November 2014

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On November 19, the City of New Brunswick terminated its contract with the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter.

New Brunswick is following the lead of Spotswood, Monroe, and Sayreville, which have already cut ties with the shelter.

EDISON, NJ—Law Enforcement officials addressed the recent home invasions against Asian American families in Middlesex County live on TV Asia.

TV Asia is a nationwide television network that programming the focuses on issues relevant to the Indian community.

The panel of Middlesex law enforcement officials gave brief information about the crimes, delivered safety tips, and a called for a joint effort between the community and the police.

TRENTON, NJ—The NJ State Assembly passed a bill on November 13 that would increase penalties for those convicted of dealing heroin, or possessing it with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or disperse the drug.

If adopted into law, the bill would cut the "possession with intent" quantity threshold amounts in half, making possession with intent to distribute as little as .17 ounces of heroin a second-degree crime, and anything over 2.5 ounces a first-degree crime.

TRENTON, NJ—Janice Chakalos used Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Baby Powder and Shower to Shower brand of talc powder since childhood without any knowledge of the twenty-four studies linking its use, on the female genital area, to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Chakalos died of ovarian cancer in 2012, at the age of 63. In 1982, when she was 33, she was not aware of a key study linking talc powder use on the genital area to a greater risk of ovarian cancer.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—For the eight time this year, New Brunswick's Planning Board is scheduled to hear plans to build a large new apartment building on Mine Street.

Initially, plans were delayed due to a developer's miscalculation computing the number of parking spaces required, greatly downplaying the significance of a required parking variance.

The plans call for the demolition of two homes that were once the Rutgers Catholic Center, and to replace them with a four-story apartment building with 66 bedrooms.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On January 4, a state law went into effect in New Jersey creating a new diversion program within municipal courts called conditional dismissal.

Much like Pretrial Intervention and Conditional Discharge, the conditional dismissal program is meant to help defendants by providing supervised treatment.

First introduced on December 13, 2012, the bill states that if a defendant is facing certain charges, the conditional dismissal program can potentially help the individual avoid a criminal record.

ANN ARBOR, MI—In their first postseason appearance since 2010, the Rutgers Field Hockey Team particiapted in the Big 10 Conference Tournament last week, completing their first season in the new conference.

After winning three games in a row at home to finish out the season, the team traveled to face the University of Michigan in the tournament, but lost 3-1 on November 6.

Head Field Hockey Coach Meredith Long finally got the job leading the team in 2012, after years as an assistant coach.