Trenton

Jeremy Pressman, a Modern Orthodox Jew, wanted to take his basketball skill to a new level, see how he fared outside the world of Jewish private schools, so he spent his senior year at Pennsbury High School in Bucks County. Where he rode the bench, 13th man on a 12-man team. Because he observes the Sabbath, Jeremy couldn't practice on Saturdays or play games on Friday nights. His coach told him, quite understandably, "How can I play you when others are practicing more and you aren't even coming to half the games?"

TRENTON - Protesters in Revolutionary War costumes, environmentalists, and pink-shirted women's advocates were among those who filled the street in front of the Statehouse on Monday in a series of rallies, with the largest opposing a legislative plan to overhaul public workers' pensions and benefits. Behind the Statehouse, union members set up rows of tents and a mock graveyard for the "death of collective bargaining" alongside more than 50 state police cars and at least two armored vehicles at the ready in case the situation got out of control.

Flames consumed 14 rowhouses yesterday afternoon in Trenton's worst fire in 30 years. Only one person was injured, as most residents were at work or school. Jason Wright, 6, who was going to his sitter's home, is escorted away by Officer John Delli.

Chad Spann's home-run bat beat Trenton for the second night in a row in the Eastern League's Northern Division Championship Series. The Portland Sea Dogs beat the Thunder, 5-2, last night to take a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-five playoffs. Spann, whose grand slam won Wednesday's game, broke a tie last night with a two-run homer in the sixth. Trenton000200000 -240 Portland10100201x -5101 WP: Beam (2-0). LP: DeSalvo (0-1). Save: Mann (1). HR: T-Cabrera (1)

A fugitive from a Cumberland County halfway house surrendered without incident Tuesday night in Trenton, a state spokesman said. Lamont White, 36, had escaped overnight Sunday from Kintock House in Bridgeton, said Matt Schuman, a Department of Corrections spokesman. He was found in Trenton and was persuaded to surrender, Schuman said. White, of Chesilhurst, was serving time for criminal homicide and related offenses in connection with a 2004 robbery in which the 63-year-old victim, whose head hit the pavement after White punched him in the face, later died.

After a scrappy battle between the state's two teachers' unions, Trenton teachers voted 584 to 432 yesterday to continue their membership with the powerful New Jersey Education Association. The election confirmed the strength of the NJEA, the second-largest state affiliate of the National Education Association and a formidable lobby in Trenton. The American Federation of Teachers was vying for the loyalty of Trenton's 1,100 teachers. Nationally, the National Education Association's members outnumber those of the AFT by more than 3 to 1. With 125,000 members, the NJEA has a virtual monopoly on the bargaining rights of the state's teachers.

Jeff Martin homered in the ninth and Shayne Bennett earned his first Eastern League save as Trenton beat Reading, 4-3, last night. The win moved the Thunder within half a game of the first-place Phillies. CHARLOTTE 4, SCRANTON 0 MOOSIC, Pa. - Charlotte's Jerry Schunk cracked a three-run home run and Kurt Miller came within one out of a complete-game shutout in the International League. Miller also had two singles. LYNCHBURG 3, WILMINGTON 1 WILMINGTON - Ken Bonifay's two-run single keyed the three-run fourth and the Hillcats broke the Blue Rocks' four-game winning streak in Carolina League play.

Two former No. 1 draft picks of the Phillies - Jeff Jackson and Chad McConnell - helped Reading sweep an Eastern League doubleheader from Trenton last night. McConnell hit a three-run homer to lead Reading to a 5-2 win in the first game. Reading used Jackson's grand slam to win the second, 5-1. SCRANTON 6, PAWTUCKET 5 PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Dave Hollins, on a rehabilitation assignment, hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat in the International League game.

TRENTON - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats got home runs from Maikel Jova and Erik Kratz as well as seven strong innings from Shaun Marcum in a 6-2 win over Trenton last night in the Eastern League. The loss snapped the Thunder's four-game winning streak. Trenton's runs came on homers by Shelly Duncan, who has 10 this season and four in four games. Binghamton 6, Reading 0 READING - Brian Bannister allowed five hits over seven innings and struck out five as the Mets beat the Phillies in the Eastern League.

Pat Burrell celebrated his first minor-league playoff game with two home runs to back Adam Eaton's pitching as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons defeated the Charlotte Knights, 15-5, last night in the International League. Burrell, who was promoted from double-A Reading last month, was 4 for 5 with two homers and two RBIs. Billy McMillon also was 4 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs. The second game of the best-of-five semifinal series is scheduled for tonight in Charlotte.

TRENTON — The Christie administration wants to take $200 million from the clean-energy fund to plug a hole in the state's current budget and withhold money for transportation infrastructure projects next year to preserve Gov. Christie's top priority for 2013: implementing a 10 percent income tax cut. The revised $31 billion proposed budget depends on robust revenue growth that is higher than that predicted by two Wall Street rating agencies and...

  With a Final Four berth at stake and an encounter with rival Connecticut for a shot at a national title, Notre Dame could have shown up for Tuesday's Raleigh Regional final in North Carolina against Maryland tense and vulnerable. Instead, the Fighting Irish smiled and laughed in warm-ups and went out and routed the Terrapins, 80-49. Point guard Skylar Diggins, a first-team all-American, had a triple-double (22 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds), and Natalie Achonwa added 17 points for the Fighting Irish.

Retired Bishop John C. Reiss, 89, eighth bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, died Sunday, March 4, at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, N.J. He was the only priest born in the Trenton Diocese, which includes Burlington County, to serve as both auxiliary bishop and bishop. "Bishop Reiss was well known for his compassion and personal acts of kindness to so many people in the diocese," said Bishop David M. O'Connell, current leader of the diocese. Born one of 11 children in Red Bank, Bishop Reiss studied for the priesthood at Catholic University of America before entering Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1941.

Retired Bishop John C. Reiss, 89, eighth bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, died Sunday, March 4, at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, N.J. He was the only priest born in the Trenton Diocese, which includes Burlington County, to serve as both auxiliary bishop and bishop. "Bishop Reiss was well known for his compassion and personal acts of kindness to so many people in the diocese," said Bishop David M. O'Connell, current leader of the diocese. "He had a great sense of humor and loved good jokes.

Rancocas Valley stands alone atop The Inquirer's girls' basketball rankings, but the Red Devils won't finish in the same lofty position in their own division. That distinction belongs to Trenton Catholic, which used a pair of free throws by Isis Young with 13 seconds remaining to pull out a 56-54 win at Rancocas Valley on Friday, giving the Iron Mikes the Burlington County League Liberty Division crown. Robin Perkins (18 points), Young (13) and Dominique Ward (12) led the way for Trenton Catholic, which finished 8-0 in the division - including a 59-43 home win over the Red Devils on January 19. Rancocas Valley (20-4 overall, 6-2 division)

Rancocas Valley stands alone atop The Inquirer's girls' basketball rankings, but the Red Devils won't finish in the same lofty position in their own division. That distinction belongs to Trenton Catholic, which used a pair of free throws by Isis Young with 13 seconds remaining to pull out a 56-54 win at Rancocas Valley on Friday, giving the Iron Mikes the Burlington County League Liberty Division crown. Robin Perkins (18 points), Young (13) and Dominique Ward (12) led the way for Trenton Catholic, which finished 8-0 in the division - including a 59-43 home win over the Red Devils on January 19. Rancocas Valley (20-4 overall, 6-2 division)

TRENTON - As the green "yes" votes lit up the electronic board in the New Jersey Senate chambers Monday, Steven Goldstein, head of the state's largest gay-rights organization, jumped up and down and applause broke out on the floor and echoed from the balcony. The Senate had voted 24-16 to legalize same-sex marriage, a measure it rejected just two years ago. The bill is unlikely to become law, at least right away. Although the Assembly is expected to pass it Thursday, Republican Gov. Christie has vowed to veto it. Still, Goldstein refused to dismiss Monday's vote as just a legislative exercise.

Understand your roles. Play within them. First-year coach Marchelle Coleman has spent this season ingraining that message into her Willingboro girls' basketball team. That philosophy was tailor-made for the fourth quarter of the Chimeras' Monday night triumph over Trenton Catholic. The quarter was preceded by 15-plus lead changes. The Chimeras started the period down by a point. They were on the road against one of their biggest rivals - the one that happens to be the reigning Tournament of Champions winner.