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WALL - The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is investigating a mysterious vehicle fire that killed the driver this morning. Reports say a jeep was parked outside the Wells Fargo branch office on Warren Avenue in Wall Township. No word on how the blaze started.

TRENTON (AP) -- Their joint tax return shows Governor Chris Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, earned less than $450,000 last year. That's down from $544,000 in 2009. The Statehouse bureau of The Star-Ledger and The Record says the numbers reflect a drop in earnings for Christie's wife at the Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

NEWARK (AP) - Some NJ Transit passengers will be able to wave their smartphones instead of digging into their wallets for cash or credit cards when they purchase tickets. The nation's third-largest transit system is the first public transportation agency to partner with Google Wallet. The free mobile app enables wireless data transmission between two objects so customers can wave their phones by a sensor and pay for transit tickets. The service will be available at New York's Penn Station, Newark airport's Air Train station and on select bus routes.

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TOMS RIVER - The sign at the Pine Belt Arena in toms river that bears the name of the former School Superintendent is now down. The words Ritacco Center, which have been covered up by a white sheet since last October, was removed by crews this week. Mike Ritacco's trial on corruption charges has been rescheduled to April of 2012.

LAKEWOOD - Lakewood police and an ambulance are called to a meeting at an age-restricted community off Lake Carasaljo when residents began feuding. Residents were disputing over the use of the club house of a County Place off South Lake Drive for religious services during Yom Kippur. One resident complained of chest pains during the exchange.

NAS WILLOW GROVE, PA - A Marine Sergeant from Lakehurst is charged with stealing supplies and equipment worth about $760,000 from a Philadelphia-area military base. 28-year-old Christopher Cook allegedly re-sold metal and other objects for cash he used for his personal expenses. It happened from august of 2010 to last February at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Willow Grove.

MORRISTOWN - Bail will remain at $500,000 for a driver accused of causing a crash that killed a northern New Jersey police officer. Lawyers for 29-year-old Michael Cassella of Howell had sought a bail reduction during a court hearing Tuesday, calling the $500,000 amount "extraordinarily high." but Morris County prosecutors disputed that claim, noting that Cassella has four felony drug convictions on his record.

MANCHESTER - A Manchester man with a history of drunk driving, pleads guilty to a DWI related crash in 2008 that claimed the life of a township woman and injured a Lakehurst man. 43-year-old Clifford Grabowski faces 10 years in prison after admitting to speeding on westbound Route 70 in Whiting in excess of 84-miles-per hour with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. He has a January 20th sentencing date.

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LACEY - The former owner of four giant tortoises (one pictured above) that were rescued from the back yard a Highlands home in Septmeber has to pay over $2000 in muncipal court fines and costs as well as restoration fees. The state and county issued Richard Hines summones for animal cruelty and for not having permits to own the exotic aldabra tortoises. The tortoises are said to be doing well at the Popcorn Park Zoo.

MANCHESTER - A Manchester man convicted the 2008 Christmas Eve invasion of a Bayville home could be sent to prison for the rest of his life. Reports say, 45-year-old Rocco Maldonado was found guilty of armed robbery, armed burglary and weapons counts friday. Rocco has three prior drug convictions.

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