UPDATE! Tuesday Briefs From WOBM News

News from Ocean & Monmouth counties and around New Jersey.

BRICK - The Brick Township couple who survived the Costa Concordia disaster is among those getting another surprise from the parent company: 30 percent off fares if they want to sail in the future. The company is refunding fares from the doomed cruise and fielding claims for lost items as it struggles to maintain customer loyalty while bracing for lawsuits.

NEPTUNE - Two fire victims in Neptune township narrowly avoid calamity as the house they were in erupted in flames today. Police there tell us the blaze in the two-family on Corlies Avenue was quelled early this afternoon. Investigators are now trying to determine what triggered it.

OCEAN – An Ocean Township man is arrested and charged with DWI and posession of cocaine. 38-year-old Christopher Evans of Neptune was seen by officers Saturday night traveling west on Route 66 when he swerved in and out of the left lane. Police found a cigar containing marijuana, an open can of beer and a small plastic bag of cocaine. He was released pending a future court hearing.

TOMS RIVER - Toms River Police arrest a township man wanted on drug charges. Reports say 22-year-old Naji Harmon showed up in court on an unrelated charge Friday when he was taken into custody and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He remains in the Ocean County Jail – bail set at $300,000 Two others, 25-year-old Latoya Green and 23-year-old Litonia Anderson were also arrested and charged. Their bail is $250,000.

ELKTON, Md. (AP) — A trial has been scheduled for a doctor from Vorhees who practiced in Toms River accused of providing late-term abortions in Maryland. The Cecil Whig reports that Dr. Steven Brigham’s case will begin June 6th. He and an associate were indicted under a law that allows murder charges for the death of a viable fetus.

TOMS RIVER - Police in Toms River are investigating a slew of burglaries over the weekend. Stolen items include three commercial air conditioning units and their copper and aluminum components. In a seperate incident, $50 and prescription pads were taken from Alpha Medical Services on Lakehurst road. Anyone with information should call police at 732-349-0150.

ATLANTIC CITY - Atlantic City Expressway drivers encounter construction detours this week. Utility work blocks the eastbound EZ Pass lanes at the Pleasantville tolls for about six hours today, and the westbound ramp-sevens will be closed for guide rail repair during the day Thursday. Both closures are scheduled for 8:30AM-2:30PM.

MIDDLETOWN - A Middletown man is head to jail for 90 days after tossing his girlfriend’s puppy off a bridge trestle last year. Reports say 23-year-old Willima Deppisch plead admitted to taking his anger out on the 5-month-old terrier after he and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument. The puppy was rescued by Holmdel police.