newjerseynewsroom.com

N.J. spraying perfume on landfill to fight back odor

Dump trying to be a good neighbor

If you've ever driven behind a sanitation truck on a hot summer day, you know that the odor is far from pleasant.

Imagine living nearby a 200-plus acre landfill site that receives more than 1,000 tons of garbage a day.

"It's terrible," said Jerri Shink, of Ellison Road, who spoke to The Star-Ledger. "You can't open a window. At times [the smell] will permeate the wal...

Enhance transparency by changing N.J. PAC requirements

BY JEFF BRINDLE

COMMENTARY

It has been said that while reforms are often necessary and to the benefit of the public they sometimes have unintended consequences.

The Election Law Enforcement Commission's (ELEC) recent analysis of special interest PAC activity underscores this point. It showed that the level of special interest PAC activity involving New Jersey elections returned to late 1980's, early...

Christie, in part, blames Washington bureaucrats for loss of $400 million in federal education aid

Here is a transcript of Gov. Chris Christie's responses to reporter's questions regarding his administration's loss of an opportunity for $400 million in federal education because, at least in part, of an incorrect response to a question on the application.

REPORTER: Governor, on the Race to the Top funds regarding the 4.8 point mistake, I was wondering if there is a review of how this mistake was m...

Poll finds state aid for public schools and colleges a priority for New Jersey parents

Results made public day after state chance for $400 million in federal funds

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The majority of New Jersey parents of high school students believe the state government's top budget priorities should be funding for K-12 education and higher education with healthcare a distant third, according to a Richard Stockton University/Zogby poll made public Wednesday.

The maj...

Water buffalo helping preserve N.J. farmland

BY SANDY STUART PERRY

Brian and Courtney Foley are a new breed of dairy farmer, staking their future on a new breed of bovine --- at least to New Jersey.

The Foleys are raising water buffalo, whose high-butterfat milk is ideal for making a gourmet mozzarella cheese known in Italy as "mozzarella di bufala." Although common in other parts of the world, water buffalo are a rarity in New Jersey.

"We knew...

Mistake cost N.J. $400 million in education funding

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

New Jersey fell just short of being one of the 10 finalists selected for hundreds of millions in education funding through the Obama administration's Race to the Top education grant program. A silly error on New Jersey's application for the grants might have cost the state $400 million.

A panel judged the lengthy applications on a 500-point scale. New Jersey finished...

Oliver wants to know how Christie administration made $400M mistake in Race to the Top application

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

UPDATED

The Christie administration's bid for $400 million in federal Race to the Top education aid fell three points shy of finishing in the money because officials incorrectly answered an application question that cost 4.8 points.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) Wednesday said she wants to know how the foul up occurred.

"This is a stunning $400 mill...

Swimming with sharks, New Jersey diver faces her fears

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEW JERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

In a summer of shark sightings, shark alarms, everything but shark lattes, an Englewood author and diver is offering advice on "Chasing the Shark."

While Rosanne Masone does not mean the title to be taken literally, she has come mask to nose with the creatures in the wild. Swimming with sharks is just one of the adventures she has experienced since she took a lea...

What's for dinner? Go forage.

BY PAM LOBLEY

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

NOW THAT'S FUNNY

On the list of ridiculous, time-consuming trends, add a new one: foraging for your food.

It's the latest obsession among food snobs. There are high end restaurants and markets out in Los Angeles and San Francisco where the menus are at least partially made up of foraged food. I guess that means, well, some stuff they found growing next to a sidew...

N.J. will only accept new birth certificates from Puerto Rico

New document must be obtained by Sept. 30 for use as identification

Effective Sept. 30, all birth certificates issued by the Puerto Rican government prior to July 1 will be deemed invalid for identification by the New Jersey state government, including the Motor Vehicle Commission.

The birth certificates will not be accepted when individuals are attempting to obtain a Digital Driver License, MVC Chi...