Jersey Shore Headlines

Rip currents, rescues, and more in today's Monmouth and Ocean County News from Townsquare Media.

Polls are open to vote. You have until 8 pm to pick the candidates for the US Senate and House of Representatives. There are an unusual number of contested elections across our state in today's primaries largely because of 3 open congressional seats. The US Senate race features 4 republicans who have never before been elected to public office. The winner will be an underdog against incumbent Democrat Cory Booker.

Rip currents are keeping lifeguards busy at the shore. Two women in their 20s were swimming near M Street beach in Seaside Park when they got into trouble yesterday afternoon. Seaside Heights lifeguard were getting ready to leave for the day when the women were spotted in distress. The women were about a half mile out. Lifeguards say it's a dangerous time of year for swimmers because northeast winds turn up the surf. Seaside Heights lifeguards also rescued 2 swimmers on Friday.

This is Rip Current Awareness Week to remind you about the danger of swimming in the ocean and how you can stay safe. You are warned against swimming at beaches before or after lifeguards are on duty. And the best advice given for being caught in a rip current: don't panic. Swim parallel to the shore and don't fight the current. Stay calm until you get out of it.

A billion and a half more Sandy aid dollars are on the way to NJ families still affected by the Superstorm. The federal government has signed off on a plan to use the money for more housing assistance and to fund additional buyouts of flood prone homes.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is underway. Forecasters are predicting a calm year due to the effects of El Nino, which causes stronger wind shear that prevents hurricanes from developing into major storms. 13 named storms are forecast, 3 - 6 hurricanes, and just 1 or 2 major hurricanes.

The death of a Brick man during an accident at the trash-hauling company Freehold Cartage will be investigated by federal officials. Police say Brian Pancoast was struck by a piece of machinery Thursday. In a separate incident, another worker had his leg crushed when a protective wall fell on him.

Dressed in green and white striped jail garb, a woman charged in the fatal beating of her grandmother formally heard the new charges she faces. Katherine Schubert was told by an Ocean County Court Judge yesterday that she now faces murder charges in the death of 94-year old Mary Driscoll of Brick. Her grandmother had taken her in after she was put on probation for child endangerment charges.

A Perth Amboy mother told Eatontown police she gave her boyfriend permission to ride to Staten Island with her 5-year old son tied to the back of his motorcycle. Cops noticed twine around the boy's feet and waist. Frank Albanese was arrested on outstanding warrants, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

In Ocean Township, 4 teenagers have been arrested for breaking into a Jewish school and defecating on desks. It happened Saturday during a vandalism spree at the Deal Yeshiva. They were seen running from the school after tripping the fire alarm.

More gunfire in Neptune. Police confirm the are looking for a person who fired a shot last night in the area of Myrtle Avenue. No injuries were reported. Several people were shot during a 5-day period there last week.

35 Howell residents have been displaced after flames damaged 11 units at the Countryside Place Apartments yesterday afternoon. No one was injured. Fire officials credit the sprinkler system inside the complex from keeping the blaze from spreading. The cause is under investigation.

New Jersey Natural Gas customers will see their monthly heating bills go down a little bit if state regulators approve filings submitted yesterday. The Wall Township company seeks adjustments from 2 - 4% as part of its conservation incentive program to compensate for high demand during the long, cold winter.

Would you be more likely to flee a hurricane if it had a boy's name? That is the conclusion from a team of behavioral scientists who found most people find a hurricane with a male name more frightening and would be more likely to evacuate ahead of a storm named for a male rather than a female.