Belleville Bank Robbed, Election, Sandy Top Essex News

Homicide in West Orange, Newark weapon, drug arrest, Belleville church steeple braced.

Authorities are investigating a bank robbery Tuesday at the Valley National Bank on Bloomfield Avenue. Just before 1 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect entered the bank at 22 Bloomfield Ave. and passed a note to the teller reading "Have gun. Give me money," according to Deputy Chief Mark Minichini of the Belleville Police Department. The suspect made off with the contents of the teller's drawer and fled north on foot on Belmont Avenue. Exact proceeds have not been determined, Minichini said. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the death of a West Orange woman on Oct. 31. Lelia Whatley, 22, was found unresponsive at her Washington Street residence early last Wednesday and was pronounced dead at the scene, said Katherine Carter, …

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Menendez, Kyrillos Pledge Support For Israel

The two candidates for New Jersey's Senate seat discussed multiple topics at a forum sponsored by Greater MetroWest New Jersey, held in Livingston Monday night.

Tackling issues from Obamacare to gun control – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and his challenger, State Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Dist. 13) squared off in a forum Monday night at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston. The competitors took part in an hourlong question-and-answer session sponsored by the Community Relations Committee of Greater MetroWest New Jersey. Both candidates pledged support for Israel and the relationship between the country and the United States. "Since I was elected to the Senate, I believe Israel has had no greater friend in the United States Senate than I have been, no greater ally, no greater defender of the people of Israel against all threats and against anti-Semitism,” said Menendez. Kyrillos reflected upon …

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Senate Candidates Debate Economy, Health Care

Sen. Robert Menendez and State Sen. Joe Kyrillos held first of three debates at Montclair State University Thursday.

Sen. Robert Menendez and State Sen. Joe Kyrillos discussed the economy, health care and foreign policy in a combative debate Thursday. The candidates, who are competing for one of New Jersey's seats in the U.S. Senate, each claimed their own policies would prove to be more beneficial to the state's middle class families. Kyrillos, a Republican, has held a seat in the New Jersey Senate since 1992. Menendez, a Democrat and the incumbent, has held his current position since he was appointed by then-Gov. Jon Corzine in 2006. He previously served in the House of Representatives. Menendez said he would fight for the middle class by continuing to lead initiatives like creating tax credits for families and students. He also said he wanted to close…

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Sen. Menendez: Won't Go Back to Failed Republican Policies

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is leading New Jersey's delegation to the Democratic National Convention, says voters have a clear choice and a proven track record with President Obama.

While U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) attends the Democratic National Convention this week, he wants voters to know they have a clear choice between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Menendez, who is the honorary chairman of the state's delegation, talked about the failures of the Bush Administration and the progress made under Obama, "He inherited the Bush Great Recession, the new Depression, businesses that made risky bets with two wars raging abroad, while millions of people in our country go to sleep every night without health care insurance." He said Obama - despite opposition in the House and Senate - has passed historic health care legislation, brought our sons and daughters home from Iraq, given out college Pell …

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Searchable Databases

2012 New Jersey U.S. Senate Race Contributions

A searchable database of campaign donations by individual contributor.

Use the database above to search for campaign contributions to the candidates in New Jersey's 2012 U.S. Senate race.

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Sen. Menendez Concerned About Growing Anti-Semitism

NJ Sen. Robert Menendez gave a lecture at Seton Hall University's Jubliee Hall Auditorium regarding Jewish-Christian relations and racism.

United States Sen, Robert Menendez (D-NJ) visited Seton Hall University on Sunday afternoon to give a lecture in which he expressed concern about growing anti-Semitism and racism.  The lecture was part of the Sister Rose Fund for Education in Jewish-Christian Studies.  Speaking in front of Holocaust survivors, World War II veterans, students and faculty members, Menendez spoke of the importance of Holocaust education, interfaith dialogue and the legacy of the late Sister Rose Thering.   Menendez, who was born to immigrant parents in Union City in 1954 and raised Catholic, recalled watching Sister Rose’s career from afar and credited her with inspiring much of his work as a legislator.  He called Rose “a luminary, an incredible asset to the…

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