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Feds Give Chinese-Backed Firm $47 Million to Build Wind Farm N.J. Doesn’t Want

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Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

New Jersey regulators rejected a Chinese-backed windmill project twice, but that didn’t stop the Department of Energy.

The federal government has awarded $47 million to sweeten the deal for a $188 million project the Garden State has deemed too risky for ratepayers.

Fishermen’s Energy wants to install five windmills off the coast of Atlantic City. Its leadership hopes the infusion of cash will sway the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which up until this point has not been receptive to the project.

Read more from this story HERE.

NJ Gun Law Critic Targeted By State Police 72 Hours Prior To Hearing (+video)

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Photo Credit: Ammolandis breaking that an outspoken critic of New Jersey’s draconian gun laws is being actively targeted with an arrest warrant issued by the New Jersey State Police.

With less then 72 hours before a scheduled Law and Public Safety Committee Hearing on Assembly Bill A2006, a New Jersey proposed law to limit magazine capacity to a maximum of ten rounds of ammunition. Additionally the Assembly Bill A2006 would ban more than 30 models of common .22 plinking rifles. Is it coincidental that the New Jersey State Police should suddenly find need to issue a warrant for Mr. Kaleda’s arrest only days before he would be expected to appear and testify at this type of hearing?

James Kaleda, is a well known outspoken critic of New Jersey gun laws and New Jersey Assembly abuses of parliamentary procedure. Mr. Kaleda was famously thrown out of a similar hearing last year by Democrat George Norcross for being “Out of Order“. Today via social media Mr. Kaleda revealed that he received a phone call from the New Jersey State Police that a warrant has been issued for his arrest over allegations of falsifying portions of an application for a New Jersey Non-Resident Firearms Owner ID Card.

Mr. Kaleda was understandably and wisely reluctant to say exactly what the allegations were when I spoke to him, but he did acknowledge that the State Police contacted him approximately two weeks ago and suggested there was a problem with his paperwork and offered an opportunity to “come in and make corrections”. Mr. Kaleda declined, correctly deducing that presenting himself to make such changes would be viewed as an implicit acknowledgement of actually committing the offense of falsifying the document, essentially admitting to guilt of a technical violation.

Read more this story HERE.

Chris Christie Attacks N.Y. Times, David Wildstein

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Photo Credit: APNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, after a low-key initial response to Friday’s explosive allegations about his involvement in a bridge-closing scandal, mounted an aggressive defense late Saturday afternoon, attacking The New York Times and a former political ally in an email to friends and allies obtained by POLITICO.

“Bottom line — David Wildstein will do and say anything to save David Wildstein,” the email from the governor’s office says, referring to the former appointee who reignited the controversy.

A letter from Wildstein’s lawyer, Alan L. Zegas of Chatham, N.J., asserted Friday that “evidence exists … tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the Governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference.”

The subject line of the 700-word email from the governor’s office is: “5 Things You Should Know About The Bombshell That’s Not A Bombshell.” It offers a harshly negative portrayal of Wildstein’s character and judgment.

The Christie camp begins by criticizing The Times for its initial characterization of the Wildstein letter: “A media firestorm was set off by sloppy reporting from the New York Times and their suggestion that there was actually ‘evidence’ when it was a letter alleging that ‘evidence exists.’”

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NJ Mayor: Christie Withheld Sandy Funds as Political Payback

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The mayor of Hoboken, N.J., is accusing Gov. Chris Christie’s administration of withholding Superstorm Sandy relief money from her city after she refused to approve a redevelopment project he favored.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer, appearing Saturday on MSNBC’s “Up With Steve Kornacki,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Richard Constable, Christie’s community affairs commissioner, delivered messages from the governor early last year to warn her that the relief money would be blocked if the project wasn’t approved.

Zimmer, a Democrat who has been supportive of Republican Christie, did not approve the project.

And when she requested $127 million in hurricane relief to help in Hoboken’s rebuilding efforts in the wake of Sandy, which left the city 80 percent under water in October 2012, the city got a mere $142,000 to cover a backup generator and $200,000 in recovery grants.

“The bottom line is, it’s not fair for the governor to hold Sandy funds hostage for the city of Hoboken because he wants me to give back to one private developer,” Zimmer said Saturday.

Read more from this story HERE.

‘Impeachment’? Dems Escalate NJ Bridge Probe, While Some Defend Christie

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Photo Credit: Fox News

Photo Credit: Fox News

Democrats sharpened their swords Sunday over the New Jersey bridge scandal, with one state lawmaker suggesting impeachment is an option for Gov. Chris Christie — even as other prominent politicos said they were inclined to believe the governor’s side of the story.

Christie on Thursday apologized for lane closures last fall that snarled traffic on the George Washington Bridge, after emails surfaced showing the closures were pushed by his associates as an apparent act of political revenge. The governor said he was “embarrassed” but insisted he had nothing to do with the incident.

The Republican governor, considered a possible 2016 presidential candidate, on Sunday earned the benefit of the doubt from some unexpected corners. Former Obama White House adviser David Plouffe, on ABC’s “This Week,” said his sense is Christie wouldn’t have been so strong in his denials if he knew what was happening.

But New Jersey Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the legislative panel probing the closures, cast doubt on the governor’s claims in an interview with Fox News. “It’s hard to believe in the middle of a gubernatorial election that the governor didn’t have a conversation with somebody on his senior staff about a big problem in Fort Lee,” he said.

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Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

N.J. Lawmaker: It Could Be Grounds For Impeachment If Christie Knew About GWB Closures

By CBSNewYork.

The New Jersey lawmaker heading up the state investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closures has raised the possibility of impeachment if the probe uncovers ties to Gov. Chris Christie.

As WCBS 880’s Jim Smith reported Sunday, despite all the e-mails, apologies and firings, state Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) said it is still early in the investigation.

He appeared Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“We’re not only going to need testimony,” he said. “We’re going to need documents, and so we have a lot more work ahead of us.”

Wisniewski said the committee is planning to issue more subpoenas – possibly this week – which could include Christie spokesman Michael Druniac and the now-fired Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Kelly.

Read more from this story HERE.

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Photo Credit: Rich McCormack/For The Jersey Journal

Photo Credit: Rich McCormack/For The Jersey Journal

‘Christie has blood on his hands,’ ‘Political terrorism’: with protest signs like these, NJ ‘Peace’ Group might have wanted bigger crowd

By Dave Urbanski.

A group that espouses “peace, truth, justice” arrived at the protest site carrying signs that clearly stated their no-holds-barred anger at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: “Political Terrorism” and “Christie Has Blood on His Hands” among others.

As the storm of the “bridgegate” controversy gathered strength, members of the Jersey City Peace Movement rallied in front of the PATH station in Jersey City’s Journal Square Friday evening.

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Waitress in ‘Anti-Gay’ Receipt Flap Fired

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Photo Credit: Facebook

Photo Credit: Facebook

A New Jersey waitress who raked in thousands in donations after claiming a couple didn’t tip her because she’s gay was fired from her job on Saturday.

Dayna Morales, 22, was finally canned from Gallop Asian Bistro in Bridgewater — nearly a month after she made national headlines over what’s likely a hoax.

The restaurant announced her termination on Facebook Saturday shortly after it was revealed she was returning donations from supporters across the world.

“In light of … recent events, both Ms. Morales and Gallop Asian Bistro have made a joint decision that Ms. Morales will no longer continue her employment at our restaurant,” the eatery wrote. “We wish her well in the future.”

The waitress, a former Marine, claimed the couple stiffed her on a $93.55 bill and left a note saying, “I’m sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Gunman Found Dead After Trapping Hundreds In NJ Mall Overnight

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Photo Credit: MPD01605A 20-year-old man wearing a motorcycle helmet and dressed in all black walked into a busy New Jersey mall minutes before it closed Monday night and began shooting, sending terrified customers running and trapping hundreds more in the building overnight as police searched for him.

Hours later, he was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a remote area of the building, officials said Tuesday morning. His brother spoke outside the family’s home later and said it was all “an act of self-indulgence.”

No one was injured in the gunfire at Westfield Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus, and authorities said there was evidence to suggest the gunman, identified as Richard Shoop, never had any intention of shooting anyone.

Shoop fired six rounds, striking an elevator, escalator and several store facades along a 300-yard path at about 9:30 p.m. Monday. He was using a Sig Sauer rifle modified to look like an AK-47 that he stole from his brother earlier in the day, officials said.

Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said he was told that Shoop said to people in the mall “don’t worry, just get out of the way.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Silent Holidays – NJ School District Bans All Religious Christmas Music

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Photo Credit: Reuters The angels will not be allowed to hark their herald nor will the little Lord Jesus sleep on the hay after a New Jersey school district announced a ban on all religious Christmas music.

Constance Bauer, the superintendent of the Bordentown Regional School District, posted a message online stating someone had been questioning recent musical selections for the elementary school Christmas concerts.

Pardon me, the school district calls them “winter” concerts.

My guess is that a perpetually offended left-winger became unglued when they heard that little boys and girls might be pa rum pum pum pum.

“Religious music should not be part of the elementary program(s),” Supt. Scrooge wrote in her anti-Christmas screed.

Read more from this story HERE.

NJ Becomes 14th State to Recognize Gay Marriage (+video)

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Photo Credit: MYFOXNY.COMSome couples in New Jersey had waited decades. At the stroke of midnight the moment arrived as New Jersey became the the 14th state to legalize gay marriage.

The celebrations came three days after the state Supreme Court rejected Gov. Chris Christie’s request to delay the start of the nuptials while he appealed a lower court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.

Weddings were held in several cities and towns across the state in the first minutes of Monday morning, as soon as a court order requiring the state to recognize gay marriage went into effect.

Peter Connell and David Calle have been together 13 years and were among those toasting their commitment at midnight. Now official they say the historic day was made even better when Christie announced Monday morning that he is dropping his appeal in the legal case.

My9 New Jersey

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Heavy Campaigning For Booker, Lonegan Day Before N.J. Senate Vote (+video)

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Photo Credit: Nick.FisherThe New Jersey U.S. Senate race was in a fight to the finish Tuesday, a day before voters were set to head to the polls in a special election.

As CBS 2’s Christine Sloan reported, Democrat Cory Booker is hitting the Democrat-favoring communities of Belleville, New Brunswick, Hoboken and Newark, where he is mayor.

Republican Steve Lonegan is campaigning Tuesday in Basking Ridge, Flemington, Belvidere, Morristown and Middletown — all places where Republicans usually get the most votes. He’s also stopping in Jersey City.

Lonegan also received the endorsement of former Jersey City Acting Mayor Joe Rokawski. And Lonegan attacked Booker for his performance as Newark mayor.

“Two people were shot to death on the streets of Newark last night. Unemployment in Newark has gone from 8 to 14 percent,” Lonegan said. “Mr. Booker has failed Newark. That’s extreme. See, he’s an extreme failure.”

Read more from this story HERE.