NJN News; Tuesday April 29, 1997 [Master, Orignal]

A Cumberland County student is found murdered inside her high school the second student killing at a New Jersey school this year. A drug program in Jersey City nets hundreds of arrests. This is Michael Aaron at the Presidential Summit in Philadelphia. We'll see how New Jersey is here, planning to carry the message forward. Nursing was become a controversy over women and breastfeeding. Our special series begins on the politics and attitudes towards breastfeeding. At an health watch, wake up and smell the coffee. It may be good for you. NJN News for this Tuesday, April 29. Major funding for NJN News is made possible by grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizen released to a healthy democracy.

The SENG committed to serving customers strengthening the business community and investing in New Jersey's future. The union serves the financial needs of individuals and businesses from Connecticut to Florida. HIP Health Plan of New Jersey dedicated to providing quality health care to employees of large and small businesses as well as individuals for two decades. And by Bell Atlantic, the heart of communication, in partnership with public television, serving to inform and lighten and educate the citizens of New Jersey. From NJN, the New Jersey Channel, the Emmy Award-winning NJN News with Kent Manahan, Dick Forney with Business, and Jerry Henry with Sports. Good evening, everyone.

Ken is off tonight. I'm Ken St. John. There's been another murder at a New Jersey High School. Authorities are investigating the killing of a 16-year-old student at Cumberland Regional High School. The body of Nilsa Mason was found last night inside the school in Upper Deerfield Township. Rich Young joins us now from the school in Cumberland County with more. Rich? Well, Kent Upper Deerfield is undoubtedly a town in the morning tonight, after authorities are looking for the killer or killers. Of 16-year-old Nilsa Mason, a sophomore here at Cumberland Regional High School. Throughout the day, authorities have described this school as a safe haven or sanctuary. Well, that was not the case for her 24 hours ago. Kids come to school here every day, and then they find somebody, you know, me murder in the school? It was a shame. Dispollief. That was the reaction outside Cumberland Regional High School today, as students were replaced by the state police. Amid the lush farmland and green pastures, it looks like a school where murders do not happen. But last night, one did. 16-year-old Nilsa Mason was discovered slain inside the school with a puncture wound to

her neck. According to police, Mason was last seen about 5.30 last evening at track practice. Her father reported her missing after he came to the school to pick her up, and she did not arrive. Her body was found about 3.5 hours later by a janitor in the boys locker room. The major crimes task force, the unit of the state police, and when I tell you they're all over this, they are all over it. The county prosecutor would not talk about motives this afternoon, but he cast aside rumors, Mason was found stuffed in a locker, or was the victim of racial hatred. As for suspects, all I can tell you is that the janitor found the body at about 9 p.m., and I'll tell you this, he was visibly shaken. Walmart Sean would not elaborate on suspects. He did say it's unlikely there's a random killer on the loose, but that's not good enough for some students. If you guys don't catch the person who does it, I mean, I could easily bump into that person and not know it, and that's a little too freaky. I kind of make sure some look upset to think about it, someone in our school could do that.

In the meantime, dozens of family and friends gathered at Mason's parents' home. While no one would go on camera, off camera, Mason's uncle said the family feels authorities are not keeping them informed of the investigation. At this school, other friends brought flowers trying to understand why. I feel sorry for the parents. Well, there are many people feeling sorry for Mason's parents tonight. Their daughter is described as being friendly and outgoing a member of the girl's basketball and track teams. In the meantime, classes will resume here tomorrow. Counselors will be on hand as police continue to search for the killer of Nielsen Mason. For now reporting from Upper Deerfield Township, I'm Rich Young, NJN News. Kent back to you. Rich, meanwhile, a zero tolerance drug program is netting big rewards. Jersey City Police today announced their anti-drug program has racked up over 1200 charges, 450 arrests over the past four months. Operation Joint Venture combined, combed Jersey City Police, combined with Jersey City Police and federal authorities, to clean up the South District of the City after residents

of the area complained about the drug problem. There's not a cornered deal in Nicola 9x, there was a structure to it. They have worked around the clock on shift work. They have a hierarchy, they have a regular distribution center, they have stash houses or warehouses, it's a very, very organized organization at each one of these locations. These are not just war groups of people. The program is expected to last at least another four months. The president's summit on volunteerism wrapped up today in Philadelphia. It ended with a pledge to reconvene in the city in the year 2000 to see whether the goals of the summit have been met. Michael Aaron has been attending a three-day gathering, the three-day gathering, and joins us now from Independence Square. Michael? Kent, that's right, this is where the summit ended early this afternoon with Colin Powell announcing that 90% of the communities that participated here had already filed their follow-up plans. He also said the summit's website had received two million hits between Sunday and today, so somebody's paying attention.

And summits, apparently, begets summits because everyone here is now talking about local summits and state summits in the wake of this one. The real work of the summit went on at the Philadelphia Convention Center and in nearby hotels. That's where individual state delegations met to work out action plans. In New Jersey's case, it meant state delegates at a table and delegations from four cities at larger tables. Trenton, Newark, Patterson, and Camden Cherry Hill. Now, here's what it is. There are tons more things that have to be done, but this is what we're going to focus on right now. After about an hour is given, take someone from each delegation rose to give a report to the room. Our model will be 5,000 by 2,000 in Trenton. That's going to, we're going to try and have that logo put on our shirt. We want to reach 5,000 kids, 0 to 18 by the year 2000. But we have a goal that's 103 weeks.

And what we want to do is to do 100 people in a reading, 100 students, 100 youths in a reading program within three weeks from today. We want to have our signs on Broad Street, in our schools, everywhere where people will go telling them the core message of the summit. There was a plea not to forget what senior citizens have to offer. We have the time. We have the experience. Meanwhile, at a Philadelphia hotel, five panel discussions were underway. This one on the role of civil society in renewing America, Bill Bradley and Princeton-based Pulp for George Gallup, Jr. Families under stress for the recipients here, they're not the givers. What's your assessment of whether this summit will have a lasting impact or not? You know, the story of this summit were not the photo opportunities of the presidents and the stars who were here. The story of the summit were the commitments being made by corporations and non-profit institutions to help parents in this country help children.

With the Philadelphia orchestra backing up the closing ceremonies, Colin Powell paid tribute to New Jersey and Ray Chambers, publicity shy philanthropist, generally credited with thinking up the summit, and he thanked the delegates from 30 states and 140 communities. You are the real troops. You are the real workers. And you are the ones who are going to make it happen. George Bush echoed that sentiment. Hillary Clinton ended with the Tocqueville's observation from 1830 that Americans do a lot of good works in groups. He called them habits of the heart. This summit, these commitments, they are about the habits of the heart that make us Americans and let us go show the world and our children that we are prepared to live up to them. Thank you very much. All in all, it was a torrent of words, a wellspring of goodwill and an inspiration to many of the

people who attended, whether it amounts to anything more. That story starts tomorrow and can't both Bill Bradley and Christy Whitman said the media have a role to play in all that, we have to keep tabs on whether this summit lives up to its goals. And let me remind people that there is a special NJN tonight on the summit. It's called volunteer for change. It airs at 10 o'clock tonight and we'll have more on the summit on this weekend's edition of on the record. This is Michael Aaron reporting from Philadelphia back to you Ken. Okay Michael, thank you. Meanwhile President Clinton today named former New Jersey treasurer Richard Leon to a nine-member federal gambling commission Leon had a pose casino gaming in Atlantic City when it was legalized in the 1970s. The commission will conduct a two-year study into the impact of all kinds of legalized gambling. Leon was supported for the post by New Jersey Democratic Senators Frank Luttenberg and Robert Tourselli. What's been natural to some has become a societal taboo for others. When we return, how American values have affected attitudes towards breastfeeding.

Our women really free to feed. And later on, the morning cup of Java that a Roma may do more for you than please the senses. We can explain in help watch. Okay, tell the truth. Now, would you ever have imagined that a major public issue would be women breastfeeding in public? Well, in the last year, several women breastfeeding

their babies in public places in New Jersey were arrested for indecent exposure and mood behavior. Now, new legislation is pending to protect women who choose to breastfeed. In fact, proprietors would interfere, that is, would be fine. But why would breastfeeding be considered indecent? Much less, mood. Why is it even an issue in 1997? Tonight, our parapetetic arts and cultural reporter, Anisa Mahande, begins a unique three-port series of reports looking at the history, politics, and practicality of breastfeeding, Anisa. Well, Kent, it's no surprise that human milk is the ideal food for human babies. No doubt our viewers have heard of colostrum, which is the first breast secretion that's full of important immunities for newborns. Recent studies are showing that breastfed children score higher on IQ tests than other kids. Even formula companies say breast milk is best in their ads. So in this series, we won't get into the benefits of breast milk per say.

Instead, we're going to look at the world in which women are free to feed. America, land of the free and home of the uninhibited, land where bodies are good for business. But if a woman uses her body to feed her baby instead of show off a swimsuit, she may get the evil eye in America in 1997. Why? It's more socially accepted to show breasts in a sexual context than in a nurturing context. And I think that's really unfortunate. I personally don't believe that there's anything in the world less erotic than a woman breastfeeding, but by the same token, you know, some people just don't want to see that over their breakfast or over their dinner. I was never asked to leave any public place if I was nursing baby. So I didn't sort of, I guess, understand why on earth do we need

a law to do what we've been doing for generations? All right. So we go up. In most cultures around the world, the breast is an object for feeding babies. It's not an object for men's sexual pleasure or women's sexual pleasure. In America today, just over half the newborn babies get breastmilk to start. And only one in five of those still gets breastmilk by the time he or she is six months old. Now the international average is four years. I nurse her within 10 minutes after I deliver her 15 minutes right away the first time. No big deal. Right. Why do you think it is a big deal for some moms? I mean, really, I'm not sure. I mean, some people, I guess, people are more comfortable with the human body than others. In our society, a lot of moms are uncomfortable with putting a baby to the breast, because in the American society, the breast is a sex object. It does a rouse, some anxiety.

Ruth Westheimer is the mother of American sex therapy, because suddenly the breast is not just for sexual housing. For his sexual housing, for her sexual housing, suddenly that breast has another function. Your relationship with your wife, sexual relationship, might change some with breast producing milk. How does that affect you? It was strange at the beginning, but I watched the relationship that my wife had with our first one, and it was just wonderful. I was not ready for what everything was going to take place as a new father, but it's two and a half years later, and now we have our second one and everything's terrific. So it certainly hasn't interfered with all of your sexual relations. We had a second one. No, it's been wonderful. Our relationship grew out of it. For centuries, the only way we fed our babies was at the breast, and the species survived. That's really what God intended. Women have breasts for, to feed their offspring. In part, America's love affair with technology reduced women's need and inclination to breast

feed. Along came artificial baby milk or formula. We lost a whole generation of breastfeeding to the bottle where there wasn't all that much knowledge about the benefits, the superiority of breast milk to artificial baby milk. For women companies, it's like an 8 billion dollar a year business, and 80% of that's profit. For stuff that we as women can make for free, better and healthier for our babies. Now of course, bottles are such a part of our society because they fill a current need. Breastfeeding is not the choice for all mothers, but for nutrition, portability, and ease of access. Babies and mothers find that the breast is hard to beat. Tomorrow we'll take a look at the culture and history of breastfeeding, going all the way back to ancient Egypt. And can I should be quite clear that I did breastfeed both of my girls, and I'm trying

to be objective and informative in this series. It's hard to refrain from my enthusiasm. Well, I was breastfed. Both my kids were breastfed. I think it's just a very natural thing. Thank you, Anisa. In tonight's health watch, that morning with a coffee, there's something alluring about it. Even if you don't like the taste or want the caffeine, could it be your nose telling you, drink up, it's good for you. Health and medical correspondent, Sir Ali Kessler says, yes. It's million a morning, makes me feel better. I got to have my cup of coffee in the morning. Got to. We have a coffee brewing, you know, every single second, and it makes you feel good, you know, the fresh rum of the coffee. There's no question. It's irresistible to an awful lot of people. Stimulates my nose, and it tastes fantastic. A University of California chemist wanted to know why he did a study. What he found was that freshly brewed coffee, the allure of it apparently is caused by a chemical that may prevent certain disease.

He found antioxidants in it which reduce the risk of cancer. Dr. Julio Sullivan-Molei is a nutritionist at UMDNJ. She's fascinated with the coffee aroma study. It's really a new area of looking at how taste and smell, in fact, influence our whole body and the chemistry and our body. The findings are preliminary. I think we have to wait and see whether or not there will really be a major impact or just a minor impact, but I think it does tell us that smelling coffee and coffee and moderation is probably acceptable for most of us. To be advised, the author of the study says the good, cancer-fighting stuff in the aroma disappears 20 minutes after the coffee is brewed. Yum. So if you're a coffee drinker, drink quickly. If you're not, a timely whiff can't hurt. Sarah Lee-Castler, NJN News, Maplewood. When we come back, a look at the day in business, the stock market has a record day and a milestone for a New Jersey-based electronic publication, stay with us.

Todd, now for business news, here's Dick Borney, Electronic Publication and Publishing. You know, it wasn't very long ago. We were talking about the fact that in the future, you'll be able to get your newspaper delivered to you without the paper. Right.

Hey, it's here. It's here. And it's been only about a year. It has grown that fast. Kent, the Interactive Wall Street Journal is celebrating its first anniversary today with plans to expand. South Brunswick-based Dow Jones and Company was one of the first publications to venture on to the Internet and began publishing its online edition a year ago today. Dow Jones says with over 100,000 subscribers, the journal online has grown to become the largest publication on the World Wide Web. You really estimate to the power of the journal brand that journal news and information can be as vibrant and well thought of on the web as it is in print. It really is. The Dow Jones says the electronic publishing business is so important to its future that the company is currently putting up a new 450,000 square foot building on itself, Brunswick campus. The premier worldwide provider of electronic news and information. When the facility is open next year, Dow Jones will add three to five hundred new jobs at its Middlesex County location, the Interactive Wall Street Journal, news retrieval service,

and other electronic publications of Dow Jones will be housed in the facility. Dow Jones currently has 2,600 employees at two locations in New Jersey. Ridgefield-based bio-matrix has inked its second major deal this year for marketing and distribution of its major product internationally. Today, bio-matrix announced a five million dollar agreement with Germany's Bayer AG under which Bayer will market Sinvisk. In Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and the Far East. Now Sinvisk is bio-matrix drug use for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. In February, the Fergen County Company signed a $19 million deal with YF Airs to market the drug in the U.S. and Europe. Bio-matrix has 85 employees here in New Jersey. On the economic front, news from Washington today eased investors' fears of inflation and raised hopes that another interest rate hike might be avoided. Durable goods orders fell sharply last month, off three tenths of a percent. That was the steepest decline in seven months in order for big ticket items like household appliances, cars, and furniture.

The feds also reported good news on inflation, wages, and benefits rose in less than expected six tenths of a percent in the first quarter. Today's report on Durable goods indicates the shortages of skilled labor may ease, and that could put an even tighter lid on wage increases in coming months. And the conference board says consumer confidence fell a bit last month, but still remains at a fairly high level. What a day. There we go. What a day on Wall Street, as they started to say. All that news of a slightly cooler economy boosted investor's spirits of the stock and bond markets with them. The Dow industrial is finished with a nearly 180 point gain today, ending the day at the 69-62 level, within 123 points of its record set back in March. It was the second biggest one day point gain ever. The ABX composite rose nearly seven. The NASDAQ composite jumped 25 and two thirds in the standard and pours 500 rocket in 21. Bonds did well too, with the benchmark 30-year treasury up one and 19 30 seconds in price on the yield easing to less than seven percent.

It's been a while, Ken, since we've seen less than seven percent in a long bond. I'm liking it. I think a lot of people are liking it. Especially those people are going to try to take out a mortgage soon. Say that again. There you go. Thank you, Dave. Still ahead. Well, the great weather continue. The forecast is just ahead. And in sports, a New Jersey college tries to score and historic Mark tonight's sports is next. Jerry is off tonight, here's a look at sports. What would it be like to win 100 straight games in any sport?

An impossible dream, right? Well, for the women's lacrosse team at the College of New Jersey, that dream could become a reality tonight. Since April 13, 1991, the Lady Lions have rolled off 99 straight wins, including six Division 3 national titles. This year, without head coach Sharon Fluger, who is on maternity leave, the team has continued the streak under the leadership of former player Jennifer Hart. We had no idea what the streak was on what game, because nobody talks about it. And now that it's 100, I mean, everybody else is talking about it, it seems about our team, which is good, because I think if we were talking about it, it would really cause us to be nervous or to jinx, so it's just the girls just go out, they're going to go out and play hard, just like it's any other game. Now netting this victory won't be easy. The Lady Lions faced nationally ranked Millersville tonight in Ewing. Well, a sunny and pleasant day across the region, we saw temperatures mainly in the 70s, nice day to play hooky from work and pick up the sticks.

Oak Ridge Golf Course in Clark had up to an hour weight this morning. I wonder who's there. The course was filled all day with duppers and scratch players alike. As far as our air quality for tomorrow, co-jello of moderate readings are forecasted wide in North Jersey tonight. Clear skies with a low of 40, tomorrow a mix of sunny clouds with a high of 70 in South Jersey tonight, partly cloudy with lows in the 40s and tomorrow partly sunny with a high of 75. That's the news for Kent Manahan and Nisa Maddie Hadee, Dick Warney and Jerry Henry. I'm Kent St. John and enjoy the rest of a beautiful evening. Thank you.