Jersey Shore Headlines

Heroin overdoses are getting worse! This story and more in today's Monmouth and Ocean County News from Townsquare Media.

All Ocean County police departments will begin carrying double doses of the opiate antidote Narcan to prevent overdose deaths from a more powerful form of heroin. Prosecutor's Office officials say the double dose kits are needed to match the strength of overdoses from heroin laced with fentanyl.

A Freehold man is charged with attempted murder after police say he stabbed another man during an argument early Saturday morning. Investigators say 21-year old Manuel Ramirez had been fighting with the victim at a concert in Lakewood shortly before the incident, then caught up to him on the street. The victim was stabbed several times in the chest, abdomen, face and back. He's in stable condition.

A 'Person of Interest' is being sought 41 years after the disappearance of Jan Cotta of Monmouth County. The Wall Township PBA and Monmouth County Crime Stoppers recently put up a $10,000 reward with the hopes of solving the 1973 case for the Cotta family. Police are seeking a man Jan knew named Eric Shore of New York as a person of interest. Shore's girlfriend at the time was a hairdresser in Deal. Crime Stoppers has a confidential tip line.

Former Toms River East Quarterback Jared Morris will get $80,000 from the owner of the Bamboo Bar in Seaside Heights. An Ocean County jury determined that the bar owner, John Saddy, filed false assault charges against Jared during a 2010 fight at the bar.

Police in Ocean County are investigating after a man apparently jumped out of a moving car during an argument with his girlfriend on Friday in Stafford Township. 18-year old Deshawn Powell was flown to the hospital with severe head injuries. he's listed in critical condition.

A Brick Township man is facing charges after police say he crashed his car into a light pole and fled the scene. Wall Township police say 28-year old John Leddy struck a pole at the intersection of Rt. 34 and Airport road on Saturday. He was arrested a short time later in Howell.

Rescue crews have ended their search for a paddle boarder who reportedly went missing in waters off Sea Bright this weekend. Police announced yesterday morning that they were not planning to resume the search, calling the missing person report 'unconfirmed.'

Governor Christie is heading to Keansburg today to highlight the state's efforts to raise homes above flood level. The state is issuing the largest portion of its allocation of federal relief funds after Superstorm Sandy to pay for homeowners to repair, rebuild and elevate their homes. Our state has actually moved quickly compared to other places after natural disasters, but homeowners have complained about lost applications and complicated rules. A contractor that processed applications for the program was fired earlier this year.

Expansion of the shoulder lanes on the Parkway continues to anger nearby residents who are complaining about noise and pollution even though they were warned there would be noise. There are no plans for a noise wall, however the DOT says once the project is finished there will be plans for filling out the area with new trees. But many Brick residents say since the construction started, the noise has gotten exponentially worse.

A new Autism bill focuses on children who are aging out of their current programs. A Brick mom of two Autistic boys says without specialized care, many autistic adults regress, making it harder to get a job or to be part of a community. The bill authorizes $1.3 million over five years.

Turn ON your electronic devices. That's what passengers at some overseas airports with flights to the US will be required to do before they board. Intelligence officials have been concerned about new Al-Qaida efforts to produce a bomb that would go undetected through airport security.

A nursing shortage is looming for our state and experts claim it could be worse than anything we've ever seen before. The NJ State Nurses Association says we're on the precipice of unprecedented change because tens of thousands of nurses in our state are between the ages of 57 and 65. Over the next few years, they'll be retiring and reducing their hours. Meanwhile, nursing schools across our state are already turning down applicants due to a lack of faculty. A big part of that is that nurses know they can make much more in the field, compared to teaching.