Lauren Bennett Dies At 37: Popular Singer's 'Party Rock Anthem' Became No. 1 Hit
Her voice helped define one of the biggest pop moments of the 2010s.
Lauren Bennett, best known for her featured vocals on LMFAO’s "Party Rock Anthem," has died at 37. Her former group, G.R.L., announced her death in an Instagram post on Monday, July 6.
No cause of death was announced.
"Our hearts are broken, and we cannot express how much she meant to us," G.R.L. said. "We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved."
Bennett, born Lauren Diane Bennett in Meo…
29 People Died In NJ's Heatwave, Report Says
Twenty-nine people are believed to have died as a result of last week's heatwave in New Jersey, the New York Times reports.
Most of the fatalities were reported in New Jersey's heavily populated central and northern regions, where residents endured several consecutive days of triple-digit heat, the outlet reported, citing the state Department of Health. The heatwave lasted from Wednesday to Saturday. At times, temperatures in parts of the state felt like 110 degrees.
The victims ranged in age from their 30s to their 80s, and were found in homes, cars, and outside, according to Th…
Family Seeks Justice After Cambridge City Worker, Father Of 5-Year-Old, Fatally Shot On July 4
A grieving family is demanding justice after a Cambridge city worker and father of a 5-year-old boy was shot to death while off duty, leaving loved ones and neighbors searching for answers.
Xavier Bautista, 32, was fatally shot shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, near the intersection of Broadway and Norfolk Street, steps from Sennott Park in Cambridge. A passerby discovered him around 5:30 a.m. and called 911, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. Bautista was pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrests have been announced, and investigators have not said what led t…
Branford Dad Who Beat Son, 12, To Death With Baseball Bat Sentenced To Decades In Prison: State
A Connecticut man will spend decades in prison after he admitted to beating his 12-year-old son to death with a baseball bat and trying to kill his teenage daughter, authorities announced.
Anthony Andrew Esposito Jr., 53, of Branford, was sentenced on Monday, July 6, to 40 years behind bars for murder and another 20 years for attempted murder to be served consecutively, the Office of the State's Attorney said.
Judge Tracy Lee Dayton, who imposed the sentence, called the trial "one of the worst cases the court has seen."
State's Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. thanked investigators, f…
Stranger Shoots Family Man Walking In Lancaster County Central Park, Then Self: Police
Kevin Lucas was walking through Lancaster County Central Park when Brandon Cunningham, a man he did not know, shot him before turning the gun on himself, police said.
A Lititz family man was shot and killed by a stranger while walking through Lancaster County Central Park, authorities revealed in a major update at the start of July.
Brandon Cunningham, 32, of East Hempfield Township, shot at two people as they were walking through the park on Wednesday, June 24. Cunningham struck Kevin T. Lucas, 47, before turning the gun on himself, according to the Lancaster City Bureau of Police.
The pe…
Kids With Guns: Pair Of 13-Year-Old Boys Arrested In Albany Weapons Busts, Cops Say
Two 13-year-old boys were arrested for having illegal weapons in Albany within hours of each other, police said.
Both teens were arrested near Ontario Street, less than half a mile from each other and 15 hours apart, according to the Albany Police Department.
The first incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. Sunday, July 5, when cops tried to stop a boy near Ontario Street and Madison Avenue, police said. The teenager fled down side streets before ducking behind a car, according to investigators.
However, cops saw him and arrested him at the scene, then found a loaded gun under the car, authori…
Fentanyl, Cocaine, Ghost Gun Seized In Drug Bust, Eight Kingston Residents Arrested: Police
Ten New Yorkers have been arrested in a sweeping long-term drug takedown in the Hudson Valley, authorities announced Monday, July 6.
New York State Police and their partners hit four locations across Ulster County on Thursday, June 18, seizing 700 grams of cocaine, crack, and fentanyl, an unregistered ghost gun, a 12-gauge shotgun and more than $3,100 cash, police said.
Nine of the suspects were charged with possessing and selling controlled substances. One person was busted for bail jumping during one of the raids, state police said.
The suspects were identified as:
Michael Ector, 44, o…
Driver Charged In Death Of Bethlehem Firefighter Thrown From Moving Car At Shopping Center
The driver of a car involved in the crash that claimed the life of a 20-year-old volunteer firefighter has been charged, Northampton County prosecutors announced on Monday, July 6.
Zachary Warren Barndt, of Bethlehem Township, is charged with Accidents Involving Death, Homicide by Vehicle, Aggravated Assault by Vehicle, Involuntary Manslaughter, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Careless Driving – Unintentional Death, Driving Without a License, and multiple traffic offenses in connection with the death of Daniel J. Maffea, according to Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Bar…
River Edge Family Who Lost Home In July 4 Fire Gets $60K Boost
A River Edge family who lost their home, vehicles, and all of their belongings in a Fourth of July fire has received an outpouring of community support, with a GoFundMe topping $60,000 as of press time.
The fundraiser, organized by Stella Chang, seeks to raise $100,000 for the Jhun family as they begin rebuilding after the devastating blaze.
"In a matter of moments, the Jhun family lost their home, their vehicles, and all of their belongings in a devastating fire," she writes. "Although they are incredibly thankful to be safe, they are now facing the heartbreaking reality of starting o…
Pawling CVS, Yoga Studio Destroyed, Thousands Without Power After Severe Storms
Power restoration efforts are continuing across the Hudson Valley after violent thunderstorms tore through the Hudson Valley over the Fourth of July weekend, toppling trees, downing power lines, sparking fires, and even destroying businesses.
The storms, which swept through the region Saturday evening, July 4, left tens of thousands of customers without electricity and caused widespread damage across the county.
As of Monday morning at around 9:10 a.m., Central Hudson was reporting over 20,100 without power in Dutchess County; nearly 300 in the dark in Columbia County; over 430 …
41K+ Still Without Power In NJ, Some Won't Get It Back Until Thursday
More than 41,000 JCP&L customers across New Jersey remained without power on Monday, July 6, after fast-moving weekend storms knocked out electricity to thousands of homes.
As of Monday morning, JCP&L reported 41,565 outages statewide. Morris County had the highest number of customers without electricity with 14,321, followed by Monmouth County with 5,637, Sussex County with 5,256, Union County with 4,923, Hunterdon County with 3,694, Somerset County with 2,899, Warren County with 1,997, and Ocean County with 1,724.
PSE&G also reported widespread outages on Monday morning. Union…
