COPS Hiring
A U.S. Department of Justice program that paid for police officers in South Jersey and elsewhere could be cut under a new U.S. House bill, Route Fifty reports. Three new officers in Hamilton Township were hired under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program last year. Other South Jersey police forces including in Asbury Park and Camden would also be affected if the cuts go through. Details on the program via this Department of Justice page.
NJ Welfare
When would you guess benefits last increased under New Jersey’s welfare program? It’s been three decades: The ‘Benefits for Work First New Jersey’ program was last increased in 1987. Advocates, concerned by federal cuts to the social safety net, are pushing Gov. Christie to sign legislation that would boost the benefits. NJSpotlight has the details on the legislation. More than 1,000 families in Atlantic County receive are enrolled in the program and more than 2,000 families are enrolled in Camden County.
Sunrise in Brigantine, captured by Connie Pyatt.
Water
Food & Water Watch yesterday criticized plans for talks on combining the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and the Atlantic City water authority. “This wouldn’t be in the interests of ACUA’s or ACMUA’s ratepayers. ACUA would have to pay a large upfront and/or recurring concession fees to lease the assets and would have to recoup this money by hiking water rates,” wrote regional organizer Lena Smith. Read more here.
In the rest of today’s headlines, Guadagno visited EHT yesterday and touted a property-tax reform plan, here’s a fascinating interactive map looking at the income of hispanic populations in the state (via NJSpotlight), the Inquirer takes a look at what it calls South Jersey’s “retro” swimming lakes, Christie vetoed a bill aimed at blocking Trump’s travel ban, and the Law Journal covers a ruling related to affordable housing decisions made by a judge with ties to developer Jack Morris. All that and more below:
In South Jersey, Cool Spring Delays Tomatoes and Drives Higher Prices–South Jersey’s iconic tomato is having a slow season so far. The crop is late, yield is down, quality is just so-so and prices are up. PhillyVoice
‘CNN Money’ Ranks Cumberland County College Highest in State for Student Success–A report from CNN Money ranks Cumberland County College as having the highest rate of student success in New Jersey. College Measures, a joint venture of the American Institutes of Research and Matrix Knowledge Group, compiled a success rating for each community college in the United States to help students in finding the best options for obtaining a post-secondary education. www.snjtoday.com
Watch Sea Isle City Lifeguards Try to Save an Injured Dolphin–The injured dolphin reached shore at the 45th Street beach Wednesday around 11:20 a.m. and Sea Isle City’s beach patrol immediately went to work, until the Marine Mammal Stranding Center arrived. Philly.com
Judge: Company Not Harming Environment in Gloucester County–A federal judge in New Jersey has ruled against an environmental group and its claim that a soil-recycling company was endangering the environment at three Gloucester County sites, including two parks. U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb wrote in a June 30 opinion that the Delaware Riverkeeper Network had failed to prove its case against Maryland-based Soil Safe Inc., which has provided recycled petroleum-contaminated soil in Logan Township at Gloucester County Park, Logan Equine Park, and a property that is home to the Logan Recycling Center. Philly.com