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INTERNET GAMBLING

Wall Street: Online bets can help AC market grow

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - A panel of Wall Street experts says Internet gambling can help revive the flagging fortunes of Atlantic City's casinos.

Speaking at an annual casino conference Wednesday, four analysts said Internet gambling offers Atlantic City a new way to boost casino revenues that have been falling for seven years.

But some cautioned that allowing customers to bet online instead of physically visiting casinos could cannibalize revenues.

New Jersey is 1 of 3 states to have legalized Internet gambling and issued regulations for it last week. The state expects to begin taking bets online by the end of the year.

Nevada and Delaware also have legalized online betting.

SUPERSTORM-BELMAR BOARDWALK

Belmar reopens boardwalk destroyed by Sandy

BELMAR, N.J. (AP) - A Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy.

Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.

Officials had said the goal was to have the work finished in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which is the unofficial start of the summer tourism season.

The work required the replacement of 14,000 boards, 2,800 pilings and 500,000 screws.

Governor Chris Christie will be on hand for the ribbon cutting Wednesday.

COLLEGE BUILDING FUNDS

NJ Democrats want to halt college building funds

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Some Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey want to block the state from helping to pay for construction at two religious schools.

A Jewish yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, and the Christian Princeton Theological Seminary were both approved last month to receive building money as part of a $1.3 billion state bond issue.

The yeshiva is to get $10.6 million and the seminary $640,000.

Some lawmakers are questioning whether it's proper for the schools to get money. They also say Gov. Chris Christie's administration has not been willing to share documents explaining how the state chose how to distribute the grants.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Assemblyman Pat Diegnan on Tuesday announced they're introducing a resolution calling on lawmakers to halt disbursement of the aid for all the schools.

MURDER-FOR-HIRE

NJ diner manager charged in plot freed on bail

(Information in the following story is from: The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.), http://www.northjersey.com )

CLIFTON, N.J. (AP) - The manager of a New Jersey diner is free on bail six weeks after he was charged with plotting to kill the co-owner of the restaurant, his uncle.

The Record newspaper reports 45-year-old Georgios Spyropoulos (spee-roh-POH'-lohs) posted the $600,000 bond on Tuesday. He'll remain under house arrest in Clifton and must wear a monitoring bracelet.

Spyropoulos has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a weapon.

State police said an informant told them Spyropoulos was searching for a hitman to torture and kill his boss, Alexandros Sgourdos (sah-GOR'-dohs). Authorities allege Spyropoulos believed Sgourdos was withholding profits and was keeping a large amount of cash in a safe.

Sgourdos co-owns the Tick Tock diners in Clifton and Manhattan.

POLICE OFFICER-FIREBOMB

Reward officer after NJ cop's house firebombed

MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - Officials are offering a $20,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for firebombing a New Jersey police officer's home.

Firefighters responded to the blaze in the two-story home on Arlene Drive in Monroe Township early Monday. No one was injured.

Authorities have not said what was used to start the fire or released the name of the officer or the police department that he works for.

State Policemen's Benevolent Association President Anthony Wieners says the attack on the home and the officer's family is "unspeakable."

Anyone with information should contact the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office 732-745-3300 or Middlesex County Crime Stoppers at 800-939-9600.

TRAIN FATAL

Man fatally struck by commuter train near Philly

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (AP) - Transit officials say a commuter train has struck and killed a man on the tracks outside Philadelphia.

It happened around 7:30 this morning along SEPTA's West Trenton line. SEPTA spokeswoman Kristin Geiger says the train was heading outbound toward Trenton when the 56-year-old man was hit near the Philmont station in suburban Huntingdon Valley.

Delays of up to 60 minutes are being reported on the line as officials investigate.

HANDICAPPED PARKING

NJ to change handicapped parking program

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey is seeking to curb fraud associated with the handicapped parking program.

Motor Vehicle Commission chief administrator Raymond Martinez will announce changes during an event in Bridgewater Wednesday.

People will a disability will be required to have their medical conditions recertified every three years.

The state also is changing the design of the handicapped placards.

BULLYING RULING

NJ judge rejects protest in school bullying ruling

(Information in the following story is from: The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.), http://www.northjersey.com )

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (AP) - An administrative law judge has found an eighth-grade boy in New Jersey violated anti-bullying rules by calling a student a "horse" and "fat."

The judge says a reasonable person should know that repeatedly calling a teenage girl "fat" would have a harmful effect. He rejected the Ridgewood boy's claim that he never intended to harass her.

The judge found two after-school detentions was fair punishment.

The boy's father told The Record newspaper he believes the state's anti-bullying law was wrongly applied. He also says he believes his son never called the girl "fat," and that she cooked up the accusations to get his son in trouble.

Superintendent Daniel Fishbein says he doesn't think such an incident should end up in court, considering the cost and staff time involved.

COUNTRY CLUB AUCTION

Southern NJ property to remain golf course

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) - The development firm that bought a 155-acre property in the thick of southern New Jersey's Philadelphia suburbs says it will keep it a golf course.

What was known as Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry Hill was auctioned off earlier this week.

Two bidders promised to keep it a golf course and the county government planned to make it into open space.

But the eventual winner, First Montgomery Group, did not divulge plans before winning the auction with a bid of more than $10 million.

Many in the community worried that the group would seek to redevelop the land, largely because its main business is building apartment complexes.

Officials at the Marlton-based firm now say they'll change the club's name to the Village at Woodcrest.

TODDLER BURNED

NJ toddler burned by spilled tea

(Information in the following story is from: Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, http://www.app.com )

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP) - Police say a toddler in Lakewood is in stable condition after he was burned by a spilled cup of hot tea.

The 15-month-old was flown to the Saint Barnabas burn center in Livingston Tuesday with second-degree burns to his face, neck and chest.

Detective Sgt. Greg Staffordsmith tells the Asbury Park Press it appears the boy spilled the tea on himself from a cup that was momentarily left unattended on a kitchen counter.

The incident remains under investigation.

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