Give me a holler with story ideas, suggestions, or questions: michelle.rotuno-johnson@patch.com. You'll see my bylines in NJ and PA, and occasionally other places on Patch. I live in southern Ohio currently.
I "began" my journalism career at the age of six when I decided to produce a paper for my neighbors with looseleaf paper, a pencil, and some very amateur drawing skills. Now, I am a general assignment editor for Patch with our NJ/PA team, providing local news coverage to our readers in the region. I really enjoy covering local news and working with other Patch journalists.
My work has appeared in newspapers, on TV stations, and for a radio station as well as on digital platforms. I have undergraduate degrees in journalism and religion from Ohio Wesleyan University, and a double Master's degree in journalism and mass communication from Ohio University and the University of Leipzig in Germany. In 2014, I wrote a local history book on the Marion Popcorn Festival, which takes place every fall in Marion, OH.
When I'm not "doing the news," I am usually thinking about Star Wars, The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, or soccer. I am a big fan of Chelsea Football Club, both the men's and women's teams. I have a dog named Sprout and two cats, Scoops and Bast.
A rookie trooper arrested the woman, delaying medical treatment for hours and causing her to become permanently disabled, a lawsuit states.
The state Attorney General has joined in multiple lawsuits seeking to challenge the president's executive orders and policies.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today in the Garden State.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today across New York City.
Parents and guardians can now register their children online, if they are attending kindergarten or starting as a first-grader next fall.
Officials said Abel Herrera was cleaning snow off of his car when a driver hit him and fled, leaving him with fatal injuries.
A majority of people get their parole revoked for technical violations, not new crimes, according to the NJ Office of the Public Defender.
A seafood company has recalled cans of tuna sold at Walmart, Trader Joe's, and independent retailers in New Jersey due to a botulism risk.
A seafood company has recalled cans of tuna sold at Walmart, Trader Joe's, and independent retailers in Pennsylvania due to a botulism risk.
The man hurled racial slurs at a flight attendant and threatened the plane's captain after harassing other passengers, officials said.
The 55-year-old had just retired last January; he is the second NJ law enforcement officer to die in a snowmobile crash this month.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today in the Garden State.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today across New York City.
Officials said the man showed signs of being under the influence after the crash, which happened on I-80 West and killed another driver.
After the facilities' owners pleaded guilty to federal healthcare fraud, a state watchdog is moving to cut off their Medicare funding.
Data shows this is the most intense flu season since the 2009-2010 swine flu outbreak, with doctors' visits and hospitalizations surging.
Data shows this is the most intense flu season since the 2009-2010 swine flu outbreak, with doctors' visits and hospitalizations surging.
Drivers are advised to take U.S. 46 to avoid the area, after a depression opened up in the center lane of the highway Monday morning.
Even if you're not watching the game, plenty of pizzerias are slicing prices for National Pizza Day.
Some of the players suiting up in this Sunday's matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs got their start right here in the Garden State.
