• 512-acre solar farm proposed in Upper Pittsgrove
UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. - Cropland here may see a new use in the near future after plans were submitted to the Upper Pittsgrove Township Planning Board to construct a 512-acre solar farm here.

• Christie to propose drastic budget changes
Gov. Chris Christie will propose a constitutional amendment limiting annual property tax increases to 2.5 percent when he introduces a budget Tuesday that will seek fundamental changes in spending at every level of government, according to administration officials with knowledge of the plan.

• Peace Corps story shared in Alloway
ALLOWAY TWP. - While Lauren Maloney was serving two years in Niger, West Africa with the Peace Corps, some of the students at Alloway Township School did their best to keep her informed about what was happening back at home.

• Wet, windy weather rakes Salem County
SALEM - A strong nor'easter packing torrential rain and high winds raked Salem County Saturday, bringing down trees, causing flooding and leaving many without power for a time.

• Health tests eyed for bison at Upper Pittsgrove farm
Officials at the Cape May County Zoo have reached out to animal welfare organizations, inquiring as to the health of a pair of bison found on an Upper Pittsgrove farm where investigators confiscated 88 dogs from a kennel last week.

• New Jersey revenue falling behind for year
New Jersey took in about $41.5 million less than expected for the state budget in February, keeping revenues 2.8 percent below target for the year, the treasurer's office said Friday.

• New Jersey revenue falling behind for year
By Lisa Fleisher

• Salem County Teen Arts Festival showcases talents
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - In the lobby of Davidow Hall Friday afternoon, illustrator and designer Anthony J. Parisi showed a small group of students a variety of drawing techniques during his caricature workshop.

• 94-year-old author signing book of poetry at Pennsville Library
PILESGROVE TWP. - A special book signing will take place here on Saturday at the Pennsville Public Library highlighting the work of 94-year-old Letitia Duell Camp.

• Law enforcement, Salem Ministerium, city leaders team up to fight crime
SALEM - A partnership between law enforcement, the Salem Ministerium and city leaders has resulted in the creation of new initiatives that are aimed to help solve the Jan. 21 homicide on Eighth Street here and improve public safety in Salem.

• Task force to look at making state workers pay for parking as way to save state money
TRENTON -ÊState employees would have to pay for parking as one piece of a privatization effort Gov. Chris Christie launched Thursday, according to two state officials familiar with his plans.

• Christie creates panel to privatize 2,000 state jobs
Gov. Chris Christie today will create a commission to privatize as many as 2,000 state jobs beginning next January, officials said Wednesday night.

• Lawyer: Upper Pittsgrove dog farm was controlled by stepson
The owner of a Upper Pittsgrove Township kennel who was forced to surrender 88 dogs on Saturday, under accusations that she was running a "puppy mill," was the victim of domestic abuse, and had control of the kennel taken away from her, by her step son, according to her attorney.

• Plan introduces new academic milestones for students in New Jersey
First-graders should be able to capitalize names when they write.

• Reports: $2M spent to lobby New Jersey gov't in 2009
From small-town school boards to large independent authorities, public entities in New Jersey spent at least $2.1 million to lobby state government in 2009, according to reports released Wednesday.

• Salem County freeholders to present posthumous service medals
SALEM - The Salem County Freeholders will be hosting a Posthumous Military Medal Ceremony at Salem Community College's Davidow Theater on May 14, according to Freeholder Bruce Bobbitt, chair of the county's Public Works Committee.

• Woodstown looks to reduce number of false alarms for fire calls
WOODSTOWN - Members of the Woodstown Borough Council are looking to reduce the number of false alarm calls the fire department responds to here through an ordinance introduced Tuesday night that would impose fines against any property owner that has more than five false alarms at a location in a year.

• Christie defends drastic cuts
HADDON HEIGHTS - Tuesday afternoon, exactly seven weeks to the day that Gov. Chris Christie was sworn-in as New Jersey governor, he returned to the exact town that kicked-off his campaign tour last year - Haddon Heights.

• Housing complex in Carneys Point concerns residents in Penns Grove
PENNS GROVE - Concerns about the proposed 88-unit affordable housing complex on the corner of Leap and 7th avenues in Carneys Point Township has extended into neighboring Penns Grove after residents addressed the borough council about its potential to increase the school tax.

• Police ID Carneys Point crash victims
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - The identities of those involved in a multi-vehicle accident on Hawks Bridge Road that left one person dead were released Tuesday afternoon, but officers from the Carneys Point Township Police Department are still trying to determine what caused this fatal crash in the area between Orchard Drive and the Carneys Point/Mannington border at 8:53 a.m. Monday.

• Sewer connection support offered for Alloway, Quinton property owners
SALEM - The county is moving ahead with an interlocal agreement between the Salem County Pollution Control Finance Authority and the townships of Alloway and Quinton that will offer financial assistance to property owners with the physical connection of plumbing systems to the new sewer lines there.

• Alloway students raise funds for quake relief
ALLOWAY TWP. - After a month-long fundraising drive to collect money to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti, members of Alloway Township School's Student Government turned over $800 to the local chapter of the American Red Cross Monday to help aid the work that is still going on in that region.

• One killed in multi-vehicle accident in Carneys Point
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - Carneys Point Township police are still trying to piece together the circumstances that led to a multi-vehicle accident on Hawks Bridge Road here that left one person dead, Sgt. Dale Fahr said late Monday afternoon.

• Unused leave pay cap spurs loophole
By Chris Megerian

• Meals on Wheels trustees kick off March for Meals
SALEM - Meals on Wheels of Salem County, Inc.'s Board of Trustees gathered recently to launch the 9th annual March for Meals campaign.

• N.J. scientists say red knots population still endangered despite recent rise in numbers
By Brian T. Murray

• Towns work around tax cap
By Claire Heininger

• Bringing home the past: Salem County Historical Society to exhibit art collection
SALEM - The Salem County Historical Society is preparing to share some of its greatest art treasures, many not seen on display in years.

• Officials confiscate 90 dogs in Upper Pittsgrove
UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. - Animal welfare workers removed 90 dogs Saturday from what officials are calling a puppy mill on a Monroeville Road property here, when the owner surrendered them to the New Jersey SPCA.

• Salem Community College President Contini honored for achievements
PITTSGROVE TWP. - Leadership, vision and guidance are just some of the things Dr. Peter B. Contini has given to the residents of Salem County and the surrounding areas.

• Salem County Teen Arts event Friday
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - Area residents are invited to celebrate the arts at the Salem County Teen Arts Festival on Friday.

• LoBiondo speech on S.J. region paints grim picture
VINELAND - U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo spent much of his "State of the District" speech to the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce criticizing President Barack Obama and Democrats in congress on issues ranging from health care reform, the federal stimulus and homeland security.

• Salem's first black mayor, Leon Johnson, dies at 83
SALEM - The city's first African American mayor, Leon F. "Sarge" Johnson, passed away quietly at his home on Feb. 28. He was 83.

• State of the District focuses on staying afloat
SALEM - Business leaders throughout the county gathered here Friday at the PSEG Energy & Environmental Resource Center to hear the Third District Legislators discuss the state of the district.

• Potential buyer sparks Poland Building repairs in Penns Grove
PENNS GROVE - The Poland Building has remained an eyesore in the borough for many years, but the potential of a new buyer has sparked the need for some much-needed renovations by owner Jamie Jaramillo.

• Salem City officials call for cleanup of collapsed garage
SALEM - The city recently sent notice to the owner of the old Tom Way's Garage, as well as interested parties involved in the property, that stated they have until Monday to demolish the structure that collapsed here in February after a heavy snowfall.

• Read Across America program takes wacky turn at Penn Beach School in Pennsville Township
PENNSVILLE TWP. - Students at Penn Beach School here celebrated Read Across America Week in a wacky way.

• Salem County Commission on Women honorees named for 2010
SALEM - The Salem County Commission on Women has announced its 2010 Women of Achievement honorees.

• Sweeney battles Orange mayor over redistricting commission pick
A North Jersey mayor is challenging Senate President Stephen Sweeney's decision to remove him from a board that could change how the state is represented in Congress.

• New Jersey lt. gov holds public complaint forum
By Lisa Fleisher

• New Jersey pension reform hits a snag
TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie's push to have public worker pension and health benefit reform bills passed before he makes his budget address on March 16 has hit a roadblock in the Assembly.

• Salem County nuclear complex could produce Cobalt-60
LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. - Hope Creek could become only the second commercial nuclear power reactor in the U.S. to produce Cobalt-60 under a proposal now being reviewed by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, officials said Tuesday.

• Salem picks new administrator
SALEM - A day after Salem City Council appointed him as its new clerk/administrator, Tom Smith reported to city offices and began work at the position he will hold for at least the next three years.

• 4 charged with hacking Web site for concert tickets
By Peggy McGlone and Joe Ryan

• Hopefuls file for school boards
SALEM - Monday was the deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions to run for seats on local boards of education in the April 20 school elections.

• Interest waning in Salem Country Club
ELSINBORO TWP. - The Salem Country Club continues to sit vacant here along the shoreline of the Delaware River, but the property's listing agent and township officials still hope there is a buyer out there for this once fabled golf course and historic property.

• Mechanical failure blamed in oil spill
MANNINGTON TWP. - A mechanical failure is believed said to have caused a heating oil delivery truck to overturn here Friday, spilling a significant amount of oil onto the roadway just north of Mannington Meadow, state police said Monday.

• Mannington to recycle graphics into flooring
MANNINGTON TWP. - 3M Canada and Mannington Mill's Commercial Flooring Division have announced a joint project, where large format graphics used in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games will be reclaimed and manufactured into high recycled content flooring.

• N.J. Homeland Security chief used to hard work
By Chris Megerian

• Water meter system funds OK'd
WOODSTOWN - Borough council members here have approved funding for a new water meter reading system that is slated to improve leak detection and make for more efficient readings.