Remembering Joan Rivers, another casino may close: First News with Podcast

New Jersey's First News, hosted by Eric Scott, written and produced by Matthew White and Patrick Lavery. Full podcast available below. Digital support, with additional links, by Dan Alexander.

ALAN KASPER'S FORECAST:
TODAY: Partly sunny. Humid. High:85-90
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Humid. Chance of showers. Low: 70s
TOMORROW: Partly sunny. Humid. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. High: 90

LISTEN TO ALAN'S FORECAST:

Remembering a Legend - It's a day of mourning in the world of entertainment. Trailblazing comedian Joan Rivers has died at the age of 81. The tragic news comes a week after she suffered complications during a routine throat procedure.

• Comedian Joan Rivers dead at 81, a week after medical emergency / NJ1015.com (Associated Press)
• Joan Rivers Honored by David Letterman and Conan O'Brien in Emotional Tributes / The Hollywood Reporter

Hacking Notification - Home Depot is the latest large-scale firm to investigate a possible credit card breach, but certainly not the first. Assembly Republican leaderJon Bramnick (R-Westfield) wants to make sure every company in the Garden State alerts law enforcement if they suspect their network has been hacked.

• Companies should voluntarily report breaches: NJ lawmaker / NJ1015.com

Mustangs March On - An update on the story we told you about yesterday. After neighbors complained about noise coming from Brick Memorial’s marching band practice and officials considered moving the site, the superintendent now says nothing will change from previous arrangement. A meeting was held last night to resolve the issue with parents.

• Brick HS band, neighbors reach agreement over noise complaints / NJ1015.com
• School Officials to Meet With Brick Memorial Band, Parents / Brick Patch

Another Closure? - More turmoil in Atlantic City this morning. A day after it was reported that Trump Taj Mahal is considering filing for Chapter 11 to get some breathing room with its debts, NBC 40 reports today that WARN notices could be on the way to employees, which would signal an imminent closing. That would come on the heels of Revel and Showboat's shutdowns and Trump Plaza's planned closing on the 16th.

• Sources: Taj Mahal employees could see WARN Act notices in future / NBC 40

Ripple Effect - Atlantic City casino closures are disappointing on the surface, but they mean much more than a few buildings going dark. The ripple effect is hitting residents and towns beyond AC’s borders.

• Neighboring towns affected by AC casino shutdowns / NJ1015.com

Miss America Lifts AC - One positive for the struggling resort. Miss America is expected to generate big bucks for Atlantic City. An official with the casino reinvestment development authority said the pageant should bring in $30 million dollars.

• Miss America contestants arrive in Atlantic City / ABC 7

Gambling Helps Transportation Fund - Another lawmaker is out with an idea for putting slots at New Jersey racetracks and how the revenue should be spent. This latest concept would help build up the state's pension system and put cash into the bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund while leaving Atlantic City out of the equation.

• Racetrack slots bill would aid NJ transportation and pension funds / NJ1015.com

Staying Quiet - As he continues his trade trip in Mexico and tries to polish his presidential image, Governor Christie (R) is being tight-lipped about his immigration views. Christie was asked about it Thursday and said he would not discuss the issue until he becomes a presidential candidate. He says if that happens, he will give a full position for people to praise or pick apart.

• Chris Christie, on Mexico Tour, Unplugs the Amplifier / New York Times

Hoboken Subpoena - The Attorney General's office is confirming this morning that the New Jersey Department of State, headed by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, has been subpoenaed in connection with Hoboken issues. While details are scarce at this hour, you may remember allegations earlier this year from Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer that Guadagno threatened to cut off Sandy money if the mayor did not support a construction project with Port Authority ties.

• Guadagno office subpoenaed on 'Hoboken issues' / The Record

Lodzinski Returns Home - The woman recently arrested for a 1991 cold case murder of her own son will return soon to the New Jersey to face charges. Michelle Lodzinski waived extradition in Florida Thursday; she was arrested last month and charged with murdering her 5 year old son Timothy. Her lawyer says she looks forward to telling her side of the story.

• Cold case update: Mother charged in son’s 1991 death returning to NJ / NJ1015.com (AP)
• Timmy Wiltsey's mother will return to N.J. to face charges in his 1991 murder / Star-Ledger

Special Investigators - Princeton University is considering creating a team of trained investigators to look into campus sexual misconduct accusations. The recommendation is one of several from a faculty committee assigned after the U.S. Education Department's office for civil rights said it was looking into the handling of sexual assault cases at Princeton and 54 other colleges across the country. The Princeton plan is to be presented to a university governing board on Sept. 29.

• Princeton may change handling of sex assault investigations / NJ1015.com (AP)

First Day Success - As the first day of school came and went in Newark, organizers boycotting the school district claimed success. But school superintendent Cami Anderson says it didn't appear many parents kept children home in protest of a new enrollment system. The One Newark plan is designed to create more school choices, but many say it creates logistical nightmares for parents.

• Back to school means first-day jitters for Anderson, ‘One Newark’ plan / NJ Spotlight

Ferguson Investigation - The Justice Department says it will investigate practices by the Ferguson, Missouri, police department. The review comes in addition to a probe of last month's shooting of Michael Brown by a white police officer. The review will include a look at use of force, searches, arrests and treatment of inmates.

• Feds launch investigation into Ferguson police department / CBS News

Shore Struggles - Even amidst some promising figures, it hasn't been all roses for shore businesses this summer.

• After Sandy and the fire, Seaside Heights still struggles / NJ1015.com

Fleeing the Suburbs - Suburban sprawl has been covering New Jersey in all directions for years. But now, a new trend is emerging that's expected to give some of the state's oldest cities an economic shot in the arm.

• New Jersey millennials are fleeing the suburbs / NJ1015.com

Uncertainty for NATO - White House officials say they don't expect NATO members gathered at a summit in wales to commit to a military mission against the militant group Islamic State, but they're also looking for commitments to send weapons, ammunition and other assistance to western-backed Syrian rebels and to Iraqi forces. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have been pressing NATO members to confront the "brutal and poisonous" militant group.

• Shelling moves closer to Ukrainian port / NJ1015.com (AP)
• As it happened: NATO summit - Day One / BBC

Parkway Parents - Quite a surprise for two parents having their first child this week. A Lakewood couple were on their to the hospital after the woman went into labor, but they realized the baby would not wait. They pulled over on the Parkway and called 911. State Police say a trooper delivered a healthy boy, using his uniform shirt to wrap the baby in. Mom and son are doing well at a hospital.

• It’s a boy! Baby born on side of Parkway / Asbury Park Press
• NJ State Troopers Assist With the Delivery af a Lakewood Baby Boy on the Garden State Parkway / Lakewood Scoop

SCORES:

MLB:

• Yankees 5, Boston 4

You can get your first listen of news from around New Jersey every weekday even if you're not up at 5 a.m. Subscribe to New Jersey 101.5 First News Podcast for daily updates of New Jersey news, weather, and traffic each weekday morning and listen back on your iPhone, Android or other compatible mobile device.