The Star-Ledger News

Local NJ politics, crime & Statehouse coverage from The Star-Ledger

• In Iraq, Corzine finds N.J. troops fear recession
Gov. Jon Corzine traded a budget crisis for a war zone yesterday, making a surprise visit to Iraq to visit New Jersey troops who are part of the state's largest mobiliza tion since World War II.

• NEW FACES, SAME CRISIS
WASHINGTON -- The 111th Congress convened yesterday amid a cresting tide of political change and with a single-minded focus on fixing the economy as its "first, second and third priority."

• Governor seeks extra $812M in cutbacks
From a budget he once described as cutting spending "cold turkey," Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday proposed slicing $812 million more to keep pace with the economic crisis.

• Princeton team IDs gene that makes breast cancer such a killer
Princeton University scientists working with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey say they have identified a gene that causes breast cancer tumors to spread and makes them resistant to chemotherapy.

• A marked drop in road deaths across Jersey
Deaths on New Jersey roads and highways last year plummeted to their lowest level in more than three decades.

• NEW FLOWER POWER
HERAT, Afghanistan -- Haji Abdul Ghayoum squats over a plant that pushes a magnificent rainbow of color up from cracked soil.

• As seen on TV! Pitchmen reign during hard times
Repeating the mantra "CALL NOW," television pitchmen have emerged like saviors in the recession, offering consumers succor in the form of $19.95 miracle gadgets.

• Financial thrashing to continue
Reading about the economy these days is a lot like flipping through an old Batman comic book. You don't have to go far before somebody takes a beating.

• Sounding the alarm in Bayonne
Bayonne's new fire engine is a big red beauty.

• Still want to go to the inaugural? Yes, you can
BY J. SCOTT ORRWASHINGTON -- So, you've absolutely got to be here for the inauguration. But three weeks out, you've got no hotel room, no transportation plans, no inaugural tickets, just the audacity of hope.

• Corzine plans wage freeze to close gap in budget
The national economic meltdown has opened a $2.1 billion hole in the current state budget that will have to be closed with emergency cuts and fiscal maneuvers -- and the elimination of planned pay raises for state workers, Gov. Jon Corzine said yesterday.

• Fire truck kills Elizabeth firefighter in 'terrible tragedy'
An Elizabeth firefighter died yesterday after being run over by a fire truck at the scene of a blaze authorities say was set inside a vacant house by a homeless man trying to keep warm.

• First-time buyers make hay in housing drought
In a wooded neighborhood of Raritan Township, Sarah Nojiri walks through an empty colonial with a dining room big enough to fit the large furniture her grandmother gave her.

• Rail bridges will double N.J.-N.Y. capacity
A long-range transit plan to de crease commuter rail delays and increase train capacity between New Jersey and Manhattan cleared an important hurdle this week when a federal agency approved a $1.3 billion project to replace an old train bridge over the Hackensack River.

• Attorney admits stealing $4 million
Michael Rumore has a bad gambling problem that cost him his legal career and could put him behind bars for up to 15 years.

• Police nab last of bank robbery suspects
A third man wanted in connection with the robbery of a PNC Bank in Somerset County earlier this week was arrested yesterday, authorities said.

• Investigation of car burglaries yields arrest of two
Two Hillsborough men have been charged in connection with a string of car burglaries and vandalism at golf courses, authorities said yesterday. One of the suspects re mains at large.

• Man pleads guilty in accident that killed three on Route 80
A former Roxbury resident pleaded guilty yesterday to death-by-auto and drunken driving charges in connection with a 2006 crash on Route 80 that killed three people and injured two others.

• Whether it's a boy or a girl, it's a tax break
Andrew Ochojski arrived Wednesday at 10:19 p.m. Baby Sejra (no first name yet) made his way into the world at 11. Not to be outdone, Nylah Malcolm was born at 11:12.

• For green consumers, it's the fiscal blues
In a speedy recognition of the anvil-like drop in hybrid car sales, Toyota postpones the opening of a Prius factory.

• HAPPIER NEW YEAR
Americans had no problem say ing goodbye to 2008 last night, al though the nation's economic troubles made many of them less interested in an expensive send-off.

• Expect to see tumbleweeds at City Hall in the coming year
The grass may be greener on the other side, but it probably won't get cut much at local parks this year.

• Passings
They entertained us on screen and in print, pioneered new technologies and made headlines for deeds good and bad.

• Jobless offices find they have their work cut out for them
Monte Vacchiano sits at a table, drawing pictures with the youngest of his five children, 3-year-old Vanessa.

• Arts venues work to fill the house as patrons cut back
Like many New Jerseyans, Gene Mulranen is worried about the economy, job security and paying for college for his three kids.

• One ticket wins $2.5M in Pick 6 Lotto jackpot
There was one top prize winner in last night's Pick 6 Lotto drawing, New Jersey Lottery officials said. The winning ticket, worth $2,544,745 cash option, was sold in Somerset County.

• Another bitter ending
Even if you're a Jets fan -- and if you are, our deepest condolences -- you had to admit the ending was perfect.

• At UMDNJ, some signs pointing to a recovery
A year removed from federal oversight, the state's medical university remains a patient in recovery.

• Brutal job outlook shakes consumer confidence
Even a new year isn't enough to ease the jitters among consumers.

• Singers stress peace as their nations face off
Sitting onstage in a hotel ballroom, eyes shut, voices soaring, two singers from different backgrounds shared a reverie of song to bridge political division.

• Market's ripe for flimflams, broker scams
Jeffrey Lafferty is confident, smooth and likable.

• Town wants rink closed after killing
Local officials will decide this weekend whether to shut down a popular roller rink in Union after a teenager was shot to death there early yesterday morning.

• Army surgeon from Jersey a Christmas casualty in Iraq
From the Iraq army base where he was stationed, Dr. John P. Pryor never failed to call his wife and kids each day at their home in Burlington County.

• FAREWELL TO PARKWAY TOKEN
As the end neared, they all sought redemption.

• Senate GOP suing to get budget data
With a projected revenue shortfall of $1.2 billion by the time the current budget year ends June 30, New Jersey Senate Republicans want to know exactly where Gov. Jon Corzine plans on trimming spending -- and they said yesterday they're prepared to go to court to find out.

• Wind likely a factor in fatal tree accident on Parkway
Two Massachusetts girls injured early Christmas morning when the top of a tree toppled onto their car on the Garden State Parkway in Bloomfield were listed in stable condition yesterday, as investiga tors said wind most likely played a role in the freak accident.

• Man seized in attempted carjacking
One man was arrested and detectives were looking for as many as five others after they allegedly attempted to carjack an off-duty Newark police officer's vehicle as he was driving home from work yesterday morning, authorities said.