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A bipartisan agreement has been reached to fix the state's anti-bullying law - considered the toughest in the nation - following complaints by school districts that it was financially burdensome. Gov. Christie announced support Tuesday for an amended bill backed by both parties that will be fast-tracked through the Legislature. It will add $1 million to the Bullying Prevention Fund to help districts meet the law's requirements, and will create a task force to assist with implementation of the measure. http://bit.ly/zWVp9e

Wildlife officials said that the new status, a change from threatened, did not add protections. However, it is formal recognition that despite years of efforts to help the bird, its numbers continue to decline. The red knot population on the bay is about 15,000, down from nearly 100,000 two decades ago. http://bit.ly/zeDKlr

In response to the governor's budget proposal Tuesday, Democrats, who control the Senate and Assembly, say the governor should forgo the income-tax cut and redirect that revenue to offset New Jerseyans' property taxes, a plan they say is fairer.

Read more: Christie not doing enough to ease property tax burden on N.J. residents

The first details are out about Gov. Christie's trumpeted increase in state aid for public schools next year, showing a much more complicated picture that means big increases for some schools and sharp cuts for others. In all, 95 districts would get less, from a cut of 13 percent down to minuscule dips. Jersey City is slated to get a single dollar more. Other districts in for significant cuts include Pemberton Township, Winslow and Washington Township. http://bit.ly/wI5s1S

A sales-tax exemption measure designed to encourage major online retailers to locate in New Jersey has been introduced in the Legislature.The bill would help alleviate disparities between online retailers, who are not required to collect New Jersey's 7 percent sales tax unless they have a physical presence in the state, and bricks-and-mortar stores, according to Democrats. Amazon.com, the world's biggest online retailer, is in talks to bring two warehouses to New Jersey in exchange for a delay in charging its Garden State customers sales tax. The deal could bring 1,500 full-time jobs to a state where unemployment has hovered around 9 percent. The legislation specifies that the jobs must go to New Jersey residents. 

High property taxes consistently rank as one of NJ voters' biggest concerns. A color coded, interactive map shows property tax changes from 2009-2011 during the first two years of Gov. Chris Christie’s tenure. Data includes the total tax levy, total tax rate, average home value, property tax bill on that average residence, average property tax rebate and the net average property tax bill when adjusted for that rebate. The two-year change is calculated for each from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ property tax spreadsheets. Despite the economic times, large reductions in state aid and sharp reductions in direct property tax relief Merchantville responded to and met those municipal challenges during the past two years. Cuts in rebates have left the mean average household paying $1,275 more than when Gov. Corzine left office. "http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0216/2014/

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