Sweeney pushes forcing bigger N.J. pension payments by changing constitution

Senate President Steve Sweeney. file photo by Art Gallagher

TRENTON — State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney introduced legislation Monday that would cement state officials’ promises to fund government workers’ pensions in the New Jersey constitution. Such a constitutional amendment requiring the state to make payments into the public retirement fund was the expected to be the next step after the state Supreme Court this summer… Read the rest of this entry »

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Holiday season is also Holiday Express season

Holiday Express, in a concert setting. This holiday season, Holiday Express will bring high-spirited holiday music to 81 homeless shelters, psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers and other places where live music is seldom heard. And it won’t charge the facilities a penny. About 150 musicians donate their services to make those 81 shows happen – about 50… Read the rest of this entry »

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Masked gunman robbed $3K from poker game at Union Beach firehouse, police say

UNION BEACH — A gunman clad in dark-colored clothing and a ski mask robbed a poker game being held at the Union Beach firehouse on Saturday night, police said. Police Chief Charles Ervin said at around 8:45 p.m. a man entered the side door of the firehouse on Union Avenue, displayed a gun and fled with… Read the rest of this entry »

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Woman accused of hiding Xanax in her vajayjay

KEANSBURG — A Piscataway woman who didn’t want Keansburg police to find prescription drugs on her hid them where she thought cops wouldn’t find them. Keansburg police said that when Erica Chapman, 34, was taken into custody for heroin and marijuana possession, she hid some Xanax pills in, according to police reports. Chapman was arrested on… Read the rest of this entry »

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Eatontown man just released from prison charged with burglary in retirement community

Robert Meloni

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP — An Eatontown man released from prison last week found himself behind bars yet again after he was charged Wednesday in connection with at least one burglary in a retirement community. Robert Meloni, 51, was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools after police identified him as a person… Read the rest of this entry »

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Angelini Concedes LD 11 Loss

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini released the following statement after the certification of the November 3rd elections: 

“The voters of the 11th District have spoken and I respect the choices that they have made. I congratulate Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling and wish them nothing but the best.

Serving in the Legislature for the past eight years has been an incredible experience that I will always cherish.

I am proud of my legislative accomplishments and especially, my efforts to shine a light on the issues affecting the more vulnerable segments of our society, including young people and individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.

I am forever grateful for the many wonderful friends, colleagues and supporters who helped make my time in the Assembly such a tremendous experience. I thank the residents of the 11th District for giving me the opportunity to serve and I look forward to what the next chapter of my life will bring.”

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 4-6, 2015

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 4

• Christ Church at Four Corners Lantern Tours (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Miracle on 34th Street at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Time for a Miracle by Lighthouse Stage Productions (Monmouth Beach) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Murder Mystery Dinner Theater (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Travis Tritt at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Emily Kinney from The Walking Dead (Asbury Park) – MORE INFO
• Winter Solstice: A Seasonal Artisan Market (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• 12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• A Little Shakespeare: Pericles at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Holiday Tree Lighting in the Park (Highlands) – MORE INFO

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Syrian family first to arrive in N.J. since Christie’s ban on state help

A family of seven on Monday became the first to arrive for resettlement in New Jersey since Gov. Chris Christie directed state agencies to stop helping Syrian refugees settle here. The international aid group Church World Service confirmed that a Syrian family it is helping arrived late Monday afternoon. So far, the group has received no… Read the rest of this entry »

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White House to Christie: We’ll tell you when Syrian refugees settle in N.J.

WASHINGTON — The White House said Monday it will tell Gov. Chris Christie and other governors how many Syrian refugees are settling in their states. In a letter sent to Christie and obtained by NJ Advance Media, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said the information would be made available to any governor who requests… Read the rest of this entry »

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Trump on Christie 9/11 response: ‘He really needs to be careful about what he says’

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — After Republican front-runner Donald Trump painted a target on his back on Monday, Gov. Chris Christie spent much of the day refusing to hit back at the billionaire businessman he considers a friend. But as tensions between the two rose, Christie ended the day taking his own shots, saying that with Trump, “outrageous… Read the rest of this entry »

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