Good morning, Morristown.

NJ roads remain unsafe as post-pandemic aggressive driving and distracted behavior drove fatalities to a spike with 697 deaths in 2021 before declining to 582 last year — state transportation teams now use faster data to target dangerous intersections.

Fair Lawn-based Columbia Financial will merge with Woodbridge-based Northfield Bancorp in a $597M deal that will form the state’s third largest regional bank and expand into New York (adding branches in Staten Island and Brooklyn), with the merger set to complete in the third quarter.

Saks will lay off 69 employees effective May 4 as it prepares to close three Saks OFF 5th stores in Chimney Rock, Shrewsbury, and Elizabeth ahead of its bankruptcy filing.

The retailer is restructuring after taking on heavy debt from its Neiman Marcus buyout.

A study by MyPerfectResume finds that inflation cut NJ residents’ purchasing power by 7% from 2020 to 2024 despite a 12.7% rise in salaries.

The report also shows that in the NY-NJ metro area, 2025 food prices and energy costs rose 3.1% and 6.1%, respectively.

New Jersey health officials are urging residents to donate blood & platelets today amid severe winter weather and a challenging flu season that has led to a critical shortage.

Hospitals are working to replenish life-saving supplies across the region.

The Morris/Sussex Athlete of the Week poll is live now, inviting votes for coach-nominated stars like Hackettstown junior forward Devyn Corydon and Mount Olive junior wrestler Belinda Minervini—voting will close at 5 p.m. Thursday.