Elections
Atlantic County has some interesting primary elections today and The Press of Atlantic City’s John DeRosier has the rundown on the last few weeks of campaigning in the Democratic primary for mayor of Atlantic City, and the Democratic primary for a spot on the party ticket for New Jersey Assembly (District 2). Then, of course, there’s the race for governor (NJSpotlight has all the details on that race you ever needed to know). We’ll be covering the results as they come in on our homepage and Twitter.
Photo via @mckinnonerario on Instagram
Atlantic Coast Drilling
President Trump yesterday opened the door to possible drilling off the Atlantic Coast, by five permits to allow companies to conduct seismic surveys with air guns, a technology used to explore for oil and gas, NJSpotlight reports. Conservationists have long fought drilling off the Atlantic Coast, which they say would harm marine wildlife.
Club Wa
AKA the Margate Wawa, “Club Wa” will have its own police detail all summer (paid for by Wawa) as part of wider efforts to prevent a repeat of the beach brawl that briefly made Margate famous for more than Lucy the Elephant. Amy Rosenberg has the details for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In the rest of the day’s news, read more about the microbreweries trend in New Jersey, read this NJPen piece on the park that has finally been built on a former prison site along the Camden waterfront, and Dan Skeldon says the weather will be gloomy through Thursday but the weekend will be good. All that and more below:
Shining Light on Hefty Fees to Outside Managers of Public Pension Funds–Last fiscal year, the state paid nearly $620 million in fees to outside managers who handle some of New Jersey's public-employee pension-fund investments. In order to keep close tabs on that expense, lawmakers in a state Assembly committee gave bipartisan support yesterday to a bill that would require the state to disclose online all of the fees that are paid each year to the outside fund managers. www.njspotlight.com
Claims That ICE Arrests of the Undocumented On the Rise at NJ Courthouses–Immigration officials in New Jersey are stepping up courthouse arrests of the undocumented, advocates for immigrants told a legislative committee in Trenton yesterday. Because the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) does not track court arrests, accurate numbers are not available. www.njspotlight.com
Atlantic Cape Community College Students Receive Over $200,000 in Scholarships–Atlantic Cape Community College awarded 221 scholarships totaling $207,903 at its 50th Annual Scholarship Recognition Ceremony May 16. Cape May County Herald
Famous Artworks Popping Up in Haddonfield–The Philadelphia Museum of Art is sharing some of its artwork with the South Jersey community. As part of the museum's “Inside Out” exhibit, one Camden County town was chosen to display replicas of famous paintings for residents and visitors to enjoy. www.snjtoday.com
Man Wounded in Atlantic City Shooting–An Atlantic City man was wounded in a shooting Sunday night. Officers called to the beach block of Ocean Avenue found Alexander Botchway, 26, suffering from a gunshot wound. BreakingAC
Man Arrested in Atlantic City Stabbing–An Atlantic City male was arrested Sunday after stabbing another male. Officers Brian McKinney and James Andros were patrolling Atlantic Avenue when they were stopped just before 1am, by a 48-year-old man who was bleeding. BreakingAC
In South Jersey, Haddon Avenue’s Evolution is Putting Westmont on the Map–The marquee of what used to be the Westmont Theater is all lit up again, and the view of Haddon Avenue from Finizio’s is much improved. “That old theater was such an eyesore, I didn’t look out the window for 20 years,” says owner Matthew Kratchwell, whose restaurant is across from what’s now a 24-hour Planet Fitness gym. Philly.com
Ex-Cumberland County Chief of Detectives Settles Whistle-Blower Suit–Cumberland County has approved a $150,000 payment to its former chief of detectives who filed a whistle-blower suit over what he claimed were "unlawful" practices by the prosecutor's office. The settlement between William T. Johnson and the county was approved recently by the freeholder board. www.snjtoday.com