EDISON, NJ–Dollar Tree Inc., the nation's leading operator of discount variety stores, will acquire Family Dollar in a deal that creates a company with 13,000 stores in North America and annual sales exceeding $18 billion.

The completion of the transaction is expected as early as March 2015, according to a Dollar Tree news release.

Family Dollar shareholders voted overwhelmingly on January 22 to approve the Dollar Tree merger, rather than go with its other option, an opportunity to be acquired by Dollar General.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–On January 21, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) opened nominations for the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, a prestigious award to recongnize individuals whose scientific research has made, or has the potential to make, significant contributions toward the improvement of human health. 

Nomimations will be accepted until March 15, for consideration by an independent selection committee of scientists, and the winner of the award will be announced in the spring, said J&J in a press release.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., reportedly one of the most innovative and profitable companies in the world, announced a voluntary recall of more than 7 million Mini Plus Brewing Systems last month.

“After receiving reports of hot liquid escaping from Mini Plus Brewing System units during use, Keurig contacted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada to begin the process for a voluntary recall,” read a company statement.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) based in Titusville, announced on January 15 that it signed an agreement with a California-based specialty pharmaceutical company to sell its U.S. license rights to the painkiller Nucynta for $1.05 billion.

Janssen called the divestiture a strategic decision designed to focus efforts and resources on targeted growth priorities.

EDISON, NJ–After spending an hour in closed-to-public, executive session, the township's nine Board of Education members approved tenure charges against three elementary school special education teachers on December 15.

Tyler Van Pelt, Maryellen Lechelt, and Maria Weber are now suspended without pay after the decision, a response to an off-color online conversation they held using a software program during a district workshop in November 2014.

A fourth teacher who participated in the chat, Jonathan Bauza, resigned. 

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced on January 6 that it has started “first-in-human clinical trial” testing of its preventive Ebola-virus vaccine, manufactured by the company's Janssen subsidiary.

“As a leader in the field of global health, we have a responsibility to act swiftly as Ebola continues to cause suffering among patients, families and health care workers in West Africa," said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and CEO of J&J.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ—Consumers beware: On January 8, a California manufacturer of candles, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), recalled about 168,000 candles made in Mason jars, decorative jars, coffee tins, and a holiday-themed jars, over a fire hazard.

The candles high flame can ignite the surface of the wax, posing a fire hazard, according to the CPSC.