South Jersey Gas, a subsidiary of SJI, today announced the kick-off of its annual First Responders Grant Program. Grants will be awarded to provide critical support for operations conducted by first responder departments.
The First Responders Grant Program supports the critical safety training and lifesaving efforts conducted by local fire, police and EMS first responders. These grants are used by first responders to support necessary purchases including combustible gas detectors, turn out gear, fire hoses, medical supplies and other equipment.
All paid or volunteer fire, emergency medical services and police departments serving at least one of the municipalities in the South Jersey Gas service area are eligible to apply.
Gloucester City has always been a place where local routines matter, from river walks to neighborhood conversations. Yet, digital habits increasingly sit alongside those traditions: if you spend any time online, you may have noticed more talk about fast-paced games that feel very different from older casino formats. One title that keeps surfacing is Aviator, a crash-style game that has gained visibility through mobile platforms, streaming clips and word-of-mouth curiosity.
That rising interest in Aviator mirrors a much larger shift across New Jersey: in 2025, online casino revenue in the state reached nearly $2.91 billion, surpassing Atlantic City’s land-based gaming revenue for the first time and reflecting how digital formats are becoming a primary form of entertainment for many residents. This attention reflects broader shifts in how people interact with online entertainment rather than a sudden change in local culture. Ultimately, looking closely at this interest offers insight into how digital gaming trends reach and resonate within a small but connected community like Gloucester City.
GLASSBORO, NJ – Coming off a third-place national finish and College World Series appearance in 2025, the Rowan baseball team enters 2026 ranked #8 in the D3baseball.com Division III Top 25.
The #8 Profs will have their work cut out for them by playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules, meeting seven ranked opponents before April 1st. The slate includes games against World Series participants, #2 Endicott (March 20), #7 Messiah (March 24) and #11 Johns Hopkins (March 16).
Rowan opens the year with back-to-back games against Top 25 teams, hosting #13 Cortland on February 28 and #21 Penn State Harrisburg on March 4.
The following information is preliminary and subject to change. On January 30, 2026, at approximately 6:46 p.m., officers from the 39th District responded to a report of a person shot in the 200 block of West Chelten Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. The victim was transported by police to a local hospital, where he was taken into surgery and listed in critical condition. Officers observed and secured a crime scene extending from the 200 block to the 100–200 block of West Chelten Avenue. Later that evening, a female suspect voluntarily reported to Police Headquarters and surrendered a firearm believed to be involved in the incident. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. The firearm was secured. This information is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues with the Shooting Investigation Group. Updates will be provided as they are received.
Police Officer Senior Pradeep Tamang, 25, was shot and killed responding to a fraud and forgery call at the Holiday Inn at the 1700 block of East Park Place Boulevard in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
When Officer Tamang and another officer arrived at the hotel around 7:30 a.m., the subject invited them into his hotel room. While inside, the subject pulled out a gun and fired at both officers. One of the officers returned fire, striking the shooter.
Additional officers arrived on scene and rendered aid to the officers and the shooter. One officer remains in critical but stable condition. Officer Tamnag was transported to Northside Gwinnett Hospital, where he died from his wounds.
The suspect, who has multiple felony convictions and active warrants, was initially taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening wounds and is in custody.
Officer Tamang had served with the Gwinnett County Police Department for almost one year.
BOSTON — Rear Adm. Michael Platt, commander of the Northeast District, has launched a district-level formal investigation concerning the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel LILY JEAN (O.N. 580932) and subsequent loss of seven lives on Jan. 30, 2026.
The search was suspended on Jan. 31 after all reasonable search efforts for the missing crewmembers had been exhausted.
At 6:50 a.m., on Jan. 30, the Coast Guard responded to an emergency position-indicating radio beacon activation from a fishing vessel 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann. There were seven people onboard the LILY JEAN.
The seven crew members have been identified as follows:
Grace Elizabeth Metzger (née Mechling) passed peacefully on December 10, 2025, at the home of her son, Chuck, in Harwich, Massachusetts.
Grace was born on May 1, 1933, in Surrey, England, to William Mechling and Mildred Cobb Mechling. When she was 16 years old, her family moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Grace was the loving mother of Paul Gordon, Brenda Pace, Charles Dunn, and Michael Dunn. She was predeceased by her two older sisters and her brother. She is survived by her children, Paul Gordon, Brenda Pace, Charles Dunn and Michael Dunn, and five grandchildren as well as four great-grandchildren, who will miss her dearly.
Assemblywoman Reaffirms Commitment to Immigrant Protections
(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) today thanked Governor Mikie Sherrill for her plan to establish a statewide portal that allows residents to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, calling the initiative an important step toward transparency, accountability, and community safety.
“The creation of this reporting portal will send a clear message that New Jersey is committed to protecting the dignity and rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status,” said Assemblywoman Quijano. “I commend Governor Sherrill for taking action to ensure our communities have a clear, accessible way to report ICE activity and raise concerns without fear.”
You don’t need to be “a musician” to have musical ideas. If you write—journals, poems, short scripts, even marketing lines—you already think in rhythm and emphasis. The frustrating part is translating that inner soundtrack into something you can play back. AnAI Music Generatorcan be a surprisingly practical bridge here: not as a replacement for craft, but as a way to hear your words in musical form quickly enough that the emotion stays fresh.
The Quiet Problem: Ideas Fade When You Can’t Hear Them
The Problem
You have lines you like. You can imagine the mood. But without instruments, software skills, or time, the idea stays trapped in text.
The Agitation
When a song idea lives only on the page, it’s easy to overthink it:
Is the chorus strong, or does it just read well?
Does the verse have motion, or is it static?
Is the vibe closer to indie pop or cinematic ballad?
By the time you book studio time or ask a friend for help, the initial spark can fade—or you compromise just to move forward.
A Different Kind of Solution
Instead of waiting for “the right time” to make a demo, you create a rough musical draft now, then decide what deserves deeper work.
A New Lens: AI as a Demo Partner, Not a Final Producer
If you treat AI output as a first recording—like a voice memo with harmony—you’ll get more value and less disappointment.
What “Good” Looks Like at the Demo Stage
A clear emotional direction
A usable chord/melody contour you can refine
A structure you can react to (verse/chorus contrast)
Something you can share for feedback
This is where aText to Music AIworkflow helps: you can explore arrangements and moods without committing to a full production path.
Two Workflows That Feel Surprisingly Natural
Workflow A: Start With a Mood, Then Write Into It
Generate an instrumental vibe first.
Loop it while you write.
Adjust the music once the lyrics find their cadence.
This works well if you’re more “scene-driven” than “melody-first.” You’re building a world, then placing words inside it.
Workflow B: Start With Lyrics, Then Let the Music Interpret
Paste in your lyric draft.
Generate multiple interpretations.
Keep the one that matches your intent—even if you later rewrite around it.
This approach can reveal what your lyric is actually doing. Sometimes your “sad” lyric reads more like determination, and the musical interpretation makes that obvious.
A Practical Table: What You Can Control vs. What You Should Let Go
Goal
What You Can Influence
What You Should Expect to Iterate
Matching emotion
Mood words, instrument palette, energy level
Subtle emotional “shade” may vary per generation
Stronger chorus lift
Ask for “bigger chorus,” “more dynamic contrast”
You may need 3–6 tries to get a satisfying jump
Cleaner structure
Request “clear verse/chorus,” “simple motif”
Some outputs wander; trimming or regenerating helps
Better vocal fit
Specify vocal style/tone if available
Vocals can be inconsistent; treat as a draft
Prompting Tips That Respect Your Lyrics
Write prompts like stage directions
Instead of telling the model what you want to hear in technical terms, describe the scene:
“acoustic intimacy, close microphone feel, soft rise into chorus”
“anthemic, wide-open, crowd energy, but not aggressive”
Keep one “anchor phrase” constant
If your hook is “I’m learning how to let go,” keep that line unchanged while you test different moods. You’ll hear how arrangement changes meaning.
Try purposeful contrast
If the lyric is dark, try a brighter arrangement once. Not to be ironic—just to test whether the lyric wants tension or comfort.
Where Lyrics Become a Song (and Where They Don’t Yet)
There’s a special moment when your words stop being “writing” and start being “a track.” That moment often comes from hearing phrasing—where the line breaks land, where the melody holds, where the rhythm pushes.
This is exactly whyLyrics to Song is useful as an experiment: it externalizes your lyric’s implied rhythm. Even when the output isn’t perfect, it gives you something concrete to react to:
“That line is too long to sing naturally.”
“The chorus needs fewer syllables.”
“The verse wants internal rhyme, not end rhyme.”
A Balanced View: What This Can’t Do for You
If you expect a flawless, release-ready song on the first try, you’ll feel disappointed. Realistically:
You may need multiple generations to land on a vocal tone that fits.
Some outputs can feel generic if the prompt stays vague.
Tiny changes in wording can lead to noticeably different musical interpretations.
If your lyrics are very dense or abstract, the phrasing may sound rushed.
The best mindset is to treat the result as a co-write draft: it helps you hear possibilities, then you decide what’s worth rewriting.
How to Make the Output More “Yours” Without a Studio
Keep a “version ladder”
Create a simple set of iterations with clear intent:
V1: establish mood and tempo
V2: simplify arrangement
V3: bigger chorus contrast
V4: alternate vocal tone
V5: longer intro for storytelling
Do one human edit that matters
Even without production skills, you can make the song feel personal by revising:
The chorus line (one unforgettable sentence)
The first verse opening (a specific image)
The bridge (a twist or confession)
When the lyric becomes more concrete, the musical result tends to feel more grounded too.
Why This Is Worth Trying Even If You’re “Not Musical”
Because creativity isn’t gated by gear. If you can describe emotion, you can direct a musical draft. If you can write a hook, you can test whether it sings. And if you can iterate—gently, without expecting miracles—you can get from “words on a screen” to “a demo you can play for someone” in the same afternoon.
Further reading
For a research-grounded overview of text-to-music generation and its open challenges (like prompt alignment and structure), look up the 2025 review “AI-Enabled Text-to-Music Generation” (Electronics, MDPI).
Pennsylvania researchers are spearheading some of the world’s most promising medical and other technological advances.
University of Pennsylvania scientists helped develop a personalized cancer immunotherapy that programs a patient’s own immune cells to kill tumors, while other UPenn researchers made the groundbreaking mRNA discoveries behind the Covid-19 vaccines. University of Pittsburgh scientists recently pioneered better ways to diagnose breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. Carnegie Mellon engineers, meanwhile, made breakthroughs on autonomous driving technology that have since been further developed by Ford and Volkswagen, and their computer science graduates are among the most highly sought after new hires.
But now, the Commerce Department is floating a proposal that would impede the commercialization of university researchers’ most compelling discoveries from ever reaching American patients and consumers.
