Free Republic

A body found in a New Jersey river is that of missing Wall Street Journal reporter David Bird, who disappeared more than a year ago, authorities announced Thursday. Bird's remains were pulled from the Passaic River by dive teams Wednesday about a mile from where he vanished -- on the border of Morris and Somerset counties. Bird, an avid hiker and father of two, was last seen by his family on Jan. 11, 2014, as he was leaving his Long Hill Township, N.J., home to go on a walk.

PATERSON - A New York sect of Amitabha Buddhists bought hundreds of eels, frogs and turtles in Chinatown to set them free in the Passaic River, hoping they would not only survive but also realize their karmic potential. Saving the animals, though, did not do anything for the karma of the state Department of Environmental Protection. DEP pfficials say the Buddhists did not have a permit and may be subject to fines up to $1,000. Releasing critters into the wild takes a permit - and because of fears of harm being done by nonnative species, New Jersey is reluctant to...

Storm leaves weary family split over whether to stayThe Passaic River has meant many things to many people during its 11,000-year run past the fields, farms, factories and flood plains of northern New Jersey.  To Philip Jaeger, the Passaic is living history. Jaeger, a retired math teacher from Cedar Grove, has an abiding fascination with the 81 miles of meandering river that crosses seven counties and 45 municipalities before emptying into Newark Bay. Retirement gave him the time to explore the Passaic from top to bottom, and what he found is contained in a slide show, "The Passaic River:...

Mom admits killing son in toss off footbridge She agrees to a term of 18 years in prison Friday, January 24, 2003BY RUDY LARINI Star-Ledger Staff Her family had told her that if she ever needed them to care for her son, they would be there for her. But she didn't turn to them late that Saturday night in June 2000 when she wanted to go out and couldn't find anyone to watch the toddler. So she took him to a footbridge over the Passaic River in Paterson and  tossed him into the water just above the Great Falls. Yesterday,...