NJN News; Friday March 1, 1996

You Major funding for NJN News is made possible by grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizenry leads to a participatory democracy. PSENG committed to serving customers, strengthening the business community, and investing in New Jersey's future. First Fidelity is now first union, serving 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. NJN News with Kent Manahan, Dick Forney with Business, and Pat Scanlon with Sports. The man convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a young artist is now on New Jersey's death row. Good evening, I'm Trishti Gasper, as Kent has the night off. After deliberating less than two days, a jury in Trenton today sentenced Ambrose Harris to death by lethal injection. The jury rejected the defense's argument that Harris' life should be spared because he wasn't abused child. Jerry Henry reports. It is the sentence and the judgment of this court that you Ambrose Harris are sentenced to death.

As he did for much of the trial, Ambrose Harris smirked, as the judge read the sentence of death by lethal injection. Harris is to remain on death row in solitary confinement until his execution, which is set for May 1st. The 43-year-old Trenton man was convicted last week of the kidnap, rape, and murder of Pennsylvania artist Kristen Huggins in December of 1992. For Huggins' parents, who spoke for the first time today, the decision brings some closure to the ordeal. Well, our daughter will never be back. I'm very thankful that this is over. It took over three years, and I just feel now that Justice finally was served. That was becoming a little skeptical, but we're just happy it's over and Justice was served. Before dismissing the jury, Judge Charles Delahay did some venting of his own. This after a trial where he found himself the subject of Harris's court tirades that included profanity and Lou gestures. During the trial itself, the court could not share with them its own revulsion at witnessing a remorseless defendant smile as witnesses provided evidence of his horrific acts.

How them at Huggins maintain their composure under those circumstances will always be a mystery to this judge. I've been involved in this case from the night that Karen that Kristen's body was found. And so I feel like I've lived with this case for three years, and so emotionally it's very difficult. Though Harris has sentenced to die May 1st, there's doubt that it will happen anytime soon. His attorney's only comment is that the decision will be appealed. Jerry Henry in JNU's Trenton. Starting today, you can't smoke in Flemington if you're a minor. The burrow is the first in the state to make underage smoking illegal, but as Rich Young reports, many teens are vowing to defy that law. So how does it taste?

16-year-old Heath Miller is breaking the law. We found him smoking outside a local skateboarding shop this afternoon. Despite a new ordinance here, which outlaws underage smoking, he chose to light up anyway. Everybody's going to do it if they want. The kids are going to do it if they can't smoke outside. They'll just go smoke inside somewhere. This is the first day of Flemington's three-year experimental ban on underage smoking. Anyone 17 years or under is no longer permitted to smoke in public or private. Smoking kills. I see it every day in my practice. Mayor Austin Kutcher, who's also a practicing cardiologist, believes young people need guidance, and a decision that could make the difference between life and death. We can get 5 or 10 kids not to smoke a year, then we've done our job, but maybe the most important thing I've done is mayor. Flemington police officer Chris Foley is responsible for enforcing the ordinance. On the first offense, parents will be notified. Second or third time offenders will have to attend anti-smoking classes. After that, teenagers will be fined.

We could say one life today may be best for tomorrow. The town's ban is part of a multi-faceted effort to curb teenage smoking. There's already a ban on cigarette vending machines throughout Flemington. And the state health department has promised to pitch in by cracking down on stores that continue to sell smokes to minors. But the owner of Higgins' newsstand says if teenagers want cigarettes, they'll find a way to get them. We do the best we can. We only sell them to 18-year-olds, but the kids still get them out there. And so give the kids a little responsibility. Flemington officials say about 20% of local teen smoke. Their goal is to try to get them to kick the habit. But nearly every teen we spoke with said they'll defy the law. I don't feel they should be able to tell me what to do with my own body. If the law is effective, state officials say they'll consider a similar measure statewide. Rich Young and JN News Flemington. Over 300 staff and students at Neptune High School will be tested for it tuberculosis. That after an unidentified female staffer was diagnosed with the disease. Children who didn't have daily contact with the infected worker will be tested if their parents ask for it.

While some good news for Jersey Transit Transit commuters, federal regulators have amended emergency rules that could have caused delays of up to 24 minutes for some 29,000 NJT riders. After two deadly accidents, the federal railroad administration last week announced new safety rules that included restricting train speeds. The rules have been amended so they'll apply only in areas where the tracks meet. Up and down the Jersey coast, there is an invasion of sorts. An invasion of smelly clams washed ashore by a series of noristers. Kent St. John reports on the massive clam cleanup. Millions of rotting smelly surf clams are spread on beaches up and down the Jersey shore, making dirty work for clean up crews who have to find some place to put them. The clams are also causing another problem. They stink, especially after last week's warming spells that caused the shellfish to rot. What we tried to do is import more seagulls. You and I did the bird feeding stories.

Yeah, more seagulls come in. Yeah, it is obviously when the weather turns, it warms up the clams that are washed up on the high and dry sand. Start to open up and you get a rotten clam smell. But clams were not the only problem. Crab's washed ashore too. It's a natural occurrence when you get the type of storms and noristers that we have. It kind of shakes up the clam beds way off shore and someone breaks loose. The clam invasion was not as bad as it was during the storms of 1992 when piles of clams were 10 feet high. Meanwhile, just south of Atlantic City, inventor, the beach there resembled a moon scape. Normally, you would think clams would be for the birds, but not even the gulls find these rotting clams and crabs appetizing. Clean up of clams is a costly undertaking. C.L. City has already spent $100,000 scraping the beaches and another storm could make the situation worse. But it could also leave the birds with a smorgasbord.

We contract with the Seagulls and have them work overtime and it's all the clams they can eat. Ken St. John, NJN News, Atlantic City. Coming up on NJN News, a lesson in longevity. And have you checked your pick six lottery tickets? We'll have the winning numbers coming up next. If you have a comment, call NJN News at 1-800-Jersey-1. Or our email address, NJN News at AOL.com. I thought I was today too. I'm layered, but I'm not, for some reason, it's going right through me. I can hear you. Fine. Can you hear me? Good. Thank you. I am a little bit now. I have my coffee here and that helps.

Three North Jersey residents probably didn't get too much sleep last night. That's what happens when you keep rereading the numbers of your winning pick six lottery ticket. Just to make sure it isn't a dream. The owners of the three winning tickets will split the top prize of nearly 38 million big ones. The winning tickets were sold in Sussex, Union and Bisei counties. Those numbers were 1, 6, 10, 15, 24, and 30. So check those tickets. And onto some other winners. Today, the Red Cross honored several volunteers from the Greater Mercer County area with special recognition awards. They delivered meals on wheels despite the blizzard and man shelters during the floods. The event kicked off National American Red Cross Month. The organization provides disaster relief, health and other services.

Volunteers respond to the motto, help. Can't wait. A lesson in love and endurance tonight in Bayon. Today is Bill and Fran Hogan's 70th wedding anniversary. Marie DeNoia spoke with a happy couple about what it takes to make it last. They were enjoying those tender teenage years when they first set eyes on one another. Was it love at first sight? Apparently not. She didn't like me. No, I didn't. So much for first impressions. Today, Fran and Bill Hogan marked their 70th year as husband and wife. 70 years of babies and weddings and lots of work. We had to have two jobs. I went out seven o'clock in the morning, back two o'clock in the morning. But in meantime, I was home taking care of all the children. Oh, I know she's going to get that in. There were eight children, then 28 grandchildren, and now 19 great grandchildren. They had the joy of raising their kids and shared the pain of losing three of them.

Well, no, it wasn't the hardest. I think the hardest was when Virginia died. Our oldest daughter. And when you talk to them about today's sky high divorce rate, they get a little irritated. And this business today is getting married, and all of a sudden having a fight, one leaving the other. I think it's ridiculous. Today in the warmth of their living room surrounded by a few of their kids, Bill and Fran are casual about their accomplishment, but don't let that fool you. Well, I feel like I couldn't get along with out of now. Well, it's all hard, dad. It's a union that's seen happiness and hardship and tragedy, but it's one that hasn't seen a lot of locations. This is where the couple married 70 years ago today, and they've lived their entire lives within a three-block radius of this church. And this is where they will return tomorrow for a blessing of their union. And after that, Bill, Fran and family are going to party.

Marie DeNoia, NJN News, Bayon. What a great story. And when we come back and look at the day's business views, including a preview of the summer, sure season. Thank you. Dick Forney is on Long Beach Island with tonight's business news. Dick, you look a little chilly out there. Well, Trisha, it's a bit brisk out here on Long Beach Island at the present time.

And as you can see, not a lot of activity this time of the year, but before you know it, this place will be swarming with summer tourists. That's just around the corner, believe it or not. In fact, in dollar figures, tourism is the second biggest industry in the state of New Jersey. People who are in the tourism industry at the shore look to rentals as an indicator because it's one of the earliest bookings that we get. And it's also a good indicator because it's less influenced by the weather and by impulse. The beaches are still nearly deserted. The traffic lights on the boulevard are not yet in their summer season mode, but businesses along the main drag are getting ready for the summer tourists. And inside Realtor's offices, things are humming. Thank you for calling potential Zach Ryan. This is our best season since 1990. Already property rentals are up over 10% even over last year. Today, we found folks perusing the available summer rentals from the posh to the pedestrian. We've had a big increase in the number of properties that people want to rent that have central air, ceiling fans.

People don't want any more just that little bungalow. They want a nice comfortable home that they can share. Not only do the Realtors tell us that there's an increase in the number of people looking at summer rentals, but there's an increase in the number of firm bookings as well for this summer season at the Jersey Shore. But they're also telling us something else that there's a change in the type of rentals that people are looking at. You see people seem to want more of, well, this type of rental, ocean view, and a place like this with all the, if you will, bells and whistles. What we've seen is couples are coming to us together. In other words, instead of just one family renting, they're pulling their resources together and they're renting as a for some, which affords them a much bigger house. But I think that helps them with their vacation needs. So that even if they may be going through some lean economic times themselves, they can still get a vacation and they're pulling their resources with some other folks. Yes, they can. Well, another leading indicator of how the summer may be is the sale of beach passes.

The beach patrol here on Long Beach Island tells us. Sales have been brisk, like the weather ahead of this time. They sales are ahead of this time last year. Late today, Warner Lambert announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its Warner Chilicoth Laboratories. That's its generic pharmaceutical business to an Irish firm, not a Laboratories. In terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, but Warner will retain a minority interest in the business and the unit will continue to be headquartered as the US, keep its US headquarters, that is, in Morris Plains. Well, in case you got tired of 800, there's a new toll-free service just got a new code. 888 service became operational this morning. The FCC approved the new exchange last year because of the doingling supply of 800 numbers. Mars Town-based Bell Corps, the very search and development arm of the telephone industry, played a key role in developing the new software. 800 has been going dramatically, growing just in leaps and bounds because of the availability of

beepers and pages and fax machines and cellular phones, and the real advantages is that growth can continue without interruption because 888 now provides another 8 million numbers for people to use either in business or for residential services. Now, if they hadn't taken the action and introduced the 888 service, 800 numbers would have run out by this summer. While we're on the subject of numbers, I'll be back in just a moment with the Wall Street. Bravo. Tonight's NJN News Business Report is made possible by Core State's New Jersey National Bank, providing financial services to New Jersey families and businesses. Well, the Dow ended the week on a winning note after a string of losing sessions, but on the broader market, unpopular technology issues proved to be a drag and some other market indices. Here are the numbers as we have them.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed with the gain of nearly 51 points at the 5536 level. The MX rose almost one and a half, the Nasdaq Composite fell 14 in a certain point, and the Standard and Poor's 500 managed to hold on to a gain of nearly four. And, Trish, I have to thank the folks at the establishment back in the year for providing us a coffee. I'm trying to act like I'm warm, but it's cold out here. You need another cup. Go get one. All right, thanks, Dick. And when we come back, should I say it? Snow was in the forecast. Hope you didn't put away that trouble. Here's Pat with a peek at sports, Pat. There's nothing Dick was drinking decaf either. Well, one of the state's basketball coaches finds out his fate. Well, Pete Carrillo contemplates his future as the Tigers chase an Ivy title all next in sports. Pat's here now with some Rutgers V-Ball Pat.

That's right. Good news for Rutgers basketball coach Bob Wenzel, receiving a contract extension today and in speculation about his coaching future. Athletic Director Fred Grenadier called it a multi-year contract. Well, President Francis Lawrence cited the team's strong performance. And it's first Big East season. Wenzel was in his eighth season at RU and in the midst of a fourth losing year. But a recent upswing in the team's performance. Winning four of their last seven games in the Big East has swayed administrators to stay with Wenzel and continue the rebuilding process. Light this afternoon, Wenzel talked with Permanente Bryant about the new deal. I'm not even going to get into any of the reasons or anything like that. I mean, it's everybody's talked about it and said whatever they want to say about it, obviously, over a long time. So we're just ready to go. And hopefully we're going to get into the recruiting thing now, in a big way right after the season's over.

Does it help from that standpoint, recruiting, knowing that, hey, here's a coach who's going to be here beyond. Sure it does. Sure it does. I mean, it lets the recruits know who's going to be their coach. Other college basketball news, Pete Carril has a one-game lead in the Ivy League with three games remaining, including a Tuesday night showdown with second place pen. Tonight is Cornell, then Columbia tomorrow. And the thought of ending pen's Ivy League domination has Carril reflective and anxious about the Ivy League chase. I can't recall being this nervous. I mean, after all these years, you think that, you know, you'd be more adjusted to this kind of stuff, but it doesn't seem like it works that way. Pete's been at Princeton for 29 seasons now, one over 500 games, and 10 Ivy League championships. And in the midst of his lightest title run, Carril has been reflective, assessing his role and his coaching future. It's been over 1,000 games that I've coached now, cutting my career and just trying to get ready to win every one of them. You know, could leave it smart. Pete's other coach is like Lou Hanson, who recently retired.

He wants to make sure his players are getting his best. So you just wonder, you know, whether you're getting close to that time, you know, and I'm going to give that a lot of thought to make sure that this kid that walks through this locker room here, this door walks through here, he goes on the floor. And when he goes on the floor, he sees me. And he says, I'm getting the best out of that guy. And my coach is going to give me the best he has as opposed to looking at a guy. The guy's had his day. He's seen his day. You're having made up your mind? Oh, no, no. Heck, no. For now, the immediate task is winning that 11th Ivy League championship. That feeling of euphoria when, you know, somebody calls you a champ. That's a hell of a feeling, you know, I mean, and the more that you have, the happier you are. And we hope Pete's real happy. The Philadelphia Eagles have dipped into the free agent market for quarterback Ty Deppner, but they lost cornerback Mark McMillan

who signed with New Orleans. And the Giants offered Dallas offensive lineman Ron Stone, a sheet today. The Cowboys have seven days the match to the offer for their restricted free agent. No word on whether San Francisco has made running back Rodney Hampton in offer yet. Meanwhile, Rutgers football recruit Paris Verdusco is under investigation for possession of drugs. Verdusco was arrested by Annie Ock, California police for possession of marijuana, a digital scale from his school science lab, and a plastic bag with an unidentified substance that Verdusco claimed was flower. Rutgers athletic director Fred Gweneger says the school is awaiting the results of the police investigation. Trish? All right. Thank you, Pat. Well, baby, it was cold outside today, but spring has sprung at the Garden State exhibit center. The 30th annual New Jersey flower and garden show open today. The festival of flowers features 60 exhibitors, thousands of flowers and brilliant colors, 17 garden some complete with waterfalls, and a large white tent for a garden wedding reception. The show runs through March 10th.

Well, no flowers will be blooming this weekend. Let's take a look at the forecast in the northern part of the state tonight, cloudy, lows in the mid-20s. Tomorrow, snow as much as three inches in some areas, highs in the mid-30s. Southern part of the state tonight, cloudy, lows in the mid-20s. Tomorrow, periods of snow possibly changing to rain, highs in the mid-30s. And finally tonight, the highest singing voice for a man is usually a tenor, but there are those who sing even higher. Anisa Mehadi reports on a New York man, a leading counter-tenor, who will be performing tonight in Englewood. No, I need a numbing. I'm going to be starting. Right here. Right here. Off to Central Avenue. Yeah. Music for all wine. Derrickly Reagan sang for us in the sanctuary of his church. The Franklin St. John's United Methodist Church in Newark. All along, all along. But he's on the road so much he's hardly ever here.

The last two years has been non-stop. That's because I'm not attached. I can just say, Derrick, are you free? I'm gone. Nobody knows. He's traveled far from his Newark roots to Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest. He's a graduate of the Newark Boys' Chorus, and now he's one of the world's leading counter-tenors. Is the equivalent to a female alto or female metso soprano? I'd like to know why a man would want to sing in an alto voice. Well, it feels good. Do you know that? No one has ever asked me that question. It feels it's very natural. It's like a little baby. It feels soft. It's tender. It's a little bit easy. I'm just waiting for the next one to come out. I'm just waiting for the next one to come out. I'm just waiting for the next one to come out. I'm just waiting for the next one to come out. I'm just waiting for the next one to come out.

Anisa Mehdi. And Jan News. Newark. And Derrick Reagan sings with the pro-art chorale at St. Paul's Church in Anglewood tonight. I've heard you hit a couple of those notes in the newsroom. Maybe that volume, not that pitched note. We don't want to talk about what we were saying, either. No, no, no. That's the news. I'm Tricia Gaspers for Pat and Dick Good Night. Thank you. Thank you.

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