Bill to make Christie repay 2016 security costs advances

TRENTON — A bill to force Gov. Chris Christie and all governors who follow him to reimburse New Jersey taxpayers for travel and security expenses associated with their out-of-state political trips easily cleared the Senate’s State Government committee Thursday. “All we are asking for is fairness here,” said Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), the bill’s sponsor. “If… Read the rest of this entry »

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Cats found abandoned after parents allegedly abducted own son

NEPTUNE — It’s still not exactly clear why Michael and Emy Streko allegedly abducted their own son — taking him from his grandmother’s home in Green Brook, where she had custody of the 8-year-old. But when Michael Streko cleared out the Neptune City home where family members had previously lived together, he left behind two cats… Read the rest of this entry »

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Businesses damaged by Sandy may get new chance to seek federal help

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Monday to allow businesses damaged by Hurricane Sandy to again seek federal disaster loans. The legislation to reopen the application process was passed by voice vote in response to reports of delays in the Small Business Administration loan process, where the agency was overwhelmed by requests for assistance… Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon: We MUST move forward on pension and budget reform

By Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

Now that the 2016 budget debate is over, we must get back to the most pressing state issue of our time.  The suggestion of some in the public worker sector that those of us who voted against the budget are in favor of our abandoning our commitment to ensuring their pensions is completely false.  For any responsible elected official, and decent human being, it is imperative that we meet our commitments in a way that protects our pubic workers – and the NJ economy at the same time.

The reason we couldn’t make a payment larger than the $1.3 billion one included in the Governor’s budget has nothing to do with a lack of will or integrity.  It’s about devoting as much $ as possible without inflicting massive, economy-killing, tax increases on an economy just now showing signs of real growth.  Without economic growth there will be no chance we will be able to meet our commitments to the system in the many years to come – so ensuring growth is as important to public workers as anyone else.  We don’t simply have a $1.8 billion deficit this year. We have a $6 to $7 billion hole over the next few years. Taxing the life out of our economy this year, with no plan going forward – and leaving us in a $2 billion hole next year as the Democrat’s proposed budget would – is bad policy, for all New Jerseyans.

But it is true as well that we can’t foster growth to the exclusion of our obligation to our dedicated public workers.  And I can’t state that point vehemently enough.  Our teachers and other public workers are decent, devoted, professional people.  Generalizations to the contrary are without merit.

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Lakewood patient doesn’t have Ebola, state says

A patient who was taken overnight to a local hospital because of Ebola-like symptoms has a conventional travel-related illness, not the deadly virus, a spokeswoman for the N.J. Department of Health said. While the patient had recently traveled to Africa, “this person had not even traveled to an Ebola-affected country,” said Donna Leusner, the spokeswoman. Nor… Read the rest of this entry »

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Possible Ebola case being investigated in Lakewood, reports say

LAKEWOOD – A person who recently returned from Africa has been hospitalized with Ebola-like symptoms, according to multiple reports. State and local police responded overnight, Tuesday into Wednesday, to what was classified as a “hazmat situation” in the area of Squankum Road and East Kennedy Boulevard, NBC reported. Sources told The Lakewood Scoop that the patient,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, July 10-12, 2015

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, July 10

• Shakespeare on the Lawn: Titus Andronicus (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• Big the Musical at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Mary Poppins at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Mary Poppins at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• Closure at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• ReImagine! Art Show (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• A Doll’s House by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Freedom Fest State Fair (Allentown) – MORE INFO
• Campfire on the Beach at Sandy Hook – MORE INFO
• Battery Gunnison/New Peck Restored on at Sandy Hook – MORE INFO

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Naked woman visits South Jersey Wawa

NBC10 (Philadelphia) reports that a naked woman entered a Wawa convenience store yesterday morning in the Burlington County town of Delran.

The woman left without making a purchase and the Delran police told NBC10 they were unaware of the incident.

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Christie signs bill giving EMS contract to hospital chaired by power broker Norcross

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie on Monday signed a bill that wrests control of emergency ambulance services in Camden from one south Jersey hospital chain and gives it its competitor, Cooper Health, overseen by south Jersey power broker George Norcross. Virtua Health, with hospitals in Voorhees, Marlton and Berlin in suburban Camden County, has provided advanced… Read the rest of this entry »

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Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino’s lawyer wants off tax fraud case

NEWARK — Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s lawyer says he no longer wants to defend the former “Jersey Shore” star against tax fraud charges because he’s not being paid. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Wigenton on Monday set July 21 for a hearing to decide whether she’ll allow Richard Sapinski to withdraw as Sorrentino’s attorney. Sapinski represented… Read the rest of this entry »

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