New Jersey Supreme Court to hear Kean OPMA case

New Jersey Supreme Court  to hear Kean OPMA case

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The state Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Kean University’s Board of Trustees after a lower court ruled it violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act. A state Appellate Division in February ruled that the board, Kean’s governing body, should have sent Valera Hascup, a former Kean nursing professor, an official […]

Four years after Galloping Hill rebuild, Ash Brook golf course gets its turn

Four years after Galloping Hill rebuild, Ash Brook golf course gets its turn

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ  — Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains will be undergoing a massive rebuild, with an Oct. 10 groundbreaking marking the latest phase of the $8.9 million project slated for completion in September 2018. The old clubhouse will be replaced by a new 21,000-square-foot building off Raritan Road that will include a full-service […]

New grant bolsters state’s first addiction recovery high school

ROSELLE, NJ — A new grant is now available for the Raymond J. Lesniak Recovery High School in Roselle, the state’s first addiction-recovery high school, making it easier for students to attend and alleviating some costs to school districts. The state Department of Education began seeking applications for funding existing recovery high schools on Oct. 6. […]

Linden pays $575,000 to settle suit by Elizabeth men against municipal judge

LINDEN, NJ — Linden will pay $575,000 to two Elizabeth men who accused a municipal judge of depriving them due process rights by sentencing them to an “excessive” jail term. The settlement stems from a 2012 federal civil suit filed by cousins Wendell and Anthony Kirkland against the city and former municipal judge Louis DiLeo. The […]

Accused killer blames ‘drug binge’ for Wyckoff slaying

Accused killer blames ‘drug binge’ for Wyckoff slaying

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Tears streamed down Matt Ballister’s face as he cried out: “I loved her.” The 47-year-old Ballister, accused of killing and dismembering April Wyckoff nearly four years ago, collapsed under questioning by Union County Prosecutor Scott Peterson. “I didn’t mean to do it,” he said. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I have made […]

Internal docs show disciplinary past of Hillside police chief

HILLSIDE, NJ — Internal documents provided to LocalSource show a nearly 16-year-old incident that led to a 60-day suspension for the Hillside Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi in 2002, a disclosure that comes as two others are suing the town in connection with the position. The documents included the disciplinary action imposed on Ricciardi in connection to […]

ISIS terrorist plot foiled in Cranford

CRANFORD, NJ — A 19-year-old Canadian man was arrested by federal authorities in Cranford last year as part of an investigation that foiled a three-man plot to carry out terrorist attacks in New York, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office revealed after documents in the case were unsealed recently. The U.S. Department of Justice detailed the case […]

Summit candidates spar over full-day kindergarten

Summit candidates spar over full-day kindergarten

SUMMIT, NJ — The current candidates for Summit Common Council agreed on reducing taxes, not designating Summit as a so-called sanctuary city, and working with police to make streets and sidewalks safe for pedestrians at an Oct. 12 candidates forum sponsored by the Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit chapter of New Jersey’s League of Women […]