about winning or losing, but about strengthening the Republican system and sometimes maintaining the status quo for GOP elites who do business with Democrats in New Jersey.

It would also not be far-fetched that Hugin would shell out money for Menendez, knowing that every vote Menendez gets is a vote taken away from Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee. New Jersey Republicans need a desperate attempt to defeat Kim, and a partnership between New Jersey Republicans, Gold Bar, and Chairman Bob Hugin could be just what certain county leaders have ordered.

COLUMBUS, OH— A guilty plea agreement was announced today in the case of Ronald P. Bedra of Etna, Ohio. Bedra admitted to participating in the creation and distribution of disturbing videos depicting extreme violence and abuse of monkeys.

Bedra pleaded guilty to charges related to the production of “Animal Crush” videos.

His partner, Giancarlo Morelli from New Jersey, hatched a plan to harm monkeys. He recorded the act and distributed the videos on the Internet.

According to court documents, Bedra and his accomplices produced videos showing sadistic acts on baby and adult monkeys. These acts included the severing of limbs and fingers and the forced sodomy of the animals with a heated screwdriver. The group used encrypted chat applications to transfer money to individuals in Indonesia who carried out the torture on camera.

In addition, Bedra sent a USB stick containing 64 videos of the gruesome acts to a co-conspirator in Wisconsin. They were also charged with child molestation for paying a child to perform the act.

According to court documents, in March and April 2023, the two co-defendants allegedly jointly created and distributed videos depicting sadistic acts of violence against baby, adolescent and adult monkeys. The conspirators allegedly funneled money through Dryden, who then paid the minor in Indonesia to commit the requested acts on camera.

The case was announced by Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Kenneth L. Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. It was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FBI. Attorneys Mark Romley and Adam Cullman of the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Nicole Pakiz, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, led the prosecution.

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BROOKLYN, NY – The New York Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a robbery that occurred at 11:02 a.m. Friday in front of 1436 Sterling Place, in the jurisdiction of the 77th Precinct.

An unidentified man reportedly approached a 10-year-old boy who was accompanied by his 7-year-old sister, forcibly took $8 from the boy’s hand, and then fled south down Utica Avenue. Fortunately, neither the boy nor his sister were injured in the incident. The NYPD has released media on this case and is asking anyone with information on the suspect’s identity or whereabouts to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.