Katie Kausch

Reporter and writer. Fueled by coffee.

NJ.com

Find a full list of all Katie's NJ.com bylines here. 

Articles update as they are published.

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N.J.’s knocked from top spot as highest earning state in U.S. See latest rankings.

New Jersey no longer ranks as the top for state for the highest median household incomes, new Census data shows.Massachusetts, with a median of $99,858, overtook New Jersey in 2023, according to the latest American Community Survey data released earlier this month. New Jersey came in a close second with a median household income of $99,781.Washington, D.C. topped both New Jersey and Massachusetts, with a median household income of $121,944. The Census defines a household as any group of people w...
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N.J. drug overdose deaths drop sharply, latest CDC data shows

Drug overdose deaths have dropped sharply in New Jersey, outpacing a national decline, though officials say the “alarmingly high” number of fatalities remain a concern, new data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows.New Jersey had 2,547 residents who died of an overdose in the 12 months through the end of April, the most recent available month from the CDC.That’s down from 2,972 for the same time span the year before - a decline of 14%. Drug overdose deaths have dropped sharp...
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Bill would wipe out confusion over whether surfers need beach badges at Jersey Shore

WARNING: This video contains graphic language.The highly-publicized arrest of a surfer in Belmar last summer raised a seemingly simple question - are surfers actually required to buy beach badges to gain access to the waves?The answer, it turned out, was a matter of some debate.A new bill introduced into the New Jersey Legislature would finally wash away some confusion.Those looking to access the “wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line ... for the exclusive purpose of surfing or fishing”...
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See student-teacher ratios for your N.J. school in our searchable list, updated for 2024

The median student-teacher ratio for New Jersey schools is 11 to one.The schools with the lowest ratios tend to be elementary schools, special education schools, or magnate schools, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of state Department of Education data from the 2022-2023 school year, the most available.For example, both the Bright Beginnings Learning Center in the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey district, and The Career Center of the Somerset County Educational Services Co...
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The average N.J. teacher has 12 years experience. See how your school compares.

It’s not just back to school time for students in New Jersey. Teachers have also been returning to classrooms, and for most, they’ve been in the profession for more than a decade.The average teacher in New Jersey has a little over 12 years experience, data from the 2022-23 school year provided by the state Department of Education shows.J. Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy in East Orange has the most experienced of teachers in the state, with an average of 24 years of experience between its 21 teacher...
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Full-day kindergarten is key part of N.J. district’s $46.7M referendum

Residents in the Haddonfield School District will have the chance to vote later this year on whether to start offering full-day kindergarten.That question is at the heart of a school bond proposal that will soon be put in front of voters in Haddonfield.“There are 600 school districts plus in New Jersey, roughly five don’t have full day kindergarten and we’re one,” Chuck Klaus, the district superintendent, said at a Wednesday night Board of Education meeting. “This is way past time, and something...
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COVID is ‘high’ or ‘very high’ in almost every state. N.J.’s level just went up.

Levels of coronavirus in New Jersey’s wastewater are now considered high, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.Wastewater data from samples taken on Aug. 31 shows “high” or “very high” levels of disease activity in 45 states, one less than the previous sample period.No states have low wastewater levels. Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana are the only four states reporting “moderate” levels. That’s an improvement for all of the states except Michigan, which also had modera...
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The 17 biggest high schools in N.J., ranked

New Jersey’s 17 largest high schools have student enrollments bigger than more than the full populations of 70 towns in the state, an NJ Advance Media analysis of school data found.At the state’s largest high school, more than 3,300 students attend Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, state data from the 2022-23 school year shows.That’s bigger than the populations of Far Hills, Port Republic and Califon combined.The average high school in the Garden State has 1,000 students. All 17 of th...
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This massive N.J. school has 3,300 students. See your high school’s enrollment.

It’s back to school time in New Jersey, and that means students will soon be reuniting with friends they haven’t seen all summer. But in some of New Jersey’s largest high schools, there might be more strangers than friends.The average enrollment for high schools in the Garden State is just over 1,000 students, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of data from the 2022-23 school year, the most recently available data. (See how large your high school is in the chart below.)The state’s largest...
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NHL star Johnny Gaudreau was in N.J. for sister’s wedding when he was killed with brother

It was supposed to be a joyous weekend for the Gaudreau family.Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, former minor league hockey player Matthew Gaudreau, were in their hometown Thursday night, gearing up to celebrate their sister’s wedding.But, both brothers were tragically killed late Thursday night, struck by a suspected drunk driver as they were riding bikes, police said Friday. The pair were cycling on the same road their parents still live on, according to public record...
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COVID is ‘high’ or ‘very high’ in almost every state. N.J. no longer in ‘low’ category.

No state has low levels of COVID activity anymore, as New Jersey’s rates climb, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.Wastewater data from samples taken on Aug. 22 shows “high” or “very high” levels of disease activity in 46 states, two more than the previous sample period.No states have low wastewater levels. Michigan and New Jersey were the last two states reporting low levels; both now have “moderate” levels. Vermont and West Virginia round out the four states still reporting...
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Fast-food prices are high and inconsistent across N.J. See the statewide data.

Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2024).© 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or ot...
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N.J.’s earliest high school start times begin at 6:55 a.m. See where your HS ranks.

High school students across New Jersey have already started to set alarms as early as last week, and some will have to set them early – like, really early - for the first day of school.Pennsauken High School in Camden County has the earliest start time in the state, with doors opening at 6:55 a.m., according to state Department of Education data from the 2022-23 school year.The first day for students is Sept. 5 this year, but students making the adjustment from summer schedules have a little bit...
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Mpox is in N.J. wastewater, but you shouldn’t worry, officials say

Mpox has been detected in wastewater in New Jersey, but state and national officials continue to stress that the risk of infection to humans is low.Mpox was found in a wastewater treatment facility in Newark on July 1 and July 8, and Aug. 5 and Aug. 7, a federal wastewater database shows. The last time the virus was detected in New Jersey before this was July 2023.Four cases of the virus — formerly known as monkeypox — were diagnosed in New Jersey residents in July, and two in August, according...
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COVID is ‘high’ or ‘very high’ in 44 states. Here’s how N.J. is doing.

New Jersey is one of only two states that still have low levels of COVID activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.Wastewater data from samples taken Aug. 10 shows “high” or “very high” levels of disease activity in 44 states across the country. New Jersey and Michigan are the only two states that still have low wastewater levels.Four other states — Illinois, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Massachusetts — have moderate disease activity. New Jersey is one of only two states th...
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Bridge into busy Jersey Shore town closed indefinitely

The bridge heading into Wildwood Crest is closed indefinitely after a mechanical failure, the town’s mayor said early Sunday morning.The Middle Thorofare Bridge, also called the Two Mile Bridge, was closed to all car, bike and pedestrian traffic early Sunday morning, Mayor Don Cabrera said in a Facebook post.A motor failure that could not be repaired is behind the closure, Cabrera said. The bridge is now stuck in the upright position, which allows for commercial vessels to sail through but makes...
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2 kids critically hurt in stolen vehicle police chase, cops say

Two children were critically injured during a police chase of a stolen vehicle in Gloucester City on Saturday, police said.An 8 year old and a 7 year old were passengers in a car that wasn’t not involved in the chase when the driver the stolen car slammed into them, police said. The 24-year-old person driving the car with the kids had minor injuries.Joshua Chrismon, 32 of Mt. Laurel, hit the other car and pushed it into a Morris Street home, police said. He then fled on foot before being caught....
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Pedestrian fatally struck in Burlington County, police say

Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2024).© 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or ot...
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N.J. nursing home was without power for over 24 hours, police say

Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2024).© 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or ot...
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3 N.J. residents infected with West Nile Virus. Officials warn of early, active season.

Three cases of West Nile Virus have been diagnosed in New Jersey, health officials announced.Two residents, one in Middlesex County and one in Union County, were diagnosed in early July after becoming sick, the New Jersey Department of Health said in a statement. One person was over 70, and the other was under 18.Both were hospitalized and have since been discharged. Three cases of West Nile Virus have been diagnosed in New Jersey, health officials announced. Two residents, one in Middlesex Co...
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