Le Journal

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a bill that requires riders to have a license to ride all forms of e-bikes on Monday. The new law takes into effect amid growing safety concerns for the increasingly common mode of transportation, especially among children and teenagers. Under the new law, all forms of e-bikes, including bikes with fully operable pedals and also a motor, are classified as motorized bicycles, which requires a license from New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission. To obtain a motorized bicycle license, riders must be at least 15 years old, have six points of ID, pass a written and vision test and take a road test after having a permit for at least 20 days, according to the NJ MVC’s website. However, New Jersey residents who have a standard driver’s license can ride e-bikes without a separate motorized bicycle license, according to the website. E-bikes will also need a valid registration and insurance. “It is clear that we are in an age of increasing e-bike use that requires us to take action and update regulations that help prevent tragedies from occurring,” Murphy said. “Making our roads safer for all users has been a key priority for my Administration. I’d like to thank Senate President Scutari for taking the initiative to improve the safe use of e-bikes in New Jersey.” The bill signing event was held on Murphy’s last full day in office. Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill is set to be sworn in on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

It’s only fitting that New York City has brought back a fan favorite to start the new year. The winter iteration of NYC Restaurant Week kicks off Tuesday and will run until Feb. 12. Since 1992, the city has been celebrating its vibrant culinary scene with specialty menus at different restaurants across all five boroughs. Since then, the campaign has grown, with more than 600 restaurants participating in winter 2026. Restaurants that choose to participate will offer prix fixe brunches, lunches, and dinners. Foodies can explore neighborhood hotspots with 2-course lunches and 3-course dinners at $30, $45 and $60. A great deal, that isn’t necessarily available throughout the entire week. Saturdays are excluded, and Sundays vary by location. Some of the well-known restaurants participating are the oldest steakhouse in the city, Delmonico’s; Manhatta, a view-staurant located 60 stories above FiDi; Have & Mar, an Ethiopian and Swedish fish house, and Kru, voted New York’s best Thai restaurant in 2025 by TimeOut. Get more information or a complete list of participating restaurants click here.

The New Jersey attorney general’s office is investigating a deadly “encounter” between cops and civilians in the state’s largest city, as is customary in the case of any fatal civilian shooting by police. Specifically, the AG’s office of Public Integrity and Accountability is looking into what happened in Newark on Monday afternoon. According to preliminary information, Newark police officers “encountered several civilians” near Ross Street and Evergreen Avenue just after 1 p.m. During that encounter, the AG’s office says one of the officers fired his weapon, striking two civilians. One of them was pronounced dead a short time later. The other wounded individual is hospitalized for treatment. No police officers were wounded, though one was briefly taken to a hospital for evaluation. It’s not clear what prompted the gunfire. Neither the identities of the dead man nor the other civilians or officers involved in the incident are being released at this time. The investigation is ongoing. A 2019 law requires the attorney general’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.

The executive sedan usually wears black or gray, but this one was built to boost your appetite for fruit

A Wisconsin police officer faces charges after allegedly misusing Flock license plate cameras, raising new concerns about abuse