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.
The girls' father said he was able to get his 2-year-old twins out in time, but is now grappling with the loss of his oldest daughters.
The newly-freed woman claimed she was defending herself from an abusive boyfriend. Prosecutors say she was the aggressor in the relationship
Ken Palczewski died Thursday at the age of 58, after a battle with cancer. His family has set up a scholarship fund in his memory.
"Nina's Friends" is described as an international suspense thriller, set during the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Township officials and Board of Education members have been working on a revised agreement to keep school resource officers in the district.
Online fundraisers have been started to support families of the victims of Thursday's serious crash, one of whom is 4-year-old Yexsel.
Authorities said the charges stemmed from a two-year investigation into illegal poker clubs and online gambling operations in North Jersey.
“I want it to be a warning for everybody," Alina Habba said during an appearance on Fox News.
Both lanes of the highway are closed as officials investigate, and the local school district said buses home will be delayed.
Officers found a knife nearby, and later arrested a Mahwah man on aggravated assault charges.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today across New York City.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today in the Garden State.
Ken Palczewski had been the principal at WVHS for more than 10 years, and his career in education spanned more than three decades.
The borough mayor said the criminal investigation was unrelated to the councilman's municipal government role.
The meeting was originally set for Wednesday night, as the Board of Education prepares to appoint a new superintendent.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today in the Garden State.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today across New York City.
The income needed to buy a typically-priced home in New Jersey has jumped by 54 percent since 2020, according to this study.
There's a risk of flooding, as well as even some snow. Here's the latest forecast:
The crash happened at an intersection along Route 23. Crews contained a small spill, then worked for hours to offload and upright the truck.
