NJN News; Thursday April 10, 1997 [ORIGINAL, MASTER]

That controversial Atlantic City tunnel is closer to seeing the light. A New Jersey nuclear power plant may pull the plug permanently, costing 800 jobs. It's now a hat trick, Michael Murphy makes three Democrats now aiming for the job of governor. And some students were driving drunk today without taking a drop. And these New Jersey students hope to be a hit at Yankee Stadium tomorrow, opening day. NJN News for Thursday, April 10th. Major funding for NJN News is made possible by Grants Truff. The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizen relieves to a healthy democracy. The SCNG, committed to serving customers, strengthening the business community and investing in New Jersey's future. First Union serves the financial needs of individuals and businesses from Connecticut

to Florida. HIP Health Plan of New Jersey dedicated to providing quality healthcare to employees of large and small businesses as well as individuals for two decades. And by Bell Atlantic, the heart of communication. The 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, Kent Manahan is off tonight. I'm Kent St. John, tunnel vision today at the State House. All makers tackled a $200 million transportation measure offering highway improvements around New Jersey and clearing the way for the controversial tunnel plan in Atlantic City. Jim Hooker has the latest on the battle over the proposed tunnel.

Much of the state's proposed $1.8 billion transportation improvement plan is for gritty projects like this one. But it was the plan tunnel that lit up a joint senate and assembly transportation committee hearing today. Powerful lobbyists for casino interests argued on both sides of the issue. Backers say it's key to attracting a blitzy new casino development, where thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars. It helps the economic conditions down here. You've heard that it will give 16,500 permanent jobs. I'm looking forward to the 86,000 construction jobs. Opponents say the tunnel is a taxpayer-funded giveaway to Casino Mogul Steve Wins Mirage project. I think the taxpayer money is unnecessary for the project. It can be done without it. Lawmakers unanimously approved the administration's plan to lift the $700 million state spending cap on the transportation trust fund, giving the fund an extra $200 million to spend the selection year.

Casino interests opposing the plan hint the extra money is designed to help the tunnel project. If in fact they're reason for voting for raising the cap, is the tunnel project that there is an alternative? I'm not saying that is their reason. But if it is, I want them to understand there is an alternative. But supporters say there's no breakdown here, marking extra money for the tunnel, which would use $95 million from the trust fund, with the rest of the money coming from a combination of funds from Steve Wins and other public sources. The measure heads the Appropriations Committee, Jim Hooker, and Jan News, Trenton. From new roads and tunnels to one of the oldest nuclear power plants in the country, the oyster creek nuclear power plant in Ocean County may be shutting down. GPU nuclear, which owns the plant, says it's too expensive to run. The company says it's only considering this shutdown, which is at least three years off. But any shutdown could have a severe economic impact on the region, the plant employs some 800 workers and pays about $200 million a year in taxes. What would happen to them if the plant were to close early is, once again, it's anybody's guess?

We're ecstatic. The bottom line is that we've been working for over 20 years against nuclear power in New Jersey. The plans are unsafe. They don't make financial environmental sense. They never have. New Jersey citizens have understood that for 20 years. Now we've asked our business correspondent Dick Porni to join us a little early this evening to explain the broader implications of such a decision. Now Dick, the fact that the matter is I understand it, it would cost more to produce electricity there than what GPU sells it for, among other things. Right, Kent. Let's get into that a little bit. What we're talking about here is one of the effects of deregulation, which you've been hearing so much about. Suddenly, with an increasing number of energy choices, nuclear power is definitely becoming the high-price spread. GPU is literally asking itself if it can buy power cheaper from some other source. Then why should it keep open a plant whose power averages about a penny and a half more per kilowatt than that available on the open market? In other words, why have a vegetable garden in your backyard when you have a supermarket next door?

This is not the first generating plant, GPU has closed, last year it unplugged two fossil fuel generating plants. Also because they were too expensive, GPU says consumer electric rate should not increase because of the plant's decommissioning and actually could decrease. And by the way, Kent, GPU is trying to sell the plant, but says that, let's say I'll write this moment is unlikely, it's not going to find a buyer for something, which they were setting a price tag on of $700 million. Other likely they'll spend they say about $400 million to decommission the plant in Ocean County. And that would be for years later, not immediately. They're estimating their earliest to be your 2000. Okay. Thank you, Dick. The third Democrat in the gubernatorial field made it official today, calling himself an independent citizen candidate, former Morris County prosecutor Michael Murphy joined Rob Andrews and Jim McGreeby in the race for the June 3rd nomination. Now Murphy is considered the long shot, but as Michael and reports, he dispelled some downers today. Michael Murphy and family came to the state house to announce their campaign has raised

enough to qualify for public matching funds. I've come here today to show you the money. $275,000 is about one-third of what his rivals have raised, but Murphy says what he lacks in resources he'll make up for in plain talk and straightforward answers. As a prosecutor, I got used to fighting crime and telling the truth and winning with the truth. And there's no reason to stop that now. His themes today were campaign reform and auto insurance. He promised a freeze on auto insurance rates and suggested impounding the cars of drivers with no insurance. If they pay, they get the car back and that provides enough money to keep rates flat. On campaign reform, he promised to outlaw contributions from any person doing business with the state, effectively drying up the main source of campaign money in New Jersey. I'm talking about the people who are going out and making big money with the state contracts. They're the people that I'm talking about with regard to this getting this special interest

influence out of that trend. At $47, the Chatham resident is the old man in the Democratic field, but the political novice, his rivals, both 39, have electoral bases and know how to win elections. But Murphy aims to turn that to his advantage. Murphy's hope is that lightning will strike. The Democratic primary voters will see him as a fresh face, a man of character with few ties to politics or special interests, and he'll catch fire. Coming out of a powerful political machine does not make you the best candidate for governor against the governor, Christine Todd Whitman in November. In the big difference, Murphy does not rule out hiking taxes. I honestly believe that the people of this state, if you dedicate revenue to certain purposes that they are willing to do so, I'm prepared to address those issues and I will be. Murphy is the step son of the late governor, Richard Hughes, and if his wife looks familiar, she's former judge, Mary Ann Espinoza Murphy, once the center of a political fire storm, now a lawyer and newspaper columnist.

And Jay Ann will carry Murphy's remarks in their entirety tonight at 1130, and on this weekend's on the record program, we begin a series of candidate interviews starting with Rob Andrews. What Michael, quick question, this Democratic gubernatorial race here, does this benefit Christie with him? Hard to say, these guys are going to get known by beating up one another over the next two months. They'll probably get better known for having a big fight that is going to attract a lot of interest. Okay, Michael, thank you very much. Thousands of New Jersey school districts could be in line to get more money next year to pay for debt incurred from school construction. Assembly Speaker Jack Collins wants to add $25 million to the state budget to help districts cover interest and principal. The funds could come from unanticipated tax revenues, and the speaker says he's very confident the Senate and the governor will agree with this latest plan. I'm the assembly speaker, this is important to me, and I expect this $25 million to be in there, and those who don't want it in there will have to convince me that it can't

be. Now, last year, Collins proposed raising the cigarette tax to finance school construction while the bill passed in the assembly and remains stalled in the Senate. Examples that default on federally guaranteed loans for poor families could be kicked out of the program. The legislation would eliminate from Pell grant programs, schools that have an average default rate of 25 percent for three years or 40 percent for one year. Representative Marge Rockham says the bill would save up to $10 million annually. Four trade schools in New Jersey would be affected by the plan. More changes tonight for students at Rowan, first university status, now higher tuition. As the campus celebrates its new university status, it appears to wish in will likely go up 14 percent next year. The school's board of trustees have discussed the increase last night. It's expected to be approved in June. The hike would mean full-time in-state students would pay $3,130 annually.

Still ahead on NJN News, students learn firsthand why drinking and driving can be a lethal mix. And some neighbors are pouncing on a woman over her 75 cats. And it's not just the buds growing this spring, allergies are also in full bloom details in health watch. Keep it here. With more than 500 teenagers busted for drunk driving each year, several schools statewide are involved in an aggressive campaign.

Teenagers at five central Jersey schools are getting a chance to feel firsthand what it's like to be intoxicated and behind the wheeler, which young also took a turn. It's called the drunk driving simulator. It's a modified Dodge Neon that can either be driven normally or as if the driver is above the legal limit. About 200 seniors from Pemberton High School today got behind the wheel of this test course at Fort Dix. Inside the driver's weight and a simulated number of drinks are put into a computer. The car then drives as if the person is drunk. As you can see by the all the cons that the students are hitting, you know, in real life that could be a tree apart car or a pedestrian. So it definitely shows you that it can be a very deadly experience. Students get to take two laps in the car. The first time there's no alcohol involved and they get to drive the car normally. On the second lap the technician types in that I've had 10 drinks and suddenly my driving is impaired.

If I were driving on a road, I would have struck up a pedestrian. The students say the simulator shows how dangerous and even deadly drunk driving can be. I hit a little kid while I was driving, but how's it make you feel about hitting a plastic kid? Not too bad. This is real kind of feel very bad. How dangerous is a driving drunk after being in that car? Very dangerous because you can kill people or you can get killed yourself. After taking a spin every teenager here said they'll never get behind the wheel intoxicated. This sponsors hope the teens remember that when they leave a party. The neon makes a final exit from New Jersey tomorrow after a stop in Borden Town. Richung NJN News for Dix. Imagine living with more than 70 cats, a union county woman is, and the felines are pouring her neighbors the wrong way. In fact, as Belinda Martin reports, the stench from the pets has some heading to court. Doctors who live in this quiet community say the 76 cats and three dogs that live in this house are making it nearly impossible to live here.

Last summer, we could no longer come outside. We could not use our yards. If we were outside, we had to go back into the house because the odor was horrific. They say the smell from cat feces and urine is unbearable. We want to use our backyards, our front yards, and it smells all the time. There's also concern about abuse. I saw cats in the windows breathing through their mouths, which cats don't do because I own cats myself. And when she answered the door, standing in feces, I saw the deplorable conditions that these animals were kept in. You are no unhealthy animals. Why would I license that many cats and keep them in unhealthy condition? The Crawford Health Inspector and the Humane Society inspected Myers home two weeks ago. Officials say there were no signs of cruelty or neglect. There is no ordinance in Crawford limiting the amount of cats per household. So according to the tax returns, I'm doing all that I can do under the law. Last year, Myers was fined $527 for creating a nuisance. Neighbors are taking their case back to court April 22nd.

This time, they want the judge to order in addition to a fine and unannounced inspection. Belinda Morton and JN News, Crawford. In tonight's health watch, are you sneezing and wheezing a lot lately? If so, you could be among the 40 million Americans who suffer seasonal allergies. Spring is in heaven to everyone. Health and medical correspondent Cerely Kessler tells us this allergy season could be among the worst yet. I'm sneezing a lot. My nose has been running on me. It's really driving me crazy. Loretta McConaughey is talking about tree pollen. Too much of it. Like the trees, Loretta's allergies are in full bloom. It's been progressively worse in the last week or so. Thanks to a wet, mild winter that triggered pollen production a month early, in February. And there's more bad news. The season is likely to continue through May, rather than April. What's a pollen count today? Today the pollen count is 104 grains per cubic meter.

Is that high? This is the high. And since scientists here at New Jersey Medical School began taking daily pollen readings eight years ago, the numbers have gone up dramatically every spring. Why this is occurring? It's not totally apparent to us here, but we know that it has an impact on patient symptoms. Dr. Leonard B. L. Array is the director of the New Jersey Medical School's asthma and allergy research center. People will feel malaise, tired, headache, eyes itchy, dry, irritated. They can just feel like they can't do anything. Over the counter-deconjestance and doctor prescribed medications are often helpful. But Dr. B. L. Array says, avoidance of allergy triggers is essential. Dr. Early morning prior to the release of pollen or late afternoon evening, there's a filtration mass that you can use a pollen mass. Use ear conditioners. You can consider using glasses that decrease the impact of pollen directly on the eyes. It would be especially cautious if you have asthma too.

Dr. B. L. Array says pollen triggers 90% of pediatric asthma attacks, 50% of adult attacks. Sarah Lee Kessler, NJN News, Newark. Coming up in business, new service takes off from Atlantic City's airport and details of a billion dollar deal between two New Jersey Telecommunication Giants. Keep it here. time now for business news, here's Dick Pornie, a billion gallons. Yeah, talk about salesmanship. Okay.

Loosen technologies has got it down real good. Two players in the telecommunications industry with major presences here in New Jersey have signed a billion dollar deal. Bell Atlantic has agreed to purchase state-of-the-art digital switching equipment, software and related products from Murray Hill based Loosen technologies. It's switching equipment like this which is at the heart of local phone service and over the next five years, Loosen says it'll help Bell Atlantic to convert a large portion of its network from analog to digital. That will allow Bell Atlantic to offer more telecommunications services. Medical device maker Bechton Dickinson, one of the oldest names in New Jersey business, says it has agreed to buy a San Diego company which makes medical equipment for immune system research. Franklin Lakes based Bechton Dickinson says it'll pay cash for farm and gin corporation but did not specify how much farm and gin makes materials used in laboratory research into immunology, cell biology and molecular biology. Bechton Dickinson makes products used to treat immune disorders such as AIDS. Burlington New Jersey based at Franklin Electronic Publishers, Franklin Electronic Publishers,

let's get the name right, has canceled this planned acquisition of a company called Voice Power Technology International. Franklin gave no reason for quashing the deal and Voice Powered Technology Chief Financial Officer says his company was, quote, surprised by the decision. Franklin announced back in February that it would purchase the California firm and a deal added between three and four million dollars. Air service from Atlantic City is expanding. Spirit Airlines has begun offering flights from Atlantic City International to Murdle Beach, South Carolina and Cleveland. Spirit says Cleveland has long been a strong market for Atlantic City and with a combination of gambling in Atlantic City and golf and Murdle Beach, it expects the service to be popular with air travelers and the company expects to offer more destination. We're going to be adding flights to Bermuda sometime next month. We'll have announcement on that shortly. Some additional cities in the Northeast and some expansion into the Florida market. Spirit already flies from AC to Detroit, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Orlando. Two more losing sessions in a

row for the stock market. Investors on again, off again, love affair with technology stocks is off again. Today the Dow Jones industrials fell 23 and three quarters points to close at the 65-40 level. The MX composite inch down less than a quarter, but the Nasdaq composite slid 13 and 2-3rds and the standard imports 500 lost to an accord. Bonds finished just about unchanged. Well traders waited for more economic data from the government due out tomorrow. And one final note here, Kent, the company that owns a six-slag's great adventure in Jackson Township has started some paperwork that would might make it available to make it able. That is to build a new theme park, six-slag theme park, in Connecticut for $200 million. No, that could spell some bad news for the one here in New Jersey because both of them would be within an hour's drive of New York City, so they may be robbing Peter to pay Paul. But you could at least get on the ride a great adventure. Thank you, Dick. Well the sunshine and chilly conditions continue. The forecast is just ahead and Jerry's here now with a preview of what's coming up in sports. The Devils will be big

ranger fans tonight. I'll explain next in sports. Todd now for sports. Here's Jerry Henry Jerry. Oh, I've got your favorite sport, Kent, hockey. Yes, right. Okay. As the flyers and rangers face off tonight in Philadelphia, the Devils will be watching and once again pulling for New York. The Devils remain two points ahead of the flyers after losing last night to the Panthers. But a win tonight by the flyers would put them of course in a time first place with the Devils today at an optional skate around

its out mountain arena. The talk was all about still having control. I mean, now it's a tough loss for us last night and you know, it's in our hand. I mean, if we win both games, we're in. You know, if we lose one, we probably get third place. I mean, that's that's pretty big. You know, advantage that home-wise all the way through and you know, we definitely want it. So hopefully we'll come out and have a good game on Friday and care it over to Sunday. How much better is it to have it in your own hands? We have to rely on others. Oh, it's better. I mean, if you know, it's up to us if we win, we win. If you're not, you know, you don't have to call on somebody else to beat them. I mean, sure, it'd be nice if the Rangers beat them tonight. But you know, still, it's like I said, it's in our hands and you know, it's better that way than have somebody else have to beat them for you. With just two games left in the regular season, the Devils don't feel that they're quite at playoff form just yet. I think we're getting there. I think we still we can play better and overall as a team. I think we will and I think we're starting to get there right now and be ready for the playoffs. Elsewhere, new writer, new writer head basketball coach Don Harnam isn't wasting time signing recruits. Six five forward Brian Bigels from Steinert High in Hamilton and six foot guard Michael Crawford

from Virginia have signed letters of intent to attend writer Crawford is Virginia AA player of the year. And in Trenton today, the Thunder in an afternoon game with new Haven in the ninth inning Trenton trying to rally from a three run deficit got some help from Raven pitcher Chris Maca who throws a wild pitch allowing a run to score but Maca got his act together in a hurry striking out the next two with the tying run at the plate. You Haven went on to win at six four. Trenton is now four and four on the young season. And at the master's day, the highest score that I saw was 87 because of all the win. Tough was very, the play was very tough. I think Ken Green shot in 87. Paul Aginger is leading at three under. Of course, play is still continuing. Tiger Woods is at one at 16. Okay, thank you, Jerry. It was a chilly one this morning around the garden state and the cold will continue. Central and South Jersey will be under another freeze warning tonight. The chilly conditions didn't stop this couple, however, from Washington, DC to fly their kite today on the Atlantic City Beach. It proved to be great kite flying weather as far as our air

quality for tomorrow. Code yellow for the Northeast and expect good air quality elsewhere in North Jersey tonight. Clear with lows in the mid 20s and tomorrow partly sunny with highs in the mid 50s in South Jersey tonight. Clear skies with lows in the 20s and tomorrow a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the mid 50s. They'll be playing ball and music at Yankee Stadium tomorrow. The players will handle the game part and when slow memorial high school will handle the music part. This isn't the first time the high school band has played for the Bronx Bombers. They also played at last season's ticket opener parade, ticker, ticker, ticker, tape parade that is and what song were they rehearsing today? What else New York, New York? Over 100 students will enjoy tomorrow's game. That's the news. I'm Ken St. John for Dick Forney Jerry Henry. And of course Ken, man, you have a pleasant evening.