Historic church to be torn down

Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Thursday:

⬛ Wind project cancellation: Questions, but few answers

Gov. Murphy (AP/Matt Rourke). Offshore wind turbines (AP/Michael Dwyer, File) (Townsquare Media illustration)

Republican lawmakers and many taxpayers don't buy it, and the governor is refusing to elaborate.
Orsted pulled out of two wind projects this week in a stunning blow to murphy's green energy plans.

GOP lawmakers are demanding a full audit and details about Murphy's dealings with Orsted.

⬛ NJ official mourns 4 generations of his family killed in Gaza

Atef and Sami Shaban, family photo. (CBS New York)

White phosphorus rained over Gaza this weekend, killing nine relatives of a Somerset County school board member.

The victims ranged in age from three months to 72.

"In that one bomb, four generations were lost," Sami Shaban said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

⬛ NJ about to let developer totally destroy this beautiful church

Holy Spirit church, Asbury Park (Google Maps)

ASBURY PARK — A developer has scored a major court win in the battle to tear down one of the state’s historic churches no longer being used.

A Monmouth County Superior Court judge on Monday ordered the Asbury Park Planning Board to approve a preliminary subdivision plan that it originally rejected — which would allow for the city's Holy Spirit Catholic Church to be torn down.

⬛ Murphy: Closing scandal-ridden NJ women’s prison is underway

Edna Mahan Correctional Facility (Google Street View)

TRENTON – State officials have completed the first phase of closing New Jersey’s only women’s prison, which has been plagued by years of mistreatment scandals, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Tuesday.

In June 2021, Murphy announced his intent to shutdown the 110-year-old Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County — months after nearly a dozen corrections officers were accused of vicious lockdown assaults at the prison.

⬛ NJ mayor fights back: New York plan that could kill residents

Canva

FORT LEE — Mayor Mark Sokolich and a borough resident have filed a lawsuit that aims to put a stop to plans that would charge certain commuters more than $20 a day to travel through New York City.

The suit filed on Wednesday names the MTA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other parties, arguing that a so-called congestion tax will result in more traffic nearby, increasing toxic air pollution in the North Jersey region.

A list of NJ malls where you can get photos with Santa for the 2023 holiday season

The annual New Jersey tradition is back for the 2023 holiday season, along with pet photos, special events, and exclusive sensory sessions.

More details and locations will be added as the holiday season progresses, so please check back often for updates. Malls are listed in alphabetical order.

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant

Solve these picture puzzles

Convert these pictures/Emoji into the correct responses. These pictures are NOT describing the answer — they're telling you which words and sounds to say. The answers are at the bottom.

Gallery Credit: Dino Flammia

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