Briefly... CITY/REGION

Council to hold DHS hearings

The City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services will hold hearings tomorrow to look into DHS' policies concerning adoption and foster care. The hearings, which were called for by Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, will be held at 10 a.m. Members of the public can sign up to speak by calling Blackwell's office at 215-686-3418. The hearing is in response to a Daily News story about allegations made by a foster parent against DHS.

Coast Guard rescues diver

The Coast Guard saved a 54-year-old man from the dive-boat Independence 16 miles southeast of Manasquan on Saturday. Crew members said that a diver had tingling in his right wrist after ascending too quickly during a dive. A crew from Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet took him to Ocean Medical Center in Brick.

Camden man killed by gunfire

Geovany Vasquez, 32, of Camden, was shot multiple times and killed as he exited a vehicle on Lois Street, in East Camden, about 11:45 p.m. Friday. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor's Office Investigator James Bruno at 856-225-8400, or Camden Police Detectives at 856-757-7420.

Cops kill attacking pit bull

Atlantic City police fatally shot a pit bull that tried to attack some children and went after an animal-control officer Friday night.

Officers went to the Uptown Complex park after receiving reports about two pit bulls chasing children. They saw one dog bite and deflate a basketball as the scared children stood on a park bench.

When the animal-control officer arrived and tried to restrain the remaining pit bull with a pole leash, the dog charged at the officer, who avoided it. But when it came back, three police officers opened fire, killing it.

Ambulance collision kills cyclist

Charles Childs, 27, of Jackson Township, was killed Saturday night when his bike and an ambulance taking an elderly woman to an Ocean County hospital collided.

Jackson police said that Childs was going north on North Chapel Hill Road, in Jackson, when he apparently crossed the center line and crashed into the ambulance. He was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in Neptune. No one in the ambulance was hurt.

Jail for parolee cruel to animals

A Pottsville woman has been sentenced to two to six years in prison for violating her parole on animal-cruelty charges by possessing animals.

Virginia Justiniano, 50, was granted parole after pleading guilty in February to 117 counts of cruelty to animals as well as drug charges. Prosecutors say that animal-welfare officers last month removed four cats, a ferret and a goldfish from the property she and her fiance were renovating.

She has been barred from owning animals for 10 years.

- Staff and wire reports