5 stories to follow: March 4

Here's your look at five stories we're following today:

1. Real-estate fraud: Justice is finally nearing for victims of a nearly decade-old real-estate scam. The five people behind a $14.6 million fraud scheme are slated to be sentenced this week.

2. Homeless facility: A 300-bed residence and training center for the homeless is being proposed for Lumberton, Burlington County, but some area residents are opposing the facility. The issue will be discussed at a meeting tonight.

3. Winter airline woes: A string of storms has made this winter the worst for the airline industry since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

4. Christie town hall: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is headed to Toms River today for a town hall focused on Superstorm Sandy. At a similar meeting two weeks ago, residents were far more concerned with Sandy relief than the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal.

5. Ukraine: Vladmir Putin says he has the right to use force to protect Russians in Ukraine, though he ordered Russian troops involved in military exercises near the Ukrainian border to return to their basis. Meanwhile, the United States is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine and Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Kiev.