Brent Clarke May 1, 2013 WKNJ Newscast 2

Good afternoon its Wednesday May 1, 2013 at ___ oclock and youre listening to WKNJ FM, Union, NJ and Im ____ with the news.

In local news A Jersey City daycare worker has been accused of child abuse. The young day care worker was arrested on Tuesday after allegations of abusing children that attended Sunnyside Academy. The suspects father claims that he does not believe his daughter would abuse children and feels that the whole incident may have been a mistake. Prosecutors believe other children may have been involved, but no details are offered on the types of abuse. The daycare does possess cameras that may be helpful to the case.

Also in local news, a young kitten that was found burned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is receiving treatment at a New Jersey animal hospital and should be making a full recovery. The poor kitten had over a third of its body burned, mainly the head and back area. The four-five week old kitten is sedated daily so that doctors can clean its wound says Veterinary surgeon Wendy Ross of the crown Veterinary Hospital in Lebannon.

At 9:30 p.m., Angelo Tolentino closed up shop at Mr.Green Appliances on Orange Street. About two hours later, Angelo was back watching a raging four-alarm fire blow out the windows and incinerates his shop. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The building at 512 Orange St, was a chance to help rebuild the neighborhood, said Angelo. He had been the manager of this store for more than a year and the owner and Mr. Green Appliances employees gave the building some flavor. The appliances, the bible, the flag, were not touched said Angelo. At least no body was hurteverything else is just material.

In international news Its not easy trying to figure what to do about the bombings and alleged chemical weapons use out in Syria. The increasing number of explosions is causing a lot of anxiety for Syrians, being that theres no evidence as to which side is behind the blasts. They are all our children and it is sad. We are all Syrians killing each other said Umm Wasim, who witnesses the latest bombing that killed at least 13 people on Tuesday in Damascus. President Barack Obama said Tuesday the United States will wait until it has more details before altering its strategy on the strife in Syria. Obama recently called the use of chemical weapons a redline but the United States has not made drastic changes to its approach to Syria in the days since an administration official announced the finding. The bombing that occurred Tuesday occurred a day after Syrian Prime Minister Wael alHalqi survived a bombing that targeted his motorcade in a classy Damascus neighborhood. The Syrian civil war has faced al-Assads forces against rebels seeking an end to four decades of Assad family rule.

Also in international news, a woman in dire need to have a fourth child forced her adopted teenage daughter to inseminate herself with semen that was bought over the internet so she could have the baby. These plans came about after the woman could not adopt her fourth child. The mother was sentenced to five years in prison for child cruelty. According to Judge Peter Jackson, there were six attempts over two years. The mother came up with the self-insemination plan when her oldest daughter was 13. The daughter became pregnant at the age of 14, but had a miscarriage and once again became pregnant at the age of 16. $3,165 was spent to purchase the donor sperm from the Cryos sperm bank in Denmark.

More news, sports, and weather coming up

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In sporting news As the L.A. Clippers trailed the Memphis Grizzlies by 10 points in the fourth quarter, Blake Griffin was sitting in an ice bucket in the Clippers training room, watching what may have been the Clippers last few games unravel. Chris Paul was the only player to show up for the Clippers in game five, with 35 points, six rebounds and four assist. No other Clipper starter had more than six points and Jamal Crawford was the only other Clipper in double digits with 15 as the Clippers lost to Memphis 103-93. The Warriors lost to the Denver Nuggets 100-107. Tonight is game 5 with the Knicks and Celtics, the Knicks lead 3-1. Also tonight is the game between the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, which is tied 2-2.

Your hourly weather update

Right now its a sunny 64 degrees with a high of 66. Tonight will be a low of 46, with 0 chance of rain.

In entertainment Rap star Kanye West and reality star Kim Kardashian do not want baby gifts. Instead, the two are asking those close to them for donations to the Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago. The hospital is close to where rap star Kanye West grew up.

That's it for your news. You're listening to 90.3 WKNJ-Fm, Union, New Jersey. I'm ___ andwe'll be right back after this. (play PSA2 here)

Jersey City daycare worker accused of abusing children at Sunnyside Academy

Originally published: April 30, 2013 10:14 PM Updated: May 1, 2013 5:49 AM

A young daycare provider was arrested Tuesday over allegations she abused children in her care at a Jersey City facility. (May 1, 2013 7:59 AM)

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Daycare provider accused of abuse

A young daycare provider was arrested Tuesday over allegations she abused children in her care at a Jersey City facility.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office says the abuse allegedly occurred at the Sunnyside Academy on Chapel Avenue. The case is being investigated by the Special Victims Unit. The suspect's father says he does not believe his daughter would consciously hurt a child....

Burned kitten found in Philadelphia improving at New Jersey animal hospital

Published: April 30, 2013 5:51 PM

A young kitten found burned in Philadelphia is receiving treatment at a New Jersey animal hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. (April 30, 2013 5:36 PM)

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PHOTOS: Burned kitten recovering at animal hospital

A young kitten found burned in Philadelphia is receiving treatment at a New Jersey animal hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The kitten was burned over a third of his body, mostly on his head and back. Veterinary surgeon Wendy Ross, of the Crown Veterinary Hospital in Lebanon, says the 4- to 5-week-old kitten is sedated daily so that doctors can clean his wounds. He has also...

Four-alarm fire destroys two Newark buildings, leaving five people homeless

View the Slideshow >> (Gallery by Donna Gialanella / The Star-Ledger) Print

By Seth Augenstein/The Star-Ledger Follow on Twitter on April 02, 2013 at 9:00 AM, updated April 02, 2013 at 4:53 PM Foursquare Email View/Post Comments NEWARK At 9:30 p.m., Angelo Tolentino closed up shop at Mr. Green Appliances on Orange Street, careful to turn everything off and lock up tight. A little more than two hours later, Tolentino was back and watched as a raging fouralarm fire blew out windows and incinerated his shop. When I got here, it was already flames and everything, Tolentino said. It was pretty windy last night, and it whipped the fire up. The stiff wind fed the fire that started at 512 Orange St., and pushed it across a tiny alleyway to number 510, where five people were displaced from their apartments, said Capt. John Brown of the Newark Fire Department. The fire was called in at 11:49 p.m., and it was under control at 12:36 a.m., he said.

Picture of the inside of 512 Orange Street in Newark, New Jersey of the upstairs apartments where a fire burned and damaged several apartments. Downstairs, Mr. Green Appliance store was also damaged. 04/02/2013 Photo by Donna Gialanella / The Star-Ledger Donna Gialanella / The Star-Ledger

But both buildings were severely damaged in that time. The inside of the Mr. Green Appliances building is black and gutted this morning. The wood walls are carbonized, a

burned and wet sludge squishes underfoot, and wires fray down from the ceiling. Holes are burned through the ceiling and walls. There were no injuries, and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, Brown said. The building at 512 Orange St. was an opportunity to help rebuild the neighborhood, said Tolentino. He had been the manager at the store for more than a year and the owner and Mr. Green Appliances employees had spruced up the building, with copper piping and boilers and a thick coat of lime-green paint on the ornate trim on the faade. Now, its probably a total loss, Tolentino said. There was no insurance on the property. New tenants one who moved in that very day at 510 Orange St. and another who was scheduled to move in today at 512 now have to find other plans, and the block has lost a viable property, he said. This used to be a really nice neighborhood we thought wed help bring it back, he said. Then this happened. In addition to a few stoves and refrigerators left unscathed by the blaze, some other sentimental items survived the flames, Tolentino said. The appliances, the Bible, the flag, werent touched, he said, walking on the glass shards coating the sidewalk. At least no one was hurt everything else is just material. Bethania James and her five children spanning the ages of 2 to 21 were planning to move in to an apartment above the appliance store today. James had recently moved back to New Jersey after a stint in Florida and said the Orange Street place was perfect for her but shes glad it happened before she made the second-floor apartment her home. I wasnt moved in yet thank God, she said.

World seeks answers as Syria civil war evolves By Mariano Castillo and Fred Pleitgen, CNN updated 4:41 PM EDT, Tue April 30, 2013

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar, third from right, visits the site of a blast in Damascus on Tuesday, April 30. The Syrian government said that at least 13 people died in what state-run TV described as a "terrorist explosion." Tensions in Syria first flared in March 2011, escalating into a civil war that still rages. This gallery contains the most compelling images taken since the start of the conflict. > >> STORY HIGHLIGHTS Obama says more information is needed before a decision on Syria A rebel spokesman says recent blasts were set up by the government to garner sympathy State-run TV calls Tuesday blast a "terrorist explosion;" no one has claimed responsibility The blast took place a day after the prime minister survived a bombing on his motorcade Read a version of this story in Arabic. Damascus, Syria (CNN) -- The world is watching the situation in Syria transform before its eyes -- with an uptick in bombings and allegations of chemical weapons use -- but deciding what to do about it is no easy feat. In the capital, there is less shelling and fewer fighter jets are seen in the air than in the past, but the streets are as empty as ever in the wake of recent bombings.

The increasing number of explosions is causing a lot of anxiety for Syrians, due in part to the fact that it's not clear which side is behind the blasts. The government blames "terrorists," a designation that includes the rebels who are trying to bring down President Bashar al-Assad. The rebels accuse the government of bombing its own capital in a ploy for sympathy.

Rebels launch attacks on Syrian airports "They are all our children and it is sad. We are all Syrians killing each other," lamented Umm Wasim, who witnessed the latest tragedy: a bomb blast that killed at least 13 in Damascus Tuesday. Equally frustrating for the Syrian civilians who are waiting and hoping for international intervention in the crisis is the fact that the United States has now said there is evidence that the chemical weapon sarin has been used on a small scale in the conflict. It appears that a line has been crossed, but the response from the world community has not been swift. President Barack Obama said Tuesday the United States will wait until it has more details on the evidence of chemical weapons use before altering its strategy on the strife in Syria. Obama previously called the use of chemical weapons a "red line," but the United States has not radically changed its approach to Syria in the days since an administration official announced the finding. The United States doesn't yet know "how they were used, when they were used, who used them," Obama said. "When I am making decisions about American national security and the potential for taking additional action in response to chemical weapons use, I have to make sure I have the facts." On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army said that the rebels had secured what they believe is an unexploded chemical weapon deployed by the regime in Idlib. The FSA will try to get the unexploded canister out of the country for testing, he said. "If the Syrian regime doesn't want to allow the U.N. investigation team in, we will do all we can in order to present the evidence to the international community because we have the moral and national obligations to our people and our nation," Louay Almokdad said.

At the scene of Tuesday's bombing in the capital, some people burst into tears as they spoke about the event and the general situation in Syria. "They are killing our people. Washington and the West know they are terrorists. Why are they providing them with weapons?" asked Mohammed Agha. But the United States says it provides only non-lethal aid to the opposition. The question of arming the rebels is being debated among the international community. Syrian state-run television said the "terrorist explosion" also wounded 70 people. The blast apparently came from a car bomb parked behind the old building of the Interior Ministry, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Syrian Observatory, which opposes al-Assad's government, said the number of casualties is expected to rise because of the large number of injured. Prime minister uninjured after bomb targets motorcade Members of the Syrian armed forces were among those hurt in the explosion, the group said. But Almokdad told CNN he believes the attack was staged by the government. "The latest blasts are nothing but a farce staged by the Assad regime in order to beg for sympathy from the international community on the eve of the U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the use of chemical weapons by the regime armed forces against our innocent civilians," the FSA spokesman said. He also said the rebel army was not involved in the explosion. "Setting up car bombs in the capital or anywhere in the country is not a strategy that the FSA condones," Almokdad said. "We reject targeting any civilian area and risking the lives of our civilian population." Syrian rebels attack military airports across country, opposition says Tuesday's blast occurred a day after Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survived a bombing that targeted his motorcade in an upscale Damascus neighborhood, the government and opposition reported. The Syrian Observatory said one of al-Halqi's escorts and five civilians were killed in the explosion. Another escort and a driver were badly injured, the group said. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported casualties but did not elaborate on the incident. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the Monday blast. But the rebel spokesman said he believes that attack was also set up by the government.

"Al-Halqi is a minor figure propped by the al-Assad regime, and he is not a strategic target to the FSA or anyone in the revolution. We actually feel sorry for the man who was appointed to be a prime minister," he said. The Syrian civil war has pitted al-Assad's forces against rebels seeking an end to four decades of Assad family rule. More than 70,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the conflict in the past two years.

Desperate for another child, mother forces daughter to inseminate herself

By Ed Payne, CNN
updated 6:06 AM EDT, Tue April 30, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The woman devised a plan to inseminate her oldest daughter She devised the scheme after an attempt to adopt a fourth child failed Donor semen was purchased from a sperm bank in Denmark Midwives reported suspicious behavior to authorities

(CNN) -- A woman desperate to have a fourth child forced her adopted teenage daughter to artificially inseminate herself with semen purchased over the Internet so she could have the baby. The woman devised the plan after her efforts to adopt another daughter were thwarted. In addition to the victim, the woman also has two other younger adopted daughters. The astonishing revelations appear in documents released this week by a British court. The previously secret child welfare judgment from March 2012 was only published after the conclusion of the mother's criminal trial. The woman was sentenced to five years in prison for child cruelty, British media reported. Six attempts The mother came up with the self-insemination plan when her oldest daughter was 13. "There were six series of attempts over two years," Judge Peter Jackson said in the documents. "She became pregnant at the age of 14, but miscarried, and ultimately became pregnant ... at the age of 16." The mother spent 2,420 euros ($3,165) to purchase donor sperm from the Cryos sperm bank in Denmark. The court documents say she provided forged documents to get the semen. While the daughter said she didn't want to have a baby, she ultimately gave in because she loves her mother. "My mum is a very determined person and she does her best not to let anything get in her way if she wants it," the daughter said, according to the court. Scheme unravels The story they agreed on was this: The daughter would say she had met and had sex with an Australian boy, who was briefly visiting the United Kingdom.

Despite all the planning, the mother's scheme began to unravel at the hospital after the birth of the baby. Midwives said she was aggressive in trying to make sure the baby didn't bond with her daughter. "We don't want any of that attachment thing," the mother said, according to the midwives after breastfeeding was suggested. "Is there much point to that, I will be the one giving him the bottle." While hospital notes said the plan was for the daughter to relinquish the baby to her mother, the midwives became suspicious that something was going on as she became increasingly "pushy and insensitive." They also heard the woman apologize to her daughter for putting her through so much. They finally reported the mother's behavior after she tried to remove the child from the baby ward. It was the concerns raised by the midwives that led to the investigation. "Their willingness to stand up for them (the daughter that had the baby and two other siblings) changed everything," the judge said.

What happened to Clippers' depth?

With Blake Griffin hobbled, who else is going to step up now besides Chris Paul?
Updated: May 1, 2013, 4:54 AM ET

By Arash Markazi | ESPNLosAngeles.com

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Grizzlies Win On The Road

Highlight Of The Night: Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley combined to score 66 points as the Grizzlies held Blake Griffin to four points in a 103-93 Game 5 victory.Tags: Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Game 5, Game 6, NBA Playoffs

LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin couldn't move and he certainly couldn't play, but he knew he couldn't stay where he was. As the Los Angeles Clippers trailed the Memphis Grizzlies by 10 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday night, Griffin was sitting in an ice bucket in the Clippers' training room, watching the game, and perhaps the Clippers' season, unravel before his eyes on a flat screen hanging on the wall. "I didn't want to be back there," Griffin said. "They had me in the ice bucket for 20 minutes and I was watching the game on the TV in there, and I didn't feel like I was out there with my team, so I just wanted to be out there."

[+] Enlarge Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY SportsThat Blake Griffin was even on the floor in Game 5 was remarkable. His ankle injury is going to tax the now-questionable depth of the Clippers even further Friday in Game 6 at Memphis.

Griffin managed to get up and limped back to the Clippers bench, still in his uniform, even though he had already been ruled out by trainers and coaches. Moments later, he would limp off the court at Staples Center for potentially the last time this season. That Griffin was even able to play 20 minutes (scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds) before finally being taken out of the game in third quarter surprised him and several within the organization. They had seen Griffin's right ankle swell to size of a softball Monday after practice, when he suffered a high right ankle sprain. It doesn't seem right in a series as physical and as intense as this -- with Griffin constantly jostling with Zach Randolph andMarc Gasol as if they were in a wrestling match -- that Griffin's season could have potentially come to an end because he landed on a teammate's foot in practice. "It's one of those things where I honestly didn't believe it happened yesterday," Griffin said. As Griffin jumped up during a scrimmage to deliver a pass, he landed on Lamar Odom's foot, according to Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, and limped off the court. Griffin said he knew immediately it was bad. "I've never had one this bad before," Griffin said. "Normally I can go in a couple of days or the next day." Griffin didn't sound overly optimistic that he would play or be much of a factor in Game 6 on Friday. He needed to lean on a chair to change into his clothes in the Clippers' locker room after the game. And after he limped out of the room, he sat in the back of a small flat-bed cart that drove him to his car. "As the game went on, it got worse," Griffin said. "I was in the weight room on the treadmill; they just had me walk just to keep it lose and not just sit there." For all the talk of the Clippers' depth this season, it's no secret the Clippers' success -- especially in the postseason -- depends on the success and health of Griffin and Chris Paul. With Griffin hobbled and a nonfactor in Tuesday's Game 5, Paul was the only player who stepped up to the challenge -- to the tune of 35 points, six rebounds and four assists. No other Clippers starter had more than six points, and the only other player in double digits was Jamal Crawford with 15 points. If that's going to be the case in Game 6, the Clippers might as well start making their vacation plans now.

"This was a must-win," Griffin said. "This was the biggest game for us, but we just didn't get it going, and I wasn't able to see a lot. "CP, to his credit, put us on his back and carried us, but we have to give him more help than that." That help needs to come in a variety of areas, but in a series largely decided in the paint, on the glass and by both teams' big men, the spotlight needs to be on DeAndre Jordan, who had six points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes in Game 5 but played less than three minutes in the fourth quarter. Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler didn't see the floor in the fourth quarter, either, as Del Negro went with his younger bench rather than his aging and ineffective veterans. "We need DeAndre to play big, there's no question," Del Negro said. "Defensively, offensively, being a threat out there on the glass and using his length and athleticism. "But it's up to him to get out there and earn his minutes and work through anything that is thrown at him during the game." The problem is that Jordan has failed to live up to the potential that came with the four-year, $43 million contract he garnered before last season. His free throw shooting regressed from 52.5 percent last season to just 38.6 percent this season, making him a liability at the end of games. Despite not being in foul trouble, he was on the bench in the fourth quarter as Randolph and Gasol combined for 18 points in the final period. Del Negro paused when asked if Jordan is at a crossroads with the team. Clearly, he needs to step up or the Clippers must find a center capable of playing in the fourth quarter and picking up the slack if Griffin is out. "I don't know if crossroads is the right word, but there's definitely a level that you have to play at right now than anytime he's had to before," Del Negro said. "He has a much bigger responsibility now. He understands it. "I haven't seen the consistency that I would like, but I don't think he's seen the consistency he would like," he said. "He's been working and his attitude has been good, but the bottom line is he's got to go out there and produce." How Jordan produces in Game 6, with or without Griffin, might ultimately decide if the Clippers are able to extend their season to a Game 7 on Sunday back home in Los Angeles. Paul knows he will not only need help, but a different attitude from his teammates if that's going to happen. "We have to be desperate," Paul said. "They say the playoffs don't start until someone loses at home; I guess ours just started."

Forecast for Today

Updated: May 1, 11:25am EDT Mobile Desktop Tablet Right Now Today Tonight

64F FEELS LIKE64 66 HIGH 46 LOW Fair Sunny Clear Past 24-hr Precip: 0 in Chance of rain 0% Chance of rain 0%

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Seeking Charity Donations, Not Baby Gifts
By Taryn Ryder

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By Taryn Ryder | omg! 23 hours ago

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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian (Getty Images)No baby gifts here, please! Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are asking those close to them for donations to the Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, instead of any presents from a registry. The hospital is near where West, 35, grew up. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Kim Kardashian and Kayne West for their thoughtfulness and support of the hospital, a spokeswoman for the hospital tells omg! in a statement. We wish them all the best in the upcoming arrival of their baby. Funds donated on behalf of Kardashian and West will be directed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fund, which will help care for the most critically ill babies and their families. So amazing! Anyone can donate here. Sources close to Kardashian, 32, also tell omg! that reported baby registries that have been popping up online are all fake.

With less than two months to go until Kardashian is reportedly due to give birth, the reality mogul got in some rest and relaxation time in Greece with her family.