News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, August 22

by: Sharon GR

Tue Aug 22, 2006 at 08:26:36 AM EDT

• A web site will be ready this fall comparing pharmacies' prices on the 150 most commonly prescribed drugs. A toll-free number will be available for folks without internet access. Pharmacies must report their prices weekly to the state under the new law, signed yesterday by Gov. Corzine. Prices will be posted in English and Spanish. (Sorry, Lonegan.)
• Corzine also signed into law a bill making it illegal to protest at a funeral. Protesters must stay back at least 500 feet.
• Officials are investigating whether there is a second day care center which was operated on contaminated land in Franklin Twp. (Gloucester.) The second location is a former petroleum company, where Through The Years was located until last spring.
• Federal and State investigations have begun into Sharpe James's use of city-owned credit cards while he was mayor of Newark. The two credit cards, one for city expenses and one for police expenses for James's bodyguards, had charges of over $150,000 in 2 1/2 years.
• The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has reported that Oyster Creed is safe to run for the next 20 years. AmerGen Energy Co. is trying to renew the aging nuclear plant's license.
• Two people snuck under a fence into a secure area of Newark Liberty International Airport, and were there for about a day and a half before being found. The pair are homeless and wanted in Georgia for parole violations. Apparently, the broken section of fence has been fixed. Don'tcha feel safer now?
• The original estimate of $68 million to improve the Rt. 1 corridor through W. Windsor/Princeton has soared to $400 million. Rising land values, increases in the costs of concrete, labor, and fuel, and a sharp dose of reality all contributed to the revision.
• Prizes given out by libraries across the state as part of the summer children's reading program "Paws, Claws, Scales & Tales" are being recalled due to high lead levels. If your child received a bendable cat or dog figurine from the library this summer, check with your library about disposal and replacement.
• State and US flags will fly at half-staff tomorrow in honor of U.S. Army Specialist Hai Ming Hsia. Hsia died in Rimadi, Iraq, on Aug. 1. His widow lives in Newark.