World Cup & NJ Spotlight: A Yucca Valley dancer, Gianna Hardison, performed with Shakira at the FIFA World Cup final halftime show in East Rutherford, sharing how a dance program led to nine days of rehearsals and a once-in-a-lifetime NJ moment. Shoreline Culture: Niche.com crowned Point Pleasant Beach as Ocean County’s top “favorite town,” highlighting the boardwalk-and-beach draw that keeps locals and visitors coming back. School Life & Tech: Plainfield Public Schools rolled out “Phones Down, Minds Up” ahead of New Jersey’s statewide school-day device ban, setting expectations for K-12 families and staff. Community Safety: Lavallette launched a “Helmet Hero” bike-safety reward program with police and Iceberg Ice Cream, using ice-cream coupons to push helmet use and safer riding habits. Immigration & Voting Tensions: Pennsylvania officials challenged Trump-era claims about noncitizens on voter rolls, saying DHS hasn’t shared its method or data clearly—raising fresh concerns about election integrity. Sports Business Buzz: BTS’ return is expected to boost local economies, with two August shows at MetLife Stadium and a citywide “BTS The City” map of activities for fans. Local Crime: An Atlantic City Beach Patrol lifeguard was charged after an undercover investigation allegedly targeted a meeting with a 15-year-old.