WHAT\’S NEW: Black bear complaints in New Jersey are up sharply over a year ago, renewing concerns over what the state should do about its growing bruin population. From Jan. 1 through June 20, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife received 1,212 complaints — up from 1,006 during the same period a year ago. That includes a spike in the most serious complaints, so-called \”Category 1\” incidents in which a bear poses a danger to humans, pets, livestock or property and can be euthanized. So far, there have been 109 Category 1 incidents this year, compared with 84 in 2008.

via www.northjersey.com

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas, just recalled about 1.5 million Durabrand DVD Players, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The DVD players can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. To date, Wal-Mart has received 12 reports of DVD players overheating, five of which have resulted in fires that caused property damage. No injuries have yet been reported.

This Durabrand DVD recall involves a single DVD player with a remote control. The device is silver-colored and has a U-shaped opening at the top to insert the DVD. The DVD’s sold for about $29 exclusively at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2006 through July 2009. The recalled Durabrand DVD Players were manufactured in China.

The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the recalled Durabrand DVD Player and return it to the nearest Wal-Mart for a full refund. Wal-Mart can be reached toll-free at 1-800-925-6278 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday, or at the firm’s Web site at www.walmartstores.com

We have long been writing about the myriad problems associated with imports entering the United States from China. In recent years, imports from China have been at the center of safety worries in the United States and other countries and have impacted everything from medications, to children’s toys, to consumer products, such as this recall involving recalled DVD Players, which were manufactured in China.

via www.newsinferno.com

A father and son went hunting together for the first time. The father said: \”Stay here and be very QUIET. I\’ll be across the field.\”

By Army Sgt. Will Hill
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind, Aug. 20, 2009 – Many programs help military members\’ families during a deployment, but what about their four-legged friends?

Guardian Angels for Soldier\’s Pet, a nonprofit volunteer group, arranges foster care for the pets of deploying servicemembers. U.S. Army photo
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

WASHINGTON – Exxon-Mobil Corporation, the world’s largest publicly traded oil and gas company, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Denver to violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in five states during the past five years, the Justice Department announced today.

But, it has come at a price. For years, tuna were vacant in the Mud Hole and Glory Hole region due to the lack of sand eels, whiting and other bottom fish. Some old-timers will tell you that the commercial dragging boats are to blame, while others say the water quality has been poor for 20 years.

Whatever the reason, I can attest to this: The tuna bite is so insane that charter boats from as far as Cape May, N.J., are beginning to appear; a 125-mile ride one way. To put it simply, most every angler I know is catching double digit tuna across several year classes, from 20 pounds up to 100 pounds.

via sports.espn.go.com

(CNSNews.com) — The nation’s Catholic bishops have told Congress that they oppose H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, as it currently stands, because the health-care reform bill would mandate funding and insurance coverage for abortion.

In an August 11 letter to members of the House of Representatives, Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the pro-life committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C), told lawmakers that health-care reform must \”respect human life and rights of conscience in the context of abortion.\”

via www.cnsnews.com

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
Special to American Forces Press Service

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, Aug. 21, 2009 – The Kaiserslautern Military Community American Little League all-star team begins its quest for the Little League World Series title today in Williamsport, Pa.

The team earned the right to represent Europe in the tournament by beating Ukraine 10-0 in the European title game Aug. 11 in Kutno, Poland. 

By Chris Concannon

NEWS Correspondent

Some 200 people participated in the 6th Annual Nicholas J. Parisi Scholarship Foundation Fun Day recently at the Bellmawr Recreation Centre.

Parisi was an Iraq War veteran of the U.S. Army, and member of Bellmawr Fire Department Station 32.

While rock climbing near his base in Colorado, he fell and died in April of 2004.