The parent company of Sears and Kmart is closing 20 additional stores, including a Sears located in Watchung. All of the remaining Sears stores, including those in our area, are safe for now. The Sears in Vineland is slated to close in a few months. ##
Governor Christie will be presented with a legislative bill that would increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 19 to 21 years of age. The State Assembly approved a bill that would raise the minimum age; Christie has before vetoed similar legislation. ##
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and democrats are still without a state budget in Trenton, and still fighting over a school funding plan. NJ.com reports that both sides are still far apart, and a government shutdown looms in less than two weeks unless both sides reach an agreement. ##
Police in Woolwich, Gloucester County say a 47 year old woman who was beaten to death at her pool is the victim of a homicide. Authorities say the body of 47 year old Michelle Long was found at her residence; Long died of blunt force trauma. ##
There was a fatal shooting behind a popular brewery in Burlington County on Wednesday. Police say a man was shot to death behind the Iron Hill Brewery on Kings Highway in Maple Shade. Police say 26 year old Devon Young of Willingboro was the intended target of the shooting. ##
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says democrats in Trenton will not shut down state government in an election year over school funding issues. Christie told reporters he doesn’t think democrats would be that “irresponsible” in a year where all 120 seats, and Christie’s own job, will be filled by voters. ##
New Jersey regulators pled their case before federal officials regarding severe restrictions on the summer flounder catch in New Jersey. The State argued Tuesday that its restrictions will preserve more of the summer flounder stock than the onerous federal regulations. A NJDEP official called the meeting a “good discussion”. ##
A swimming and fishing ban has been enacted in several South Jersey communities away from the Jersey Shore following a sewage spill. Sewage spilled into the Big Timber Creek in Gloucester Township, and authorities are telling the public to stay away from the creek for the next 24 hours. ##
A 10 year old girl is dead after being electrocuted while swimming in a lagoon Saturday night in Toms River. Kayla Matos and two friends were using a raft and swimming in the lagoon behind a home. She was wearing a life jacket and in the presence of an adult when the accident occurred. ##
New Jersey’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 percent last month despite the loss of 14,000 jobs from the private sector. The State added 900 public sector jobs to help make up the difference in the job loss. ##