NJ News for 3:00pm, Friday, 8-14-2026

On the PJ Fitzpatrick Home Improvement Newsdesk. New Jersey's most listened to station, New Jersey 101.5 News starts now. It's 84 degrees at 3 o'clock. I'm Rick Rickman. Electric bills in New Jersey continue to rise, despite the executive order to freeze utility rates that Governor Mikie Sherrill signed on her first day in office. New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that residential electric rates in New Jersey are up 14 percent from... last year. Just a week ago, JCPNL requested another 9% increase starting in 2028. A 72-year-old private music teacher is facing criminal charges in North Jersey. Passaic County prosecutors say John Benzac is accused of trying to engage in sexual contact with a 17-year-old music student at a private home in West Milford this summer. Afterward, the teachers accused of sending harassing text messages to the same teen. Benzac, who teaches piano and violin, is charged with second degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth degree stalking. Erin Vote, New Jersey 101.1.5 News. New Jersey has its first case of confirmed Zika virus since 2020. According to state health officials, in Middlesex County has tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus. The CDC says that all Zika cases identified in the U.S. so far this year have been associated with travel. As the cost of long-term care continues to skyrocket in New Jersey, many people are taking on the role of caring for a loved one while also still raising their own families. That's the finding of a survey from AARP, New Jersey. The overarching issue is that families are under enormous pressure. They're balancing caregiving responsibilities and their finances. AARP State Director Chris Weidelow says the organization is pushing lawmakers to implement a caregiver tax credit to help offset the amount of money being spent by caregivers. The Complete New Jersey 101.5 forecast is coming up. Now, New Jersey fast traffic.

New Jersey 101.5 instant weather. The bottom line for this weekend, a spectacular day tomorrow, up to a half inch of rain intermittently, Sunday into Sunday night, but there are no weather hazards, no alarm bells to ring here. Still a chance of a stray shower heading into this evening, then clearing skies and fairly comfortable overnight. Lows will dip into the mid-60s by tomorrow morning, and that'll set us up for a beautiful day tomorrow. Mostly sunny and dry, warm, and not that humid, highs 80 to 85. Sunday, at the very least, turns cloudier and cool. cooler. High's only upper 70s. Watch for one batch of showers midday than a bigger push of rain late. Monday lingering showers in the morning than becoming partly sunny. Highs shoot right back into the mid to upper 80s. From the Edison heating and cooling weather desk, I'm chief meteorologist Dan Zarrow. Thank you, Dan. And New Jersey weather is brought to you by Shin Brothers Jewelers looking for unbeatable jewelry deals. Shin Brothers Jewelers in Edison is open for business and offering huge savings. Enjoy up to 60% off. Fine jewelry. diamonds, engagement rings, gold chains, and more. Visit shinjwellers.com. In Asbury Park, it's 81, Camden 87, Princeton, 84 degrees. Next update hits at 3.30. Your source for breaking news, every time it happens. Domenski and more are coming up next on New Jersey 101.5.