A man confessed to a 1989 murder in New Jersey in 2024, 35 years after the crime, the suspect turned himself in at a police station in Georgia, nearly 1,000 miles from the scene of the crime, according to STERN.de. He was 62 at the time and brought his personal belongings, anticipating a long separation from home; Authorities confirmed the confession matched details only the killer would know and verified it through DNA evidence from the victim’s clothing.

Cold Case Resurfaces After Decades

The victim was shot in the head during a home invasion that also involved his girlfriend and two children — the suspect used a sledgehammer to try to defend himself before the fatal shooting, according to the report. The case had gone cold. And police had nearly given up hope — Derrick Austin, the Georgia police chief, described the confession as both unlikely and detailed enough to seem credible. The suspect was arrested more than two years after the confession was made.

Policy Debate Over Tax Relief for Seniors

Meanwhile, New Jersey lawmakers are debating changes to a property tax relief program for seniors. The proposed changes would reduce the maximum benefit from $6,500 to $4,000 and lower the income limit from $500,000 to $250,000, according to New Jersey Monitor. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin criticized the $4,000 cap as too low, saying it fails to support seniors adequately. The governor’s proposal aims to reduce the program’s cost from $1.2 billion to $642.1 million for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Treasury officials estimated that keeping the $6,500 benefit but adjusting the income limit would cost an additional $344,$372 million. The state has previously ignored a requirement to maintain 12% in reserves to cover annual spending, a move that has raised concerns about financial sustainability.

Plane Nears Disaster After Hitting Light Pole

Separately, a United Airlines flight nearly crashed at Newark Liberty International Airport after hitting a light pole during landing on May 3. The Boeing 767, carrying over 230 passengers and crew, flew just 15 feet above the New Jersey Turnpike before striking the pole, which then fell onto a bakery delivery truck, according to ABC7 New York. The truck driver was injured but survived. The pilot had been manually flying the plane through strong winds and received multiple runway change instructions before the incident.

The first officer warned the pilot about the low altitude and slow airspeed, but the plane struck the pole just before touchdown. The pilot reported hearing a “thump” as it landed. The plane sustained “substantial damage” and has not flown since. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident and will likely assess how to prevent similar errors in the future.

Brasil, too, made headlines in New Jersey as the national football team began training for the 2026 World Cup in a camp based in Morristown, according to ABC. The team is preparing without star player Neymar, who is recovering from an injury. The training includes fitness and strategy sessions ahead of the international tournament.