Fatal Newark Fire Claims 5, Including 4 Children  A 3-year-old girl, 4-year-old boy, believed to be siblings, died in a rear apartment on the third floor, while a 6-year-old girl, a teenager and a man died in the front apartment on the same floor of the building, fire officials said. The mother of the two children who died in the front apartment was giving birth at a nearby hospital on the day of the fire, officials told NJ.com Sussex County Woman Wounded in Aurora Batman Shooting A 23-year-old Sussex County woman was among the 70 injured when a gunman opened fire and killed 12 people early …

Authorities ID Man Involved in Standoff With Police A Bernardsville man who was arrested last year for allegedly trying to sell an Uzi to an undercover detective was identified by authorities as the individual responsible for a tense standoff with SWAT units this week. The incident began when sheriff's officers attempted to serve Samuel J. Medway, 44, a $93,000 failure-to-pay-child-support notice. After a three-hour standoff in which he barricaded himself inside his home, Medway surrendered peacefully.   Video Captures Chestnut Liquor Store Killing The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is …

  Six Rescued After Boat Sinks in Barnegat Inlet The Coast Guard rescued six people from a life raft after the 38-foot boat they were in ran aground and began taking on water in Barnegat Inlet Thursday morning. A crew member on board the Southern Comfort, a sport fishing boat based in Fork River, radioed Cost Guard watch standers at approximately 7:45 a.m. reporting they were aground on the rocks of the inlet's north jetty.   Police Charge Three After Teaneck Merchant Held At Gunpoint Three New York men looking to collect on a debt face kidnapping and robbery charges after they held a Teaneck…

  Biker Blessing Ends with Brawl The sixth annual Biker Blessing, an intended peaceful rally to reinforce unity between the many motorcycle clubs of New Jersey and the community of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Franklin Township, ended abruptly after two fights broke out around 4:45 p.m. Sunday. According to Chandra Hayslett, director of communications and marketing for the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, police had to subdue two feuding bikers from different clubs, as well as break up a fight that started between a stunt biker and another man in attendance.   New …

  U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Trains at Princeton University Princeton University is home to world class scholars, students and athletes—and for the next few days, 28 members of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. The Olympic hopefuls arrived in Princeton  on May 10 for a two-week intensive training camp before the team faces China on May 27 in Chester, Pa., U.S. Women's Soccer spokesman Aaron Heifetz said.   Standoff Couple Charged With Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest A Mahwah couple was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, among other charges, after a near six…

  Christie Vetoes Obamacare Health Insurance Exchange in New Jersey After months of mulling his options, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed state legislation Thursday that would have established a health insurance exchange in New Jersey, a fundamental step in implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—known colloquially as "Obamacare"—in the state. Christie had until Thursday to make a decision on Assembly bill 2171, passed by the legislature in March, or the bill would have become law, with or without his signature.    Atlantic City Man Dead After Shooting An Atlantic City man died …

  Authorities Suspect Stray Bullet Killed Man in New Brunswick Home Authorities believe a stray bullet killed a New Brunswick man in his home Friday afternoon. According to a release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, Richard Chang, 40, was pronounced dead at his home at 3:40 p.m.   Teacher and Coach Had Sexual Relations With Student, Prosecutor Says Wood-Ridge High School girls' softball coach Jillian Clementi, also a teacher at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, engaged in improper sexual relations with a male student from Wood-Ridge High School, authorities …

  Cherry Hill Dad Tells YouTube: Teachers Bullied My Autistic Son A Cherry Hill father who says his autistic son was tormented for at least six months by public school special education teachers and support staff has taken his case viral with damning, covertly gathered audio of the classroom where he says his son was abused. In a 17-minute video, titled "Teacher/Bully: How My Son Was Humiliated and Tormented by his Teacher and Aide," Stuart Chaifetz replays portions of audio he attributes to "Kelly" and "Jodi," whom he says are his son Akian's former special education and resource teachers…

Tickets for Romney in Bernardsville: $5K a Plate The law office of Bernardsville resident Ed Deutsch confirmed that next Wednesday afternoon he will host a fundraiser at his home for Republican state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, running against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president, is expected to attend the event. Waldwick Man Killed by Train Near Ridgewood Station A westbound train struck and killed Waldwick man Mark Moglia just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, according to NJ Transit Police. Witnesses and transit authorities say Moglia was …

  'What any Neighbor Would Have Done' Saying repeatedly that he is "not a hero," Newark Mayor Cory Booker met with reporters Friday morning to talk about his rescue of a woman trapped by fire in a building adjacent to Booker's home Thursday night. Booker was returning to his home from an interview around 9:30 p.m. when he and members of his police security detail saw flames coming out of the second-floor windows of a two-story apartment building next to Booker's residence.   Fire Fighters Assist With Meadowlands Blaze Fire fighters from numerous Bergen County towns assisted in battling the …

Arrest Made in 1976 Murder of Westfield Resident Lena Triano The Union County Homicide Task Force arrested a 51-year-old man Monday in connection with the 1976 murder of Westfield resident Lena Triano. Triano, 57, was discovered hogtied inside her home on March 15, 1976, after having been stabbed, bludgeoned and raped.  Fallen Marine Honored in Waldwick Hundreds of residents paid their last respects to fallen Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph D'Augustine Tuesday during a procession through his hometown of Waldwick. Newark Mayor Slams Devils Owner into the Boards Newark Mayor Cory Booker on Wednesday …

Christie Promises Income Tax Cuts at Manchester Town Hall Meeting Republican Gov. Chris Christie touted his admittedly blunt approach to governing while promising to lower taxes and work with "right-minded Democrats" to complete the "Jersey comeback" in a town hall meeting Thursday. Several hundred residents packed an auditorium at the New Jersey Maneuverable Assets Training Equipment Site in Manchester for Christie's 13th town hall meeting of 2012. Investigation Launched into Death of Morristown High School Student Morristown High School has made a crisis team available to help its community…

Life Without Parole: Lakewood Cop Killer Sent To Prison Jahmell Crockam, the man convicted of murdering Lakewood police officer Cristopher Matlosz, was sentenced at the Ocean County Justice Complex on Thursday to life without parole. VP Biden Touts Sen. Menendez's Record at $1,000-per-Head Fundraiser Vice President Joe Biden was the guest of honor at a Democratic Party fundraiser in support of Sen. Robert Menendez's re-election campaign at the Morris Township home of Phillip Sellinger and his wife, Barbara. Tickets for the invitation-only event were $1,000. Corzine Ordered MF Global Customer …

VIDEO: Princeton Celebrates Pi Day More than 6,000 people flocked to Geek Freak Weekend in Princeton to enjoy a host of fun math, science and pi-related activities. Questions Linger After Arrest in Rossi Murder Case Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Special Agent in Charge Michael Ward of the FBI have announced an arrest has been made in connection with the homicide of Bloomfield business owner Joseph Rossi Sr. But the arrest of Jose Rivera, 48, of Plainfield, appears at odds with several New York newspaper articles reporting Rossi's murder was carried out by a mob …

The man who took a hostage at the Woodbridge Center mall has been identified as a convicted robber and parole violator. Andres Garcia, 44, of Paterson, was shot and killed by a Woodbridge police officer after holding a knife to a woman's throat at the mall. ***A South Brunswick businessman plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) for his congressional seat. Republican Erick Beck believes smaller government and a flat tax are crucial to an economic turnaround.***Something strange alerted a debit card company to malfeasance that ultimately threatened to defraud the state's unemployment …

Newark officials must hand over a list of emails related to the $100 million donation Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg gave to city schools, an Essex County Superior Court judge ordered on Friday. Judge Rachel N. Davidson also opposed the city's motion to dismiss a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, which filed a lawsuit against Newark on behalf of a local organization, the Secondary Parent Council, according to the order. *** The Princeton Regional Planning Board approved the Institute for Advanced Housing's plan for faculty housing, though opponents vowed …

As Department of Environmental Protection officials continued to downplay health risks, and PBF Energy revised down the initial spill size estimates,environmentalists on Friday slammed both the state and company's response to more than 6 million gallons of crude oil that leaked into a containment area at the Paulsboro refinery Thursday. *** During a speech Thursday night, Newark Councilman Ras Baraka issued a call to action to his constituents and also laid out an ambitious agenda that includes having the city take over control of Newark Liberty International Airport from the Port Authority …

Seven men were arrested on theft and corruption charges Wednesday in a three-pronged scheme the Burlington County Prosecutor called a "brazen and insane attempt" to steal taxpayer resources. Authorities have uncovered more than $100,000 in stolen public resources. *** More than 30 defendants were charged on Friday with various drug offenses after authorities broke a cocaine distribution ring along the Route 27 corridor, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. "Operation Corridor Crackdown" targeted cocaine distribution activity in the vicinity of the Route 27 corridor between …

Mayor Cory Booker's Let's Move! Newark campaign, Newark Now and Nestle have teamed up to bring an educational pilot program to New Jersey's largest city that will promote healthier lifestyles starting in early childhood. A staggering 45 percent of children ages three to five are overweight or obese in Newark, more than twice the national rate. *** With the help of a longtime friend, Matthew Ferguson videotaped himself in several stages of shaving while lip syncing the pop hit "Turn Me On" by artists Nicki Minaj and David Guetta. The Internet world ate it up, and in two days, the video has …

Famed gastric gold medalist Takeru Kobayashi downed 337 wings to take the title at Wing Bowl 20 on Friday. He defeated New Jersey residents Jonathan "Super" Squibb, Bill "El Wingador" Simmons and John "Freak of Nature" Harker. *** A historic overhaul of several underperforming Newark public schools is imminent, state district superintendent Cami Anderson announced Friday night, a strategy that includes school closings, consolidations and the expansion of several already existing programs. The comprehensive plan, which has been two years in the making, Anderson said, will revamp schools at all…