Old Bridge Kidnapping, Suicide in Top NJ News

An Old Bridge man who police said  after being allegedly involved in the death of their mother was found dead after committing suicide in an upstate New York motel. Anthony Trapp's two daughters—20-month-old Sophia and 5-year-old Emma—were found safe and unharmed, New York State Police said.

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A North Brunswick family reunited after Homeland Security . Atanas Entchev and son Enislav were held for 65 days at the Essex County Correctional Facility with other immigrants due to ongoing issues with Atanas' visa.

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New Jersey schools grew more dangerous last year, with steadily increasing reports of violence in districts across the state. [NJ.com]

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The Essex County Board of Freeholders on Wednesday unanimously  to house illegal immigrant detainees in a privately run facility. The awarded the contract to Education and Health Centers of America, a private firm with political ties to Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., and Gov. Chris Christie.

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Some of the same Paterson officials who received thousands of dollars in overtime for responding to Hurricane Irene were paid close to $30,000 in extra pay long before the storm—and now they mustgive all that money back. [NorthJersey.com]

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A Summit rapper was one of the opening acts for the legendary hardcore rap group the Wu-Tang Clan. Kerron Venable  at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville.

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Thomas Nast, whose antislavery political cartoons propelled him to notoriety in the 19th century, has ignited another uproar: whether his anti-Irish and -Catholic drawings should disqualify him from the New Jersey Hall of Fame. [Wall Street Journal]

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Married couples from all over southern New Jersey may have a chance to  now that files from a Cinnaminson-based wedding photographer serving time for fraud have been recovered. Jack Holton, who operated Renaissance Photography in Cinnaminson in the mid-2000s, is currently serving a three-year prison term for fraud after not delivering on contracted wedding photographs.

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A bear found napping in a basement sent authorities on a two-hour chase through Hopatcong's streets and woods Wednesday afternoon. A state Division of Fish and Wildlife worker shot the bear with two tranquilizer darts before it .