NJ gay marriage debate focuses on the word “marriage”

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Debate over New Jersey’s gay marriage issue

appears to be forming on either side of one word: marriage.

Republicans gambling big bucks on New Jersey Senate race

WEST ORANGE, N.J. (AP) – National Republicans leaders are

gambling big bucks on New Jersey’s U-S Senate race.

The party has thrown three and a-half (m) million dollars into

the race. The money is earmarked for ads that will air on

television outlets in Philadelphia and New York.

Republican challenger Tom Kean Junior is battling Democratic

Senator Robert Menendez for the seat. Polls show the race remains

close, with Menendez holding a slight lead.

Menendez, though, has maintained a huge cash advantage over Kean

throughout the election cycle. And in the last two weeks, the

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has been running four (m)

million dollars worth of ads against Kean.

New Jerseyans haven’t elected a Republican to the Senate since

1972.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Newark airport screeners failed security test

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Concealed bombs and guns slipped by

screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport last week.

Federal security officials tell The Star-Ledger of Newark the

screeners failed 20 or 22 tests conducted by undercover agents.

They spoke on the condition of anonymity because it is against

Transportation Security Administration policy to release

covert-test results.

Officials tell the newspaper the tests revealed significant

failures to follow procedures while checking passengers and their

baggage.

Screeners missed explosive devices hidden under bottles of water

in carry-ons and taped beneath an agent’s clothing.

Airport’s security director Mark Hatfield Junior tells the

newspaper training is the path to improved performance.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Fake cancer patient accused of bilking widower of $208,000

NEW YORK (AP) – Bail is set at $250,000 for a North Bergen woman, who authorities say conned a widower with a nurse’s uniform and a fake fatal illness.
Janet Costello is accused of bilking the 81-year-old Manhattan resident out of $208,000 by saying she needed to pay for past and future medical treatment.
Authorities say the 32-year-old began collecting money from the retiree after she appeared at his home in 2005.
The man once wrote a 42-thousand dollar check made out to the Paramus Auto Mall, where authorities say Costello bought a 2006 Hummer.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge to be rehabbed

MORRISVILLE, Pa. (AP) – Work on the Trenton-Morrisville Toll
Bridge is due to start next summer.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has approved an
87 (m) million dollar contract.
It will include replacing and widening the bridge deck, altering
intersections and an exit ramp, and installing anti-noise walls
along Route One. New traffic signals will be installed, a new toll
plaza will be built and the bridge will be painted.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
The bridge will remain open during the project, though traffic
may be limited to a single lane during off-peak periods.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)