AGP Executive Report

Shoreline Health Alert: NJDEP says high fecal bacteria levels led to closures at Highlands Recreation Center Bay Beach, Sea Girt, and Belmar—some reopened, but officials warn storms can overwhelm sewer systems and wash contamination into waterways. World Cup Watch in NJ: Zeppelin Hall in Jersey City is hosting World Cup watch parties through the knockout rounds, including Norway vs. England and other weekend matches, with early openings, no cover, and free on-site parking. Travel Disruption: JetBlue reported its worst week for cancellations after summer storms hit Northeast hubs including JFK, Boston, and Newark, with delays and reschedules affecting travelers. Back-to-School Timing: The U.S. House is set to vote next week on making daylight saving time permanent, a move that could reshape travel schedules and daily routines nationwide. Local Road Work: Burlington County plans repaving a 0.7-mile stretch of South Avenue (CR 683) in Mount Holly starting July 13, with one-direction traffic and detours. New Jersey Eats: PopUp Bagels opened its first NJ location in Westfield near NJ Transit, aiming to serve commuters and visitors with its “Grip. Rip. Dip.” bagel concept. Outdoor Getaway Ideas: A roundup highlights 6 outdoorsy NJ towns for hiking, paddling, and easy access to trailheads. Health Watch: A parasite outbreak tied to “explosive” diarrhea is spreading in the U.S., and experts urge travelers to be extra careful with produce and food handling. Mega Millions: The jackpot climbed to $604 million for tonight’s drawing, one of the game’s biggest prizes. Caribbean Weekend: Atlantic City’s BRT Weekend Caribbean Music Festival returns for its 10th anniversary with major acts at Goldfish Beach Club July 10–12.

E-scooter safety in NJ: A new report highlights rising emergency-room visits for e-scooter crashes and points to confusion around NJ rules that exempt “low-speed” scooters (under 19 mph) from regulations, even as riders face speed, gear, and infrastructure risks. Flooding hits Central NJ: Torrential rain triggered flash flooding and road closures across areas including the Garden State Parkway and Route 1, with officials urging drivers to avoid standing water. Beach bacteria watch: Lake Horicon in Lakehurst was closed to swimming after E. coli levels spiked above NJ’s safe threshold, while other beaches stayed under advisories. World Cup tourism in NJ: Walmart is offering a free World Cup VIP Tourist Tour at an East Brunswick store on July 18 for international visitors and others who want a behind-the-scenes look. Local travel/attractions: Long Island Game Farm opened a long-awaited alligator habitat exhibit, adding “Gator Talk and Feedings” for visitors. Health travel note: Cyclosporiasis continues to spread nationally, with Marion County reporting 15 cases so far this year. Community business: First Community Bank opened a new Harrison branch with a community room for local events.

Grocery Pricing Bill: New Jersey’s “Fair Price Protection Act” has reached the governor’s desk to ban “surveillance pricing,” where stores use personal data to charge different prices for the same items, with a pause on installing electronic shelf labels while lawmakers study their impact. Weather & Roads: Heavy rain is triggering flooding across New Jersey, with police urging drivers to avoid closed routes and stay off flooded roadways until water recedes. Travel Safety Reminder: After storm runoff, bacteria advisories are hitting popular beaches in the region, a reminder to check local water-quality updates before swimming. World Cup Travel Buzz: With the tournament winding down, fans are planning around the remaining matches and watch parties, including major fan-zone events in the U.S. Big-Event Watch: CBS’s “Big Brother” Season 28 kicks off tonight, adding another reason to plan a low-key night in while you’re traveling. Airline/Business Travel: American Express broke ground on its new global headquarters at 2 World Trade Center, a sign of continued Lower Manhattan business travel momentum.

World Cup in NJ: Justin Bieber is set to co-headline the July 19 FIFA World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium, joining Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Coldplay’s Chris Martin (curated with Global Citizen). Shore & summer eats: USA Today’s 10Best readers’ list spotlights New Jersey’s top boardwalk bites (pizza, funnel cake, deep-fried Oreos and more) and ranks Wildwood as the state’s best beach for Summer 2026. Health & safety: Nearly 13,000 NJ patients are being notified after a cybersecurity breach at Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP tied to Atlantic Health System, Hackensack Meridian Health and Trinitas. Heat impacts: New Jersey Blood Services declared a blood emergency as extreme heat, outages and the July 4 holiday cut supplies to about two days for most types. Local travel disruptions: Boats were trapped in Shark River Inlet after the NJ Transit bridge closed intermittently July 2–3 due to heat expansion. Beach operations: New Jersey Senate recognized open water lifeguards as first responders.

World Cup in NJ: Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS and more are set for the World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium on July 19, with the broadcast supporting FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund. Fan Village Watch Parties: Rockefeller Center’s Telemundo Fan Village and “The Pitch” free soccer field are open daily through July 19, with checkpoints and some events needing advance registration. New Jersey Travel & Safety: A judge ruled EMR Recycling in Camden can reopen under strict conditions after a shutdown tied to repeated fires. Shore Updates: Route 35 safety proposals in Lavallette and Ortley Beach are drawing backlash, including ideas like a year-round 25 mph limit and changes to parking/traffic patterns. Family Fun: Cape May-Lewes Ferry’s free Wednesday night summer concert series returns July 8–Aug. 26, plus a special America 250 children’s event Aug. 12. Quick Trip Idea: The Ben Franklin Bridge opens its travel lanes to pedestrians Saturday (10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.) for the bridge’s 100th anniversary celebration. Food & Drink: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is expanding in New Jersey with new locations in Wall Township and Ocean Township.

Clinical Trials & Health Care: Bayer is teaming up with the University of Colorado Anschutz, UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado on a major clinical trials alliance, aiming to speed studies and expand patient access—good news for the research-and-care ecosystem. South Jersey Flood Aftermath: Gov. Mikie Sherrill visited Camden after severe thunderstorms brought historic flooding, with Red Cross support, 1,000+ emergency calls, and 14 rescues—plus reminders to report damage for federal help. Tourism & Film: Somers Point is rolling out a Film Ready Certification push with the Atlantic County Economic Alliance and the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, betting on Netflix’s East Coast production growth to keep the “Eddie and the Cruisers” legacy working for visitors. World Cup Watch in NJ: Here’s where to catch 2026 World Cup games across New Jersey, including Mercer County’s soccer hub and free family watch parties. Travel Safety: Beach patrols rescued nine people from the ocean off Wildwood, urging swimmers to stay where lifeguards are present. Health Alert: State and federal officials are tracking cyclosporiasis cases tied to an intestinal parasite causing “explosive” diarrhea, with travel and contaminated food/water flagged.

Beach & Summer Travel: Ocean City is kicking off a $19.5 million beach replenishment project, while some Jersey Shore beaches were temporarily closed during the work. Shore Etiquette: A new survey named Ocean Grove among NJ’s best for beach manners, with The Cove (Cape May) and Avalon’s South End also ranking high. Food & Family Fun: NJDA will hand out free Jersey Fresh blueberries on July 8 at Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Seaside Heights starting at 11 a.m. Health Alert: Cyclosporiasis cases tied to explosive diarrhea are surging nationwide, with Michigan leading at 700+ cases—CDC says there’s no single confirmed multistate source yet. Local Safety: A crash on Route 55 in Deptford killed two women, including influencer Ayzia Toledo; investigators are still looking into what happened. Travel Disruption: NJ storms left thousands without power and caused major flooding and NJ Transit disruptions as recovery continues. World Cup Travel Security: TSA says 600+ drones have been seized near World Cup sites, and stadiums are “no drone zones.”

Severe Weather & Travel Disruptions: Heavy rain and flash-flood risk hit the NYC region and New Jersey again, with flooding, road closures, and NJ Transit suspensions/limited service reported as storms follow the July 4 heat and storm damage. Ocean City Beach Update: Ocean City’s beach replenishment is set to get underway, a big summer move for shoreline visitors. BJ’s Roof Collapse: A partial roof collapse at a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township during severe weather trapped shoppers inside; authorities said no injuries and multiple people were inside. World Cup Tourism Buzz (NJ): Chinese travelers are extending World Cup trips, with the New York–New Jersey metro among top searched destinations, and multi-stop itineraries linking several East Coast cities. Family Fun: Bierman Autism Centers is rolling out free, sensory-friendly Touch-a-Truck events, including a New Jersey grand opening in Parsippany. Local History & Visitor Experience: Middlesex County unveiled a major upgrade plan for East Jersey Old Town Village, renaming it Historic Raritan Village and investing $16M+ in new visitor facilities and accessibility. Cyclospora Watch: Health officials are tracking cyclosporiasis cases across multiple states, including Texas, as guidance continues on symptoms and prevention.

Severe Weather & Travel Disruptions: Heavy rain and flash-flood conditions hit New Jersey’s Monmouth County, with roads underwater and officials urging drivers to avoid flooded areas. BJ’s Roof Collapse: A partial roof collapse at the BJ’s Wholesale Club on Route 35 in Ocean Township trapped some shoppers; 27 people were inside, two were partially entrapped but got out, and no injuries were reported as emergency crews searched and Route 35 was flagged as extremely dangerous. Local Flood Impacts: Flooding also affected Deal, Neptune City, Princeton (flash flood watch), and Glendora (Camden County), with police closing roads and crews clearing storm drains. State Archives Opening in Trenton: The New Jersey State Archives opens its first public gallery Tuesday at 225 West State Street, spotlighting “Revolutionary Lives” ahead of the 250th anniversary. MetLife Stadium Tech: HCLTech expanded its AI partnership with MetLife Stadium, the Jets, and Giants, aiming to boost fan experiences and stadium operations. World Cup at MetLife: Neymar’s international retirement followed Brazil’s World Cup exit to Norway, with the Norway-Brazil match drawing major attention at the New Jersey/New York host venue.

World Cup at MetLife: Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 in East Rutherford, sending the Vikings to their first World Cup quarterfinal and turning MetLife/New York New Jersey Stadium into a full-on travel magnet for fans. Shoreline & summer safety: A 6-year-old girl drowned after being swept away by a strong current at a Hamptons beach during the July 4 weekend; officials are investigating. Heat wave toll in NJ: New Jersey officials suspect at least 25 heat-related deaths, with many found in homes without air conditioning as storms also knocked out power for hundreds of thousands. Storms hit transit: Powerful weather toppled trees and disrupted NJ Transit, including Morris & Essex line impacts and a fatal tree-related crash in Scotch Plains. America 250 travel disruptions: National Mall events were delayed/evacuated after storms, with Independence Day festivities reshuffled. Viral NJ shopping trip: A new Indian grocery store in Piscataway went viral after a $1.99 parval sale sparked chaotic crowds and long lines. Local tourism tie-in: Manhattan bars and restaurants reported big summer boosts from World Cup visitors, with some seeing roughly 30% higher business.

World Cup at MetLife (East Rutherford): Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and setting a standout mark as the Vikings booked a quarterfinal vs. the Mexico-England winner. Match-day travel hit: NJ Transit suspended service on the Morris & Essex Line and the Gladstone Branch due to storm damage, adding friction for fans heading to “New York New Jersey Stadium.” Weather watch for travelers: A flood watch was issued for parts of northeastern New Jersey as heavy rain and thunderstorms threatened flash flooding, especially for basements and below-grade homes. Power and heat impacts: After severe storms, more than 115,000 customers were still without power in NJ, while officials reported suspected heat-related deaths during the broader heat wave. Shore fun for groups: Fun Bags Cornhole Lounge in Toms River opened private event bookings, offering a new indoor option for Jersey Shore parties and team outings.

World Cup & local business: NorthJersey.com checked how World Cup matches affected restaurants near MetLife Stadium, finding a mixed picture—some spots saw solid crowds while others reported stagnation. Community celebrations: In Paterson, Palestinian and Haitian communities leaned into World Cup watch parties and neighborhood joy, even as grief and uncertainty lingered. Sail4th 250 politics at sea: The Coast Guard removed an environmental group’s vessel from New York Harbor’s Sail4th 250 parade after “politically charged” banners, sparking a dispute over what counts as political. Heat + storms disrupt travel plans: Severe weather and record heat marred July 4 events from Washington’s National Mall evacuation to cancellations and schedule shifts across the East Coast, with NJ towns reporting outages and road closures. Family-friendly Jersey Shore holiday: Point Pleasant and Ocean City drew packed beach crowds despite sweltering conditions, with boardwalk businesses and parades keeping the weekend moving. Independence Day safety for visitors: A reminder for pet owners: fireworks can send dogs running—keep pets indoors and plan ahead.

Jersey Shore July 4 Crowd: Point Pleasant Beach and Jenkinson’s Boardwalk drew packed families early, with heat pushing some visitors to head home while others stayed in the ocean and hit boardwalk rides. Fireworks Planning (NJ): Jersey City’s Macy’s fireworks will be visible from the waterfront, but officials warn about strict access points, searches, and areas to avoid like Grundy Pier and crowded Hudson Street corridors. NJ Transit Disruptions: After storm damage, Morris and Essex and the North Jersey Coast Line stayed suspended, with cross-honored tickets and bus/PATH options at Newark Penn and Hoboken. Extreme Heat + Outages: Gov. Sherrill urged residents to stay hydrated and limit outdoor strain as power outages hit hundreds of thousands and heat index values climbed into the 110s. Holiday Safety Weather: Severe storms could still disrupt Northeast/Mid-Atlantic fireworks with damaging wind and rain. Hotel Tech for Travelers: Lodging Interactive launched CruVu™, a private guest recognition service aimed at helping hotels turn feedback into better on-the-ground service. Food/Water Health Alert: Health officials are investigating a growing “explosive” diarrhea parasite outbreak (cyclosporiasis), with cases reported across multiple states. World Cup Travel Tie-In: FIFA Fan Fest crowds in the region kept hydrating and waiting in lines despite the heat.

Extreme Weather & Transit: Powerful storms tore through North Jersey Friday, toppling trees and damaging rail infrastructure, leading to NJ TRANSIT suspensions on multiple lines and up to hour-long delays on the Northeast Corridor. Heat & Holiday Travel: A brutal heat wave is straining New York’s power grid and making World Cup match days harder for fans, with outdoor areas and transit connections adding to the risk. Beach Safety: “Do not swim” advisories hit East Coast beaches, including New Jersey, after testing found dangerous fecal bacteria levels—officials warn heat can worsen conditions fast. Sail4th 250 (NYC/NJ access): The tall-ship parade for America’s 250th runs along the Hudson River, with NYPD pointing viewers to waterfront access points from West 55th St down through Riverside Park. World Cup Schedule (NJ Stadium): FIFA kept the Mexico-England and Brazil-Norway round-of-16 timing unchanged despite weather concerns, with Brazil-Norway set for New Jersey Stadium. 4th of July Fireworks (NJ): Fireworks are spread across the state this week—check local schedules for shows in Holmdel, Perth Amboy, Paramus, Asbury Park, Jersey City, Atlantic City, Long Branch, and Ridgewood. Local Culture: A new book, “Pat Conroy’s Lowcountry: A History and Guide,” blends coastal travel and literary history for readers planning summer trips.

Extreme Heat Disrupts NJ Travel: A searing heat dome is pushing feels-like temps to 100–115 degrees across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, and NJ Transit is warning of delays and cancellations through the July 4 weekend as tracks, signals, and overhead power lines struggle. Rail + Bridge Impacts: NJ Transit reported another round of heat-related delays, with some lines seeing up to hour-plus slowdowns, and movable bridge restrictions along the North Jersey Coast Line limiting marine traffic. America 250 on the Water: Tall ships for Sail4th 250 arrived off Sandy Hook, with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle offering free public tours at Pier 17 in Manhattan July 5–7. Health Alert for Travelers: The CDC is investigating a Cyclospora outbreak tied to “explosive” watery diarrhea, with cases reported in New Jersey and 18 states as officials still can’t pinpoint the food source. World Cup in NJ: Argentina vs. Cape Verde headlines Miami action as Messi eyes a Round of 16 spot, while heat and storms are also raising questions about match timing and travel plans.

Extreme Heat & NJ Transit: A record-breaking heat wave has been battering New Jersey, with NJ Transit reporting delays up to an hour and some cancellations as trains slow due to equipment issues; officials urged riders to use cross-honored buses, PATH, and NY Waterway ferries to get home. Jersey Shore Travel: Beachgoers are flocking to the Jersey Shore to cool off, and photos show crowds beating the heat in Atlantic City and along the coast. July 4 Plans Hit by Weather: Bergen County’s “Star-Spangled Spectacular” at Overpeck Park is running a revised, heat-shortened schedule, with the Sugarhill Gang still set to headline. Local Road Changes: Lavallette officials are pushing back on a proposed Route 35 traffic plan from NJDOT, questioning whether state engineers understand the seasonal beach-town conditions; a public meeting is set for July 13. Food Safety for Travelers: A parasite causing “explosive” diarrhea (Cyclospora) has spread across 17 states, including New Jersey, raising concerns for holiday weekend dining. America 250 Travel History: Religious communities across New Jersey are marking America’s 250th with interfaith events and worship services tied to the freedom to worship.