New Jersey Seeks Compensation for Minors Used in Monetized YouTube and Social Media Videos

PHILADELPHIA, PA—A violent incident occurred late last night in the 19th District, where two individuals were injured in a shooting inside a residence on the unit block of North Peach Street. The shooting took place at approximately 11:27 PM in a second-floor front bedroom.

A 40-year-old male victim was shot once in the neck and is currently in critical condition at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He was transported to the hospital by Medic 26. A 39-year-old female was also injured, having been shot once in the right shoulder. She is reported to be in stable condition after being transported to the same medical center by police.

A firearm was recovered at the scene of the incident. No arrests have been made as of now. The Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigation Group is handling the case, with early indications suggesting the shooting may have had a domestic motive. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the event.

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA—Stafford County Sheriff’s Office deputies successfully recovered stolen items and apprehended an intoxicated suspect involved in multiple thefts. The incident occurred late on June 24 when Deputy X.D. Bates encountered a male exhibiting signs of intoxication on a sidewalk in Garrison Woods.

Deputy Bates approached the individual, who was found asleep on the sidewalk, and was soon joined by Deputy P.J. Leon. During their interaction, the 22-year-old suspect admitted to possessing the drug “molly” and was detained for further investigation.

A search of the suspect revealed more than just controlled substances. Deputies found several identifications and credit cards in his bag that belonged to other individuals. Further investigation by Deputy Leon linked the suspect to recent vehicle break-ins in the Sky Terrace area, where wallets had been stolen.

The suspect now faces multiple charges, including public intoxication, possession of controlled substances, eleven counts of credit card theft, four counts of identity theft, two counts of larceny, and two counts of unlawful entry into a vehicle. He is currently held at Rappahannock Regional Jail. The stolen items have been returned to their rightful owners.

TINTON FALLS, NJ—A significant motor vehicle accident has prompted the closure of Tinton Avenue between Wayside Road and Pearl Harbor Road in Tinton Falls. The Borough of Tinton Falls Police Department has announced that the roadway will remain closed until further notice.

Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes and avoid the area to facilitate emergency response and accident investigation efforts. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The Tinton Falls Police urges the public to stay informed through their official communication channels for the latest on road conditions and reopening.

CUMBERLAND, MD—The Cumberland Police Department has issued an alert for 38-year-old Celina Sue Smith, who has been reported missing. Described as a white female, standing 5’6″ tall and weighing approximately 145 lbs, she has long brown hair and blue eyes. Smith was last seen in the area of Baltimore Avenue in Cumberland.

She was wearing a black blouse paired with black and gray leggings at the time of her disappearance. The local authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Celina Sue Smith’s whereabouts to contact the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600 immediately.

New Jersey Assembly Bill A5474 Seeks to Safeguard Rights of Minors in Online Video Content

Introduced by Assemblywoman Sadaf F. Jaffer and Assemblyman Reginald W. Atkins, New Jersey Assembly Bill A5474 aims to protect the monetary and privacy rights of minor children featured in online video blogs. The bill was introduced on May 18, 2023, during the 220th legislative session and seeks substantial amendments to current laws that would enforce stricter controls on the earnings and privacy of minors appearing in online videos.

The proposed legislation mandates that any online content creator who features their minor child or children in videos that meet certain criteria must compensate the child. This applies if the content creator’s videos either meet the platform’s monetization thresholds or earn compensation of at least $0.10 per view or interaction. Additionally, the bill stipulates that at least 30 percent of the creator’s compensated content within a 30-day period must include the likeness or name of the minor or feature a product or service advertisement associated with the minor.

Under A5474, gross earnings from videos featuring minors must be set aside in a trust until the child reaches the age of 18. If only one minor child appears in the content, a portion of the earnings equal to or greater than the percentage of content featuring the minor must be saved. If multiple children qualify under these rules, the reserved earnings are to be divided equally among them.

Furthermore, the bill grants individuals who were featured as minors in such videos the right to request the deletion of those videos from any internet platform once they reach 18 years of age. This includes content uploaded by their parents or legal guardians that generated income through advertisements. Platforms are required to take all reasonable steps to comply with these deletion requests.

The amendments also require that any contracts with internet platforms involving content that could include minors must explicitly notify the platform of the minor’s future rights to their likeness and earnings.

This bill not only modifies existing regulations to protect minor children from being exploited online but also ensures that any income generated by their appearances is secured for their future benefit, emphasizing the state’s commitment to protecting its youngest citizens in the digital age.

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD—A local resident of Montgomery Village used her math skills to secure a $50,000 win on the Maryland Lottery’s $20 Gold Rush 777 scratch-off game. The woman meticulously calculated the 25 prizes she uncovered, leading to her substantial win.

The winner expressed her disbelief and joy. “I couldn’t believe it. I was very happy,” she remarked. She prefers to scratch her tickets at home in a quiet environment, which proved beneficial as she discovered multiple winning amounts on this occasion.

Her winnings included two $10,000 prizes, three $5,000, fourteen $1,000, one $500, and five $100 prizes, summing up to $50,000. After realizing the total, she shared the exciting news with her husband. “I showed my husband and he couldn’t believe his eyes,” she commented.

Her husband, equally astonished, accompanied her to the Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. “I was shocked, too,” he said, sharing in the excitement. Despite the win, the couple is still deciding on the best way to utilize the money.

The ticket was purchased at Rodman’s Discount Store in Silver Spring, located at 4301 Randolph Road. This Montgomery Village winner is the second person to claim a $50,000 second-tier prize on the Gold Rush 777, which still has four unclaimed prizes at this level and three of four top prizes of $1,000,000 remaining. An Anne Arundel County mechanic won the first $1,000,000 prize in May.