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 65-year-old woman was walking along the sidewalk when the officer lost control of his SUV and jumped the curb, a lawsuit claimed.
With Giving Tuesday on the horizon, here are some ways to give back to the local community.
Prepare for chilly and wet weather to end the week, forecasters say.
OpenTable's Top 100 is based on insights and reviews from diners, not food critics. See which NJ eateries were the cream of the crop:
Catch up with the stories making headlines today across New York City.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today in the Garden State.
The iconic New Jersey sandwich chain is looking to accelerate the expansion it's built on over the past 10 years.
Schools budgeted about $20K per student in the 2023/24 school year, but some planned to pay $80K or more. See the cost in your district:
U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William Scott, 21, was one of 310 American servicemen who died or went missing during "Operation Tidal Wave."
The nation’s largest budget airline has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020, and is seeking to return to profitability.
The nation’s largest budget airline has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020, and is seeking to return to profitability.
Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley were among 149 New Jersey high schools who earned a College Success Award in 2024.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today across New York City.
Catch up with the stories making headlines today in the Garden State.
These rankings are meant to help parents see if schools provide a quality education and prepare students for the future, the authors said.
This bridge from the horse-and-buggy era is a rare sight, as it's normally submerged underwater. It dates back to the 1800s.
Power lines fell into the roadway on Monday morning, police said.
One person died and 15 were hospitalized after a multi-state outbreak of E. coli linked to recalled organic carrots, said health experts.
One person died and 15 were hospitalized after a multi-state outbreak of E. coli linked to recalled organic carrots, said health experts.
Residents are asked to take a travel safety survey that will help officials identify concerns and potential solutions to address them.
