Asbury Park Press

A Lakewood property manager pleaded guilty Monday to extortion, admitting his role as a mediator in a housing inspector's bribery scheme that was part of a massive FBI corruption sweep in July. Full Story »

BRICK — A man who lived on a small sailboat was found safe after being reported to authorities as missing, police Capt. John E. Rein Jr. said. Full Story »

MANCHESTER — Police evacuated about 15 homes in a senior community after residents reported a strong odor of gas about 7 p.m. Monday, said Police Capt. Brian Klimakowski. Full Story »

RED BANK — Four juveniles, including two as young as ages 8 and 11, were charged with setting a fire in a Bank Street garage Sunday morning, police said. Full Story »

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Internationally known tenor Eduardo Villa will give a free performance Dec. 15 at CentraState Medical Center, 901 W. Main Street. Full Story »

LONG BRANCH — If timing is everything, Monday's announcement that Mayor Adam Schneider would seek a sixth term heading Monmouth County's largest city came as a bit of a surprise, even to the mayor and some of his supporters. Full Story »

TRENTON — Legislation to mandate new cooling towers at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station will be reintroduced at the start of the 2010 session in February, while the state Senate Environment Committee gets more information from plant operators Exelon and prepares a push on other new measures to protect Barnegat Bay, committee chairman and prime sponsor Sen. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, said ... Full Story »

FREEHOLD — A Manalapan man authorities say was running a $1 million-a-week drug ring out of his lavish, gated suburban home has rejected what could be the last plea offer from prosecutors. Full Story »

HOLMDEL — Deer soon will need to watch their backs in the township, where bow hunting is expected to commence by the beginning of 2010. Full Story »

LONG BRANCH — For decades, Pete Bacinski visited Lake Takanassee in pursuit of his hobby — bird-watching — and for his livelihood, as sanctuary director of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Sandy Hook Bird Observatory. Full Story »

UNION BEACH — Soon, Army Staff Sgt. Michael Minard finally will have his own bed to sleep in. Full Story »

FAIR HAVEN — The questions at Tuesday's Borough Council meeting came fast, not from the usual suspects, but from future homeowners, parents and perhaps council people Monday at Knollwood School. Full Story »

STAFFORD — The Township Council is set to become the first governing body in the state to adopt an ordinance aimed at limiting the amount of runoff pollution caused by the use of fertilizer. Full Story »

MANCHESTER — Pride in Judaism was on display Monday as the township unveiled its new 9-foot menorah on the front lawn of the municipal building. Full Story »

JACKSON — A 16-year-old girl got home from school and discovered her house on fire when she opened the front door of the bilevel home at 11 Walter Drive, officials said. Full Story »

BERKELEY: Teens, parents and educators are being sought to participate in a Jan. 11 program on teen dating abuse. Full Story »

BRICK: W. Peter Daniels, the president of Ocean Medical Center, was recently chosen to serve as president of the Brick Chamber of Commerce during 2010, the business advocacy group announced. Full Story »

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP: The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present David Brahinsky and the Roosevelt String Band at 3 p.m. Dec. 20. Full Story »

JACKSON — Authorities arrested two men and seized two ounces of cocaine, 30 bags of heroin and $5,000 in cash from a Denmark Lane home Friday. A third man fled the scene and is being sought by police, authorities said. Full Story »

FREEHOLD — A Colombia native pleaded guilty today to a lone bribery charge for his role allegedly assisting a state Department of Corrections administrator in a bid rigging and kickback scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in state contracts. Full Story »

NEPTUNE — Police are investigating a reported carjacking that allegedly took place on Millbrook Avenue Sunday afternoon. Full Story »

FREEHOLD — The case of a former Millstone Township man accused of orchestrating a 2002 hit on his Red Bank-based attorney whose trial ended in a hung jury last month is moving forward for a possible retrial. Full Story »

MIDDLETOWN — Brookdale Community College will host an information seminar on the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship program, or NJ STARS, at 6:15 p.m tonight in the campus Warner Student Life Center, 765 Newman Springs Road. Full Story »

TRENTON — The former head of the Hoboken Parking Utility, who authorities say conspired with a Toms River man to steal coins from meters, has been indicted by a state grand jury. Full Story »

KEANSBURG — Police arrested two men who are accused of assaulting police officers in separate incidents this weekend. Full Story »