KEVIN DEELY HAS CONCEDED THE 131ST DISTRICT HOUSE RACE AGAINST INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN JUSTIN SIMMONS. DEELY HAS DECIDED AGAINST ASKING FOR A RECOUNT IN THE RACE, WHICH IS SEPARATED BY FEWER THAN 500 VOTES. IN A MESSAGE TO SUPPORTERS DEELY SAYS A RECOUNT WOULD PROBABLY NOT CHANGE THE RESULT AND HE IS RETURNING THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO FINANCE A RECOUNT.
STATE POLICE SAY A DEAD DOG FOUND ALONG A LOCAL ROAD APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN SKINNED AND COOKED. POLICE SAY TROOPERS WERE DISPATCHED TO LYNN TOWNSHIP AFTER THE ANIMAL'S CARCASS WAS DISCOVERED ALONG ROUTE 863. INVESTIGATORS SAID THEY BELIEVE THE DOG WAS KILLED SOMETIME BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY. THEY SAID THE DOG'S FEET HAD BEEN CUT OFF AND THERE WAS A ROPE TIED AROUND THE RIGHT REAR LEG.
DAVID ZINCZENKO IS OUT AS EDITOR OF MEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE. TODAY'S MORNING CALL REPORTS ZINCZENKO'S DEPARTURE IS A 'MUTUAL AGREEMENT' BETWEEN ZINCZENKO AND RODALE, WHICH PUBLISHES THE MAGAZINE. ZINCZENKO HAD BEEN MEN'S HEALTH'S EDITOR FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.
EASTON HIGH SCHOOL'S RED ROVER STATUE IS BACK HOME. DAYS AFTER IT WAS TAKEN FROM IN FRONT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, APPARENTLY BY THREE PHILLIPSBURG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THE STATUE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO EASTON HIGH, WHERE IT WILL BE KEPT IN A SECURE LOCATION UNTIL AFTER THURSDAY'S ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN EASTON AND PHILLIPSBURG. THE THREE P-BURG STUDENTS SAY THEY TOOK THE STATUE AS A PRANK IN ADVANCE OF THE GAME. EASTON SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING PRESSING CHARGES.
A NAZARETH WOMAN WILL GO TO TRIAL FOR ALLEGEDLY COMMITTING A PAIR OF ARSONS. KARLA DEWEY IS ACCUSED OF INTENTIONALLY STARTING A FIRE AT HER HOME IN MARCH AND A SECOND FIRE AT ST. JOHN'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NAZARETH BACK IN 2009. DEWEY REMAINS IN JAIL UNDER $60,000 BAIL.
IF YOU'RE HOPPING IN THE CAR FOR A THANKSGIVING ROAD TRIP OR FLYING OUT OF LVIA, ACCU-WEATHER METEOROLOGIST DEAN DEVORE SAYS THE LOCAL WEATHER WON'T INTERFERE WITH YOUR PLANS. "THE WEEKEND LOOKS MUCH CHILLIER, BUT UP UNTIL THEN WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE HERE," DEVORE SAYS. HE EXPECTS DRY WEATHER AND HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S THROUGH FRIDAY.
SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE ADVANCED A BILL INCREASING NEW JERSEY'S MINIMUM WAGE TO $8.50 PER HOUR. NO REPUBLICANS VOTED TO GIVE THE STATE'S LOWEST WAGE-EARNERS A $1.25 PER HOUR RAISE STARTING IN MARCH AND MAKE YEARLY ADJUSTMENTS. DEMOCRATIC SEN. JEFF VAN DREW OF CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE VOTED NO WITH THE REPUBLICANS. THEY ARGUED THAT THE EXTRA LABOR COSTS WOULD ULTIMATELY COST JOBS. DEMOCRATS SAY THE WORKING POOR ARE OVERDUE FOR A RAISE. THE MEASURE NOW GOES TO THE FULL SENATE FOR A VOTE.
A NEW JERSEY SENATOR HAS INTRODUCED EARLY VOTING LEGISLATION. SEN. NIA GILL'S BILL LETS VOTERS CAST IN-PERSON BALLOTS AT POLLING STATIONS BEGINNING 15 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION. GILL, WHO REPRESENTS ESSEX AND PASSAIC COUNTIES, SAYS THE BILL EXPANDS VOTER ACCESS AND ENSURES THAT IF EMERGENCIES SUCH AS HURRICANE SANDY ARISE, RESIDENTS AREN'T FACED WITH BEING UNABLE TO VOTE. THE BILL WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS STARTING ON THE 15TH DAY BEFORE THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION, AND ENDING ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION. POLLING PLACES WOULD BE OPEN TO VOTERS EIGHT HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK IN AT LEAST ONE LOCATION PER TOWN. 32 STATES PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFER SOME TYPE OF EARLY VOTING.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE HAS SIGNED LEGISLATION THAT BARS HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FROM DISCARDING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION INTO PUBLIC SEWERS OR SEPTIC SYSTEMS. REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYWOMAN HOLLY SCHEPISI SAYS THE NEW LAW IS INTENDED TO HELP PREVENT DRUGS FROM SHOWING UP IN DRINKING WATER. SHE SAYS THE LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO A 2008 ASSOCIATED PRESS SERIES THAT FOUND TRACE AMOUNT OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES OF AT LEAST 41 MILLION AMERICANS, INCLUDING IN THE PASSAIC VALLEY WATER COMMISSION'S TREATMENT PLANT. THE AP SERIES FOUND THAT HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WERE FLUSHING MUCH OF THEIR UNUSED MEDICATIONS DOWN DRAINS.
"MY LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH," SAYS EAGLES HEAD COACH ANDY REID. DESPITE THAT, REID SAYS HE HAS NO INTENTION OF WALKING AWAY FROM HIS 3-AND-7 FOOTBALL TEAM. "I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF THE TEAM AND TELLING THEM THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO AND ONE OF THEM IS TO CONTINUE TO BATTLE. AND SO THAT WOULD BE A COP OUT. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL THE GUYS ONE THING AND DO THE OTHER," REID SAYS. HE SAYS OWNER JEFFREY LURIE IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TEAM'S PLAY AND FEELS THE TEAM IS LETTING DOWN THE CITY.
PENN STATE STAR LINEBACKER MICHAEL MAUTI WILL MISS SATURDAY'S SEASON FINALE AGAINST WISCONSIN WITH A LEFT KNEE INJURY. COACH BILL O'BRIEN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY. THE TEAM'S WORST FEARS CAME TRUE AFTER MAUTI WAS CARTED OFF THE FIELD DURING THE 45-22 WIN LAST WEEK OVER INDIANA. MAUTI'S COLLEGE CAREER CAME TO AN EARLY END. THE SENIOR LEADER AND EMOTIONAL ANCHOR FOR THE NITTANY LIONS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING TO KEEP MOST OF THE TEAM TOGETHER AFTER THE NCAA LEVIED LANDMARK SANCTIONS IN THE OFFSEASON FOR THE JERRY SANDUSKY CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL. MAUTI AND FELLOW SENIOR MICHAEL ZORDICH MADE IMPASSIONED PLEAS TO STICK WITH THE PROGRAM TWO DAYS AFTER THE PENALTIES WERE ANNOUNCED. IN THE END, 10 PLAYERS TRANSFERRED, BUT MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE ROSTER STAYED.
