A New Jersey Superior Court Judge dismissed the criminal complaint against Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam over a $10,000 campaign donation he allegedly stole from the city Democratic Committee that, allegedly, had just worked to elect him a few months earlier.
The whole thing was kind of weird, if you ask me. But it seems to be over.
The mayor was holding a press conference as we typed.
Elsewhere at the Press of AC, Nicole Leonard takes a dive into the important question of whether New Jersey should adopt an “involuntary-commitment” law that would allow people with an abuse disorder (to opioids mostly) to be sent into treatment against their will. A bill in the state legislature has bi-partisan support.
She interviews a woman, trying to get her homeless son into a program, who got clean herself after going through drug court.
Chris Brown is a sponsor of the bill.
Elsewhere in politics, nobody loves Jeff Van Drew.
Elsewhere in elsewhere in politics, two Ventnor kids have grown up and are doing a podcast together. She’s a professor of women’s studies. He was a Naval specwar officer attached to SEAL Team ONE. Sounds like a hoot!
Lastly, Matt Skoufalos at NJ Pen takes a look at how adults on a gaming app tried to block a 21-year-old from predating a minor from Collingswood. Liam Heim, of Gulfport, Florida, was arrested in Philadelphia on Friday and charged with kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child.
“Even now, the younger ones are trying to defend Liam, saying they’re a Romeo and Juliet.”
For more feats of journalism from across South Jersey, do see below:
Planning Board approves Barbary Coast redevelopment project–MARGATE – The Planning Board March 22 unanimously approved redevelopment of the old Integrity Marine building on Amherst Avenue. It was the second bayfront rebuilding project to be approved in the last two months. downbeachpilot.com
Pleasantville school event recognizes poetry, male teachers–PLEASANTVILLE — Each year, South Main Street Elementary School gathers its students for a special assembly celebrating both poetry and the male members of its teaching staff. www.shorenewstoday.com
Northfield teen’s patch to journey into space aboard SpaceX rocket–HAMILTON TOWNSHIP — On or about June 9, a SpaceX-Falcon9 rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral, and Robert Lind, a freshman student at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology from Northfield, hopes to be there with his family to observe. www.shorenewstoday.com
MCGREEVEY TO FIGHT MURPHY’S ‘CATASTROPHIC’ CUTS TO PRISONER RE-ENTRY PROGRAM–Rich Wilder spent over ten years of his life in and out of prisons in New Jersey. As an addict, Wilder said he’s had to detox in a “rubber room” in Ocean County Jail as his body fought off anywhere from 30 to 50 bags of heroin along with countless Xanax pills and other dangerous drugs. www.njspotlight.com
NEW JERSEY’S MIDTERM CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST ATTRACTS 51 CONTENDERS–Energized by two retirements and the strong feelings within New Jersey about the 2016 presidential election, the largest number of candidates in more than a quarter of a century are seeking their parties’ nominations for the U.S. House of Representatives in the June 5 primary. www.njspotlight.com
Former Revel casino moving toward reopening as Ocean Resort–Atlantic City's former Revel casino is moving toward its reincarnation as the Ocean Resort Casino. www.mcall.com
Amazon is still considering coming to Newark. But would it really help the N.J. economy?–New Jersey's economy is still lagging the nation's, and it can't seem to catch up. www.nj.com