A Somerset jewelry store faces more than $219,000 in civil fines and another township store owner faces criminal charges following a joint law enforcement sting operation on Somerset County jewelry stores. Venus Jewelers, Rutgers Plaza, was hit with 439 municipal court violations for allegedly failing to abide by the state’s cash-for-gold consumer protection laws, according to a release on the …

The Hampton Chase Homeowners Association is putting itself out of business, but helping the Franklin Township Food Bank along the way. The association’s three-member board on Oct. 5 will donate more than $11,000 – in the form of liens on homes in the single-family development – to the Franklin Township Food Bank. The idea for the donation came from Township …

Milton Macauley of Somerset was cited for careless driving Sept. 28 after he lost control of his car while driving down Westminster Drive, jumped the curb and then hit a tree. Police said Macauley was “traveling at an unsafe speed” when he lost control of it. § A car driven by Zeborah Davenger of Philadelphia was preparing to turn left …

Police said a Whittier Avenue man may have captured on tape a burglary of his car which netted the thief $3,000 in cash. Police said that an outdoor surveillance camera system recently installed by Ramiro Gonzalez captured the image of a man approaching his 2009 Lexus while it was parked at his house. The video shows the man wearing dark …

A New Brunswick man faces three charges – including vehicular homicide – following his alleged involvement in a Sept. 28 accident that killed a 22-year-old Somerset man. Police said Shareef Holder, 27, was also charged with aggravated manslaughter and eluding police. Holder was allegedly fleeing police in his car on Jersey Avenue when he crashed into a car near Huron …

Well, the Health Insurance Marketplace opened up this morning, and it looks like they still have a few bugs to work out in the application system. Personally, I’ve tried to sign up about six times, but always get stuck at the “Security Questions” section. What’s been your experience? Have you been able to register? Share your stories with us in …

Rep. Rush Holt, D-NJ, released the following statement at about 12:30 a.m., some 45 minutes after President Obama ordered the federal government to begin shutting down: “To pass a law, our Constitution says that you need the approval of the House, the Senate, and the President. “The Tea Party doesn’t control the Senate, the presidency, or even a majority of …

Worries about the effect of a low insurance rating for the township’s code inspectors, the Township Council has decided to partially reverse a ban on taking township-owned cars home. The township’s chief multi-purpose inspector will be allowed to take his official car home, the council decided at its Sept. 24 meeting. This is so any overnight inspections can be completed. …

The Bound Brook branch of the Somerset County Library will host a free program for young job seekers at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at the library, 402 E. High St. The program will be given by Nancy Anderson of Blackbird Training Associates. Topics include personal presentation, communication skills and interviews. Participants will also review their skill sets and design a …

The county’s First Saturday drop-off of clean textiles, tires and usual curbside items is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Somerset County Recycling Center, 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater. County residents can drop off up to eight tires – with or without rims – scrap metal, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze and usual curbside materials, …