FIRST NEWS PLUS for Tuesday June 17, 2014

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.

Christie Not Worried - Governor Christie's proposed budget for FY 2015 calls for $1.6 billion less to be added to the state pension system than originally planned. He argues the state simply cannot afford to make the required payment because revenue projections have not panned out and the state is flat broke. Several unions are suing the state, but Christie insists he's not worried.

• Christie Says the State Will Not ‘Close Down’ / NJ1015.com

Twin Tornado Terror - Residents of the tiny town of Pilger, Nebraska who survived twin tornadoes are in shelters or had to make other arrangements. An official says half the town is gone and most homes in the community of 350 were damaged. There is one fatality and at least 19 people were injured, some critically. Residents will be escorted back in later this morning to inspect damage and look for valuables.

• Nebraska Town Begins Massive Tornado Cleanup / NJ1015.com
• Tornadoes Hammer Stanton County / WOWT TV

Boy Left In Hot Car - A two year old boy is lucky to be alive and his mother is charged with endangerment. 31-year old Alexis Blake left her son in the car, the window barely cracked when she took another child inside to a doctors appointment in Sussex County. A passerby heard the toddler screaming and called police. The boy had been inside at least 20-minutes. Temperatures can reach well over 100-degrees in a matter of minutes

• Boy's screams lead to child abuse charge against Sussex mother / Star-Ledger

New Virus - Doctors in the U.S. have another mosquito-borne illness to worry about. The virus has been reported in several states so far this year, but they're all cases of people traveling from other areas.

• Mosquito Virus Outbreak Spurs US Concern / NJ1015.com

U.S. Troops to Iraq - The United States is sending in special forces to Iraq. 300-elite troops will help secure U.S. assets for now but President Obama has yet to decide how aggressive we will be in trying to stop militants who have blitzed key Iraqi towns in recent days and now hold significant parts of the nation. The U.S. is also consulting with Iran on how we might work together to deal with the insurgents.

• More US Troops to Iraq; Special Forces Considered/ NJ1015.com
• Conducting U.S. airstrikes in Iraq would be complicated, former military officers say/ Washington Post

Narcan Program Goes Statewide - Gov. Christie is expanding a pilot program that allows police officers to carry and administer a drug that can quickly reverse heroin overdoses. Police in every county and the State Police will be trained to administer Narcan. At least 40-lives have been saved since police started carrying Narcan in Monmouth and Ocean counties

• NJ to Expand Anti-Overdose Pilot / NJ1015.com

Medical Marijuana Struggles  - When New Jersey's medical marijuana law kicked in 4 ½ years ago, there were predictions that tens of thousands of patients would sign up and jammed distribution centers would be opening up all over the state. But that hasn't happened. In fact, demand has been so low that the few dispensaries that have opened are struggling to stay in business.

• Christie: Medical Marijuana a ‘Front for Legalization’ / NJ1015.com

Substitute Teacher Arrested - A coach and substitute teacher at Red Bank Regional High School is under arrest this morning for an inappropriate relationship for a 16-year old student. 37-year old Darnell Lewis worked as a hall monitor, substitute teacher, and assistant basketball and football coach. He quit the jobs just days before being arrested

• Former Monmouth County substitute teacher, coach charged with having sex with student / NJ.com

Property Tax Help - Towns will get some help staying under the two-percent cap on property tax hikes. The full Assembly has approved a compromise bill to limit the amount of raises an arbitrator can award to police and firefighters.

South Jersey Bear - We are still getting reports of a black bear roaming Burlington County and headed north. The last sighting was in Mount Laurel. It may have come up from as far south as Wharton State Forest

• Black Bear on the Move in South Jersey / 6 ABC

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