The national economy is gradually starting to improve, and now is the time for Union County to act swiftly in order to keep those gains and build a better future. The 2012 Chairman’s Initiatives, called “Putting People First,” does just that, by helping Union County residents and business owners connect with the resources they... »

UNION COUNTY – The Mayors’ Council On Rahway River Watershed Flood Control has announced a stormwater management conference to be held next week in Cranford. »

RAHWAY – The state Election Law Enforcement Commission levied a $55,000 fine against the Rahway Democratic Committee, one of the largest penalties ever issued by the commission. »

STATE -- The conservative political organization Americans for Prosperity (AFP) released a legislative scorecard that unsurprisingly cast most Democrats in disfavor but also rendered a poor evaluation of Gov. Chris Christie's job performance. »

ELIZABETH – On Friday, 21-year-old Priscilla Natal was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the death of an 18-year-old friend following a drunken driving accident in 2010, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow announced. »

Federal workers overall get just 2 percent higher wages than private-sector employees holding similar jobs, but they receive 16 percent more in total compensation because of generous benefits. »

Publication of a landmark government study probing whether diesel engine exhaust causes lung cancer in miners — already 20 years in the making — has been delayed by industry and congressional insistence on seeing study data and documents before the public does. »

Direct deposit is the fastest, safest way to receive your tax refund. When a taxpayer combines e-file and direct deposit, the IRS will likely issue your refund in as few as 10 days. »

CLARK -- Jenna Stafford's second grade class at Valley Road School in Clark showed off their math skills in this display, "Explore Polygons with Miss Stafford's 2nd Grade Class". »

CLARK -- Second grade students in Jennifer Lewis' class at the Frank K. Hehnly School in Clark show off their “Lovely Limericks” that they created for the month of February. »

EDISON – The Edison Recreation Department will be accepting team applications for the Summer 2012 Softball Program beginning Monday, Feb. 6. All applications are due back on or before Friday, March 9. »

Valentine's Day can either be a pleasurable occasion or stress filled with high expectations and disappointment. If you have that special relationship, Valentine's Day can be a time to show love and affection. For singles, the day can be a reminder of loneliness or a missing relationship. »

EDISON -- Students and future students who need enrollment services at Middlesex County College may take advantage of special hours on Saturday, Feb. 11. The offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The college is located at 2600 Woodbridge Avenue in Edison. »

EDISON -- Local students from The Wardlaw-Hartridge School performed in a Lower School Cabaret on Feb. 2. Briella Payami of Scotch Plains danced a ballet routine to “Berceuse”; Kelly Lawrence of Scotch Plains provided a Taekwondo lesson; and Lily Helander of Westfield did a hip hop dance to “Shake it Up.” (Photos courtesy of... »

FAIR LAWN -- For the eleventh straight year, Columbia Bank has donated books to fifty selected New Jersey school and public libraries in celebration of Black History Month. »

CLARK -- This past week Carl H. Kumpf’s principal and school administators were invited to observe two classes of sixth grade reading students receive their own e-book reading device. »

EDISON -- Ayush Menon of Edison, a fifth grade student at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School, recently won the U.S. Junior Squash Championships in the Boys' Under-11 category. »