Veto for 'Jersey Shore' Tax Credit in Top State News

Gov. Chris Christie that would have saved the producers of the MTV show "Jersey Shore" $420,000. The governor vetoed the state Economic Development Authority’s award of film tax credits, citing a difficult fiscal climate and a need to use tax credits to support projects that "benefit the state." Christie has been a long-time credit about the show.

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Protesters Wednesday, after the fatal shooting of city resident Barry Deloatch the previous week. Deloatch was killed on Sept. 22 running from two New Brunswick police officers. He died from a gunshot wound to his left side that pierced his aorta.

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Academy Award-winning actress Goldie Hawn was in Newark Monday to meet with students at the Oliver Street School, one of 17 city schools that has implemented the MindUP program, co-founded by by the nonprofit Hawn Foundation two years ago. MindUP is a 15-lesson program that teaches self-awareness. Hawn stopped into two classes to see how the program has affected students' grades and lives.

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A roughly three-hour standoff in front of a Gloucester Township home ended Monday night when and arrested the man inside. The man pulled a knife on a police officer who responded to a reported dispute, Gloucester Township Police Chief W. Harry Earle said. He then retreated into the home, police said.

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The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Glee Club will on Sept. 29. Choir director John Wilson said the club began two years ago in response to student interest in the Fox show "Glee." In its first year, the club had 60 members.

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Customers could end up paying more for coffee or candy bars after a change in the way credit card companies assess merchants for debit card transactions. A rule that took effect Friday puts a cap on the fees that retailers pay when customers use their debit cards. But credit card companies may end up trying to recoup the fees from retailers on even small purchases, which they may pass on to customers in turn.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation agreed Friday to cut New Jersey's $274 million ARC tunnel debt, after an almost year-long standoff with the Christie administration over the project. The deal means state taxpayers will be responsible for only $95 million in Federal Transit Administration money that NJ Transit invested in the tunnel. The NJ Transit board is expected to vote on the project on Tuesday.

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After months of protests, contentious meetings and accusations of conflicts of interest, the state Department of Education on Friday rejected charter schools proposed for suburban school districts around the state. Only 4 of 55 applications were approved in this round of charter applications — with the approved schools scheduled to open in Trenton, Jersey City, Camden and Cherry Hill in September 2012.