April 23, 1997

NJ Gov Christine Todd Whitman says that 20.5-mile light rail system planned from Bayonne to Ridgefield will run along Hoboken's western edge rather than waterfront (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Toms River becomes New Jersey's first community to test alarm system for children in abusive homes (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Whitewater prosecutor, Kenneth W Starr, says he has found 'extensive evidence' of obstruction of justice and needs more time to complete his investigation; asks for six-month extension of grand jury that is investigating political and personal affairs of Pres Clinton and his wife, Hillary; Judge Susan Webber Wright grants request, extending life of grand jury until Nov 7; Starr says his investigators are evaluating new information obtained from James B McDougal; recently began to investigate matter of lucrative payments in 1994 to Webster L Hubbell, former Justice Department official and a crucial witness in several of the aspects of Starr's investigation (M)

Western chefs working in Southeast Asia are combining classical culinary skills with Asian ingredients and techniques in practice of fusion cooking, creating new and exciting meals to stimulate palates of jaded diners who have seen it all; photos; map; recipes (M)

You pass the Dunkin' Donuts on Route 23 and turn right at the Franklin Diner. You follow the dips and rises of the road as it winds past a stream good for fishing and rows of houses spruced with blue wildflowers. Then you turn right onto Scott Road, go past a well-kept horse farm, and there it is: the abandoned house with yellow trim matching the crime-scene ribbon dangling from its dilapidated porch. On Saturday night, two young men from the community delivered pizza to this vacant house, only to be waylaid. Law-enforcement officials say that they were shot execution-style by two teen-age boys, also from the community, for no reason other than to cut their small-town boredom. But neither that explanation, nor any other that might be drawn from the town's hardscrabble makeup, seems to provide solace.