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New Brunswick Hikes Water and Sewer Rates to Pay For Expensive Improvements and Privatization Deal

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—As the city's Water Utility works to restore its reputation after a costly coverup, changes being implemented are also proving to be costly, and that cost is now being passed on to businesses and residents in the city, as well as Milltown and Franklin.

After being charged with filing falsified reports to cover up situations where people should have been alerted to boil their tap water on seven occasions, the city borrowed more than $6 million, and put the Water Utility under a controversial privatization agreement.

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NBPD Seeking Man Who Slashed Tires of 25+ Cars Christmas Morning

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Christmas morning is often spent with loved ones enjoying fun surprises, but the New Brunswick Police Department (NBPD) says it was quite the opposite for many car-owners in the areas of Hiram Square, Riverside, and 33 Commercial  Avenue.

There, about 25 residents or visitors were in for a nasty surprise when they went to their cars for the first time on the holiday, according to the city.

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Christie Criticizes New Cuba Policy, Demanding Return of Woman Involved in 1973 East Brunswick Shootout

HAVANA, CUBA—Pope Francis brokered a deal between the Obama administration and Cuba leader Raul Castro, helping to thaw relations between Cuba and the USA.

"I have instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to re-establish diplomatic relations that have been severed since 1961," wrote President Barack Obama in a mass e-mail.

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County Buys Wolfson Deck From NBPA For Second Time, Hoping to Create Downtown Park

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The county is buying an aging parking deck for $4.75 million from the New Brunswick Parking Authority (NBPA), in an attempt to turn it into a downtown park.

NBPA officials said that the county was eager to close the deal on the 525-car parking garage by January 1, and other sources confirm the deck will close for good on February 1.

"Work to build a new County Park will commence in the latter half of 2015 and extend through 2016," said county spokeswoman Stacey Bersani.

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Mayor Cahill to Give “State of The City” Speech as He Begins Seventh Term

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—For the first time in four years, New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill intends to give a speech detailing the "State of the City," an act that was once an annual tradition but faded away during his sixth term in office.

The speech will follow Cahill's "swearing in" ceremony, currently scheduled for 11:30am on the top floor of City Hall at 78 Bayard Street. The ceremony is open to the public.

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NJ Minimum Wage Hike to Affect 176,000 Workers in Garden State

EDISON, NJ–New Jersey's minimum wage will increased by 1.59%, to $8.38 an hour, in order to keep on pace with inflation on January 1.

On January 1, approximately 176,000 minimum wage workers will see a 1.58% increase in hourly pay.  Minimum wage workers represent five percent of New Jersey's working population.

The rate, which affects all workers except those who are tipped, will be increased to $8.38 an hour, equating to about $5.20 more per 40-hour week.