North New Jersey

Breaking news and local stories from Bergen, Passaic and Sussex Counties, NJ

Slow to act on a long list of appointments, departing Gov. Jon Corzine has effectively handed Gov.-elect Chris Christie a chance to reshape the membership and even the direction of the Highlands Council, which controls development in the water-rich region spanning seven northern New Jersey counties. A dozen of the 15 council seats are either vacant or being retained by... Full story »

A Saturday conference at Fairleigh-Dickinson University brought together N.J. activists and concerned citizens to hear the testimony of genocide survivors and brainstorm on strategies to prevent more events like it in the future, according to a report in The Record. Panelists at the conference, called “New Jersey Voices Against Genocide,” included Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage), Yahya Osman, president of the... Full story »

PATERSON -- Police are investigating the death of a man fatally shot early this morning while celebrating his birthday at a Paterson bar. Larry Reed, of Paterson, turned 26 years old three days ago, but was celebrating his birthday with friends at El Tipico Bar, on 21st Avenue, Friday night, said Det. Lt. Don Giaquinto of the Paterson Police Department.... Full story »

WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is blaming an equipment outage this week for delaying 819 flights. The agency told employees in a briefing memo Friday that air travelers experienced a total of 2,121 delays the previous day due to the equipment outage as well as thunderstorms and other poor weather in the Northeast. The memo said that the more... Full story »

Two men being sought by the FBI in Newark for alleged drug smuggling as part of an Albanian organized crime ring will be featured tonight on the television show "America's Most Wanted." Myfit Dika, 45, and Kujtim Lika, 45, have been at large since March, when authorities charged 26 people with participating in a criminal network rooted in several... Full story »

No one injured after seven-hour-long standoff -- Full coverage at NorthJersey.com Full story »

HO-HO-KUS -- A man police said is suicidal barricaded himself in his borough home with two weapons, causing a lockdown at a nearby school this morning, a report on NorthJersey.com said. The superintendent informed parents in an e-mail of the lockdown, saying children and staff are safe inside the school, which has 700 to 800 students. The man barricaded himself... Full story »

HACKENSACK — A large New Jersey hospital has tightened ethics rules after its role in a scandal, a report on NorthJersey.com said. Among the changes approved Thursday for Hackensack University Medical Center is board members will no longer be allowed to do business with the hospital. The board includes some of the state's most powerful contractors and business people. The... Full story »

Thanksgiving weekend isn't just a time for families to get together. It's also prime season for high school reunions. Graduates from high schools or other institutions around the Garden State will have an opportunity to reconnect with former friends and classmates. Among the upcoming reunions are these: Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School of Clark Class of 1989, 20-year... Full story »

BERGEN COUNTY -- Four New Jersey men with alleged ties to the Genovese crime family were charged today in federal court with conspiring to extort the owner of a Bergen County landscaping and paving business, authorities said. Michael C. Sciarra, the 74-year-old former president of Teamsters Local 560 and alleged associate of late Genovese captain Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano, was... Full story »

TRENTON -- Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver now has a clear path to become speaker of the lower house, after her only remaining competition for the post, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, dropped out of contention today. The decision means Oliver will likely receive the unanimous support of the Assembly’s Democratic majority on Monday and assume the third-most powerful position... Full story »

ATLANTIC CITY -- Following a dust-up over gay marriage in which he said his quotes were taken out of context, Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney said today it would be irresponsible for Democrats to bring a bill to a vote if they are not sure it will pass. The Gloucester County Democrat, speaking at the New Jersey State League... Full story »

HACKENSACK — Services will take place today for an Army soldier who authorities say was killed by her husband in an apparent murder-suicide in Kentucky, a report in NorthJersey.com said. Spec. Ariana Thom's funeral will take place in Hackensack, near where the 25-year-old Teaneck native grew up. Police in Oak Grove, Ky., said her husband, Jason, called 911 on... Full story »

Officials say recent string of deaths does not mean H1N1 is more deadly Full story »

SPARTA -- For Tabitha Rivera, today’s Career Fair 2009 at the Sussex County Technical School — the largest-ever high school career event in the county — was an opportunity for her to start thinking a little more seriously about her future. "It gives us an idea about what college we might want to go to," said Rivera, of Franklin Borough,... Full story »