newjerseynewsroom.com

Acting Gov. Sweeney directs Christie aides to apply for federal disaster aid

Funds could cover blizzard damages, cleanup costs

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Acting Gov. Stephen M. Sweeney Tuesday directed Gov. Chris Christie's top aides to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster aid to cover damages and costs stemming from the Sunday blizzard.

Sweeney sent a message to Richard Bagger, Christie's chief of staff, and Jeff Chiesa, the governor's ch...

Mega Millions winning number gets $200M

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Looking for a quick financial windfall to help you celebrate the new year? The largest Mega millions drawing since May has just grown even higher.

Lotterypost.com reports the grand prize for tonight's Mega Millions drawing has been raised to $200 million from the previous estimate of $196 million, established after nobody won Friday's top prize.

The lump-sum cash value ...

N.J. DEP to hold public meeting on Morris County sewer service on Feb. 9

30 towns involved in issue

The state Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting to discuss Morris County's draft sewer service area map on Feb. 9, part of planning efforts to update water quality management plans for the New Jersey's Northeast, Sussex, Upper Delaware and Upper Raritan regions.

The meeting will allow the public to learn about and discuss the sewer service area ...

N.J. State Archives has new website detailing 3,427 New Jerseyans who died in WWI

At least 3,427 New Jersey armed service members died in World War I and now the State Archives has developed an online database designed to help people searching for information on those who gave their lives in the Great War.

In late 1919, after America's two-year role in the war ended, the U.S. War Department issued to state adjutant generals cards for the recording of information on deceased sold...

New Jerseyans want better access to beaches replenished with state aid

Surfers urge Gov. Christie to change his position on issue

More than eight out of ten New Jerseyans agree that when the government funds beach replenishment in shore towns that have limited beach access, they should be required to improve visitor access, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Center for Public Interest poll made public Tuesday.

In all, 82.1 percent of adults support an improved access requ...

New N.J. law requires recycling of TVs and computers

Electronic waste can no longer be left at curb with trash

Old TVs, computers and computer monitors — items known collectively as electronic waste, or e-waste — must be recycled as of Saturday, New Year's Day as required by the new state Electronic Waste Management Act.

"We expect a smooth transition thanks to the work of municipalities, counties and manufacturers who have been cooperating closely wi...

Question for the New Year: Is America in decline?

BY GERALD J. ROBINSON

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

COMMENTARY

There's a great deal of handwringing about the future of the United States as the world's largest economy and its world leadership. Many believe the remarkable growth of China and the anemic recovery of the U.S. from the Great Recession are harbingers of our decline in coming years to second class status. Pundits dourly claim that history shows t...

Will Gov. Christie risk career by spending billions on new Abbott schools?

BY MURRAY SABRIN

COMMENTARY

Governor Chris Christie has received high praise for his "60 Minutes" appearance more than a week ago. He was blunt and unapologetic. He diagnosed the issues correctly. New Jersey is broke. The state cannot afford to fund a new tunnel under the Hudson River. The state's unfunded liabilities are getting worse every passing day. There is no more money to fund an expan...

NBA contraction: LeBron James says he didn’t mean to get rid of N.J. Nets

BY EVAN WEINER

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

THE BUSINESS AND POLITICS OF SPORTS

There is nothing like a feud in sports and apparently LeBron James has picked a senseless fight with the National Basketball Players Association, the New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves. It would have made far more sense for LeBron from Miami to call one of the sports talk radio shows in Miami than tell NBA beat reporters...

Newark Charter School Fund spending more on itself than it's giving out

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

In its first two years of operation, the Newark Charter School Fund spent more on consultants and internal compensation than it gave in grants to local schools.

Tax records show that administrative expenses accounted for 42.6 percent of the fund's expenditures in 2008-09, which non-profit monitors describe as an unusually high amount.

While putting almost $2.4 mill...