Biker Brawl, Racketeering Charges, Arrest in Sexual Assault of Baby Top NJ News

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 Milford Man, 12 Others Charged In Mafia Racketeering Conspiracy

Federal authorities alleged that Jose Gotay, 74, of New Milford, operated a warehouse in Jersey City that the Genovese Crime Family used to store stolen goods – including wine, televisions and bed sheets.

A Toms River man faces up to 30 years in prison after being accused of sexually abusing a 14-month-old boy. In the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, a special agent with the FBI attests that Brindley assaulted the boy and streamed footage of the alleged attack over the Internet while believing he was speaking to a woman in Ohio who was in fact an undercover detective with the Westerville Police Department.

Mother Pleads Not Guilty In Runaway Minivan Case

The Fair Lawn mother who was charged with child endangerment Monday after her unattended minivan carrying her twin infants rolled into parking lot traffic outside of CVS pleaded not guilty Wednesday in municipal court.

Merger of Rowan and Rutgers-Camden Not Likely to Happen by July 1

Democratic legislative leaders appear to be on a collision course over a controversial plan to overhaul the state's higher education system and medical institutions. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) told Democratic colleagues in a closed-door meeting Thursday that she had no plans to meet a July 1 deadline Gov. Chris Christie set for the sweeping reorganization, according to two sources who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the caucus. [NJ.com]

Five young women stood out among the sea of male faces in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Julia Weingaertner, Sarah Lippman, Chloe Mario, Madeleine Lapuerta and Emma Froehlich, all eighth graders at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, were in the nation’s capital to accept two of the top honors in the 2012 National STEM Video Challenge.

More Homeless in N.J. Using Hospital ERs for Shelter and Food

With nowhere else to go, many of the homeless in North Jersey head to hospital emergency rooms, racking up costs for the institutions as they gain a brief respite from life on the streets. At hospitals, the homeless know they can get a hot meal and escape the cold or rain for a few hours when shelters are full. [The Record]

One person is dead and another in critical condition following a shooting in Newark Monday night, authorities said. Tyfees Hamler, 26, of Newark, and another man were shot in an apartment at around 9:15 p.m. Monday, according to Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Gov Bets He'll Win on Sports Wagering

Gov. Chris Christie stands to cash a winning bet with his eagerness to force a showdown with the federal government over sports wagering—even if the state ultimately loses a legal challenge on the issue, political and legal analysts said Friday. [Asbury Park Press]

As its one-year anniversary looms Monday, new details have emerged in the investigation into the slaying of a Roxbury diner owner, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said Thursday. A black man wearing light-colored shorts and a dark-colored T-shirt, who also might drive a green 1994 to 1996 Toyota Camry, has been called a "person of interest" in the fatal stabbing of Kenvil Diner owner Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine, 70, Bianchi said.

New Jersey Muslims Angry Over NYPD Surveillance Findings

Muslim leaders in New Jersey say they are angry but uncertain what their next step will be after the state's attorney general found that New York City police did not violate any laws in its surveillance of Muslim business, mosques and student groups in New Jersey. Several mosque leaders who attended a meeting Thursday with Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said they were shocked he found no violation of state criminal or civil laws by the NYPD in operations that many Muslims considered unjustified surveillance based solely on religion. [AP, via Huffington Post]