News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, May 29, 2007

by: Sharon GR

Tue May 29, 2007 at 08:02:19 AM EDT

• Gov. Corzine attended the ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel yesterday. Many newspapers had brief articles on yesterday's remembrances: Star-Ledger (photo essay), Times of Trenton, The Record, Press of Atlantic City, Gloucester County Times, Asbury Park Press, Jersey Journal, Courier Post, Burlington County Times.
• "I never believed a person would be hated for his religion." The Muslim community is seeing a rise in bias crimes in the wake of the recent Fort Dix incident.
• Questions are being raised over Union City Mayor/Assemblyman Brian Stack's campaign fundraising in his Senate run. Personal loans by supporters are being scrutinized.
• New Jersey has the third-lowest gas taxes in the country, but that may change in a few years if we want to meet our expenses.
• The Star-Ledger takes a look at the contentious 29th district Assembly primary.
• Our Fair State has started its own Office of Nutrition and Fitness, the first state to do so, in order to fight the rise of obesity in young people. Obesity is now the country's No. 2 cause of preventable death; about 60% of Our Big State is overweight or obese.
• The threat of old, unexploded munitions in the sand didn't keep the crowds away from Surf City this weekend.
• Should clearings that resulted from forest fires in the Pine Barrens be kept as fire breaks? The debate over fire protection in the Pinelands environment is getting heating up.
• The state has extended the deadline for seniors to file for Senior Freeze property tax rebates from June 1 to Aug. 15.
• Expansion of the Coast Guard through the Deepwater program, formerly overseen by Rep. Frank LoBiondo, is being scrutinized for lack of results and increased costs.
• Have a GPS in your car? Better watch out!

Open Thread: What do you want to talk about today, Blue Jersey?