UPDATE! Wednesday News Briefs From WOBM News

News from Ocean & Monmouth counties and around New Jersey.

MANALAPAN (AP) - Officials have placed a Monmouth County  high school principal on paid administrative leave because he's the subject of an investigation. Freehold Regional High School District school board president Heshy Moses tells the Asbury Park Press the probe of Manalapan High School principal Jeff Simon involves his role as principal and does not involve students. Moses says board members have been advised by their attorneys not to comment further or disclose the reason for the administrative leave.

NEW BRUNSWICK (AP) -- The bipartisan commission that's reconfiguring the state's congressional districts hopes to reach agreement on a new map today. The 13-member panel has been sequestered at a New Brunswick hotel since Monday. New Jersey is losing a congressional seat because of a slow population growth.

ATLANTIC CITY (AP) -- Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small claims in a lawsuit that state officials manipulated witnesses to make the voter fraud case for which he was eventually acquitted. The Press of Atlantic City reports Small's suit seeks to recoup legal fees and compensation for the stress of the trial.

STAFFORD - Top honors for the Stafford township elementary school district. They're the recipients of the environmental excellence award from Dallas-based Energy Excellence. Reports say the district has saved more than $700,000 on electric costs during the last three years.

TOMS RIVER- The search continues in Toms River for the man who grabbed a 71-year-old woman's purse while driving a vehicle past her, dragging her 40 feet. It happened Monday afternoon in the stop and shop parking lot on route 37. The victim was treated for minor injuries. Anyone with information is urged to call police at 732-349-0150.

TRENTON - Two south Jersey towns are urging the state to end the practice of issuing unemployment checks to beach resort seasonal workers. Cash-strapped Cape May Point and Cape May city contend the intent of unemployment is not for workers who take a job knowing it has a definitive end date. The League Of Municipality will reportedly be approaching state law makers for a bill sponsor in the new legislative session.