Hi Gang,
Small change to the format today as our goal is to free up resources to do some actual GD reporting.
To wit: That PSE&G subsidy bill no one likes is set to go before the state senate on Monday, the valuable NJ Spotlight reports. It’s in its “sixth iteration.” That’s called #perseverance. Meanwhile a prominent casino analyst has weighed in on Bart Blatstein’s plans for the Showboat (spoiler: It’s like The Shining in there). But story-of-the-day honors go to Amy Rosenberg’s inspiring report on the Egg Harbor Township teenager who called out Jeff Van Drew for doing his job supporting the unsupportable positions that earned him a 100% rating from the NRA, which wants to arm schoolteachers. More teens in politics!
Elsewhere across South Jersey:
What big road projects are moving ahead in all 21 counties (paid by your higher gas tax)–Atlantic County received funding for 20 projects. Four grants were doled out for $392,000. They went to Galloway Township to resurface Wrangleboro Road, Margate to reconstruct Atlantic Avenue, Pleasantville for a beautification project on Ansley Boulevard and Somers Point for the reconstruction of Bethel Road. The smallest grant in the county was $71,940 to build an ADA compliant ramp on West Beach Avenue in Brigantine. www.nj.com
INTERACTIVE MAP: HIGHLIGHTING THE RESULTS OF NEW JERSEY’S AP TESTS–More of New Jersey's high school class of 2017 passed Advanced Placement tests than prior classes, new data from the College Board and the state Department of Education show. www.njspotlight.com
Beach Bar could be part of Hard Rock Atlantic City–A beach bar is expected to be part of the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City when it opens this summer. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
NJPP: $15 minimum wage would benefit 1 million-plus in state–A report released by New Jersey Policy Perspective indicates that raising the mandatory minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2023 would benefit 1.2 million workers throughout New Jersey and boost the state’s economy by $4.5 billion. www.njbiz.com
Bill would ban pension funds from investing in gun manufacturers–State Sen. Vin Gopal, D –11th District, plans to introduce a bill barring New Jersey public employee pension funds or annuities from investing in gun manufacturer companies. www.njbiz.com
New State Office Will Fight Opioid Epidemic–A new state office will be dedicated to fighting the opioid epidemic, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced Thursday. breakingac.com