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RWJ Hospital Reportedly Ran Out of Beds as Alcohol Overdoses Overwhelmed Hub City First Responders

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Halloween night fell on a Friday this year, casting a spell that negatively impacted public safety as large crowds roamed the streets of New Brunswick, and a number of  alcohol overdoses overwhelmed hospitals and ambulance services near the main campus of Rutgers University.

It was not uncommon to hear reports of unconscious, and sometimes bleeding individuals, lying somewhere in New Brunswick or Piscataway, where Rutgers hosts five different campuses, waiting for an ambulance.

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New Brunswick Hires Community Organization Specialist

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—For the first time in history, the City of New Brunswick will employ a community organizer.

Without advertising the position, which pays $36,000 a year, the city offerred the job to Keith Jones II, the politically-active chairman of the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance.

Jones has accepted the offer and started the job the week of October 20, according to city officials.

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With Election Approaching, Middlesex County Freeholders Say County is Doing Great

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On October 2, Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald Rios gave the annual "State of the County" address.

Among the highlights are two plans for housing in Edison, the county's largest municipality.

The first is a plan for 30 units of veteran's housing in a project that is already under construction in Edison, known as the Kilmer Homes.

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Comedian Chris Tucker Visits NJ State Theatre in New Brunswick

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Comedy star Chris Tucker received a standing ovation after performing to a nearly sold-out crowd at the Hub City's historic State Theatre on Saturday, October 25.

Tucker's films have made him one of the most successful comedic actors of his time.  According to his website, "In 2006 he negotiated an unprecedented $25 million salary to appear in Rush Hour 3, which at the time made him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood."

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Ballot Questions on Right to Bail, Open Space, Arts Funding, and Women’s Healthcare

UPDATE (11/5): All four ballot questions passed in their respective areas (county and statewide).  New Brunswick voters also overwhelmingly approved all of the questions.  State Question Number 1 was the closest, but that won 1,101-785 in the Hub City.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Middlesex County voters will be presented with four ballot questions in the November 4 general election that pose possible policy changes to pretrial detention, environmental preservation, cultural arts support, and women's health programs.

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Prescription Pill Addiction Often a Gateway to Heroin Use

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—New Jersey is facing an epidemic of prescription opioid abuse, with patients often turning to heroin once they can no longer obtain or afford the narcotic to which they have become addicted.

On October 1, health care providers, law enforcement officials, and representatives of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey gathered at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for a symposium on the crisis titled “Do No Harm.”