newjerseynewsroom.com

Unemployment insurance: A stabilizing lifeline for New Jersey communities

BY HILDA L. SOLIS

COMMENTARY

For millions of unemployed workers across the country, unemployment insurance benefits can make the difference between putting food on the table and being out on the street. With an average weekly benefit check of $304, most recipients still struggle. But at least they can afford the basics in the midst of what can be a lengthy and frustrating search for employment.

Last...

NJ Horse Angels accused of defrauding donors

State alleges trustees of unregistered charity Sharon Catalano-Crumb and Frank Wikoff of Phillipsburg spend $61,422 on themselves

The state Division of Consumer Affairs announced Friday that it has filed suit against an unregistered Phillipsburg-based charitable organization that solicited $145,132 in donations to supposedly save horses from being killed and processed into pet food, and used at lea...

Bolstering shared public services to keep property taxes down highlight of Monday Assembly agendas

Two Assembly committees will meet Monday to discuss ways to promote shared public services among cities, towns and counties in an effort to control property taxes and consider legislation to restore income eligibility for an AIDS drug distribution program, create a statewide oral health campaign and combat Huntington's Disease.

The Environment and Solid Waste Committee will hear from state Communit...

Former UMDNJ administrator Frank Watts pleads guilty

Accepted $17,000 in home improvements from contractor

A former administrator at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has pleaded guilty to accepting an expensive gift from a contractor to whom he steered numerous university contracts. The contractor pleaded guilty in October.

Frank X. Watts, 59, of Oxford, the former director of the physical plant at UMDNJ, pleaded guilty to second...

New Jersey medicinal marijuana agreement reached

Drug will be dispensed at 6 centers, no home delivery

An agreement has been reached on state regulations for medicinal marijuana that will attempt to ensure the program will have adequate safety and security controls, Gov. Chris Christie announced Friday.

The agreement was worked out between the Republican governor, state health officials, and Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), the sponsor of the...

N.J. bear hunt appeal denied by state court

Hunters to begin hitting the woods Monday in 7 counties

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A state appeals court decision Friday eliminated what may have been the last barrier to preventing a six-day bear hunt in seven New Jersey counties that is set to begin Monday.

It will be the state's first black bear hunt since 2005.

Late Friday, lawyers for the appellants, the Animal Protection League of Ne...

True confessions – I got bailed out by Fed’s Ben Bernanke!

BY PAM LOBLEY

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

NOW THAT'S FUNNY

Now that Wiki is leaking all over the place, and a new regulatory bill requires Wall Street to have increased transparency and disclosure about its dealings, all kinds of secrets are coming to light.

It turns out the Federal government was bailing out people left and right during 2008. We knew they were shoveling money into Wall Street, but we are ...

Camden’s massive layoffs cause concern for public safety

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Financial troubles in Camden continue. Despite pleas from local residents, one of the most crime-riddled cities in the United States is about to lay off about half of its public safety forces.

Camden City Council approved the layoff proposal unanimously on Thursday in spite of angry arguments from workers and residents to find a way to save the jobs.

Camden has a smal...

N.J. lawmakers need to reform affordable housing, arbitration and civil service rules before year ends

BY WILLIAM G. DRESSEL, JR.

COMMENTARY

It has now been five months since the governor and Legislative leadership agreed to impose a 2 percent levy cap on New Jersey municipalities. At that time, there was universal recognition that more reforms were needed to make that cap workable.

Until our state's policy makers recognize the connection between property tax relief funding and property taxes, our tax...

Newark police don’t care for their own like Atlantic City

BY STEVE ADUBATO

COMMENTARY

It's starting to happen. The concept of government cutbacks and the reality of actually seeing government services curtailed or eliminated is a very different story. Everyone says they want government to spend less, but what they don't understand is that spending less sometimes means we get less of what we care about.

Consider the fact that in the city of Newark, just th...