Podcasts about mycentraljersey

This episode was originally published on The Murder Sheet's main feed on January 3, 2025.The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.On this week's episode we used information from:CNN's coverage of the murders of Archie Harris and Betty Ramcharan and the latest news from outgoing District Attorney Mimi Rocah: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/31/us/new-york-new-suspect-double-killing/index.htmlNew York Post's coverage of the murders of Archie Harris and Betty Ramcharan and the latest news from outgoing District Attorney Mimi Rocah: https://nypost.com/2024/12/30/us-news/ny-da-drops-bombshell-about-new-suspects-in-mysterious-case-of-murdered-millionaire-aide-after-30-years-5-trials/We also relied on reporting from the Journal News accessed via Newspapers.MyCentralJersey.com's reporting on Kenneth Saal's failed appeal in the murder case of Carolyn Byington: https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/2023/01/23/south-jersey-man-gets-55-years-in-murder-of-plainsboro-co-worker/69826425007/NJ.com's reporting on Kenneth Saal's failed appeal in the murder case of Carolyn Byington: https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2024/12/lunch-break-killer-denied-appeal-of-55-year-sentence-in-nj-co-workers-murder.htmlWKYC's coverage of the successful of Sydney Powell in the murder of Brenda Powell: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/akron/sydney-powell-appeals-court-reverses-conviction-2020-murder-mother-akron/95-0f69b07e-4869-4d5e-b25a-ecc3bad80c07The Trace's coverage of the arrest of Maurice Byrd in the shooting death of Stephen Strassburg: https://www.thetrace.org/2024/07/shooting-gun-self-defense-pennsylvania/NBC Chicago's coverage of the arrest of Maurice Byrd in the shooting death of Stephen Strassburg: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/barrington-man-accused-of-killing-lake-county-doctor-claims-self-defense/3624128/PhillyBurbs.com's coverage of the arrest of Maurice Byrd in the shooting death of Stephen Strassburg: https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2024/07/13/hatboro-maurice-byrd-stephen-strassburg-razor-reeses-york-road-horsham-murder-self-defense-mongomery/74350477007/Pre-order our book on Delphi here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep 199: A woman is found stabbed to death in her home. Her killer is quickly apprehended, but a court ruling may put her family's quest for justice on hold. Sources for Today's Episode: Family VIS Law and crime.com Njcourts.gov Nbc Nj.com Tapinto.net Mycentraljersey.com Psychology today Credits: Written and Hosted by Amy Shlosberg and Meghan Sacks Produced by James Varga Audio Editor, Script Editor, Music by Dessert Media Show your Support: The easiest way you can support us is by leaving a review, telling your friends, sharing on social media or by sending us a note. We love to hear from our audience! You can also support the show through the following ways: Follow Us on Social: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/womenandcrime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenandcrimepodcast/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@womenandcrime Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenandcrime Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/womenandcrime Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenAndCrime Patron - ad-free shows starting at $2 a month, or upgrade to get an extra episode every month, exclusive AMAs with the hosts, lecture series on criminal justice, our true crime book club, and more! Check out our Patreon page for more info: https://www.patreon.com/womenandcrime Apple Subscriptions - Exclusive episodes and ad-free regular stories are now available through Apple's podcast app for only $4.99 a month. Merchandise - For T-shirts, Hoodies, notebooks, stickers and mugs check out: https://www.womenandcrimepodcast.com/merch Help is Available: If you or someone you know is in a crisis situation, or a victim of domestic, or other violence, there are many organizations that can offer support or help you in your specific situation. For direct links to these organizations please visit https://womenandcrimepodcast.com/resources/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE 243 - Patrick Lombardi - A Listener, Now a Guest - Junk Sales and Food Truck RecipesPatrick Lombardi was born and raised in New Jersey and currently resides in Mercer County. He graduated from Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., with a bachelor's degree in English. He is a full-time employee with the state and contributes to BestofNJ.com. He also has been published in outlets such as BuzzFeed, NJ.com, The Times of Trenton, Odyssey, MyCentralJersey.com, Courier News, Home News Tribune, and Patch.com. His first book, Junk Sale, a collection of humorous short stories and essays, was published in August 2018. His second book, The New Jersey Food Truck Cookbook, hit shelves February 13, 2023.​BooksJunk Sales - Stories and Essays - Don't expect to find any hidden gems at this junk sale.In writer/journalist Patrick Lombardi's debut book, tales get twisted and encounters get heated. This collection features more than a dozen humorous short stories and nonfiction essays. Lombardi has crafted a hilarious adventure into his own little world, where a man finds love while committing burglary, a fresh college graduate does his best not to get hired, and a bitter server verbally abuses his guests. So buckle up for a chaotic ride of stories that live up to their collective title. Junk Sale is bound to make you laugh so hard you'll cry—or cry so hard you'll laugh. Either way, you'll cry. Isn't that the point of humor?The New Jersey Food Truck Cookbook - Discover the best of the Garden State's booming food truck scene...Whether appearing at food festivals, catering personal and business events or just serving up lunch on the job site, New Jersey's food trucks are some of the best in the nation. These eateries on wheels offer mouthwatering favorites alongside innovative interpretations of iconic dishes. The Jersey Roll truck and shop keeps tradition alive, slinging the Garden State staple pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich to the masses. Beach vibes and good eats are found at the Surf and Turf truck, where the BLT lobster roll offers a twist on the coastal classic. Baking some of the best cheesecakes in the region for more than forty years, Maddalena's opened a roving dessert truck that serves the deliciously different cheesecake on a stick. Popular publication BestofNJ.com presents profiles of the best New Jersey food trucks, including easy-to-cook recipes from some of their most delectable meals.https://www.patricklombardi.com/___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/MindShift Power Podcast is for teens, about teens, and anyone who works with teens. Many of the guests will be teens from all over the US and Canada. We will discuss issues that involve teens. Solutions start with conversations. Real conversations can not happen unless we are honest.https://www.fatimabey.com/podcastSupport the showBuzzsprout is our podcast host for this show!Ready to find a better podcast host for your show? Get a $20 credit applied to your new Buzzsprout Account by using our link! Starting a new show or looking for a better host? Buzzsprout is amazing!https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1855306Please note! To qualify for this promotion. All accounts must remain on a pay plan and maintained in good standing (paid in full) for 2 consecutive billing cycles before credits are applied to either party.

October 26, 1982: 15 year old Sharon Thor was getting ready for her dance lessons when the phone rang. She answered it, and was pleasantly surprised to hear from the person on the other end. after hanging up, she told her mother Sonia she would be right back, and ran out the door. that would be the last time Sonia would see her daughter alive.40 years later, Sharon's murder is still unsolved.Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers tips line at (888) 577-TIPS (8477). you can also go online to www.888577tips.org and click "Give Tips" or www.scpo.net and click "Crime Stoppers. there is a $5000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. You can also contact Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app, using access code SOMERSETNJ,  to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos.Sign the Petition. (n.d.). Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-the-thor-family-reopen-the-40-year-old-cold-case-of-sharon-m-thor-of-nj?redirect=falseCourier News. (2022, October 26). 40 years, no answers in killing of Franklin High School student. MyCentralJersey.com. https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/cold-cases/2022/10/26/cold-case-nj-sharon-thor-franklin-high-school/69588017007/Atomtabloid. (2022, October 2). A 15-year-old ballet dancer was killed 40 years ago. Her death is a mystery.NJTODAY.NET. https://njtoday.news/2022/10/26/a-15-year-old-ballet-dancer-was-killed-40-years-ago-her-death-is-a-mystery/Baxter, J. (2022, January 6). The Tragic Murder of Sharon Thor - Jenn Baxter - Medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@jennbaxter_69070/the-tragic-murder-of-sharon-thor-d88bc9a7854aCold Cases. (n.d.). Somerset County. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/affiliated-agencies/prosecutor-s-office/cold-casesSharon Marie Thor (1966-1982) - Find a Grave. . . (1966, October 28). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92796645/sharon-thorSharon Thor murder - Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25496522/sharon-thor-murder/Star-Ledger, J. G. (2009a, October 29). Somerset authorities pursue new leads in slaying of 15-year-old girl nearly three decades ago. Nj. https://www.nj.com/news/2009/10/somerset_authorities_pursue_ne.htmlStar-Ledger, J. G. (2009b, November 6). Authorities say new evidence suggests multiple suspects involved in 1982 Franklin slaying. Nj. https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/authorities_say_new_evidence_s.htmlStar-Ledger, N. C. (2009, October 1). Evidence sought in 1982 slaying. Nj. https://www.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2009/10/evidence_sought_in_1982_slayin.htmlSuzanne Russell, Courier News. (2019, October 18). NJ cold case: Franklin High School student found beaten to death in the woods 37 years ago. Courier News and Home News Tribune. https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/cold-cases/2019/10/18/nj-cold-case-franklin-high-school-student-sharon-thor-killed-1982/3946258002/Support the showIf you enjoyed learning about this case, check out our Instagram @bookofthedeadpodShoot us an email with a case suggestions or just say "hi" at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.comAnd don't forget to rate and review and share with your friendsMuch Love-Courtney and Lisa

Natalia caters to all the murder junkie tastes with this (never-covered-until-now!) 2019 murder case of the Lunchtime Killer of NJ: Kenneth Saal. This is MORE than your typical stalker story! A man obsessed enough to make a copy of house keys? Check. Spy cameras? Yes. A plot from jail for a copycat murder?! We're gonna tell you about it. Also, does anyone know if chewing gum will give you a more defined jawline? Send us a message on the socials! Sources Vogt, Erin. “Plainsboro, NJ 'Lunch Break' Killer Admits to Stalking, Murder, Cover-up Plot.” New Jersey 101.5, NJ Radio 101.5 FM, 2 Nov. 2022, https://nj1015.com/plainsboro-nj-lunch-break-killer-kenneth-saal-admits-to-stalking-murder-carolyn-byington-murder-for-hire-plot/. Cleary, Tom. “Kenneth Saal: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know.” Heavy.com, 22 Aug. 2019, https://heavy.com/news/2019/08/kenneth-saal/. “N.J. Man Gets 55 Years for Killing Co-Worker at Her Apartment While She Was on Lunch Break.” Edited by Daily Truecrime, NewsBreak, NewsBreak Original, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2908389494260-n-j-man-gets-55-years-for-killing-co-worker-at-her-apartment-while-she-was-on-lunch-break. Russell, Suzanne. “'I'm Sorry Every Day for My Choices': South Jersey Man Gets 55 Years in Murder of Plainsboro Co-Worker.” Courier News, MyCentralJersey.com, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/2023/01/23/south-jersey-man-gets-55-years-in-murder-of-plainsboro-co-worker/69826425007/. McCarthy, Craig, et al. “Kenneth Saal Hired Attorney before Being Suspected in Carolyn Byington's Murder.” New York Post, New York Post, 23 Aug. 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/08/23/kenneth-saal-hired-attorney-before-being-suspected-in-carolyn-byingtons-murder/. Smith, Jennifer. “Married Father Charged with Killing Coworker Hired an Attorney before Police Named Him as a Suspect .” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 23 Aug. 2019, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7388949/Married-father-charged-killing-coworker-hired-attorney-police-named-suspect.html. Link to police interview Saal gave nine days after murder: https://twitter.com/AvalonZoppo/status/1167511539710119938?s=20 Attrino , Anthony  G. “N.J. Man Admits He Murdered Co-Worker in Her Apartment When She Went Home for Lunch.” NJ.com, NJ Advance Media, 3 Nov. 2022, https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2022/11/nj-man-admits-he-murdered-co-worker-in-her-apartment-when-she-went-home-for-lunch.html. Jenna , Wise. “Accused Lunch Break Killer Visited Co-Worker's Apartment Complex before and after Killing, Prosecutors Say.” NJ.com, NJ Advance Media , 24 Oct. 2019, https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2019/10/accused-lunch-break-killer-visited-co-workers-apartment-before-and-after-killing-prosecutors-say.html.Link to Donate to Carolyn's Cause for Children's Brain Tumors: https://www.childrensbraintumorproject.org/2020/05/08/carolyn-byington/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tildeathdouspartpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tildeathdouspartpodcast/support

The drought is over! Rutgers men's basketball is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. The Scarlet Spotlight is pumped to bring you our Selection Special. First, it's Bob Wenzel, the head coach of RU's 1991 NCAA Tournament team, giving a RU history lesson and providing perspective for this team's accomplishments. Then, it's former RU manager and staffer Brad Wachtel discussing Facts & Bracks, his highly-ranked bracketology site. And then, MyCentralJersey's Jerry Carino and NJ Advance Media's Brian Fonseca join the show for a reporter's roundtable and a breakdown of Rutgers vs. Clemson. On the back end, Danny and Jon describe the emotions of Selection Sunday after a 30-year wait.   Learn more and stay up to date at thescarletspotlight.com Email - thescarletspotlight@gmail.com Join the Facebook Group - The Scarlet Spotlight Follow the show on Twitter - @scarletspotRU Instagram - @thescarletspotlight/ Follow Danny Breslauer on Twitter: @DannyBreslauer Follow Jon Newman on Twitter: @jonnew

The Scarlet Spotlight returns to a familiar guest for Episode 41, as MyCentralJersey's Jerry Carino comes on the podcast to preview the Rutgers men's basketball season. Jerry covers the full depth chart, breaks down the schedule and comments on Steve Pikiell's philosophy for the season. The NJ Hoops Haven also analyzes the RU/Seton Hall game on Dec. 14 and the atmosphere expected at the RAC, plus his thoughts on Scarlet Knights football's coaching search. Danny and Jon recap the RU/Liberty football game, preview RU men's and women's hoops and provide updates on the Olympic Sports. Learn more and stay up to date at thescarletspotlight.com Email - thescarletspotlight@gmail.com Join the Facebook Group - The Scarlet Spotlight Follow the show on Twitter - @scarletspotRU Instagram - @thescarletspotlight/ Follow Danny Breslauer on Twitter: @DannyBreslauer Follow Jon Newman on Twitter: @jonnew

February 28, 2018 Partly cloudy with high temperatures near 60. REPORT: ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS IN NJ ROSE 32% IN 2017 A report released Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League says the number of anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey increased by 32 percent in 2017, compared with the previous year, MyCentralJersey.com reports. New Jersey had the third highest number of incidents in the country, behind New York and California. Bergen County had the most incidents in New Jersey with 40, up from 28 in 2016. MURPHY CREATES JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Tuesday creating an economic advisory panel modeled on the federal government’s Council of Economic Advisers, NJ Spotlight writes. The 12-member Jobs and Economic Opportunity Council will use data to analyze economic trends and conditions to help guide Murphy’s administration in such areas as job creation and job retention. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver will be a member of the council. SUBWAY LINK BETWEEN NEW YORK AND NJ TO GET A LOOK The Port Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and NJ Transit have commissioned a study to look at ways of increasing commuting capacity across the Hudson River, and an extension of the No. 7 subway is one of the options that may get a look, The New York Times reports. The Port Authority’s executive director, Rick Cotton, said the subway option was one of a number of possibilities. BLACK LAWMAKERS PUSHING BACK ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA When he campaigned for office, Gov. Phil Murphy advocated the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey and many residents believe it will be only a matter of time before the Legislature takes action. But the Legislative Black Caucus has taken a skeptical view of the issue, The Record writes. In a three-hour hearing in Jersey City last week only two of the 17 people who testified to the caucus favored the concept of legal marijuana. “It will devastate the African-American community," said Bishop Jethro James of Paradise Baptist Church in Newark. ASIAN TICKS FOUND ON A SHEEP IN NJ The longhorned tick, which is native to East Asia, has been found on a sheep in New Jersey, NPR reports. The tick, which multiplies quickly by essentially cloning itself, was found on a sheep last August in Hunterdon County. This is the first recorded instance of all life stages of the ticks being found on unquarantined animals in the United States, authorities say. How the ticks ended up on the sheep remains a mystery.

February 22, 2018 Rain with temperatures falling from the upper 40s to the mid-30s. NJ STUDENTS HOLD WALKOUTS OVER SCHOOL SHOOTINGS In solidarity with students in Parkland, Florida, students across New Jersey staged walkouts from school Wednesday to demand action on gun control, NJ.com reports. Schools in Manahawkin, Voorhees, Hazlet and Middletown were among the places where students and faculty protested. Meanwhile, New Jersey teenagers are planning to participate in a national walkout planned for March 14, The Record reports. Gov. Phil Murphy has said the state Education Department will issue guidelines to schools so students can safely protest on that day. CAMDEN COUNTY FILES RACKETEERING SUIT AGAINST OXYCONTIN MAKERS In what is being called a legal first, Camden County has filed a racketeering lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, the company that makes the opioid drug OxyContin, and three members of the Sackler family, who own the company, ROI-NJ reports. The defendants “executed an epic scheme to deceive doctors (and the public at large) into believing that opioids can be prescribed for long periods of time, with little to no risk of addiction; a blatantly false premise,” the suit contends. Over-prescribing of opioid drugs has led to the heroin epidemic, and Camden County says its police have been left to deal with addicts and overdoses. $130 MILLION PLAN FOR FORT MONMOUTH FALLS THROUGH A $130 million deal to redevelop an 89-acre tract at the shuttered Fort Monmouth in Eatontown has been called off, the Asbury Park Press reports. The plan called for Paramount Realty Service of Lakewood to redevelop the land into a mixed-use town center called Freedom Pointe. After a year of negotiations, the fort’s redevelopment board and the developer were unable to reach a final agreement. Negotiations will be opened with the second-ranked bidder for the tract. PROTEST PLANNED AT RUTGERS OVER MINIMUM WAGE Student groups and unions are planning a rally and march Friday at Rutgers in New Brunswick to call for a $15 minimum wage for all university employees, MyCentralJersey.com writes. The event, set to begin at 1 p.m. in front of the Brower Commons dining hall, is part of several nationally coordinated days of action. Friday's action is being organized by the Rutgers chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops and the union that represents Rutgers professors. THINK TANK RECOMMENDS WIDENING OF NJ SALES TAX New Jersey Policy Perspective, a progressive think tank, says in a new report that the state should significantly expand the list of services that would be subject to sales tax, NJ Spotlight says. The new report on state tax policy says that widening the list of taxable services would increase revenues and add equity to the sales-tax structure as the state’s service sector expands. Want more? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

January 29, 2018 Mostly cloudy with rain and snow tonight. High temperatures in the mid-40s. U.S. REP. SIRES BOYCOTTING STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS When President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union Address on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Albio Sires of West New York will not be in attendance, NJ.com writes. "The congressman is not attending the State of the Union because many of his constituents are offended by the president's rhetoric and behavior," said Erica Daughtrey, a spokeswoman for Sires. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross of Camden and Analilia Mejia, executive director of the New Jersey working families alliance, wrote in a guest column on NJ.com that they intended to be in the audience for Trump’s speech. NJ JOINING NY, CONNECTICUT IN LEGAL CHALLENGE TO TRUMP TAX LAW The governors of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut said they are forming a coalition to file a lawsuit over the federal tax overhaul enacted late last year, The Washington Post reports. Specifically, Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut contend that the portion of the law that limits the amount of state property tax that can be deducted is unconstitutional. ARRESTS OF IMMIGRANTS SPARK PROTEST IN METUCHEN U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone of Long Branch and Bonnie Watson Coleman of Ewing Township joined hundreds of people demonstrating in Metuchen on Sunday to protest the arrest of two Indonesian immigrants after they dropped of their children at school last week, Patch.com writes. And last week Attorney General Gurbir Grewal called for a federal review of the arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers of the immigrants, Roby Sanger of Metuchen and Gunawan Liem of Franklin Park, The Record reports. Grewal says the arrests violated ICE’s policy of prohibiting enforcement action at sensitive locations. GARDEN STATE HAS HIGHEST FORECLOSURE RATE IN U.S. New Jersey’s foreclosure rate was the highest in the country for 2017, the Press of Atlantic City reports. New Jersey, which had 1.61 percent of its properties with a foreclosure filing, came in ahead of Delaware at 1.13 percent and Maryland at 0.95 percent, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, which curates a property database. Atlantic City had the highest rate of foreclosure of any metropolitan area in the country. NJ RESIDENTS NOT VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OPIOIDS, STUDY SAYS A new study says that most New Jersey residents are not very concerned about the dangers of prescription opioid drugs, myCentralJersey.com reports. The study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey finds that only 17 percent of the survey participants were very concerned about opioid drugs and 29 percent were somewhat concerned. In the final months of his tenure, Gov. Chris Christie made opioid drugs a signature issue. NJSPCA MUST COMPLY WITH OPEN RECORDS LAW, COURT RULES The state Open Public Records Act applies to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, even though it is a private, non-profit group, a state appeals court ruled on Friday. The ruling came in a case related to the society’s takeover of an animal shelter in Middlesex County, the New Jersey Law Journal says. But the court ruling might not apply later in the year when the society loses its law-enforcement authority.

January 16, 2018 Cloudy with high temperatures in the mid-30s. Snow possible this evening. AFTER TAKING OATH TODAY, MURPHY EXPECTED TO BRING BIG CHANGES Phil Murphy, a Democrat, will be sworn in today as governor of New Jersey and the state is expected to move to the left as Republican Chris Christie departs, The Washington Post writes. In addition to different political philosophies, Politico.com writes, the two men have vastly different styles, with Murphy being more diplomatic than Christie. But The Wall Street Journal writes that Murphy will still face significant challenges in enacting his progressive agenda because the state has a very tight budget. CHRISTIE SIGNS MORE THAN 100 BILLS, POCKET VETOES OTHERS On his last day in office, Gov. Chris Christie signed more than 100 bills into law, including measures to ban “bump stocks” in New Jersey and to disband the state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Patch.com reports. Among the bills he didn’t sign was a measure to allow public high schools in the same district to merge sports teams without New Jersey Statewide Interscholastic Athletic Association oversight or review, myCentralJersey.com reports. DEP SAYS IT WON’T CHANGE SEPTIC TANK RULES IN HIGHLANDS The commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martin, says that the Legislature acted outside its constitutional authority when it passed legislation abolishing a rule about the number of septic tanks allowed in the Highlands, NJ Spotlight says. The commissioner will be replaced this week as the administration of Phil Murphy takes over. WORKERS RALLY AT NEWARK AIRPORT FOR HIGHER WAGES Airport workers, union leaders and political office holders marched at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday to demand higher wages, NJ.com writes. More than 600 workers marched through Terminal B then headed over to Terminal C, where they heard from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Sen. Cory Booker. Workers at the Newark airport make less than their counterparts at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport because New Jersey’s minimum wage is lower than New York’s. NJ TRANSIT BOARD DELAYS CONTROVERSIAL VOTE A controversial vote on a waterfront real-estate purchase in Hoboken was removed from the NJ Transit board’s agenda Monday, The Record reports. The board had been criticized for scheduling the vote on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. But Hoboken Mayor Ravinder Bhalla said the board’s meeting on the holiday was a “slap in the face” to King’s legacy.

Scattered showers with high temperatures near 60. Colder weather ahead.  INSIDE BLOOD-TESTING SCANDAL: BRIBES FOR DOCTORS Ten months after the head of a medical laboratory testified in federal court in Newark that his company bribed doctors to get business, Ted Sherman reports for NJ.com that the scheme to pay off doctors was even wider than initially disclosed. Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services paid off dozens of doctors, NJ.com says, with expensive cars, concert tickets, trips to the Caribbean and prostitutes. Although 38 doctors have been convicted in the case, many more may have been involved. CHRISTIE OPTIMISTIC AFTER SUPREME COURT HEARING ON GAMBLING After the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in New Jersey’s lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Gov. Chris Christie expressed optimism about the effort to legalize sports betting in the state. "I thought the hearing went great," Christie said outside the courthouse in Washington, according to The Record. "We're going to do well." Although the governor stopped short of predicting an outcome in the case, he did say that if the state prevails it would take about two weeks before gamblers could start wagering on sports. A ruling in the case is expected before the court’s term ends in June. DEMOCRAT STEPS FORWARD TO CHALLENGE MENENDEZ IN PRIMARY A former member of Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff is stepping forward to challenge Sen. Bob Menendez in the Democratic primary. CBS News reports that Michael Starr Hopkins, a lawyer, filed a statement of candidacy for Senate with the Federal Election Commission on Nov. 30. He also wrote an Op-Ed article published by The Hill on Monday citing Menendez’s recent corruption trial, in which the jury was unable to reach a verdict. “I’m taking the first steps towards challenging Bob Menendez because I believe New Jersey deserves a fresh start, the chance to vote for someone who hasn’t been tainted by the culture of corruption in Trenton and Washington, someone who doesn’t owe any favors to the political establishment or powerful interests,” Hopkins wrote. DEMOCRATS: TAX OVERHAUL WOULD RAISE COSTS FOR STUDENTS The federal tax overhaul passed by Congress would force graduate students to pay thousands of dollars more in taxes and could discourage them from seeking advanced degrees, Democrats said Monday. Students, administrators and Democratic officials, speaking at the Newark campus of Rutgers University, predicted the state could lose teachers in training, graduate students doing science research and future doctors, according to Hannan Adely and Dustin Racioppi of The Record. “We’re going to constrict the number of people who can go to graduate school, except the personally wealthy,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a Democrat from Paterson. “The proposal will be a devastating blow to students, especially in graduate school, and make it more expensive and further out of reach for the low- and middle-income families of America.” NJ SCHOOLS VOTE TO CHANGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS Change may be coming to the way the New Jersey state football playoffs are conducted. Members of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association voted Monday to allow high school football teams to schedule 10 regular-season games instead of the current nine, Greg Tufaro reports for MyCentralJersey.com. That change is expected to bring changes to the football playoffs format, which the NJSIAA executive committee may consider in April. Want more? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

This week on Live from the Dining Room, we multitasking like pros, Celebrating Memorial Day by highlighting NJ locals that aren’t around anymore, Throwing our hats over the wall in anticipation for LFTDR 100, Saturday June 4th at the Warren American Legion, And we are joined by journalist, Bob Makin, writer for MyCentralJersey.com and The Home News Tribune with his Makin Waves column with over 30 years of supporting and documenting progression in the New Jersey Music Scene. He interviews us, we spill our guts, no holds barred steel cage match. Find Bob Makin at http://www.mycentraljersey.com/entertainment/ for Makin Waves  -Atlas - At Least Im Trying -Nag Hamadi - 17 -Communication Redlight - Intent Precedes Content -Not the Bees! - We’re Doing the Best We Can -Pour the Pirate Sherry - Cars Gone -Dino Velvet - The Old Rainman Sweep -Where’s Alaska? - Particles -Dogpound - Do What I Want -Go Falcon! - We Are Probably Gonna Lose The House… -Karma Bat - Last Goodbye

Balancing Your Business, Personal and Online Life with Eva Abreu. Are you feeling overwhelmed with your day-to-day responsibilities? Are you trying to figure out how to keep up with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter? Let's take a step back and sort things out with Eva Abreu so you can have a better idea of how to manage your life, both offline and online. Eva Abreu is a social media consultant, organizing coach, and instructor at OLLI-Rutgers Continuing Studies. She writes a social media business column for Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com (Gannett), is publisher of NJSocialMedia.com and creator of the STO Sort Things Out method of organizing. She's also a mom and community volunteer in New Jersey.

The latest edition of the BATS AND BALLS podcast is up. CLICK HERE to listen.

The latest edition of the Bats and Balls podcast is up on MyCentralJersey.com for your listening pleasure -- or displeasure. HERE'S A LINK

The latest edition of the BATS AND BALLS podcast is up on MyCentralJersey.com, featuring previews of all three countyfinals slated for this weekend. You can access the podcast by CLICKING HERE Also, if you can't make it to Saturday night's Somerset … Continue reading →

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has heard our cries and has done the right thing. After announcing Thursday that they've pushed the cutoff for qualifying for the state tournament from Friday to Saturday because of all the rain … Continue reading →

The fifth episode of the BATS AND BALLS PODCAST was recorded Monday night and is now up for your listening pleasure... or displeasure Audio Loading

The fourth episode of the Bats and Balls podcast is up on MyCentralJersey.com HERE'S A LINK Also, the Hunterdon/Warren Tournament seeds are scheduled to be released this evening. Keep an eye on hunterdonwarren.org for those. I will analyze the tournament … Continue reading →

The week 3 podcast was recorded Wednesaday night and is up at MyCentralJersey.com, featuring reviews of the Somerset County Tournament seeding meeting, a review of the seeds, and an overview of the tournament. HERE'S A LINK

The latest Bats and Balls podcast was recorded Tuesday evening and is now up. HERE'S THE LINK

The first Bats and Balls podcast of the season was recorded Monday evening and is  up on MyCentralJersey.com. HERE'S A LINK Also, the Courier News softball preview capsules are now online and can be found HERE. The preview contains a team-by-team … Continue reading →