N.J. Gov. Chris Christie plans privatization of up to 2,000 state jobs amid budget deficit (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
GOP governor is also considering invoking Disaster Control Act to suspend Civil Service rules to more easily lay off higher paid workers
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Winning numbers for $170M Powerball lottery drawing (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
The Star-LedgerThe Powerball jackpot climbs to an estimated $114 million for tonight's drawing. The winning numbers for tonight's $170M Powerball drawing are 17, 21, 37, 41, 50. The Powerball is 1 and the Power Play multiplier is 2. The jackpot...
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Number of homeless doubles in Morris County (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerFile photo of people attending the Morris County's health association's Project Homeless Connect day in 2009, in Morristown. The annual event provides resources and support to the homeless.MORRIS COUNTY -- The number of homeless people in Morris County...
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N.J. public entities spent more than $2M to lobby state government in past year (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerLobbyists crowd the hallway joining the Assembly and Senate Chambers at the Statehouse in Trenton in this 2008 file photo. TRENTON -- From small-town school boards to large independent authorities, public entities in New Jersey spent at least...
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Marijuana odor led police to investigate first home in $10M drug-production ring (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Patti Sapone/The Star-LedgerAttorney General Paula Dow, left, listens as Monroe Township Police Officer Thomas Lucasiewicz speaks during a press conference announcing the seizure of more than $10 million worth of marijuana and the arrest of two men and a woman...
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Port Authority of N.Y., N.J. offers grant to help finance new eco-friendly trucks (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Daniel Acker/BloombergTrucks drive through security check points at the Port Newark Container Terminal in Port Newark, N.J. on Feb. 4, 2009. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is offering grants to help truckers purchase new vehicles to...
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N.J. Democratic special interest groups spent nearly $4M attacking Chris Christie during governor's race (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerRepublican Chris Christie, independent Chris Daggett and Democrat Jon Corzine prepare to face off in the first gubernatorial debate in 2009 NJN Studios in Trenton. Reports released today showed that Democratic special interest groups spent nearly $4 million...
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School bus crash in Newark sends children to hospital (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
William Perlman/The Star-LedgerThe car that crashed with a school bus at the scene of a accident at Lyons Avenue and Hunterdon Street in Newark. Children on the school bus were sent to the hospital. NEWARK — Two children were sent...
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Newark council candidate asks for review of demolition contract with FBI informant (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
JOE EPSTEIN/THE STAR-LEDGERFormer Newark Deputy Mayor Ronald Salahuddin in a 2007 photo. NEWARK -- A city council candidate is asking Newark City Hall to review the demolition contract for Douglass-Harrison Homes after contractor Nicholas Mazzocchi was identified as the FBI...
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Clinton man with HIV who preached abstinence is charged with sexual assault (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Ed Murray/The Star-LedgerIn a 2006 photo, Rick Webster, then 16, of Tewksbury, talks about having HIV. Webster, now 20, has been charged with having sex with a girl under the age of 16. Another victim has been linked to the...
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Judge declares second mistrial for N.J. blogger accused of threatening federal judges (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Chris Pedota/The RecordRadio talk show host Hal Turner does his broadcast over the internet from the living room of his apartment in North Bergen, N.J., Jan. 22, 2003. Turner is accused of threatening three federal judges. NEW YORK — A...
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Morris County officials prioritize bus routes to be spared from NJ Transit budget cuts (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerA Morris Metro bus parked on Speedwell Avenue in Morristown in this 2000 file photo. All but the most frequently used route in the 25-year-old county bus system would be eliminated, possibly as soon as May 1, by...
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NJ Transit cop from Irvington pleads guilty to official misconduct in drug bust (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
NEWARK -- An NJ Transit police officer arrested for possession of nearly 4 pounds of marijuana in 2008 pleaded guilty today to charges of official misconduct, the state Attorney General’s Office announced. Barrington Williams, of Irvington, already suspended from his...
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N.J. $10M marijuana bust in five suburban communities surprises neighbors (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
3,370 pot plants found in homes in Monroe, Old Bridge, Millstone, Manahawkin, Manalapan
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Plainfield 17 year old will be tried as an adult in drive-by shooting of 2 boys (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
NORTH PLAINFIELD — A 17-year-old Plainfield boy is being charged as an adult for trying to kill two juveniles in North Plainfield on Halloween, according to court papers signed today. Kelvin Mejia, of West Fourth Street, is accused of first-degree...
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Jersey City police officer is charged with bank fraud (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
SECACUS — JERSEY CITY — A Jersey City police officer was charged today in federal court with bank fraud for allegedly lying to secure a loan of about $530,000, authorities said. Brian Ragauckas, 36, of Secaucus, falsely claimed he was...
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Appeals court upholds conviction, sentence of N.Y. man who killed South Amboy woman (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Patti Sapone/The Star-LedgerA file photo of Sheng Kwee Teo, 43, of Queens, N.Y., who was convicted and sentenced for killing Nee Nee Tan, 35, in her South Amboy home on Nov. 11, 2004. An appeals court panel today upheld his...
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Old Bridge housing assistant gets jail time for stealing agency funds (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
OLD BRIDGE -- The former administrative assistant at the Old Bridge Housing Authority has been ordered to serve 180 days in the Middlesex County jail for stealing $2,224 from the housing authority to pay her rent. Superior Court Judge Frederick...
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Perth Amboy employee gets probation for stealing city funds in Vas probe (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Ana Pastrana must also repay $12K
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Independence Township man charged with sexual assault (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
Kevin J. Ebner Jr., 24, of the first block of Barkers Mill Road, is now accused in cases involving three women.
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New Brunswick mayor seeks sixth term (Wed, 10 Mar 2010)
VIC YEPELLO/The Star-LedgerNew Brunswick mayor James Cahill is seeking a sixth term.NEW BRUNSWICK -- New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill announced today he is seeking the Democratic Party nomination to run for a sixth term. "In the next four years,...
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