69News:Regional: Western NJ

Atlantic City's newest casino emerges from bankruptcy

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:29:25 GMT

Who says the house always wins?

Atlantic City's Revel casino lost $149 million from its April 2012 opening through the end of March.

Success may not yet be a sure bet, but the struggling casino formally emerged from bankruptcy court Tuesday.

The pre-planned Chapter 11 action wiped out $1.2 billion of the casino's $1.5 billion debt by giving lenders 82 percent ownership.

Jeffrey Hartmann, the casino's interim CEO, said Revel is now free to concentrate on growing the business in the Northeast's hyper-competitive market.

The $2.4 billion resort opened 13 months ago with sky-high hopes, including that the new casino hotel would help turn around Atlantic City's sagging fortunes.

But business decisions were made for Revel that flew in the face of what had worked when things were going well for Atlantic City. It banned smoking, didn't offer a buffet, turned its back on bus-riding day trippers and focused on upscale leisure travelers more than slot-playing senior citizens.

Also, construction of Revel started just before the economy cratered and it was too far along to scrap when things were at their worst. Revel's owners decided not to build a second hotel tower when the project ran out of money halfway through construction.

Located on the boadwalk, Revell has 1,399 hotel rooms and a 130,000-square-foot casino with more than 2,400 slot machines and 130 table games.

In filings with securities regulators, Revel said it was worth no more than $450 million and it could take four years to become fully profitable.

Revel has ranked near the bottom of Atlantic City's 12 casinos in terms of the amount of money won from gamblers and Atlantic City has lost its position as the nation's No. 2 market to Pennsylvania

2 Pohatcong projects funded by state transportation grant

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:49:59 GMT

Two big repair projects in Pohatcong Twp., Warren Co., New Jersey, have been green-lighted, thanks to a state transportation grant.

Repairing a section of Maple Avenue over the tributary to the Lopatcong Creek and building a retaining wall on River Road are the infrastructure repairs that will receive half a million dollars in aid.

The money comes from the N.J. DOT's Transportation Trust Fund.

The Maple Avenue project will receive $100,000 and the River Road project $400,000.

With the state's assistance, Pohatcong Twp. will only have to contribute $361,000 for the two projects.

“Pohatcong Township is grateful that Governor Christie, Commissioner Simpson and the Department of Transportation have dedicated much needed funds for infrastructure improvements," said Mayor James R. Kern III.

"Both the projects were priorities of this Council and with state funding we will be able to complete them much quicker than previously anticipated. The extra funds take a major load off of Pohatcong taxpayers and this is always much appreciated. I also cannot thank enough our Township Engineer Gwen Steckel for her work on securing these grants. Without her effort, this would have not been possible.”

NJ lawmakers to make smoking 21 and over?

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:43:22 GMT

Some lawmakers in New Jersey want to raise the state's minimum age for buying a pack of cigarettes from 19 to 21.

New Jersey state Senator Richard Codey and Assemblyman Ruben Ramos announced the plan Thursday and plan to introduce the bill Monday to the state legislature.

"This is mostly a preventative measure where smokers become habitual smokers. Research shows us between the ages of 18 and 21 they become life long smokers and obviously it becomes much more difficult for them to kick the habit" said Ramos.

Even though some young smokers like 22-year-old Jack Barlow, may agree with the health concerns, they don't think a new law will have any impact.

“It won't make a difference at all. I've seen people 18 and they still can't get cigarettes but they find the cigarettes one way or another, no law is going to change that,” said Barlow.

Others, like Phillipsburg N.J. resident Janel Romagnoli think the proposal is unfair.

“I feel if you're 18 and go in the Army and shoot people and kill people, why do you have to be 21 to buy cigarettes or drink alcohol?” Romagnoli asked.

The bill won't just prohibit the sale of regular cigarettes to those under 21, but also electronic cigarettes, which don't contain any tobacco but do have nicotine.

For Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, a cancer survivor himself, it's all about health.

“Legislation comes from life experiences and some comes from my experience of being a cancer survivor and what I went through, and what can be prevented for other young people potentially to not have to go through what I went through” he said.

Body of missing N.J. fisherman found

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:03:47 GMT

Authorities have found the body of a New Jersey fisherman who was reported missing Wednesday.

Dennis Swanson, 51, of Somerville, Somerset County, was reported missing by his family around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when he didn't return from fishing near Spruce Run State Park in Hunterdon County.

New Jersey State police, state park police and conservation officers immediately began searching the area with help from a state police helicopter.

The search resumed Thursday with additional help from the missing persons unit, Hunterdon County detectives and state police divers.

Thursday morning, Swanson's vehicle was located on a remote dirt road near the reservoir, officials said.

Divers located a capsized canoe and recovered Swanson's body in six feet of water about 70 yards offshore.

He was not wearing a life jacket.

The cause and manner of death are pending.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-788-1129.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010 or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging.

All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.

Alpha votes to prohibit future asphalt plants

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:40 GMT

With a four to two vote, the Alpha Borough Council voted to prohibit the manufacturing of concrete and asphalt within the industrial zone of their municipality in a meeting on Tuesday night.

In 2011, Alpha debated plans for an asphalt plant, and although that plant decided to move elsewhere, this latest ordinance prevents any other asphalt plant from coming into the municipality with very definitive language in an amendment to Code Section 410.20 regulating I Industrial Zone.

As adopted in this meeting, the ordinance now prohibits the "development, production, storage, deployment, usage or fabrication of radioactive materials" as well as "non-municipal outdoor vehicle, leaf and sludge recycling, treatment, conversion or composting of any type," and non-municipal recycling facilities.

Addressing the asphalt plant issue directly, the prohibited uses now include the "manufacturing, processing and/or storage of concrete and/or bituminous concrete." The council went on to discuss the legal definition of concrete to ensure residents in attendance that their concrete goods were not in danger of becoming contraband. The type of concrete that is prohibited is the concrete in liquid form that is produced and stored in liquid form. This does not include concrete mix that can be purchased retail and used for household products, nor final products that are made of concrete including common goods such as bird baths.

The new ordinance also does not prohibit manufacturing plants that create concrete products. Firms that intend to manufacture items like concrete basins are welcome to locate within Alpha, and the distinction in the ordinance is between the processing of concrete as a product, which is banned, and concrete as an ingredient or material utilized in the creation of another final product. Raw concrete will no longer be a permissible manufacturing product in the borough. No changes were made to the portion of the ordinance that relates to permissible uses.

Phillipsburg to crack down on rules, code of conduct for youth sports leagues

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:09:25 GMT

The Town of Phillipsburg is creating a new message for youth coaches: Get in the game or take your ball and bat and go home.

Town council is serious about upgrading, creating and enforcing a new ordinance regarding youth sports background checks of coaches and managers and a code of conduct for all participants and their parents before youngsters take any town field, rink or courts with organized sports teams.

“This is not to hurt the children, but to protect the children,” noted Councilman Todd Tersigni during Tuesday night’s town council work session.

Lack of compliance with existing background checks on the part of some managers and coaches of youth teams was the impetus behind the discussion.

The goal is to adopt rules and regulations governing the use of town fields. The town already has in place a policy for the use of facilities, but is seeking to develop a better set of rules and regulations, according to comments made Tuesday night by town attorney Richard Wenner.

Mayor Harry Wyandt said rules and regulations are “fine and all” but that “set deadlines” had to be set for coaches to register prior to each sporting season. Wyandt suggested a month prior to the start of the season could be a good place to start. He also added that the ordinances currently in place “need more teeth.”

“If they don’t complete (the registration) they don’t use the field,” Wyandt said.

Councilman James Stettner said that would also include visiting teams coming into the borough as well.

“You can’t hold one people to a set of standards and not hold the other,” Stettner commented.

He also noted that background checks, while a crucial component of the amended ordinance, was not the entire scope. Stettner said a “code of conduct” that included coaches, children and their parents.

“Believe it or not parents, sometimes, end up being the biggest problem,” he said.

One of the other fissures is that there are youth clubs in town whose leadership remains consistent, while others changes frequently, according to Dawn Slifer, superintendent of the town’s department of recreation. The lack of continuity can become an issue.

“It’s tough to get coaches,” she said. “I empathize with these guys. Sometimes they are catching up with coaches right before the season starts. Sometimes they are fielding teams and they don’t even have anyone to coach them.”

Still, compliance means compliance.

“They have to understand they are using town and taxpayer facilities,” Slifer said. “And they have to comply every year.”

“This is about being proactive instead of being reactive,” said President Bernie Fey, Jr. of the proposed changes.

Wenner was asked to come back with a legal draft of the ordinance for council’s next work session, which is scheduled for June 11.

Councilman John Lynn was absent from Tuesday night’s meeting.

Demolition begins on roller coaster destroyed by Sandy

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:57:06 GMT

Workers have begun demolishing perhaps the most famous symbol of Superstorm Sandy's devastation at the Jersey shore.

They're taking apart the remnants of the Jet Star roller coaster that plunged off an amusement pier in Seaside Heights into the ocean during the Oct. 29 storm.

A spokeswoman for Casino Pier said it should take about four days to remove the ride with crews working around the clock.

Images of the coaster in the water have appeared hundreds of times and been used to help sell memorabilia to raise money for storm victims.

The coaster also drew attention in January when Christopher Angulo, formerly of Douglassville, Berks Co., climbed to the top of the mangled coaster and placed a U.S. flag on top of it.

Angulo, who said he was trying to raise awareness about shore recovery, was charged with disorderly conduct.

House fire flares in Flemington

Tue, 14 May 2013 20:37:30 GMT

Volunteer firefighters from several area companies were fighting a house fire Tuesday afternoon in Flemington, N.J.

The fire was at 19 Church St. in the borough. The occupants of the heavily-damaged house, a mother and her two young children, escaped safely and were taken to Hunterdon Medical Center for evaluation.

Investigators from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Investigation Unit and the Hunterdon County Arson Task Force are on scene conducting a preliminary investigation.

"At this time, the fire does not appear suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing,” said John Kuczynski, chief of detectives in the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.

Mom, 2 children escape burning home in Flemington, officials say

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:52:23 GMT

A woman and her two children have managed to escape a burning home in Hunterdon Co., N.J., without serious injury, officials said.

Firefighters responded Tuesday afternoon to the reported fire at 19 Church St. in Flemington.

The woman and two children who were inside the home when the fire started were taken to the Hunterdon Medical Center for evaluation.

"At this time, the fire does not appear suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing," said Chief George Becker, Flemington Police Dept., adding that the county's arson task force and the prosecutor's office's arson investigation unit are helping to search for the cause.

Additional witnesses sought in brazen jewelry store heist

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:36:41 GMT

Police and prosecutors put out a plea Tuesday for additional witnesses to come forward with information about a daring jewelry store robbery in Hunterdon Co., N.J.

Five men, armed with handguns, took over the Roman Jewelers store on Route 12 in Flemington on May, 5, ordering customers to the floor, police said.

Surveillance cameras captured images of the dramatic scene as it unfolded just before 12:30 p.m.

Detectives with the Flemington Police Department and the Hunterdon County prosecutor's office, along with the FBI, are working several leads in the case, but investigators said they still need help from anyone who witnessed anything in the parking lots near the jewelry store.

"We have learned that there are witnesses that observed the suspects fleeing from Roman Jewelers and running into the main Liberty Village parking lot," said Prosecutor Anthony Kearns III. "Witnesses may have also observed the vehicles used by the suspects to flee the scene."

Anyone who may have witnessed or come in contact with the people involved in the robbery is asked to call the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office or Flemington Police Department at 908-788-1129 or 908-782-3435.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010 or by going to crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.

Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in the robbery.

Prince Harry to see NJ storm damage, visit NYC

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:47:26 GMT

Britain's Prince Harry is headed to the New Jersey shore to visit two communities hard hit by Superstorm Sandy.

From there he'll travel to New York City to promote British trade and a community baseball program.

With New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as his tour guide, Prince Harry is scheduled to stop Tuesday morning in the towns of Mantoloking and Seaside Heights on a slender barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean.

Every one of Mantoloking's 521 homes was damaged or destroyed by Sandy last October, and scores of homes remain piles of rubble. Residents of the wealthy community, largely a summer retreat, were not allowed to move back until February.

A man on Tuesday hoisted two Union Jacks near where the prince is scheduled to walk down a road along the Barnegat Bay side where many houses were obliterated. The area is near where a breach occurred and the Atlantic Ocean met Barnegat Bay during the storm.

As he heads south, Harry will see a sign welcoming him in the Camp Osborn section of Brick Township, where 68 homes burned to the ground in a fire fueled by natural gas leaks.

Someone in Lavallette nailed a plastic laundry basket to a pole with a sign welcoming Harry.

In Seaside Heights, which was the home to MTV's reality show "Jersey Shore," the prince will see a famous image from the storm: a roller coaster that plunged off an amusement pier and into the ocean. Its demolition is scheduled to begin several hours after his visit concludes

He'll also get to see the community's rebuilt boardwalk, which is about two-thirds complete.

New Jersey sustained about $37 billion worth of damage from the storm. Mantoloking and Seaside Heights took the worst pummeling by Sandy's storm surge.

About 360,000 homes or apartment units in New Jersey were damaged by the storm.

In New York, the prince will attend an afternoon event promoting British trade. He's then due to throw a pitch to promote a community baseball program involving a new partnership with the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The foundation bills itself as the culmination of the charity lives of Prince Harry and his brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate.

On Tuesday evening, the prince is the honored guest at a Manhattan fundraiser for the foundation.

Before leaving the country, Prince Harry travels Wednesday to Greenwich, Conn., to captain a polo team as part of the Sentebale Polo Cup.

The prince began a weeklong visit to the U.S. on May 9.

Cody Ziegler, NJ fugitive, discovered during Easton traffic stop

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:01:43 GMT

A man wanted on a warrant out of New Jersey was taken into custody after a traffic stop in Easton, officials said.

Cody C. Ziegler was arrested at a convenience store in the 200 block of Cattell Street in Easton at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, after police discovered a 10-month-old warrant for his arrest out of Somerset County, officials said.

Court papers did not indicate why police stopped Ziegler.

Ziegler did not appear for arraignment on a charge of operating a motor vehicle during a second suspension for DWI in Somerset County and a warrant was issued last July 20, officials said.

Ziegler, 32, of 12 Readington Rd., Whitehouse Station, was arraigned on a charge of arrest prior to requisition and was committed on $150,000 bail to the Northampton County Prison, where he is awaiting extradition, according to court documents.

Kobe: Mom wasn't given permission to sell my stuff

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:34:08 GMT

Kobe Bryant said in a court filing that he never gave his mother permission to sell mementos from his high school days and early professional basketball career.

Bryant is in a court battle over whether hundreds of items can be auctioned off.

Pamela Bryant said the NBA star told her the memorabilia was hers. She arranged earlier this year to auction it off through Berlin, N.J.-based Goldin Auctions and received a $450,000 advance.

Last week, lawyers for the NBA star wrote to the auction house demanding it cease the June sale. Goldin is suing to assert its right to sell.

In a filing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Camden, Kobe Bryant said his mother acknowledged to him recently that she did not have permission to sell the items.

Anthony McMellon and Dawn Bowke of Flemington charged in purse snatching

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:42:22 GMT

Fast action by several law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two suspects following a strong-arm robbery Tuesday morning in Lambertville.

Lambertville police officers Michael O’Rourke and Sharon Polyak were dispatched to 55 Bridge St. on a call of an attempted purse snatching shortly before 9 a.m.

The victim, a 48-year-old woman from Princeton, reported that minutes earlier a white male wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses attempted to forcibly take her handbag.

As the woman resisted, another male going by came to her aid and attempted to grab the suspect, who fled into a gold minivan driven by a female accomplice.

Other witnesses provided police with a vehicle description and license plate number. Descriptions of the vehicle and suspect immediately were broadcast to surrounding police agencies.

The vehicle was stopped about 30 minutes later near Route 29 and Fiddlers Creek Road by officers from Hopewell Township Police Department.

Anthony McMellon, 36, and Dawn Bowker, 34, both of Flemington, were taken into custody by Hunterdon County and Lambertville police investigators.

The suspects' 18-month-old child was found inside the vehicle, improperly restrained but unharmed.

McMellon was in possession of a knife and Bowker had drug paraphernalia.

Both were arrested and charged with robbery, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon, child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspects were processed at Lambertville police headquarters, awaiting judicial review of bail.

“These arrests might not have been made so quickly if not for the outstanding coordination between officers from the Lambertville, Hopewell Township and West Amwell Township police departments, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Department," said " said Lambertville Police Director Bruce Cocuzza. "These officers all did an outstanding job."

Lambertville Mayor David M. DelVecchio commended all officers involved for a “job well done” and added that “the witnesses who came forward to help investigators also deserve high praise."

Construction begins on new P'burg HS -- again

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:59:49 GMT

As New Jersey mom Carrie Korski sees her daughter off to school she's skeptical she'll ever see a new Phillipsburg High School.

"I've been here 10 years and I haven't seen any progress on it," Korski said.

Looking at the current site of the future school in Warren County -- which is covered with weeds -- you get an idea of what Carrie is talking about.

"This is a great day for the Phillipsburg School District," District Superintendent George Chando said at a podium Tuesday.

The latest cause for celebration by the district and the New Jersey's School Development Authority is an $80 million construction contract.

"We're very confident the awarding of this contract will ultimately bring about the construction, beginning sometime in early September," Chando said.

But if this seems like déjà vu -- it is.

In the fall of 2009 then-Governor Jon Corzine, in the midst of a re-election campaign, was in Phillipsburg with plenty of pomp and circumstance.

The goal? To celebrate the first school groundbreaking and a fall 2013 target date.

The difference today? CEO of the School Development Authority Marc Larkins said in 2009, the celebration was for site preparation only, while this contract is to actually build the building.

"What happened four years ago was a little out of the ordinary for the organization. It was a different administration, different times," Larkins said.

However, moms like Carrie will continue to be skeptical until a new school is built.

"I would love to see it happen but right now on the fence," she said.

The scope of the school -- which is expected to open in the fall of 2016 -- has been scaled back.

Its total cost is around $110 million.

Gov. Christie has weight-loss surgery

Tue, 07 May 2013 23:04:10 GMT

His weight has been talked about in political circles and in the media but that could all change.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he secretly underwent lap-band surgery in February.

Christie says it's nobody's else's business.

"The steps I have taken recently are for me and Mary Pat and the kids and if asked about it I would never lied about it," said Christie.

Christie says after wrestling with obesity for more than 20 years, he realized he needed to try something different.

He had lap-band surgery in February.

"It's a device that is put in place with a band around the top portion of the stomach just below its junction with the esophagus," said Dr. Richard Boorse of Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Boorse says it's a procedure that helps people with a body mass index of 35 or greater lose weight slowly by making them feel fuller, quicker.

But Boorse says it's not magic.

He says Governor Christie will have to eat right and exercise or he could gain weight.

"This isn't something to feel better tomorrow this about being healthier for the rest of your life and try to extend your life for as long as you possibly can," said Christie.

"Bariatric surgery is a lifesaver and literally in an adulthood adds 7 years of lifespan," said Boorse.

Political pundits are already speculating what this will mean for Christie's political career and a possible run for the White House in 2016.

"It might take a topic off of the table," said John Reynolds, political science professor at Moravian College.

Reynolds says the media may talk about Christie's weight now but by the time the presidential election rolls around the conversation will likely change.

"Immigration and gay rights and health care and those things. By the time, three years from now I think those things will clearly overshadow anything about weight," said Reynolds.

In case you were wondering, Christie has reportedly lost 30 pounds since his surgery.

Roman Jewelers in Flemington, NJ robbed Sunday

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:44:25 GMT

Police in Hunterdon Co., N.J., are asking for the public's help in identifying five men who held up a jewelry store at gunpoint.

The holdup happened just before 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Roman Jewelers on Route 12 in Flemington.

Five men stormed through the front door of the store, bound some employees and ordered customers to the floor, said Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony Kearns III.

The men, Kearns said, were armed with handguns, but no shots were fired.

"This was a disturbing and traumatic crime for those victimized by these assailants," said Kearns. "The store employees and customers did everything right, remaining calm and calling 911 as soon as it was safe to do so. They should be commended for their actions."

Police believe the men left in two midsize sedans: a white Chrysler 300 and a black Audi 5 or BMW, both believed to have Pennsylvania license plates.

The robbers were described as black men who tried to mask their identities by wearing articles of clothing, hooded sweatshirts and construction helmets, officials said.

Somerset County provided a K9 unit to search the area, and an 'all points bulletin' was issued for all of Pennsylvania.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hunterdon County prosecutor’s office or the Flemington Police Department at 908-788-1129 or 908-782-3435.

Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of any of the persons responsible for the robbery.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling the Crime Stoppers group at 1-800-321-0010, by going on online, or by text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging.

All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.

Phillipsburg SD ready to continue stalled high school construction

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:35:10 GMT

A project that stalled in the Phillipsburg, New Jersey, School District is back on track.

The New Jersey School Development Authority has awarded an $80 million contract for the construction of a new high school.

Ground was broken on a new school in the fall of 2009, but the project didn't have enough funding.

Officials say construction on the new school will begin in September and it is expected to be finished in time for the start of the 2016 - 2017 school year.

WFMZ's Bo Koltnow will have more on this story tonight on 69 News at 6:00.

Police check out tank-swinging man at Centenary College

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:46:38 GMT

Police in Warren County, New Jersey, are investigating after someone reportedly threatened to blow up a college dormitory.

Police were called to the Anderson Dormitory at Centenary College at 400 Jefferson St. in Hackettstown around 7:15 Sunday night.

Investigators say a man carrying a pink helium tank was threatening to blow it up-- authorities originally thought he was referring to the dormitory.

The man is described as a black man with a grey hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Police say there was no imminent danger to the college or the town.

Anyone who saw something suspicious Sunday night in the area of Centenary College is asked to call the Hackettstown Police Department at 908-852-3302.

Gov. Chris Christie `saves' children from spider

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:13:19 GMT

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasn't in a pardoning mood when an itsy, bitsy spider crawled on his desk while he spoke to a group of schoolchildren.

The students spotted the arachnid near the governor's phone on Friday. Speaking softly, Christie gave the spider a smack down.

The governor told the students that another fun part of being governor is you're allowed to kill any bugs on your desk without getting into trouble.

Christie tweeted that he had ``saved a few school children from a spider.''

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals President Ingrid Newkirk issued a statement saying Christie probably killed it without thinking.

Newkirk said ``some people put the spider outside, but spiders are often scary'' and that can prevent people from pondering their worth.

Kobe Bryant battles mom, NJ business over auction

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:36:45 GMT

Kobe Bryant is in a court battle to try to keep his mother from auctioning off mementoes from his high school days in Pennsylvania and his early years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

A New Jersey auction house filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Camden on Thursday for the right to sell the stuff after the NBA star's lawyers wrote the firm telling it to cancel a planned June auction.

The disagreement is a high-value, high-profile version of a question many families face: Can Mom get rid of the stuff a grown child left at home?

In this case, the 900 mementoes happen to be worth upward of $1.5 million.

Among the first 100 or so items Pamela Bryant intends to sell: the NBA star's jerseys, practice gear and sweatsuits from Lower Merion High School; varsity letters; a trophy for being the outstanding player at the 1995 Adidas ABCD basketball camp; and a signed basketball from the 2000 NBA championship game.

And then there are rings, for the 1996 Pennsylvania high school championship, a pair that the Lakers made for Bryant's parents for the 2000 NBA championship and one from the 1998 NBA All-Star game.

According to court filings, Pamela Bryant struck a deal in January with Goldin Auctions in Berlin, N.J., which earlier this year sold a rare Honus Wagner baseball card for a record $2.1 million.

She got $450,000 up front, which she intended to use for a new home in Nevada.

In its court filings, Goldin says Pamela Bryant told the auction house that she asked her son five years ago what he wanted to do with the items that were in her home.

''Kobe Bryant indicated to Pamela Bryant that the items belonged to her and that he had no interest in them,'' the auction house's attorneys wrote. So she put them in a $1,500-per-month New Jersey storage unit.

The challenge came Tuesday when Goldin sent a news release announcing the auction. By day's end, Kobe Bryant's lawyer had sent a cease-and-desist letter telling the auction house to call off the sale and return the items to him.

Kenneth Goldin, owner of the auction house, says he can't cancel the auction because he's already advanced $450,000 to Bryant's mother and put money into advertising the auction.

Kobe Bryant's lawyer Mark Campbell said in a statement, ''Mr. Bryant's personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it. We look forward to resolving this legal matter through the legal system.''

Bryant has had a sometimes icy relationship with his mother and father, Joe ''Jellybean'' Bryant, a former pro basketball player who is now coaching in Thailand.

Man stabbed in Phillipsburg

Sat, 04 May 2013 01:54:24 GMT

Phillipsburg Police have charged one man after he allegedly stabbed another during a fight Friday.

Police say the man, whose name was not released, stabbed another in the 300 block of Grant Street. He was also hurt.

Both men were taken to St. Luke's Hospital, police said.

The charges are for Contempt of Court -- not stabbing -- however police say the investigation is ongoing.

2 airplanes clip while preparing to take off at Newark airport

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:18:46 GMT

Two airplanes taxiing while preparing for takeoff at Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday night clipped each other, authorities said.

No one was injured when the planes touched around 7:30 p.m. at one of the nation's busiest airports, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.

A Scandinavian Airlines plane's left wing clipped the tail of a United Airlines plane while they were on a taxiway.

Scandinavian Airlines Flight 908, bound for Oslo, Norway, was directly behind ExpressJet Flight 4226, destined for Nashville, Tenn., on the taxiway and was turning right to get onto another taxiway when its wing clipped the ExpressJet plane's tail, officials said.

The ExpressJet plane was towed back to the gate, and the Scandinavian Airlines plane taxied back to the gate, where passengers disembarked, New York's WNBC-TV reported.

The accident is being investigated. Scandinavian Airlines, which has hubs in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, didn't immediately respond to telephone messages and emails seeking comment.

ExpressJet Airlines released a statement Wednesday night saying it is "working in coordination with officials to determine a cause." All 31 passengers on the plane were re-accommodated, the airline said.

ExpressJet, which bills itself as the world's largest regional airline, operates as a United Express partner from United's Newark hub. United, which has headquarters in Chicago, is part of United Continental Holdings Inc.

Strapless dresses cause viral debate in Readington, New Jersey

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:09:30 GMT

Straps, or no straps? It's a question a lot of teen girls are asking themselves heading into prom season. And now it's also a question for a New Jersey school board.

Readington Middle School's plan to ban strapless gowns from its eighth grade dinner dance has been a hot topic in Hunterdon County, and Wednesday night the school board was given the final say.

For the last 10 days, strapless dresses have been on the minds of a lot of people.

Readington Middle School Principal Sharon Moffet announced the style would be banned from the eighth grade dance in June.

Wednesday night the reason changed from being a distraction to teenage boys, to fear of a wardrobe malfunction.

"The board and also the administration have agreed with us that it's basically a wardrobe malfunction and it's an issue of safety," explain Board of Education President David Livingston.

After voting, and re-voting a total of three times, the compromise was to allow a single strap or clear or spaghetti straps to the four-hour dance.

"With the internet and social media the way it is today and all of the events, I changed my vote," Livingston said.

Some parents say it's not enough, calling the compromise a cop-out.

"They didn't mention dress length, they didn't mention backless," added parent Melissa May. "And I'm sorry, but there's more of a possibility of a wardrobe malfunction with a short dress."

Her 14-year-old daughter Kaitlin still hasn't found a gown that fits the new rules.

"I think that the style right now is strapless," she added. "And it's really hard to find what they're wanting."

About 15 community members were at the meeting. Many spoke calling the wardrobe debate a distraction and a bad example for the students.

"I really feel embarrassed to be a part of this district right now," said May. "I really do."

The board also decided to form a committee made up of parents, teachers, students and administrators to revise the current dress code. They're set to meet this summer and hope to have something in place by September.

Readington School Board's strapless ban to be the hot topic of board meeting

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:39:42 GMT

Will the strapless ban stand? Wednesday night the Readington Township School Board will hold a special meeting to talk about a controversial dress code that says girls can't wear strapless gowns to an 8th grade dance.

The decision was made in April. Readington Middle School Principal Sharon Moffet announced she was banning strapless gowns from the year end June dance. The event is being held off school grounds, but Moffet says the attire on girls is too distracting for teenage boys.

"I applaud the principal for doing this," shared NJ teacher Erika Crowl. "And I know that's not a popular thing to say."

"I think the girls are young and they need to learn to respect themselves," added local Sue Webb.

A lot of people in town didn't agree, but they didn't want to go on camera. Some parents say the ban is sexist, while others say they already purchased dresses for the dance. Some angered by the decision feel it's up to parents, not the principal to determine what their children wear.

"It's up to the parent about whether or not they want them to do it," said college student Tiama Anderson. "I feel like they're over stepping their boundaries."

The special board of education meeting is set to start at 7:30PM at 52 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station NJ.