N.J. approves expansion of its annual bear hunt

TRENTON — The state Department Environmental Protection approved a plan Monday to expand the New Jersey bear hunt, including the addition of new hunting areas and the use of bows and arrows. The December hunt, which has drawn criticism from environmental groups since its inception, will be permitted this year in all of Hunterdon, Morris and… Read the rest of this entry »

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See which bills Christie acted on in big frenzy on Monday

Gov. Chris Christie has a busy day Monday, acting on dozens of bills sitting on his desk. Here is a look at some key measures he either vetoed or signed: BILLS HE VETOED * He outright vetoed legislation that… Read the rest of this entry »

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2015 elections likely saw lowest voter turnout in N.J. history

TRENTON — This past Tuesday’s elections in New Jersey are likely to make history, according to a prominent pollster — but not in a way that would make Garden State politicians proud. Only 20.8 percent of registered voters in the state turned up to the polls on Election Day, according to a preliminary analysis by Patrick… Read the rest of this entry »

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Teachers Union — and Its Money — Helped Shape Outcome of Assembly Races

Gov. Chris Christie may claim in places like New Hampshire and Iowa that he has tamed New Jersey’s public employee unions, but you wouldn’t have known it from the smile on the face of one union’s leader. “We had a terrific week,” said Wendell Steinhauer, president of the New Jersey Education Association, as his union gathered… Read the rest of this entry »

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Fred Dalton Thompson, 1942-2015

The Tennesseean reports that the popular character actor who became a U.S. senator and Republican presidential hopeful has passed away. Mr. Thompson died after a recurrence of lymphoma, according to a statement issued by the Thompson family. “It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our… Read the rest of this entry »

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Ex-Middletown fire chief ordered to repay $6.7M from securities fraud

NEWARK — When Vincent Falci took money from clients, he told them he was investing it in securities that would provide them with a healthy return. But instead of investing that money, Falci used most of it to buy several homes for him and his family, among other things, officials said Tuesday in announcing an order… Read the rest of this entry »

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Secret scheme kept Catholic hospitals out of N.J.’s largest network, hospitals say

TRENTON — New Jersey’s largest insurance company “schemed in secret” to deliberately exclude Catholic hospitals from participating in a new plan that will lure customers with cheaper premiums, the president of the Catholic HealthCare Partnership said Monday. Sister Patricia Codey, the partnership’s president, said she could draw no conclusion other than religious discrimination to explain why… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sunday will be last chance to see a Super Blood Moon until 2033

For the first time in more than 30 years, you can witness a supermoon in combination with a lunar eclipse. Late on Sept. 27, 2015, in the U.S. and much of the world, a total lunar eclipse will mask the moon’s larger-than-life face. Watch NASA’s live stream from 8:00 p.m. until at least 11:30 p.m. EDT… Read the rest of this entry »

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Drought watch issued for 12 counties, 6 million people as N.J. water worries worsen

A drought watch has been issued in parts of 12 New Jersey counties, encompassing more than two-thirds of the population, after months of dry, warm weather that have driven the state’s water supply to worryingly low levels. Rainfall totals in parts of northern and central New Jersey have been just over 50 percent of average over… Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Smith Announces Grant For Anti-Domestic Violence Program

Congressman Chris Smith announced today that the New Jersey Coalition For Battered Women has been awarded a $82,882 grant by the U.S. Justice Department.

Smith authored the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, the legislation that first authorized the federal program funding this grant.

“The New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women is a valuable resource for women and children across our state who have been victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and violence,” said Smith. “The NJCBW’s mission is to end violence against women and its work is critical to ensuring women and their families have the resources necessary—and readily available—to break the cycle of domestic violence.”

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