Christie Signs Teen Tanning Law Despite Small Business Concerns

The law, inspired by the national uproar created by Nutley's "Tanning Mom," seeks to protect New Jersey's youth from the most common form of cancer.

Teens looking to get tan this summer should read a new bill that passed in New Jersey on Monday and restricts certain types of tanning for minors. The new law bans anyone under 18 from using a tanning bed and anyone under 14 from getting a spray tan.  Gov. Christie signed the bill into law Monday and issued a lengthy signing statement expressing a desire to protect children from the skin cancer while keeping the rights of businesses — especially small businesses — intact.   "Even if motivated by good intentions, rules and restrictions on the use of property, the exercise of rights, and the opportunities to prosper can have a corrosive effect on our State’s growth, and the lives of our citizens," Christie said. "When the regulations in …

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Black Friday 2012: Show Us Your Lines

Find deals on Twitter and Instagram via our Black Friday New Jersey hashtag #bfnj

On Thanksgiving, timing is everything — proper coordination between bird, beans and stuffing can be the difference between the perfect stress-free meal with loved ones or a complete kitchen catastrophe. On Black Friday, getting on the right line at just the right time might save you hours and help you snag that perfect gift at a once-in-a-lifetime price. Patch is here to turn that dream into a reality and make smart shopping on Black Friday ridiculously easy. Find us on Instagram and Twitter and connect with us and local readers via our Black Friday New Jersey hashtag #bfnj.    We'll be sharing up-to-the-minute deals, 140-character anecdotes, and photos and video from the front lines of consumerism. Show us those long lines, share your …

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History Favors Obama in New Jersey

State has given its electoral votes to a Democrat in the last five elections.

If history is any indication, Barack Obama should have no problem winning New Jersey's 14 electoral votes in his quest for re-election on Tuesday.  In the past four presidential elections, the Republican candidate has never been within 240,000 votes, and only once did a candidate get within 500,000 of his Democratic opponent. A look at statistics kept by the state shows that in the last four elections, incumbent president George W. Bush was the closest at picking up the NJ's nod, still losing to John Kerry by more than 240,000 votes. The biggest winner among the Democratic candidates in that span was incumbent Barack Obama, who won the state by more than 600,000 votes in 2008. The closest vote in 20 years came in 1992, when Bill Clinton …

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Forecast: Colder Temperatures, But No Flooding

The weekend will be mostly cloudy with highs in the 50s.

Residents in New Jersey and New York can breathe a sigh of relief this weekend, as power restoration continues following Hurricane Sandy. The National Weather Service says some areas will experience colder temperatures, but no severe weather or flooding is expected. According to the forecast, scattered precipitation is possible in the interior northeast, eastern Great Lakes and central Appalachians. Rain and light snow could fall due to a cooler air mass, the weather service said. Any wintry precipitation should be less than two inches. Expect lows in the 30s, with temperatures climbing into the 40s and 50s throughout the weekend. In the event of any significant rainfall, you can watch flood gauges in the area.

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NJ Voter Registration Deadline is Tuesday

Here's how to get it done on time.

Are you planning on voting on Nov. 6 but have not registered yet? You're almost out of time. The general election may not be until next month, but registration must be received in New Jersey by at least 21 days before the election. That means the deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 16. Well, that snuck up fast. Those who haven't registered yet can head to register online before the deadline at rockthevote.com.    Those in the military and overseas can visit the website of the Federal Voting Assistance program to get started. 

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No Smiles in N.J., or at Least Not on Licenses

What's your take? One state resident is refusing to frown, even after walking out of the MVC.

New Jersey drivers may think that it's on the roadways where no smiles exist when it comes to driving. In fact, it's on your license that you actually can't show your pearly whites. Or at least in a manner the state Motor Vehicle Commission deems too extreme. According to a report on Philly.com, a Sicklerville resident did not take kindly when she found out about the law, opting at first to walk out of the facility she was renewing her license at. The law has actually been around since January. According to the report, it was put into place because of new face recognition software the state has implemented. The software can recognize licenses with identical faces, but with different names, helping to flag those attempting to commit fraud. …

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New Jersey Voter Registration Deadline Approaching

Those who haven't yet can do so by Oct. 16. Here are some resources.

The general election may not be until Nov. 6, but those who want to make their voices heard and haven't registered yet have even less time to make sure they can hit the polls. Registration must be received in New Jersey by at least 21 days before the election. That means that the deadline is Oct. 16. Those who haven't registered yet can head to register online before the deadline at rockthevote.com.    Those in the military and overseas can visit the website of the Federal Voting Assistance program to get started. 

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Christie Officially Out of VP Contention

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan selected as GOP nominee, while NJ governor may serve as convention keynote speaker.

After months of rumors that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would be tapped as the GOP vice president nomineee, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney instead chose Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan on Saturday for the spot. Christie may now have the opportunity to serve as the GOP convention's keynote speaker later this month in Tampa, Fla. Being named the keynote speaker could open the door for Christie to run in 2016 and still allow him to serve a second term as governor. “With Paul Ryan on the ticket, this is a team that understands the economic stagnation our country has been facing the last four years and the urgency with which we need to change course," Christed said in a prepared statement Saturday afternoon. "The Romney-Ryan team is uniquely …

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Searchable Databases

New Jersey 2012 Presidential Campaign Contributions

Search our interactive database to see how much your neighbors gave to Obama and Romney.

Patch has created an interactive database so you can see how much your neighbors are donating to the presidential campaign—and to which candidate they’re writing their checks. We’ve included communities across New Jersey, so if you want to see what the campaign contributions in nearby towns are like, go right ahead. The information in the database was downloaded from the Federal Election Commission’s website. The data is based on quarterly reports, and is current through July. The data will be updated in mid-October.

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