Barnegat Bay
Gov. Chris Christie yesterday placed parts of Barnegat Bay on a “pollution diet” that will curb runoff flush into the bay. He also announced a $20 million recovery plan to help restore aquatic habitats and upgrade outfalls, among other things. Critics said the plan doesn’t go far enough and noted that Christie conditionally vetoed a similar bill six years ago. Read more via NJSpotlight.
Ballot Tampering
It’s not as sexy as Russian hackers, but a white van shuttling back and forth from Atlantic City to Atlantic County Courthouse has for years been the physical manifestation of a well-oiled ‘Get out the vote’ program for Atlantic City’s Democrats. The Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg takes a look at Democratic operative David Callaway’s tactics as she reports that the state attorney general’s office is investigating a complaint about a pre-filled mail-in ballot for Atlantic City and gubernatorial Democratic candidates.
Oyster Creek, by Chelsea Errichetti (@chelbythesea6 on Instagram)
Fighting Gun Crime in Bridgeton
NewsWorks’ Joe Hernandez reports on rising gun crime in Bridgeton: “Local officials say fighting the problem has been like playing a game of whack-a-mole. They would send police resources to stamp out crime in one “hot spot” just as another would pop up across town. “Bad guys move,” said Mayor Albert Kelly.” Hernandez reports that Bridgeton this week rolled out a box truck that will function as a mobile police substation, giving police access to technology and other tools that they need closer to crime scenes. Read more here.
In the rest of the day’s news, New Jersey’s public employees’ pension fund returned more than 13 percent in the last fiscal year (but it’s still underfunded), an Ocean City sign language teacher is New Jersey’s Educator of the Year, a New York-based investor group is still interested in buying the Revel, Atlantic City’s Flagship features in this first-hand reporting on the timeshare sales process, a Cape May zoo snow leopard cub has died, and remember the Atlantic County freeholder who sent around the meme asking when the Women’s March marchers would be back to make dinner? Freeholder John Carman also wears a patch with the confederate flag on it – though he told the Press he will “probably” take that off. All that and more below:
Feds: South Jersey Real Estate Firm Fired Pregnant Employees–A New Jersey real estate investment firm allegedly fired several employees because of their pregnancies. Further, a supervisor at the company went as far as to tell a pregnant employee that women "get stupid" when they're expecting, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. www.phillyvoice.com
Millville Restaurant, Area Businesses Raise $8k for Mexican Earthquake Relief–After two catastrophic earthquakes rocked parts of Mexico recently, efforts to pick up the pieces continue and a few restaurants in South Jersey are lending a helping hand. On Tuesday, October 3rd, Eric Herrera, owner of the El Guacamole restaurant in Millville, along with his family and local business owners, joined together in Vineland for an earthquake relief dinner to raise money for victims impacted by the natural disaster. www.snjtoday.com
A Guide to New Jersey’s Pinelands – Part 2–Many say that the best way to experience the Pine Barrens is along its winding waters. Their very names enchant: Mullica, Wading, Oswego, Tuckahoe. The waters evoke something eternal, yet are highly changeable. www.nj.com
What’s in the Air? Call for Asbestos Testing Closes New Jersey Schools for 2nd Day–A school district looking to calm fears of hazardous materials in the air due to the removal of asbestos closed a pair of South Jersey schools for a second day Wednesday as crews tested the air. The Pinelands Regional School District posted a message to its website about the closures of Pinelands Regional High School and Junior High School “to assure the safety of staff and students.” Read more: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pinelands-School-Closed-Air-Concerns-449386713.html#ixzz4udeuT2Uk Follow us: @nbcphiladelphia on Twitter | NBCPhiladelphia on Facebook www.nbcphiladelphia.com
Atlantic County Plans For New Aviation School at AC Airport–Atlantic City International Airport will soon be the home of a new aviation maintenance academy. Atlantic County announced Wednesday it will partner with Atlantic Cape Community College to create an aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul training institute at the airport that will train students to fix planes for small and major airlines around the country. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Two Arrested With Drugs And Gun In Atlantic City–An Atlantic City man with a history of drug and gun charges was arrested with both Tuesday, according to new charges. Special Investigation Section Detectives Brian Hambrecht and Ermindo Marsini were patrolling the beach block of Ocean Avenue just before 10 pm, in response to residents’ complaints about drugs there, when they became suspicious of two men as they got out of a vehicle, Sgt Kevin Fair said. breakingac.com
Linwood Teacher To Go To Trial In Chair-Kicking Incident–A Linwood teacher charged after she allegedly injured a student by kicking his chair out from under him will go to trial later this year. Kimberly Peschi, 40, is charged with cruelty and neglect of a child and simple assault in the February 9 incident. breakingac.com
Two Sought In EHT Armed Home Invasion–Egg Harbor Township police are looking for two suspects in an armed home invasion. Two armed men wearing masked approached the victims outside their residence on Princeton Avenue in the township’s Scullville section at night, they told police. breakingac.com
Pascal Sykes Foundation Announces 2017-18 Grant Awardees–As in previous years, grants were again awarded to Strengthening Families Collaborations, Traditional grantees and Transportation Plus grantees. “The Foundation focuses on collaborations offering open, voluntary enrollment that target low-income families with two adults at the head of the household and at least one actual or potential wage earner,” said Sykes. www.snjtoday.com