Gov. Christie’s intentions, ‘The Interview’ experiment and NJ’s business climate: First News

Today in New Jersey’s First News:

Now that moderate republican Jeb Bush is mulling a run at the White House in 2016, many insiders feel Governor Christie will have to announce his presidential intentions soon. One political expert thinks Christie still has a shot to get the GOP nomination, but he can't change who he is.

• Jeb Bush complicates Christie's 2016 presidential prospects / NJ1015.com 

The "Interview" made its hotly debated debut amid high political drama. But it's also proving to be a guinea pig for the movie industry.

•  Capacity crowds pack theaters for 'The Interview' / NJ1015.com
• Sony broadly releases 'The Interview' in reversal of plans / NJ1015.com

A power outage during the showing on "The Interview" stunned and confused an audience in Clifton. It occurred Thursday at Allwood Cinemas 6 just before a scene in which North Korean leader Kim Jong un is killed. It lasted about 15 minutes.  There was confusion when the theater went dark and some audience members left quickly.

• Clifton power failure is only glitch to 'The Interview' debut / NorthJersey.com

There may have been another Cyberattack on Sony. Sony's online Playstation store and Microsoft's Xbox site experienced disruptions to users on Christmas day. Some users had trouble logging in.

•  Playstation and Xbox Live networks go offline in apparent cyber attack / The Guardian

As we wrap up 2014, the Jersey business community is calling on state lawmakers to step up to the plate and help create a more friendly business climate next year, so the economy can really start humming.

•  Seeking a more business-friendly NJ in 2015 / NJ1015.com

As the economy improves, retailers continue to be put to the test by persistent criminals especially this time of year when return fraud is expected to be a big problem.

• Retail fraud expected to cost retailers $3.8 billion / NJ1015.com  

A south Jersey teenager has been killed after he was struck by two vehicles while crossing a roadway.   The 17-year-old was hit by a Ford Escape and then fell into the street and was struck by a Mack truck that was traveling behind it in Washington township on Wednesday.  No charges had been filed.

•  POLICE: NJ teen struck and killed by 2 cars / WPVI Philly
• POLICE: Teen struck and killed by 2 cars / Trentonian

George Washington has made his Christmas day trip across the Delaware river -- with considerably better weather than the first time. Re-enactors playing Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River between Washington crossing, Pennsylvania, and Titusville Thursday afternoon.  In contrast to the severe weather Washington and his troops faced in 1776, the 62nd annual re-enactment was done under mostly sunny skies and a 50-degree temperature.  Re-enactors used four replica Durham boats similar to the ones Washington's troops used.

•  'Washington' crossed the Delaware with better weather / NJ1015.com

Casino gambling in north Jersey will most likely hit the ballot in 2015. There's much debate over what the move would do to Atlantic City but there's no argument that it would mean big business for the Garden State.

• Would casinos be successful in North Jersey? / NJ1015.com

The Florida developer in line to purchase the former revel casino in Atlantic City says in court filings that the auction for the property wasn't run fairly and he wants an $8 million discount. Straub says in the filing that he believes the auction was unfair because his side wasn't properly notified of the other bidder.

• Potential Revel Casino buyer wants discount / NJ.com
• Citing unfair auction, developer wants discount / Fox Business

A former Rutgers student has been charged with setting a fire in a school building in Piscataway last week that forced the evacuation of more than 200 students taking a final exam.  21-year-old Shayam Sridhar, of Edison, was charged with second-degree aggravated arson.

• Former Rutgers student charged in Busch Campus arson / NJ.com

 If you just bought a pet over the holidays you might not have all of the information you may need about the dog or cat you purchased for your family. You would know all you need to know under a bill that has been unanimously approved by the senate and assembly.

•  Pet buyers would get more background information under NJ bill / NJ1015.com

A rock wall being constructed on Bay Head's north end that residents paid for doesn't exempt the borough from a federal beach replenishment project planned for the entire Jersey coast.

•  Storm wall won't exclude Bay Head from beach replenishment / NJ1015.com

A gloomy holiday for those thinking about two New York City Police officers gunned down in their vehicle last Saturday.

•  Wake to be held Friday for first of 2 slain NYPD officers / NJ1015.com
• Slain NYPD Officer Raphael Ramos to be remembered at wake / NBC News

You're going back to the mall? It's going to be one of the busiest shopping days of the season.

• Most stores opening early for post-Christmas sales / NJ.com
• Going shopping the day after Christmas? / Fox10 TV
• Dec 26 expected to be busy shopping day  for returns, sales / Daytona Beach News Journal

WEATHER from chief meteorologist Dan Zarrow:

TODAY... Mostly sunny and mild.  Highs 48-51

TONIGHT... A few clouds.  Lows 30-36

TOMORROW... Partly sunny and mild.  Highs 52-55

SUNDAY... Rain showers likely.  Breezy.  Highs 48-52