LAWMAKERS UNVEIL LEGISLATION LEGALIZING POT
» New Jersey
, . . lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled their latest proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and older.
A joint Democrat-led Assembly and Senate committee is expected to discuss the measures Monday.
It’s the latest draft in a long-running effort to legalize recreational cannabis in New Jersey, where despite support from Democratic leaders, including Gov. Phil Murphy, the effort has stalled.
The measure allows for legalizing an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older — similar to previous drafts.
Four in mansion fire killed by “homicidal violence.”
COLTS NECK , N J
Authorities say a family of four in affluent horse country was slain before their mansion was set ablaze, but they assured the community a killer was not on the loose, hours after the homeowner’s brother was arrested Wednesday in an arson at his own home.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said authorities arrested Paul Caneiro, 51, and charged him with setting fire to his home in Ocean Township early Tuesday.
Reports of a fire at his brother’s home in Colts Neck came in hours later, where the bodies of Keith Caniero, 50, and his family were found.
Keith Caniero was found shot to death on the lawn of the family’s mansion. He had sustained more than one gunshot wound, the prosecutor said. Inside the burning house, authorities found the bodies of his 45-year-old wife, Jennifer; their 11-year-old, son Jesse; and their 8-year-old daughter, Sophia.
Prosecutor declines felony case against Avenatti.
The district attorney declined to prosecute attorney Michael Avenatti on felony domestic abuse charges on Wednesday and referred allegations that he roughed up his girlfriend to the city attorney for a possible misdemeanor case. Avenatti, 47, was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge last week after his girlfriend told police he abused her at his Los Angeles apartment following an argument. A restraining order against Avenatti was issued after actress Mareli Miniutti said he dragged her by the arm across a bedroom floor.
Company can be ordered to drill to end 14-year-old oil leak.
The company failing to end a 14-year-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico can be required to perform more underwater drilling and excavation work to stop the flow of crude, a federal regulatory board has ruled.
The Interior Board of Land Appeals refused to excuse Taylor Energy Co. from requirements to permanently plug oil wells that could be the source of the leak. The board’s Oct. 30 decision wasn’t made public until Tuesday.
A week before the board ruled, the Coast Guard ordered the New Orleansbased company to design and install a new containment system to capture and remove leaking oil until a permanent solution can be developed. The company faces daily civil penalties of up to $40,000 if it fails to comply.
South Korean named Interpol president.
Interpol elected a South Korean as the organization’s president on Wednesday, edging out a veteran of Russia’s security services who was strongly opposed by the United States, Britain and other European nations.
Kim Jong Yang’s surprise election was seen as a victory for the White House and its European partners, who had lobbied until the final hours before the vote against Alexander Prokopchuk’s bid to be named the policing organization’s next president.