New Jersey news stories on Newser

New Jersey Town's Cops Ticket Texting Pedestrians

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:01:32 CDT

Take your fingers off your cell phone, and nobody gets hurt. That could be a warning from one New Jersey town's cops, who are handing out $85 jaywalking tickets to pedestrians who text while they walk—117 so far. "It’s a big distraction. Pedestrians aren’t watching where they are going,...

Haven't Used Gift Cards in 2 Years? NJ Will Grab Them

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:50:19 CDT

Three gift card companies will no longer do business in New Jersey thanks to a law allowing the state to claim the value of cards if they are not redeemed within two years. American Express removed its cards last week, and yesterday Blackhawk Network and InComm—both of which provide...

NJ Middle School: No Hugs Allowed

Matt Cantor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:07:37 CDT

At one New Jersey middle school, hugs must wait until after the bell rings, Fox News reports. Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School's principal has labeled it a "no hugging school," with the superintendent citing "incidents of unsuitable physical interactions." Students who do embrace won't be suspended, but kids say they could get...

When It Comes to Corruption, 8 States Get Fs

Matt Cantor — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:46:56 CDT

After a thorough investigation of corruption in state politics, the Center for Public Integrity has made up report cards for each state—and the results are depressing. Not one state managed anything in the A-range, while eight—Michigan, the Dakotas, South Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Georgia, and Wyoming—scored Fs. Coming...

Lottery Winner Ordered to Share With Co-Workers

Rob Quinn — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:00:00 CDT

A New Jersey construction worker who refused to share a $38.5 million lottery jackpot with five colleagues who chipped in for tickets has been ordered to cough up the cash. After winning the Mega Millions jackpot, Americo Lopes quit his job, claiming he needed foot surgery. His co-workers, who...

Trenton Running Out of Toilet Paper

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:48:02 CDT

Trenton city employees may soon have to start BYOTP to work. Unless a purchasing contract conflict is resolved soon, City Hall will run out of toilet paper by Friday—and other buildings could run out even sooner. WPVI confirmed yesterday that all that remains are a few boxes of rolls....

Former NJ Governor Goes Undercover as Homeless Man

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:53:09 CST

A former New Jersey governor transformed himself into a homeless man and went undercover in Newark to spend the night in a shelter, reports MSNBC . "To find a place to take you if you were homeless was impossible, essentially," says Richard Codey, now a state senator. Codey heaped on make-up...

NJ OKed Medical Pot in '10 —but It's Still Not for Sale

Mark Russell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:19:44 CST

Opposition to pot dispensaries around New Jersey is slowing the rollout of medical marijuana there, and officials say the first doctor-prescribed doobies won't be available until the end of the year at the earliest, reports the Wall Street Journal . So how long has the wait been? The New Jersey legislature...

Enquirer Runs Photo of Whitney in Open Coffin

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:28:02 CST

Has the National Enquirer crossed a line? Many were horrified when the tabloid published a photo it claims is the body of Whitney Houston shown in an open gold coffin. The pic was taken at the Whigham Funeral Home in New Jersey, according to Enquirer editors, who have not revealed...