Healthcare
Colt Shaw of the Press of AC reports on cuts to Atlantic City’s healthcare department that have left the city with a fraction of its previous support for services such as cancer screenings and immunizations. Funnily enough, over the period of time the cuts were being implemented, emergency-room visits in Atlantic City increased, Shaw found.
Back Bay Flooding
New Jersey’s coastal communities could see $1.6 billion a year in damages from back bay flooding if action isn’t taken soon, according to last week’s Army Corps of Engineers report written up here by the Inquirer. The engineers believe flood gates could be possible in some inlets (including Absecon and Great Egg Harbor), Avalon Zoppo reports.
The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on the report (full version here). They are also hosting a webinar on March 14 from 9 am to 10 am (webinar details here).
Taxes
Politico is reporting (paywall) that Gov. Murphy could seek to raise $447 million for the state from higher taxes on wealthy residents. NJ Spotlight has some other highlights expected from the budget address tomorrow.
LWD
We were very sad to read of Eric Ganter’s passing. We will always remember the founder of the Little Water Distillery, who showed us around one wintry day before they were really ready for visitors, and gave us a hint of the magic that LWD would go on to bring to Atlantic City.
For the rest of the day’s news, see below:
Bally’s Atlantic City poker dealer dedicates a closet to his sneaker collection in Brigantine–
Code Blue alert in effect for South Jersey into the week–A Code Blue alert, intended to assist municipalities in protecting vulnerable citizens during cold weather by directing them to shelter, will be in effect for much of the week in all of South Jersey.
Atlantic City man gets 12 years in boyfriend’s 2017 killing–An Atlantic City man who admitted fatally stabbing his longtime boyfriend in 2017, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday. Faheem Harris, 36, must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, or just more than 10 years, under the plea agreement. www.breakingac.com
Ventnor firefighter arrested in prostitution ring involving NFL owner Kraft–A Ventnor firefighter was among two dozen men charged with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft as part of a prostitution sting in Florida. Joseph Daniels, 36, is charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor that can carry as long as a year in jail , a $5,000 civil penalty and 100 hours of community service. www.breakingac.com
Pleasantville car stop leads to EHT drug-production facility–A car stop led to two arrests and an alleged drug-production facility inside an Egg Harbor Township hotel. Pleasantville Police Sgt. Ryan VanSyckle called for an Egg Harbor Township narcotics-sniffing K-9 after stopping a car at the entrance to the Victorian Inn Hotel on the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township at about 12:40 p.m. Thursday. www.breakingac.com
Sheriff’s officers honored for saving man at courthouse–Four Atlantic County sheriff’s officers were honored for saving a man who overdosed at the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse last month. Officers were called after the man was found unresponsive in a restroom at the courthouse in Mays Landing, according to Undersheriff Mike Petuskey. www.breakingac.com
Ocean County man sentenced for planning ISIS bombing–An Ocean County man who admitted to planning a bombing for ISIS was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Gregory Lepsky, now 22, was arrested Feb. 21, 2017, after threatening to kill the family dog. www.breakingac.com