New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 03/16/1982

New Jersey Nightly News with Don Torrance and can't get out of hand. Good evening a two alarm blaze delayed thousands of commuters this morning in shutdown path service between Hoboken and Manhattan. It's all over for Rutgers Bill Perry has the highlights in sports says Purdue wins the Scarlet Knights and I did. And tonight we continue our closer look series. The Patterson project tracking the progress of a local businessman. Commuters in North Jersey face more than their share of troubles getting to work this morning. At least 76 people were injured in a fire which trapped 400 commuters beneath a tunnel in the Hudson River. The fire started about 7:30 this morning on a path train from Hoboken to New York stopping the train about 1000 feet short of the Manhattan side. Firemen love the stranded passengers through the tunnel to an emergency exit on the banks of the river where most of them had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Forty two people were taken to area hospitals but most were released later. Service between Hoboken to New York was out for six hours before the train could be removed. Officials say service was normal during tonight's rush hour. But commuters

still face problems in union reform. It looked like a scene from the tracks. But in the midst of tracks in both directions travel impossible through at least the next morning. That's all it all added up to complicate the situation. The alternate plans basically like this at off peak

running between Cranford and Newark Penn Station during rush hour as the shuttles carrier between Westfield and away the shuttles connect to other train lines or to the valley line west of Grand bright spot. Again the cost of the shuttles is being picked up by New Jersey transit like freight. The question still be back to normal for the Raritan Valley Line transit but they're not. TIME Some trip to. Federal state and local officials joined with Jersey Central Power and Light Company today to

practice their responses to an event they hope never takes place. An accident at JCP an ELSE Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. Steve Katz reports. This is a test of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station mereological Emergency Broadcasting System. Monster Creek hasn't generated any electricity since early December but nuclear which operates the facility for J.S. PNL expects the plant to be running again in a few weeks. Today's emergency was staged So federal officials could judge how you Nuclear handles a crisis. The simulated problems began early this morning when engineers supposedly found abnormal radiation levels in the plant's terminal building. According to the drill a small fire broke out and then a series of events led to a reactor scrammed in today's mock disaster anything that possibly could go wrong at Oyster Creek did go wrong. Shortly after 11:00 this morning according to the scenario the containment structure around the reactor ruptured and radiation was released into the atmosphere. The radiation

began drifting toward Long Beach Island. And Governor Kaine is monitoring the drill from state police headquarters declared a state of emergency. But together now literally become a commander in chief is now in charge of this entire operation. He directs everything all the statements about the status of the plant about what's happening are issued now through the governor's office. Local residents knew about today's test and heard the forty six emergency sirens recently installed by JCP and Elm. Several hundred local emergency personnel were actively involved in the exercise going through the motions of handling an emergency albeit an emergency that followed a planned course. Many of the things that are happening or are planned be the scenarios approved by the NRC and however there are some surprises thrown in to demonstrate that there's some there's enough death in your organization respond to a real emergency plan the disaster drill ended late this afternoon with no major problems reported. Now federal state and local officials will assess their performances and hope they never have to

use the skills they practiced today. In Lacy township Ocean County I'm Steve Katz. New Jersey's Republicans haven't gotten any indication from the U.S. Supreme Court yet that the court will quickly hear their case against the congressional redistricting plan drawn up by Democrats. Governor Kaine directed the state attorney general's office to ask for an expedited hearing in the case. The GOP wants to avoid an election out of the controversial districts in the plan because the districts generally favor Democrats. Such an election is a real possibility if the High Court follows tradition and waits until October to hear the case. Yesterday Supreme Court Justice Brennan issued a stay of a lower court ruling against the plan and that action means Brennan feels there are issues involved. The full court should hear. But when is the question. Republicans hope it's in time to allow the June 8th Protheroe to be held under a new plan. Democrats hope it won't be until the election has already been held under their plan. Then there's another candidate in the race for former senator Harrison Williams seat. Frank Lautenberg a Democrat from Montclair today announced his candidacy. Lautenberg

is chief executive of Automatic Data Processing incorporated in Clifton. He's never held public office but has been active in fundraising for the Democratic Party. At today's press conference in Atlantic City Lautenberg was asked if he saw any parallels between his campaign and both Sullivan's unsuccessful attempt in the GOP gubernatorial primary last year in that race Sullivan sought to overcome his lack of a political base with an expensive media campaign to allow. Hope that I'll conduct a victorious campaign. Secondly I think the comparisons stop there. I've been engaged for a number of years and the interest on the policy of the Democratic Party. I don't have a traditional political base but I'm going to bring my message to the public. I think that the voters of New Jersey will be interested in what I have to say and it's up to me to get the message out there. Lautenberg also said he thinks he can run well against Congressman Jim Florio if

he enters the race. As I made my calculation about entering the race I planned expected all the time the congressman Floria would be in the race. I think that we can conduct a very good campaign against whomever the opposition is including Congressman fari I think you make a wonderful governor I think you ought to do that four years from now. Lautenberg says his campaign will emphasize his years of business experience in New Jersey as well as his concern for the environment. As expected the turnout has been light in a special assembly election today in North Jersey. Voters in the 40th district Northwest Bergen County and parts of Passaic County are choosing someone to replace Kerry Edwards. He resigned in December to become Governor Kaine's chief counsel. The Republican candidate is former Fairlawn mayor Nicholas Felice. His Democratic opponent is a meal fito a hairdresser. Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district a district that GOP views as a stronghold voting

continues until 8:00 p.m. tonight. If Republicans Felice wins the GOP would narrow its minority in the assembly to seven. Don educators are expressing deep concern over proposed cuts in federal aid to college students. Today presidents of private colleges and universities in New Jersey attack those cuts as Diane docker reports rider college in Lawrenceville is one of 16 Independent Colleges and Universities in the state for these and other students attending private schools the cost of education is about four times as much as the cost of a state supported education. If the Reagan budget is unchanged students enrolled in the state's private institutions stand to lose about 46 percent of all federal aid cuts this date if adopted may well deny some students access to higher education. At the very least students will be driven by overwhelming financial considerations out of their schools of choice into low priced heavily subsidized public institutions.

Dr. Harden spoke after an all day meeting of the state's private college and university presidents at Rider college. Their message federal cuts are too drastic too devastating and could reshape private schools into what one educator called enclaves for the wealthy and higher education. Yesterday in his budget message Governor Kaine said while state aid to education makes up one third of the total budget the overall budget for higher education is still too low. If in your deliberations you can find additional revenue. I would suggest that higher education is an appropriate place to put it. The governor has proposed increasing the tuition aid grant program which provides financial aid to students in both public and private institutions. A total of four million dollars. The total program will cost thirty seven point eight million dollars of that thirteen point six million will go to students at independent institutions. That is the only increase in aid to private institutions. The governor has proposed keeping other aid to the

schools at ten point nine million dollars the same as the one thousand nine hundred two level administrators that rider would have liked to have seen an increase in the other rate as well. But they didn't blame the governor just the budget process. For now the only private institutions expected to fare reasonably well are schools like Princeton here officials will shift funds from the university's rich endowment to offset federal cuts. I'm dyin doctor. The prosecution today introduced evidence in the bribery trial of suspended Camden County Superior Court judge. That evidence 45 minutes of tape recorded conversations Flanagan was there. Prosecutor Charles Buckley used the tapes to show judge Cruise's alleged solicitation and acceptance of a bribe from convicted arsonist Sergio Moore selly. Again key witness Lewis provided the link testifying that Caruso used him as a go between to set up meetings with more selly. But prosecutors say more slowly went to state police.

And on October 22nd right for sound recorded alleged offer that for $20000 500 that night and fourteen thousand five hundred two weeks later more Sally's case would be postponed and ultimately suspended. Prosecutors say more Celie delivered the rest of the money to November 5th and state police were waiting to arrest him giving his cooperation in exchange for immunity from prosecution Caggiano on November 6th where the microphone during a ride in a car he told the court the judge took the bribe. Barbara removed the money placed it right at the. Foot of your right.

What did you do with. Your son. He waited in the fold of his coat. State police arrested crusie later that morning while $12000 was in his jacket pocket. Defense attorney Karl Popper began cross-examination of Caggiano this afternoon but does not expect to call his first witness until sometime next week but won't say whether Judge corrosion will take the stand in his own defense at the Ocean County Courthouse in Toms River. I'm Brenda Flanagan. As many as 50 prisoners may get released early from the Passaic County Jail to help ease tensions at that overcrowded facility the plant under discussion by the county sheriff and prosecutor comes in the wake of an inmates death during a fight. Nineteen year old Floyd Nichols of Patterson died Sunday night when he hit his head on a bench during a fight at the jail. Sheriff Edwin Engle heart says fighting in an overcrowded jail is a common occurrence in the recent death dramatizes the crowding in state and county facilities.

The sheriff wants to give early release to prisoners with a week to 10 days left of their sentences for minor offenses. And for the transfer of state prisoners to jail which was built to house two hundred twenty seven inmates as a present population of five hundred fourteen. And now here's a look at the weather forecast tonight will be windy and rainy with temperatures in the upper 30s. The rain will continue through the night and then stop tomorrow morning but it will remain cloudy most of the day. Temperatures in the upper 40s and the outlook for Thursday partly sunny and mild. Time and again Ronald Reagan has made it clear that the key to the success of his economic recovery plan is

private business. The president has pinned his hopes on a new round of investments for by tax cuts and increased charity to help make up for budget cuts in his monthly series The Patterson project contributing reporter Howard Hughes that is tracking the impact of the Reagan plan on one city and four of its families. Tonight we return to a businessman who's undertaken both new investment and new civic involvement. We check both on his progress and the mood of Paterson's business leaders. Philip pope. President of Paterson's pope chemical was a man with big plans last December. Using savings from the business tax cut. He did you take an expansion of his fur. It had plans to buy one of Paterson's last available large tracts of land at a bad gas works. I would like to build. Do industrial park. This Ronald Reagan booster was nothing if not optimistic. So you would say. Just wait things will get better. Tighten your belt and they are going to get better personally. Things are proceeding to plan. Recession has spared this business which serves the color pretty good.

Hope gives Ronald Reagan's anti-inflation. Partial credit for keeping his costs down. And pope is now the owner of the land that he is Dave. Opportunity park. With the help of Paterson's Republican mayor. The ten acre project is likely to get a boost from Washington. It's likely to become one of Ronald Reagan's enterprise odes urban areas. Where do businesses get special tax breaks. If it's a marginal thing and we have trouble because of high interest rates or because it's Patterson getting people in there and obviously this is the kicker that it's going to make it happen faster or better. But what of the Patterson economy as a whole is Pope the exception no single farmer industry dominates Patterson today. Save the auto industry doesn't Detroit. Instead there are hundreds of small shops and offices each with it's only to the larger economy. There is no better place to gauge the mood of Paterson business but here at the Hamilton club. A private dining room with old fashioned delegates reflects the illustrious past of

America's oldest industrial city. At lunch peers are brothers. That all isn't well. Runs the city's largest factory its thirteen hundred employees make parts for fluorescent lights. As high interest rates have slowed new store and office construction. His firm feels the pinch. I'm afraid we don't want to trade in the next three four months we're going to see you know. One of them not. 20. Percent. Paul Abrams one of the city's largest construction contractors has relied on government housing subsidies for three quarters of his business to cut federal spending. Those subsidies are about to end. Charlie Jacobs owner of Paterson's biggest department store has seen volume drop 20 percent. He blames the drop in purchase power caused by cuts in welfare and pay cuts at city hall. He links to a fall off in federal aid and unemployment in Paterson never low has risen from 12 percent last year to almost 15 percent.

Today we run anywhere from the welfare mother up to the. Mid to upper middle income employee downtown and we have been just boxed in on every level no matter how we turn. Recession too has touched one of Phil pope's projects a privately run job training program. Pope hopes that his private industry Council will succeed. Government training. 25 graduated in January for Patterson only half have found jobs. In manufacturing had hoped to hire two graduates the Japanese competition the photocopying industry. Carefully. And economic downturn.

They are demoralized. I had this knowledge and experience. As a machinist However I'm turned down now where do I go from here. Felt as though I just felt as if I wanted to give up there was no need to strive Patterson's economy can't be judged only by its private sector though government here has tried hard to encourage new business. It's focused a 23 acre historic district of old textile mill buildings 11 million dollars in federal aid has been the cornerstone for renovation which has turned a bad buildings into classy restaurants and exposed brick offices that the city hopes will lead to a new White Collar Economy. Sid Willis is the former director of economic development for the city of Paterson. Our federal money for this project was everything. But that aid is drying up. Slowing plans. The city has hoped to see this empty building become housing for artists tenants the city feels will spark

tourism plans even call for a special studio space. But a developer has been counting on a low interest federal loan and the federal credit faucet has been turned down by Ronald Reagan plans remain on the drawing board. In another case a federal grant says well it wasn't enough. A factory that Paterson had recruited to help offset older firms closing their doors. Backed out of the deal. The reason high interest rates again. But said Willis remains optimistic for the long run in part because of strong new tax incentives for historic renovation. The ball game is going to be different. There's no question. But we've done an awful lot of homework with the dollars that we had earlier and I think that overall. The prospects for continuing. With more of an emphasis on the private side of things will be how it will be workable and indeed most of those at the Hamilton club continue to support Ronald Reagan. PETER COLEMAN Patterson's largest bank we have to pay a price if we're going to

get some satisfactory results somewhere down the road. Nothing comes easy and the right attitude is that we can have prosperity and not pay a price for it is just not going to happen. These men do profess concern about the projected size of the federal deficit which they link to those high interest rates. That deficit prompts Phil pope to part company in one way with Ronald Reagan. I retain my faith. I am concerned about the balanced budget and a part of it that I have my biggest misgivings about is a necessity of increasing defense spending. But the politics of recovery is complex. Consider again the case of Chester Taylor the graduate of Pope's private industry Council program. He's finally gotten a job that will take his place alongside other graduates at this plant which makes electric generators. Sixty percent of them under contract for the Pentagon. For the Patterson project. I'm Howard Hughes.

And the Patterson project will continue next month. Just back from not Bahamas with a nice tan Bill Perry was in Newark last night but tonight he's back with us in Trenton with more I'm going to say just back from your cancer I thank you now that it's all over for Rutgers. One thing is very clear the Knights need that love that thrive on that home cooking away from the Rutgers athletic center. Rutgers is just a mediocre club 16 and one at home for nine on the road including last

night's second round and I take embarrassment at Indiana to Purdue 98 65 record finishes 20 in 10 12 this Roy Hansen slamming in a bucket for Kevin Black off a goaltending call Rutgers had a nearly 6 5 lead but then lights out turnovers killed Rutgers 24 of them freshman rookie hall coast to coast for the Boilermakers. He had 12 points. Keith Edmonson a 6 5 all Big 10 guard outside is produced when cross court against the Rutgers zone 29 for Edmonton Mike scarcely outside He had 16 points 13 rebounds and eight assists and watch this play coming up backdoor pretty play produce center Russell cross and suddenly it was a 12 point lead at 23 11. Rutgers tried to come back Clarence Tillman had his first five shots 25 points an awful Clarance 11 of 18 from the floor Roy Hanson had 22 again the slam Forty seven of your 65 points for Henson and Telemann but in your face at the other end crossed dunks. And Hall with the steal nice feed to Edmonson Purdue by 14. Thirty nine twenty five at the half and the second half they really pulled away to win by 33 98 65 the

final. Around the state the high schools are down to the final four in each group the game's upcoming our state semifinal games but sectional championships winners are sectional champs and go on to the state title games. The game which will attract the most attention tonight is the south jersey group for title game it's Camden and spectacular Billy Thompson number 55 against Neptune The winner will be favored to take the state title against the North winner either Montclair or Snyder who played tonight at the Rutgers athletic center Camden Neptune meet Princeton's Jadwin Gym last year at Jadwin Neptune upset camp in the winners of the sectional titles again advanced to the states with the All State title games to be played at the Meadowlands Arena this weekend and the group for title game will be played Saturday night. All right the rest of the lineup for tonight group 3 Emerson of Union City meets Linden at the Rutgers athletic center for the North championship it's Ewing against Simonson at Monmouth College in the south in group to only one game tonight Redbank against Salem at Lakewood. That's for the South crown group one the only game matches MA and Roselle for the North title at

Hackensack in parochial competition. Seton Hall prep faces Don Bosco prep for the North Jersey section a championship at West Essex and its St. Josephs of Toms River and the Carson of Trenton that Lacy the South Jersey section a championship so what are you doing tonight. Why not go on out and check out a high school game. Better hurry though it's almost 8 o'clock. That's our Sports. OK thanks a lot Bill and that's also our news repent Manhattanville Perry and Don Torrance Good night from all of us of New Jersey nightly news. New Jersey Nightly News is a joint presentation of the New Jersey network and

13. Portions recorded.