National Briefing

NEW JERSEY

What to do with Jewish artifacts

Environmental regulators in New Jersey are trying to decide what to do about an unlicensed religious artifact burial site.

A rabbi coordinated the dumping of 2,000 trash bags full of Jewish text and clothing on private land in Lakewood during Passover. Orthodox Jews are not permitted to discard the items, called shaimos, by normal means.

Some neighbors complained, calling it an illegal dump. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a warning last week and ordered that the site be cleaned up.

The agency, however, said it is sensitive to the religion’s requirements. For now, it is allowing the bags to stay until it decides how to relocate them.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Smithsonian’s jewelry line

The Smithsonian Institution said it has licensed its renowned gem and jewelry collection to create a line of bracelets, brooches and other baubles with the TV shopping network QVC.

The jewelry line expected to launch this fall will be based on the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the National Museum of Natural History, which includes the famous Hope Diamond and Marie Antoinette earrings among 375,000 specimens. Curators will help oversee creation of the jewelry line.

The QVC line will be primarily costume jewelry and semiprecious stones, a Smithsonian spokeswoman said. Some of the earrings, rings, bracelets, pins and brooches will be based on designs of pieces in the museum, while others will simply be inspired by its collection.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Federal fisheries cop is replaced

The nation’s top fisheries cop has been replaced after a federal review detailed mismanagement at his agency and found he ordered files destroyed during the review.

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry’s Boston office said Dale Jones has been replaced by Alan Risenhoover, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Sustainable Fisheries.

Jones was head of the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, charged with enforcing the nation’s complicated fishing regulations. The review came after Northeast fishermen complained of unfair treatment.

MASSACHUSETTS

Alleged bullies plead not guilty

Lawyers for three teenage girls charged in the bullying of a 15-year-old girl who committed suicide have entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.

Sixteen-year-olds Ashley Longe, Sharon Chanon Velazquez and Flannery Mullins were arraigned on charges of civil rights violations and stalking. They did not appear in court.

Phoebe Prince was a South Hadley High School freshman who hanged herself in January after what prosecutors called an “unrelenting” three-month bullying campaign by six teenagers.

TEXAS

Man charged in explosives case

A man accused of dropping explosive devices into east Texas mailboxes is believed to be responsible for 36 devices placed in 23 locations, federal authorities said.

Larry Eugene North could face 10 years in prison if convicted of charges of possessing an illegal firearm or destructive device, U.S. Atty. John M. Bales said in a statement.

North was identified while placing an explosive in a Tyler mailbox Wednesday and was arrested and indicted that day, Bales said.

No injuries or explosions resulted from the devices planted between Feb. 5 and Wednesday.

LOUISIANA

$2.6 million in drywall suit

A federal judge in New Orleans has awarded seven Virginia families $2.6 million in damages to pay for the removal of sulfur-emitting drywall made in China that has been linked to corrosion and possible health effects.

U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon ruled that all the Chinese-made drywall in the families’ homes should be removed as well as any items damaged by corrosion because of the drywall.

The decision could affect thousands of other U.S. homeowners whose homes were made with the defective wallboard.

In this case, the plaintiffs sued Chinese drywall manufacturer Taishan Gypsum Co., which hasn’t responded to lawsuits.

-- times wire reports