TRENTON – The Communications Workers of America contract reached with the state calls for no salary increase in the first two years (dating back to July 1, 2011), a 1 percent hike on July 1, 2013 and a 1.75 percent increase on July 1, 2014, the state announced today.

CAMDEN - Cooper University Hospital will receive more than $2.7 million in federal Affordable Care Act funds to hire 14 new employees, save millions through improved long-term care, and improve care for patients with special medical needs, Sen. Frank Lautenberg said in a statement.

TRENTON – It did not take Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald long to respond to dismissive comments Gov. Chris Christie made this morning about Greenwald’s pursuit of a debate on their different tax cut proposals.

Asked about Greenwald’s regular requests for a debate, Christie said he had other plans: “I have to rearrange my sock drawer.’’

“If the governor thinks re-arranging his sock drawer is more pressing than working to boost property tax relief to working families, then that says a lot about his disregard for the middle-class,” Greenwald said.

NEWARK – As part of a settlement agreement, the McKesson Corp. will pay the federal government more than $190 million for violating the False Claims Act by reporting inflated prices for numerous prescription drugs, causing Medicaid to overpay for those drugs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.