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  • Lottery News: Mega Millions Jackpot Hits, Powerball Reaches $1B

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    Posted on: December 13, 2025, 08:42h. 

    Last updated on: December 13, 2025, 08:42h.

    • A New Jersey man quickly redeemed his $90 million Mega Millions prize
    • Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is an estimated $1 billion
    • Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is giving away free Powerball tickets through a marketing promotion

    The Mega Millions winner who won a $90 million jackpot during the Dec. 2 drawing didn’t waste much time deliberating how to receive his life-changing funds.

    lottery news Powerball Mega Millions jackpot
    People purchase lottery tickets at a liquor store in Hawthorne, CA, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. The Powerball jackpot for the Dec. 13, 2025, drawing is an estimated $1 billion. (Image: Getty)

    Mega Millions reports that a man walked into a New Jersey Lottery office just days after his ticket matched the winning numbers of 17, 25, 26, 53, 60, and the gold Mega Ball 16.

    While the winner wished to remain anonymous, he shared some interesting details about what had preempted his Mega Millions win.

    I was up (the night of the drawing). Hoping for something. Then, whomp, a bird hit my window,” the newly minted multimillionaire told lottery officials. “I knew something was coming for me, but I didn’t know just what.”

    “I played some of my numbers for Pick-4. Nothing,” the player said, explaining his winless streak prompted him to try his luck on Mega Millions, a jackpot that comes with odds of 1 in 290.47 million.

    “I finished work, and I came in and played the Mega and used all of my numbers,” the winner said.

    The New Jersey man opted for the one-time cash option of $41.9 million. After federal and state taxes, the payout came to about $24 million. 

    Powerball Hits $1 Billion

    Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is an estimated $1 billion, with the cash value at $457.7 million. The jackpot ranks as the seventh-largest in Powerball history.

    The current Powerball run has endured 41 drawings without a jackpot hit. If the jackpot isn’t won tonight, the run will set a new record for the longest Powerball drought.

    The streak also makes history by marking the first back-to-back jackpot of more than $1 billion in any US lottery game’s history.

    Top Ten Powerball Jackpots

    1. $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
    2. $1.787 Billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX
    3. $1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 – CA
    4. $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
    5. $1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR
    6. $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
    7. $1 Billion est. – Dec. 13, 2025
    8. $842.4 Million – Jan. 1, 2024 – MI
    9. $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
    10. $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA

    Portnoy Slings Jackpocket Following Michigan Man Meltdown

    Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy took time out of his Michigan Man meltdown on X to shill Jackpocket, DraftKings’ courier service that allows users to purchase lottery tickets online in 15 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

    Portnoy, on a quick break from being hysterical about the scandal surrounding Michigan’s former football coach, Sherrone Moore, told his 3.7 million X followers how to get a free Powerball play for tonight’s $1 billion jackpot.

    “It’s jackpot season. We teamed up with Jackpocket, the best way to download lottery tickets right on your phone,” Portnoy said. “I’m paying attention, Powerball, Mega Millions, these jackpots are going to the moon.”

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Peter Greene, character actor known for role as the iconic villain in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ has died

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    Peter Greene, character actor known for role as the iconic villain in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ has died

    Updated: 9:38 AM EST Dec 13, 2025

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    Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain Zed in “Pulp Fiction,” has died. He was 60.He died in his home in New York City, his manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed on Friday. His cause of death was not immediately released.”He was just a terrific guy,” said Edwards. “Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; Has worked with everybody.”Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene landed some of his first leading roles in “Laws of Gravity” in 1992 and “Clean, Shaven” in 1993, according to IMDb.In 1994, he played the memorable villain in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” That same year, he played another leading villain opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in “The Mask.”Greene was working on two projects when he died, including a documentary about the federal government’s withdrawal of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Edwards.”We’ve been friends for over a decade,” said Edwards. “Just the nicest man.”

    NEW YORK —

    Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain Zed in “Pulp Fiction,” has died. He was 60.

    He died in his home in New York City, his manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed on Friday. His cause of death was not immediately released.

    “He was just a terrific guy,” said Edwards. “Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; Has worked with everybody.”

    Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene landed some of his first leading roles in “Laws of Gravity” in 1992 and “Clean, Shaven” in 1993, according to IMDb.

    In 1994, he played the memorable villain in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” That same year, he played another leading villain opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in “The Mask.”

    Greene was working on two projects when he died, including a documentary about the federal government’s withdrawal of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Edwards.

    “We’ve been friends for over a decade,” said Edwards. “Just the nicest man.”

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  • NJ nursing home facilities accused of being understaffed, neglecting residents

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    An investigation by the state of New Jersey is accusing two nursing home facilities of fraud, waste and abuse.

    The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller released a report on Dec. 10, 2025, claiming that over a five year period, investigators accuse the owners of the Hammonton Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare and the Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare were purposefully understaffing the homes and neglecting their residents.

    The bombshell investigation followed the two facilities between 2019 and 2024 and says that in those years, residents suffered in deplorable conditions.

    The Comptroller’s Office says that the agencies were intentionally understaffed which led to residents being left in soiled diapers for hours, with medications missed and call bells going unanswered.

    During the five year period of the investigation, local police departments were called 3,400 times.

    Reports show that the two facilities received more than $134 million in Medicaid funding for patient care with the owners, Daryl Hagler and Kenneth Rozenberg, funneling $92 million to themselves.

    The report also says that two residents were allegedly sexually assaulted and a third resident died.

    Jeanette Moerman told NBC10 that her brother has been a resident at the Deptford center for two years and the warning signs were always there.

    “The lack of care is awful,” Moerman said. “The beds seem disgusting and the bathrooms are gross. I don’t think they really do their laundry.”

    From apparent staffing shortages, to unanswered calls and unsanitary living conditions, Moerman says that she is trying to get her brother out of the facility.

    The state is now asking for $124 million in repayments.

    NBC10 reached out to both nursing homes for comment and we were told to try again on Friday.

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    Kelsey Kushner and Emily Rose Grassi

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  • New Jersey declares State of Emergency due to propane distribution concerns

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    A State of Emergency order has been issued as New Jersey is being faced with a disruption of service in distribution of propane for home and commercial heating.

    Announced Thursday by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the State of Emergency is set to go into effect at 9 a.m. on Friday.

    According to the New Jersey governor’s office, a service disruption at a propane distribution plant in Marcus Hook, Pa., has led to anticipated impacts on the delivery of propane for home and commercial heating use throughout the state.

    In order to expedite distribution, and provide an exemption on hours-of-service regulations concerning the transportation of residential fuel, Murphy has issued the State of Emergency.

    “As temperatures continue to drop, ensuring that every person has access to a safe, warm environment is essential,” Murphy said in a statement. “I am declaring a State of Emergency to ensure that the approximately 186,000 New Jerseyans who rely on propane for home heating purposes can receive it without interruption. This Executive Order expands delivery capabilities to keep homes heated and families secure.”

    Murphy’s office said that, under the federal waiver available during the State of Emergency, maximum driving time for commercial motor carriers has been extended from 11 to 14 hours, with 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time required between driving time.

    The order will remain in place, Murphy’s office said, until it is determined that the emergency situation no longer exists.

    New Jersey has more information available for those impacted by this issue here.

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    Hayden Mitman

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  • Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave $7.1 billion to nonprofits in 2025, a major increase

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    NEW YORK (AP) — The author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott revealed $7.1 billion in donations to nonprofits in 2025 Tuesday, marking a significant increase in her annual giving from recent years.

    Writing in an essay on her website, Scott said, “This dollar total will likely be reported in the news, but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year.”

    Scott acknowledged donating $2.6 billion in 2024 and $2.1 billion in 2023. The gifts this year bring her total giving since 2019 to $26.3 billion.

    Scott’s donations have captured the attention of nonprofits and other charitable funders because they come with no strings attached and are often very large compared to the annual budgets of the recipient organizations. Forbes estimates Scott’s net worth at $33 billion, most of which comes from Amazon shares she received after her 2019 divorce from company founder Jeff Bezos..

    With the exception of an open call for applications in 2023, it is not possible to apply for her funding nor to reach her directly, as Scott maintains no public facing office or foundation. Organizations are usually notified through an intermediary that Scott is awarding them a donation with little prelude or warning.

    In advance of her announcement on her website, Yield Giving, more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities revealed they had received $783 million in donations from Scott so far this year, according to research from Marybeth Gasman, a professor at Rutgers University and expert on HBCUs.

    “One of the things that I really admire about Mackenzie Scott is that she is like an equity machine,” Gasman said, especially at a time when efforts to promote equity in education have come under attack from the Trump administration. She also said Scott’s gifts to HBCUs this time are bigger than the round of donations she made in 2020.

    Not all of the schools that previously had received funding from Scott received a gift this time and there were some first-time recipients as well. In total, Gasman has tracked $1.35 billion in donations from Scott to HBCUs since 2020.

    In addition, UNCF, which is the largest provider of scholarships to minority students, received $70 million from Scott, and said it will invest the gift in a collective endowment it is building for participating HBCUs. Another $50 million went to Native Forward Scholars Fund, which had also received a previous gift from Scott and provides college and graduate scholarships to Native American students.

    Unlike Scott’s gifts, most foundations or major donors direct grants to specific programs and require an application and updates about the impact of the nonprofit’s work. Scott does not ask grantees to report back about how they used the money.

    Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy in 2023 looked at the impact of Scott’s giving and found few of the recipients have struggled to manage the funds or have seen other funders pullback.

    Kim Mazzuca, the CEO of the California-based nonprofit, 10,000 Degrees, said her organization was notified of its first gift from Scott of $42 million earlier this year.

    “I was just filled with such joy. I was speechless and I kind of stumbled around with my words,” she said, and asked the person calling from Fidelity Charitable to clarify the donation amount, which is about double their annual budget.

    10,000 Degrees provides scholarships, mentoring and other support to low-income students and aims to help them graduate college without taking on loans. Mazzuca said that usually nonprofits grow only gradually, but that this gift will allow them to reach more students, to test some technology tools and to start an endowment.

    Mazzuca credited Scott for investing in proven solutions that already exist.

    “She comes from a very deep, reflective space, very heartfelt,” Mazzuca said. “And she’s only providing these financial means as a tool for people to recognize they are who they’ve been waiting for.”

    That idea references a prophecy from the Hopi Tribe that ends with the line, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Mazzuca said she’s drawn on the prophecy for years to empower both her organization and the students it supports to recognize their own power to shape our world.

    In October, Scott posted an essay on her website under that title and sharing the prophecy. The essay, which she expanded upon in December to announce her giving, also reflects on how acts of generosity and kindness can ripple far afield and into the future. She cited her own experiences getting help while in college, including a dentist who repaired a tooth for free and her roommate who loaned her $1,000.

    Scott now has invested in that same roommate’s company, which offers loans to students who would otherwise struggle to get financing from banks. The investments seem to be part of an effort Scott announced last year to move more of her money into “mission aligned” investments, rather than into vehicles that seek only the highest monetary returns.

    In her 2025 essay, Scott seemed to urge people toward action, writing, “There are many ways to influence how we move through the world, and where we land.”

    ___

    Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and non-profits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

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  • 2 dead, 2 others hurt in Newark mass shooting

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    Two people were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in Newark, according to law enforcement.

    The shooting in New Jersey’s largest city occurred after 8 p.m. on Clinton Avenue near South 17th Street in the South Ward.

    The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed two deaths as a result of the gunfire. Two other people were hurt, though their injuries were not considered life-threatening, the country prosecutor’s office said.

    Further details were not immediately available. An investigation was active and ongoing.

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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    NBC New York Staff

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  • South Orange Middle School Plants a Rain Garden to Soak Up Stormwater

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    Here in New Jersey, we have a stormwater problem. Due to climate change, the state is getting heavier and more intense downpours from hurricanes, nor’easters, and intense summer thunderstorms. We also happen to be the most densely populated state in the country, with a high percentage of impervious surfaces. All those houses, roads, and other built-up areas don’t allow water to soak into the ground. Not only does that water have nowhere to go, but those parking lots and streets, and the vehicles that use them, are the largest source of water pollutants in the state.

    But one middle school in New Jersey is learning about stormwater and its runoff—and doing something about it. The South Orange Environmental Commission, with the help of the Rahway River Watershed Association (RRWA), recently created a rain garden at South Orange Middle School, in South Orange, New Jersey. The money to build the garden came from a grant from Sustainable Jersey and funds from South Orange Village. Students at the school are learning first-hand about stormwater runoff and how rain gardens can help solve the problem of pollution. The garden will be a part of the middle school’s science curriculum.

    Above: Volunteers planning and planting the garden. Native species that like wet feet were chosen for the project, including red twig dogwood, Virginia sweetspire, switchgrass, and showy goldenrod. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.

    Located between the school parking lot and the East Branch of the Rahway River, this rain garden is special. “It is one of very few rain gardens that is equipped with monitoring instruments to measure how much runoff is captured,” says Kirk Barrett, Ph.D., president of Rahway River Watershed Association. “Moreover, middle and high school students will be involved in collecting and analyzing the data.”

    The garden in late fall, collecting and filtering the stormwater runoff. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.
    Above: The garden in late fall, collecting and filtering the stormwater runoff. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.

    “The students will collect the data from the instrument that measures water level and calculate how much stormwater runoff was captured by each storm.” Barrett continues, “They will also measure rainfall to determine the percentage of runoff that is captured on an annual basis.”

    The rain garden ribbon cutting with students and community members. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.
    Above: The rain garden ribbon cutting with students and community members. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.

    This site was selected for maximum environmental benefit, as a rain garden here will capture the polluted runoff from the parking lot into the East Branch of the Rahway River. It’s estimated that it will absorb more than 100,000 gallons of stormwater runoff over a typical year.

    Barrett describes how the garden works, “Before the rain garden, this runoff went directly into a stormwater inlet and then into the river. The rain garden will allow most of the runoff to soak into the ground, filtering out the pollutants. Furthermore, by reducing the volume of runoff, the rain garden helps reduce the physical disruption of habitat in the stream caused by high flows in the river.”

    The rain garden at work during a heavy downpour. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.
    Above: The rain garden at work during a heavy downpour. Photograph courtesy of Kirk Barrett.

    Barrett hopes that this rain garden will inspire people to put in their own rain gardens, since 95 percent of NJ’s waterways are considered impaired, meaning they don’t support one or more of the following uses: drinking water, biological habitat, or recreational uses.

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  • Airlines adopt software fix for Airbus A320 after plane has sudden altitude drop

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    Airlines around the world canceled and delayed flights heading into the weekend to fix software on a widely used commercial aircraft after an analysis found the computer code may have contributed to a sudden drop in the altitude of a JetBlue plane last month.

    Airbus said Friday that an examination of the JetBlue incident revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls on the A320 family of aircraft.

    The FAA joined the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in requiring airlines to address the issue with a new software update. More than 500 U.S.-registered aircraft will be impacted.

    The EU safety agency said it may cause “short-term disruption” to flight schedules. The problem was introduced by a software update to the plane’s onboard computers, according to the agency.

    In Japan, All Nippon Airways, which operates more than 30 planes, canceled 65 domestic flights for Saturday. Additional cancellations on Sunday were possible, it said.

    The software change comes as U.S. passengers were beginning to head home from the Thanksgiving holiday, which is the busiest travel time in the country.

    A COMAC C919 aircraft flies during the first day of the Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)

    American Airlines has about 480 planes from the A320 family, of which 209 are affected. The fix should take about two hours for many aircraft and updates should be completed for the overwhelming majority on Friday, the airline said. A handful will be finished Saturday.

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    American expected some delays but it said it was focused on limiting cancellations. It said safety would be its overriding priority.

    Air India said via the social platform X that its engineers were working on the fix and completed the reset on more 40% of aircraft that need it. There were no cancellations, it said.

    Delta said it expected the issue to affect less than 50 of its A321neo aircraft. United said six planes in its fleet are affected and it expects minor disruptions to a few flights. Hawaiian Airlines said it was unaffected.

    Mike Stengel, a partner with the aerospace industry management consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory, said the fix could be addressed between flights or on overnight plane checks.

    “Definitely not ideal for this to be happening on a very ubiquitous aircraft on a busy holiday weekend,” Stengel said from Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Although again the silver lining being that it only should take a few hours to update the software.”

    At least 15 JetBlue passengers were injured and taken to the hospital after the Oct. 30 incident on board the flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey. The plane was diverted to Tampa, Florida.

    Airbus, which is registered in the Netherlands but has its main headquarters in France, is one of the world’s biggest airplane manufacturers, alongside Boeing.

    The A320 is the primary competitor to Boeing’s 737, Stengel said. Airbus updated its engine in the mid-2010s, and planes in this category are called A320neo, he said.

    The A320 is the world’s bestselling single-aisle aircraft family, according to Airbus’ website.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Jennifer Kelleher in Honolulu contributed.

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  • Campbell’s fires executive who was recorded saying company’s products are for ‘poor people’

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    The Campbell’s Co. said Wednesday it has fired an executive who was recorded making racist comments and mocking the company’s products and customers.

    Martin Bally, a vice president in Campbell’s information security department, was named in a lawsuit filed last week by Robert Garza, a former Campbell’s employee who said he was fired Jan. 30 after he reported Bally’s comments to a supervisor.

    The lawsuit was filed in Michigan, where both Garza and Bally live. Campbell’s is based in Camden, New Jersey.

    In the lawsuit, Garza claimed he met with Bally in November 2024 to discuss his salary. During the meeting, which Garza allegedly recorded, Bally described Campbell’s as “highly process(ed) food” and said it was for “poor people.”

    Garza claimed in the lawsuit that Bally made racist remarks about Indian workers, whom he called “idiots.” Garza said Bally also told him that he often went to work high after consuming marijuana edibles.

    Campbell’s said Wednesday it first learned of Garza’s lawsuit last week. After listening to portions of the recording, Campbell’s said it believed the voice was Bally’s. Bally was fired Tuesday.

    “The comments were vulgar, offensive and false, and we apologize for the hurt they have caused,” the company said in a statement. “This behavior does not reflect our values and the culture of our company, and we will not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”

    Garza’s attorney didn’t respond when The Associated Press asked for a copy of the audio recording.

    But according to Local 4 news in Detroit, which interviewed Garza and played a portion of the recording on air, Bally said Campbell’s products were unhealthy during his expletive-filled rant.

    “Bioengineered meat. I don’t want to eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer,” Bally said.

    Campbell’s defended its chicken Wednesday, saying it comes from long-trusted U.S. suppliers, is raised without antibiotics and meets high quality standards.

    “The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate, they are patently absurd,” Campbell’s said.

    Larry Kopp, the chairman and founder of The TASC Group, a strategic communications and public relations company, said Campbell’s should have fired Bally and reached a settlement with Garza as soon as it learned of the incident.

    “If they had settled they would not be in this mess,” Kopp said. “Recordings like these are devastating and should never see the light of day.”

    Garza is seeking monetary damages from Campbell’s, Bally and from his former manager, J.D. Aupperle. Garza said he told Aupperle about the conversation with Bally shortly before he was fired.

    Campbell’s said Wednesday that Aupperle remains employed by the company.

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  • NJ high schools face off in final Thanksgiving game, after over a century of matchups

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    Football and turkey go hand-in-hand on Thanksgiving. But after 106 years, one football tradition has come to an end in New Jersey.

    It’s been a holiday tradition for more than a century, but on Thursday, the 106th and final Thanksgiving football game between rivals Roselle and Roselle Park was held.

    “It’s sad because it’s such a tradition,” said Jim Rhyner, who was a captain for Roselle Park when he played for the school in the 1980s. “It’s everything you looked forward to in high school. This game, it’s a rivalry you always wanted to win.”

    Sitting right behind Rhyner in the stands was his former teammate, Al Mirabella.

    “Three years we played here. This game was always the highlight. I’m sad the tradition is ending but I love that they’re keeping the rivalry.”

    The game always brings back former players, even if they’ve since moved away. Bernard Starling, who played wide receiver for Roselle in the 1970s, said he now lives in Pennsylvania but still comes to the game every Thanksgiving.

    Why is the annual matchup no longer being held on Thanksgiving? The district says because the sports seasons are now starting earlier, it’s forcing them to reconsider holding games this late in the year. The teams will keep playing each other moving forward, just not on Turkey Day.

    “New Jersey in general is down to 12 Thanksgiving games. This is the last game in Union County, so it means a lot, the alumni comes together,” said John Wagner, the former coach for Roselle Park.

    The halftime show wanted to get in on the fun as well. The bands from both sides came on the field, along with alums, as both schools shared the field on Thanksgiving one final time.

    “We came from Pennsylvania, it was two hours away. We wanted to be here for the final Thanksgiving game,” said Janet Hedrick, who came back for the first time. She was a “twirler” in the 1960s while a student at Roselle.

    “It brings back a lot of good memories,” Hedrick said.

    In the end, Roselle Park wound up winning the game – the final Thanksgiving chapter in the storied rivalry.

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    Adam Harding

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  • Campbell’s IT chief on leave after lawsuit claims he said company’s food is for ‘poor people’

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    The Campbell’s Co. said Tuesday it has placed one of its executives on leave while it investigates claims that he made racist comments and mocked the company’s products and customers in an audio recording.

    Martin Bally, Campbell’s vice president of information technology, was named in a lawsuit filed last week by Robert Garza, a former Campbell’s employee. The lawsuit was filed in Michigan, where both men live. Campbell’s is headquartered in New Jersey.

    In the lawsuit, Garza claimed he met with Bally in November 2024 to discuss his salary. During the meeting, which Garza allegedly recorded, Bally described Campbell’s as “highly process(ed) food” and said it was for “poor people.”

    Garza claimed that Bally made racist remarks about Indian workers, whom he called “idiots,” according to the lawsuit. Garza said Bally also told him that he often went to work high after consuming marijuana edibles.

    Garza said he told his manager, J.D. Aupperle, on Jan. 10 that he wanted to report Bally’s comments to Campbell’s human resources department. Garza said Aupperle didn’t encourage him to report the comments but also gave him no advice on how to proceed.

    On Jan. 30, Garza was terminated from Campbell’s. He is seeking monetary damages from Campbell’s. He also names Bally and Aupperle in the lawsuit, saying they were responsible for his termination.

    In its statement Tuesday, Campbell’s said that if the comments on the audio recording were in fact made by Bally, they are unacceptable.

    “Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company,” the company said. “We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”

    Campbell’s added that the comments were allegedly made by someone in IT “who has nothing to do with how we make our food.”

    “We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use to provide consumers with good food at a good value,” Campbell’s said. “The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate — they are patently absurd.”

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  • Christmas presents stolen from trailer at NJ nonprofit Wheels of Change in NJ

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    A real-life Grinch targeted a nonprofit in South Jersey and got away with hundreds of toys for children in need over the weekend.

    Wheels of Change in West Deptford, New Jersey, is now scrambling to replace hundreds of toys before Christmas after a thief allegedly cut the locks off their trailer and stole bags of gifts.

    The organization had put the toys away in the trailer to set them aside for more than 600 children.

    “Honestly, my stomach dropped I wanted to cry,” Wheels of Change founder Brenda Gonzalez said. “As we were having a food distribution outside for Thanksgiving we noticed that the locks were cut.”

    There are no surveillance cameras outside of the nonprofit’s building, so organizers said that they don’t know when the theft happened or who possibly committed the theft.

    Only some clothing was left behind.

    “We are going to have to find toys for those kids,” Gonzalez said. “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle so I know that we are going to receive tenfold and we are already seeing it.”

    Wheels of Change is a resource center that helps thousands of families every year. This robbery is leaving the organization trying to find new gifts for more than 600 children before Dec. 13.

    It’s a mission that they don’t have to tackle alone as local families and businesses have stepped up to help.

    If you would like to help, Wheels of Change is accepting donations of toys at their location at 1997 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 4 in Westville.

    Donations can be dropped off Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

    They say any new toys, geared toward children ages 7 and up, would be appreciated.

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    Siobhan McGirl and Emily Rose Grassi

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  • Gratitude and Doubt: the Effects of the Shutdown Linger as Families Prepare for Thanksgiving

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    She had it figured down to the last dollar. The looming insurance payment, balanced against the hard-earned paycheck. The cost of keeping her children fed, covered mostly with government SNAP assistance. And when Shelby Williams reviewed the family budget for November, she told herself that this month would truly be one for giving thanks.

    After living with her parents for more than two years, Williams and her two children were finally moving into an apartment of their own in her hometown of Reeds Spring, Missouri. They would celebrate with a Thanksgiving meal made by the kids, the grandparents joining them at the table.

    The funds for the needed groceries were all lined up — until the federal government shut down on Oct. 1.

    Now Washington is running again. But as Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, the relieved gratitude of families in Williams’ community, and the many others still recovering from the suspension of government paychecks and food assistance during the 43-day shutdown, is tempered by lingering stress and economic insecurity.

    “I’m thankful for my children and my job, and I’m thankful for SNAP because it supplies food,” said Williams, 32, who works as a paraprofessional in an elementary school. “But … with the way the world is, with the financial strain, it is hard to be thankful.”

    The anxiety stirred by the shutdown persists in the lines at food pantries in this southwestern Missouri county and echoes through households nationwide.


    Dealing with the shutdown’s fallout

    In South Florida, Darlene Castillo is still struggling to prop up her family’s fragile finances after working without pay for seven weeks at the U.S. Customs Service.

    To get by, she lined up at a mobile food bank, a first for her. She held off paying bills and canceled subscriptions. Family members sent money, and when one extended an invitation for Thanksgiving, she and her husband gratefully accepted, knowing that they’d be hard-pressed to host the holiday meal.

    “It’s a thankful time,” Castillo said last week. “I’ll bring a dish because hopefully this week we’ll get paid. And then we’ll worry about Jan. 30.”

    That’s when the funds just approved by Congress to reopen the government are set to run out, threatening yet another shutdown.

    During the shutdown, McNeil said he got by on the modest stipend he receives as a trainee in a culinary program run by the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. But attending classes meant missing the hours food pantries were open. His wife, who is disabled and counts on him to bring home SNAP-funded groceries, grew distraught.

    “If it was any longer, I don’t know what I would’ve done,” said McNeil, whose relief is compounded by news that after months of radiation treatment, his prostate cancer is in remission. “I got a lot to be thankful for right now.”


    Community support for stretched resources

    In Williams’ Missouri community, a haven for retirees on modest fixed incomes, the lapse in SNAP funds has added to the pressures on families who stretch to buy daily necessities.

    In early November, a startling 428 families lined up at a drive-through food pantry run by Carrie Padilla and church volunteers, in a county with about 32,000 residents. About 12% of households in the county rely on SNAP benefits, but it is closer to 17% in rural areas.

    Though SNAP has been restored, many families registering for a Christmas toy drive run by Padilla’s nonprofit indicate that they are entering the holiday season without enough food.

    “Almost everybody is antsy,” Padilla said. “Just because the government reopened, it doesn’t mean that somebody has waved a wand and suddenly everything’s all hunky-dory.”

    That uncertainty has figured into Shirley Mease’s planning, as she prepares to host a free Thanksgiving feast at Reeds Spring High School. Mease and her family anticipate serving and delivering 700 meals, up from about 625 last year, to account for food insecurity worsened by the shutdown.

    “I know (SNAP) is back in working order, but it will take time for that to really help people out,” said Mease, 73, a semi-retired school cafeteria worker who has been providing the feast since 2009, drawing on community donations and volunteers.

    “Especially in this area, the food banks are being hit very hard, so I just feel like this is a time to step it up a little bit,” she said.


    Feeling the pressure without SNAP

    The pressure of trying to get through November without SNAP weighed on Williams in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

    She had planned the move to the new apartment for months, carefully balancing income and expenses to account for the $600 rent. The math worked thanks in no small part to $450 in monthly benefits her family receives from SNAP. That covers their food bill after the two free meals served each school day.

    As the shutdown stretched on, the Trump administration announced it would suspend November SNAP payments, despite judges’ orders to use available emergency funds. With her move days away, Williams started November with just $25 left in her SNAP account.

    She used the funds to buy bread, peanut butter, jelly and milk, and a friend with chickens gave her eggs. The fixings lasted through four nights of sandwich dinners. Then her parents stepped in to help.

    Williams tried to keep her stress hidden from her 11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. But it was hard to avoid tearing up or getting angry.

    “What bills do I not pay so I can feed my children, because that’s the priority,” she said.


    Faced with a difficult choice

    There were other factors to consider, too. Williams said she loves her job, working with students in a special education classroom. In her off-hours she is studying to become a teacher, a pursuit that required taking out a student loan.

    The suspension of SNAP confronted her with a difficult choice. She knew she could earn more at Walmart than doing the classroom job she treasures.

    “But then I’m giving up a part of my dream,” she said.

    It never came to that. Three days after the shutdown ended, Missouri officials sent $217 to Williams’ SNAP account, just under half what she receives in an ordinary month.

    That helped refill her family’s refrigerator, but it was not enough to afford the luxury of a Thanksgiving celebration. Williams held off paying a bill for car insurance, due at month’s end, reserving the money in case it was needed for food.

    Then, last Friday morning, the remainder of the SNAP funds for November showed up in Williams’ account. Finally, she could exhale. She paid the insurance bill. Then she treated her children to ice cream.

    The anxiety that had weighed on Williams for weeks lingered. But it was still November and her family had so much to be thankful for.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • NJ police share recording of phony call claiming to be from officers

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    Law enforcement officials in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, are warning local residents to be on alert for phone scams after officers received reports from the community that they were contacted by people claiming to be Gloucester Township Police Officers.

    But, officials said, they weren’t. And, now police have shared a recording of one such call.

    According to police, starting on Monday, officials in Gloucester Township received several reports of people being contacted by people claiming to be police officials.

    Two of the names used, officials said, were “Sergeant Dave Young” and “Sergeant David Johnson.”

    In a sample that police shared, a scammer claiming to be an officer used a potential victim’s name and claimed they were investigating a bullying incident and provided a phone number for the target of the scam to call.

    Another incident that police detailed involved a scammer calling a resident and claiming they needed to pay bail to the police department by using Bitcoin.

    That resident, officials said, realized they were being scammed by a fake police officers.

    In investigating these calls, police said that they learned residents of Gloucester Township and surrounding communities have reported receiving similar scam calls.

    Now, police are telling residents to be alert of scams.

    They posted these tips on social media:

    • Gloucester Township Police or any Law Enforcement Agency DOES NOT call on the phone, demanding money – even if your caller ID shows GTPD’s or another agency’s phone number (spoofing).
    • ONLY SCAMMERS demand money over the phone, REAL police and federal agents come to your door in person with warrants or to investigate an incident.
    • ONLY SCAMMERS demand payment in cryptocurrency (Bitcoin or Ether) by ordering you to go to a Crypto machine at a local store. No legitimate law enforcement agency or business is going to demand you send cryptocurrency, especially if they claim to be from Medicare, Tech Support, Geek Squad, Norton Antivirus, Amazon, any financial institution, the FBI, or your local Police Department.

    Also, officials said, officers, detectives and dispatchers with the Gloucester Township Police Department do not call residents during investigations.

    If you are unsure if the phone call you received was from a real or fake Gloucester Township Police employee, please feel free to reach out to the Gloucester Township Police Department directly at 856-228-4500, send an email to Police@GTPolice.com or click here.

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  • 101-year-old South Jersey veteran recognized as ‘Living Legend’

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    SICKLERVILLE, New Jersey (WPVI) — She’s 101 years old, lived through Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II, and then went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a medical lab technician.

    Her name is Ruth Roque Herbolsheimer. And today, she was recognized as a ‘Living Legend’ by the Military Women’s Memorial.

    The Military Women’s Memorial is based in Arlington, Virginia, and preserves ‘Her Story’ through its monument and organization.

    They recognize ‘Living Legends’ when veterans turn 100 years old or if they have another significant accomplishment worth celebrating.

    Roque Herbolsheimer was joined today by her family and friends from her gym, where she works out several days per week.

    Watch the video above to see the special moment.

    RELATED: 90-year-old devotes decades to preserving the Wissahickon War Memorial

    90-year-old Phil Moyer spends his free time cutting grass and polishing plaques at the Wissahickon War Memorial in his beloved Philadelphia neighborhood.

    Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Potential Presidential Candidates Are Less Coy About 2028 Plans: ‘Of Course I’m Thinking About It’

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    NEW YORK (AP) — There was a time when presidential hopefuls played coy about their ambitions, crisscrossing the country under the guise of helping other candidates and deflecting when pushed on their obvious plans.

    Not so for some Democrats considering running in 2028. With no clear party leader and Democratic voters raring for a fight, some could-be candidates are being far more transparent about their intentions, doing away with pretensions as they try to gain maximum visibility at a time when authenticity is in high demand.

    “Of course I’m thinking about it. I haven’t ruled it out,” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker recently told Fox News during a trip to early-voting New Hampshire, even as he stressed that his focus is on 2026, when he will be up for reelection.

    To be sure, many Democrats remain circumspect.

    Of the dozen potential 2028 candidates The Associated Press requested interviews with to discuss the changing dynamic, none was immediately available. Some Democrats deflect questions and say their attention is elsewhere even as they campaign for others in early-voting states.

    On the Republican side, an entirely different dynamic is brewing under the surface. Potential candidates are keeping low profiles amid expectations that President Donald Trump will play kingmaker in choosing his would-be successor.

    Presidential campaign strategists say the Democrats’ less guarded approach makes sense given the wide-open 2028 field and sheer number of candidates competing for attention. Among the others who have said they are considering a run: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who also was a White House chief of staff, and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.

    “Old rules just don’t apply to anything anymore,” said Jess O’Connell, a Democratic strategist who advised Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign. She said the change was a good thing for the party.

    “You’ve got to be out there every single day fighting and sharing your vision,” she said. “And I think the more runway they have to talk to people in this moment and to communicate about meeting the needs of the future,” then the better.

    Alex Conant, a veteran of the presidential campaigns of Republicans Marco Rubio, a former Florida senator who is now Trump’s secretary of state, and Tim Pawlenty, a former Minnesota governor, said the dynamics of the emerging Democratic primary, with no clear front-runner, have changed the calculus for candidates.

    “I think the Democratic primary is going to be the longest primary of our life. It’s hard to recall a field that is this wide open. And the Democratic base is so hungry for someone to take on Trump and win back the White House,” he said. “The more crowded it is, the more important it is to start early.”

    Candidates, he noted, are also “immediately more relevant if you might be the next president,” adding to the incentive to say the quiet part out loud.

    Voters these days are also turned off by the kind of politician-speak that was once the norm.

    “One of the takeaways from Trump is that people want authenticity,” Conant said. “Voters are rejecting candidates who sound like politicians, so the rhetorical tricks that politicians have used for decades to avoid answering questions now just irritates voters.”

    Not everyone has embraced the approach.

    Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker played coy on stage during a recent interview with journalist Kara Swisher, repeatedly dodging her questions about his expected timeline.

    “Blah, blah,” she responded as he tried to pivot to talking about the strength of the Democratic bench.

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been equally circumspect, refusing to acknowledge any White House ambitions or even commit to running again for governor, even as the shadow of 2028 follows him everywhere he goes. But during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club” podcast last month, as he reflected on the arson attack on his official residence, he sounded like someone who is eager to remain in the arena.

    “I love public service,” he said. “You can’t walk away now, with everything that’s on the line. … This is not a time to quit.”

    His perceived national ambitions have become a frequent attack line for his potential GOP rival for governor, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity.

    “We need somebody that is more interested in Pennsylvania and not on Pennsylvania Avenue,” Garrity said recently on a conservative radio show in Philadelphia.


    There are risks for candidates

    That is one of the risks for candidates, said Mike DuHaime, a longtime GOP strategist who advised the presidential campaigns of Chris Christie, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and George W. Bush.

    In 2013, he noted, Christie’s opponent in the New Jersey governor’s race often tried to use his national buzz as a campaign issue against him.

    Candidates, DuHaime said, also need to strike a balance and make that they are not distracting from midterm races by funneling money or attention away from candidates who need them.

    “I think it makes sense not to be so coy because people kind of get it, but they still should be careful about putting themselves in front of the country cause it could backfire,” he said. They “have to be careful that they still look a little bit like team players.”

    In other cases, candidates have genuinely not made up their minds, and may be lured by party leaders in early-voting states eager to draw rising stars to their events, DuHaime said.

    “It’s very intriguing and exciting for candidates and would-be candidates to be asked,” he said, with some deciding, “Let’s go experience it, the national circus. Let’s be part of that.”

    Along with potential legal considerations, O’Connell, the Democratic strategist, also noted that many of those expected to run have day jobs they need to balance. While picking fights with Trump certainly puts them in the spotlight, it could have ramifications for constituents if the Republican president retaliates, meaning that candidates will need to choose their moments wisely.

    “You have to fulfill your obligations to the states that you’re in,” she said. “It’s not so much that you’re playing a game, it’s that I think that there are some practical considerations.”

    “I think we’re going to see people struggling with that,” she added.

    She also urged candidates to embrace what she called a “Beyonce-Taylor Swift strategy,” referring to the pop stars’ boosting the economies of the cities where they performed on tour.

    “What I would advise anyone who wants to be president in 2028,” she said, “is to roll up your sleeves and help.”

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • NJ suspect gets stuck inside pickup truck he was allegedly trying to steal from

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    This alleged attempted thief got locked in, and now finds himself locked up.

    In an unusual twist to a New Jersey burglary case, the accused criminal found himself unable to get out of the vehicle he was trying to steal from.

    Police in Hamilton Township said that after having dinner Thursday evening, the owner of a pickup parked outside a Longhorn Steakhouse discovered a suspected car burglar inside the vehicle.

    “You can get in, but you can’t get out unless somebody let you out from the outside. I had to wind the windows down to get out,” the owner of the truck told police, exclusively obtained body cam video showed.

    According to Greg Van Gilder, of the Hamilton Township Police Department, the truck had previously had mechanical issues with the doors, and the only one who knew how to properly open them was the owner.

    Those issues certainly came as a suprise to the suspect, 19-year-old Jeison Henriquez Sanchez, of Pleasantville.

    “He thought it was his parents vehicle, which turned out to be untrue, and he was taken into custody without any incident,” said Van Gilder.

    Sanchez can be heard on bodycam footage telling the officer it was all a “big misunderstanding” as he was put into handcuffs. The officer told him that he could “explain that to a judge. You’re under arrest now.”

    Sanchez was taken into custody and was put in jail. Police said he also had warrants out for his arrest on unrelated charges. While police encourage people to not leave valuable items in the car, this case was very unique.

    “It was, was unusual. Typically, with car burglaries, people are in and out,” Van Gilder said. “The message we always put out is: Do not leave any valuables in your vehicle. And always lock your vehicles.”

    This time, the investigation was solved immediately, with no need to chase down leads.

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  • Injured Giants running back Cam Skattebo defends his WWE ‘Monday Night Raw’ appearance

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    NEW YORK (AP) — While Cam Skattebo has not played football for the New York Giants since undergoing season-ending surgery in late October, the rookie running back still has plenty of people around sports talking about him.

    Skattebo attended WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” at Madison Square Garden, along with teammates Abdul Carter and Roy Robertson-Harris. After some back-and-forth banter during a skit, Skattebo shoved wrestler JD McDonagh from behind a barrier and got pushed back, with the clip going viral.

    “Cam’s crazy,” Giants starting left tackle Andrew Thomas said Tuesday with a chuckle.

    A handful of local radio hosts blasted Skattebo for risking his health by taking part in the show. Skattebo took to social media to defend himself.

    “Honestly if you don’t like that I’m having a good time while dealing with a tough time, then just go ahead and unfollow and casually move on,” Skattebo posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m not able to play football and have the fun I’ve been having my whole life so I am doing things outside the box trying to find stuff to keep me happy. Enjoy the rest of y’all’s week and just don’t talk about me if you ain’t got nothing nice to say.”

    Skattebo, who wore a jersey of Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe at the event, is recovering from a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle after getting hurt in gruesome fashion Oct. 26 in a loss at Philadelphia. In a video interview with Complex Sports over the weekend, Skattebo showed how well the injury was healing, and he was wearing a protective boot at the Garden.

    The 23-year-old also was on the sideline Sunday at the Meadowlands on a scooter and sporting the boot.

    ESPN New York’s Chris Carlin said he “could not have been angrier at the just remarkable stupidity shown by Skattebo. He was one of the lone bright spots of this team, and he thinks it’s a good idea to get involved like that.”

    Co-host Bart Scott, who played 11 NFL seasons as a linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, was less vocally critical but still described Skattebo’s participation as “carelessness.”

    “Whether you’re play wrestling or wrestling, it’s still a physical act,” Scott said.

    WFAN’s Chris McMonigle said “the optics are so bad.” On the same station, Brandon Tierney called it dumb.

    “I’m not here to be the buzz kill or holier than thou or the headmaster or the dean of discipline, but, dude, use common sense,” Tierney said. “What happens if there’s a little beer or a little water or a little seltzer on the Garden floor and he slips and he loses control?”

    Skattebo responded to that clip on social media by saying his foot was off the ground, adding, “Trust me wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize anything.”

    Skattebo, along with quarterback Jaxson Dart, had brought an infusion of energy into the organization before going down. The fourth-round pick out of Arizona State had run for five touchdowns and had two more receiving in his first eight professional games.

    Asked Tuesday on a video call with reporters about Skattebo at the Garden, second-year back Tyrone Tracy flashed a smile.

    “I wasn’t there last night, but you best believe I was fighting,” Tracy said. “I was fighting at home, though, telling him to duck and sit down. Cam’s a wild man. Everybody knows that. He’s going to go out there and do what he do.”

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Woman Who Worked for Congressman Accused of Staging Politically Motivated Attack

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    EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A former staffer for a congressman told authorities she was attacked by three armed men who tied her up, slashed her and scrawled an anti-Trump statement on her stomach while she was walking in a New Jersey nature preserve this summer, according to authorities. But federal prosecutors are now accusing her of staging the scene and making the whole thing up.

    The 26-year-old woman, who worked for Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, and a friend had reported the attack July 23 at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. The friend called 911 saying the attackers had a gun, knew the woman’s name and that she worked for Van Drew, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump.

    Responding police soon found the woman lying in a wooded area with her shirt pulled over her head and her hands and feet zip tied, according to prosecutors. She had several cuts on her face, neck, chest and shoulder, while slogans criticizing Trump and Van Drew were written with black marker on her stomach and back.

    The woman later repeated her claims about the attack while being interviewed by police and FBI agents, according to prosecutors. But authorities allege the story soon started to unravel when they searched the woman’s Maserati and found zip ties and duct tape inside.

    A search of her cellphone found she was following communities on Reddit for “bodymods” and “scarification” and had obtained directions to the studio of a body-modification artist in Pennsylvania, court documents say.

    The artist at the studio showed investigators messages from the woman requesting specific scar patterns on her body and photos from after the procedure, which matched the lacerations she had when she was found in the woods, prosecutors say.

    The woman was charged with conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes and another count of making false statements to federal law enforcement. She made her initial court appearance Wednesday.

    A statement issued by Van Drew’s office said he was “deeply saddened” about the incident and said their “thoughts and prayers” were with the woman, adding “we hope she’s getting the care she needs.” His office did not immediately respond Thursday to questions on whether she was still working for the congressman at the time of the incident.

    Louis Barbone, a lawyer representing the woman, noted she is presumed innocent of the charges.

    “At the age of 26, my client served her community working full time to serve the constituents of the Congressman with loyalty and fidelity. She did that while being a fulltime student,” Barbone said in a statement issued Thursday. ”Under the law she is presumed innocent and reserves all her defenses for a presentation in a court of law.”

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • From Disney to Broadway: Meg Donnelly’s ‘Moulin Rouge!’ debut fulfills theater kid dream

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    NEW YORK (AP) — When she was still just a child, Meg Donnelly gave off a serious theater kid vibe. At 5, her favorite musical role wasn’t the sunny “Annie.” It was Mimi from “Rent,” the struggling erotic dancer who is also a heroin addict.

    Donnelly grew up to become a film and TV star through her breakout role in Disney’s music-filled “Zombies” franchise and the ABC sitcom “American Housewife.” She’s also appeared on “The Masked Singer” and has a new EP, “dying art.”

    This week, the New Jersey-raised actor returned to her first love — theater. Donnelly made her Broadway debut Tuesday in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” playing cabaret star Santine. She’ll be aboard the jukebox hit until March.

    The show is about the goings-on in a turn-of-the-century Parisian nightclub, updated with tunes like “Single Ladies” and “Firework” alongside the big hit “Lady Marmalade.”

    The Associated Press got a chance to ask Donnelly about her big night and how it fits into her blossoming career. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

    Meg Donnelly in a scene from “The Winchesters” (Matt Miller/The CW via AP)

    AP: What was your debut like?

    DONNELLY: It was really surreal. I feel like I’ve been working towards this since I was a little girl. When I was younger, Broadway was the only option. I was a full theater kid — that’s all I wanted to do. And, you know, life just took me in different directions. But this is something that I feel I was born to do and just being on stage last night, it kind of all just makes sense.

    AP: You’re in the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Do you think you ever saw a show there before?

    DONNELLY: I definitely do. I saw “Kinky Boots” twice. I love “Kinky Boots.” And I think I saw “Kiss Me Kate” there, too.

    AP: What’s your favorite musical?

    DONNELLY: My favorite musical of all time is “Rent.” I saw it a lot when I was younger — maybe when I was too young — and my dream role has always been Mimi, which is really funny. So when I was like 5 or 6 auditioning for theater, they would be like, “What’s your dream role?” And everyone would be, like, “Annie” or “Matilda” and I’d be like, “Mimi!” They’d be like, “Oh my God, this kid!” So, it is very full circle because “Moulin Rouge” is based on the same opera as “Rent.” Satine is kind of Mimi.

    AP: So much of your career makes this a natural step. You played a young woman who sang in a school production of “Little Shop of Horrors” on “American Housewife” and everything about the “Zombie” franchise screams musical theater. How do you describe your path here?

    DONNELLY: There’s not a right or wrong path. You know, there’s so many things in my career where I’m like, “Oh, I wish I’d done that” or “Maybe I should have gone that way.” I’m a very chronic over-thinker. But it really doesn’t matter. I will say, being a part of Disney definitely changed my life.

    "Disney's Holiday Magic Quest" returns for a second year with "ZOMBIES" franchise stars (left to right) Trevor Tordjman, Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim, and Kylee Russell competing in a high-stakes holiday adventure featuring new epic challenges. PHOTO CREDIT: DISNEY CHANNEL/Kent Phillips

    “Zombies” franchise stars (left to right) Trevor Tordjman, Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim, and Kylee Russell (Disney Channel/Kent Phillips)

    AP: Another Broadway-adjacent step was when you were in the cast of NBC’s live telecast of “The Sound of Music” in 2013. You were the understudy for Louisa von Trapp, right?

    DONNELLY: Yes, I understudied Louisa and Ella Watts-Gorman, who played Louisa, was so talented and amazing. I was praying that nothing happened to her. We weren’t really taught much. We knew the music, but that was pretty much it, so I was like, “Dear God, please, let everything go OK.”

    AP: Audra McDonald starred in that, right?

    DONNELLY: Oh my god. Listening to her sing on set was one of the best gifts I’ve ever been given.

    AP: What about your own music?

    DONNELLY: That is something that I really want to pursue. I feel like writing my own music is just so therapeutic for me, and I love performing on stage. Having to do a new show every single night and making everything different and feeding off the energy of the different crowd — that’s what I want to do with my own music as well.

    AP: You did theater growing up alongside Helen J. Shen, who created her part in “Maybe Happy Ending,” right? Would you also like to originate a role one day?

    DONNELLY: That was such a cool thing to watch her go through and it’s so personal, something that she built with them. That would be really, really cool. Just to have that connection to it as well. So, yeah, originating would be really like that would great.

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