New Jersey state offices shut down

TRENTON, N.J. - As the state government shutdown threatened to close Atlantic City's casinos, Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Monday said New Jersey lawmakers must report to the Statehouse on July Fourth and stay there until they adopt a budget.

Corzine called for a special session of the Legislature after Monday afternoon negotiations with the lawmaker leading opposition to the governor's proposed sales tax increase failed yet again.

At the casinos, meanwhile, executives and employees were fearing the worst - a total shutdown, the first in the 28-year history of legalized gambling in New Jersey.