TRENTON – Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that the Division of Criminal Justice has obtained an indictment charging seven alleged members of a drug ring with conspiring to operate heroin mills inside two apartments in Paterson. The indictment stems from an investigation by the New Jersey State Police, which led to arrests of six of the defendants on March 29, 2014.

Josh Siegel / November 24, 2014

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel resigned today after less than two years in the post amid the struggles of President Obama’s national security team to respond to a slew of global crises.

Hagel, the only Republican in Obama’s Cabinet, is widely believed to have been pushed out by the president as he seeks a different approach to enduring challenges such as the Islamic State terrorist group and the deadly Ebola virus.

Hagel, 68, a low-key former U.S. senator from Nebraska and combat veteran of the Vietnam War, had been skeptical about the Iraq War. He endured a brutal confirmation process in the Senate, where critics questioned his familiarity with the issues, to get the top Pentagon job.

Hagel came in with the assignment from Obama to manage the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and to lead a significant paring of the military budget.

Lorraine Smolinski, F/67, of Gloucester City, succumbed to her injuries Saturday afternoon at Cooper University Hospital. She was pronounced dead at 2:13 p.m.

The second victim, a 27-year-old female previously reported to be in critical but stable condition, was treated at Cooper and discharged Sunday.

The fire occurred around 11:30 a.m. Friday at Smolinski’s home on the 300 block of Highland Avenue in Gloucester City.

Investigators believe the fire was accidental in nature. The cause of the fire remains undetermined pending further investigation.

Released Monday, November 24, 2014.