The Senate has given final approval to three gun control bills which now head to Governor Christie's desk. They include a measure that forces state-run pension funds to divest from companies making military-style guns for consumers. Another would require people applying for gun permits to submit some mental-health records to a national background check system. The third would disqualify anyone … [Read more...]

Monmouth County residents are being asked to voluntary adopt an odd/even schedule for outdoor watering to prevent the need for more stringent summertime restrictions. New Jersey American Water says over the last 100 years, the population in Monmouth County has increased from about 8,000 to more than 800,000. But the amount of available water has remained essentially the same. At the start of … [Read more...]

A man who gained Internet fame as "Kai, the hatchet-wielding hitchhiker" says he's not guilty of a murder charge. Caleb McGillivary is being held in a state jail after he waived extradition following his arrest in Philadelphia on May 16. The 24-year-old is charged with beating 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy to death after they met in New York City. Galfy's body was found in his Clark, N.J., … [Read more...]

Today begins what’s expected to be the first heat wave of 2013. Temperatures are expected to hover in the upper 80s and two agencies are warning about air quality. The state DEP and National Weather Service have issued an “orange” alert for Monmouth and Ocean Counties due to southwest winds which will bring dirtier air to the region. They say ozone levels will reach unhealthy levels for … [Read more...]

Starting Friday, NJ Transit is bringing back a no beverage policy for North Jersey Coast Line trains whenever there is a concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Concert promoter, Live Nation, operates a shuttle between the Matawan train station and the Arts Center. Officials say the ban was put into effect at the tail end of last year’s concert season after they had to deal with underage … [Read more...]

Governor Christie says he's optimistic he and the Democrat-led Legislature will strike an agreement on a state budget by the June 30 deadline. Christie says he expects the two sides to make a deal that does not include his signature tax cut. Christie wants to phase in a 10 percent tax cut over four years. Democrats have sy the state doesn't have the revenue to support the cut. The governor and … [Read more...]

It looks like the latest embarrassing episode in the athletic department will not cost the Rutgers University president his job. Governor Christie has given President Robert Barchi a public show of support, saying he has "absolute confidence" in the president who was brought in last year to turn the state's flagship public university into a medical sciences powerhouse. Some lawmakers are … [Read more...]

An attorney representing six gas stations accused of selling aviation fuel as regular gas denies they were aware of the switch. The Keyport Delta and the Manasquan Lukoil are among the stations listed in a lawsuit filed by the state attorney general's office. The lawyer says the stations' parent company, Pasmel Property, bought the fuel from distributor Zephyr Oil. Vida says delivery tickets … [Read more...]

President Obama says the Jersey Shore is back and open for business. Seven months after Hurricane Sandy bore down on the Garden State, the President told shore residents they were stronger than the storm. Obama says the job of repairing the damage isn't done.   He says he came back here, in part, to show he's still committed to putting the federal government to making the Jersey Shore … [Read more...]

Schoolchildren from two shore communities battered by Superstorm Sandy will join Michelle Obama for a garden harvest this week. The White House says the first lady will also be joined Tuesday by students who helped plant the crops last month. The students are from Union Beach Memorial School in Union Beach and Long Beach Island Grade School in Ship Bottom. Both schools were damaged in last … [Read more...]