Online Gaming Story
The Brigantine local who won the World Series of Poker on Sunday attributed his success to practice on New Jersey’s legal online gaming sites. “Two weeks ago, I was just a New Jersey online grinder and nothing’s really changed,” Scott Blumstein, a 25-year-old with an accounting degree from Philadelphia’s Temple University, told reporters (the Associated Press). Online gaming is still a tiny fraction of total casino revenue in New Jersey, but it is growing rapidly. And since it is taxed at a higher rate than gaming along the Boardwalk or in the Marina District, it has also helped stabilize state tax revenues. Nationally, though, the future of legal online gaming is still in doubt. The Associated Press piece also includes a reminder of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ plans to review the ruling that authorized online gambling.
Weymouth Furnace via @memorieslostintime on Instagram
Jewish Farmers
It feels like there are a lot of cool things happening on South Jersey farmland right now. Kevin Riordan for The Philadelphia Inquirer has a feature out today that spotlights a project to revive farmland in Salem County that was America’s first Jewish agriculture settlement back in the 19th century. The land, first tilled by a colony of Jews who wound up in New Jersey after fleeing persecution in Russia, is now being farmed by a couple with family ties to the area.
In the rest of the day’s news, Mays Landing’s Main Street is closed because of water damage, the Atlantic County prosecutor has released dashcam video from a 2014 fatal police chase and shooting, read the incredible story behind this weekend’s (possibly) largest Mako shark catch in Jersey shore history, environmental groups are ramping up efforts to ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin, two people whose car was hit in the Route 30 crash on Friday had been living in their car and now can’t access their belongings, and the state changed Atlantic City firefighters’ schedules and now is questioning their overtime bill (on the new schedule). All that and more below:
Wharton State Forest Fire Ignited by Lightning–The wildfire that burned 3,500 acres of Wharton State Forest since Thursday began with a lightning strike to several trees, officials said Monday. Press of Atlantic City
One for the Books: $125M Library Bond Issue on November Ballot–New Jersey voters have approved more than $1 billion in new borrowing over the past decade to pay for things like open-space preservation and building upgrades at colleges and universities. This fall, their generosity will be put to the test once again with a ballot question that proposes issuing $125 million in debt to help fund library capital projects throughout the state. www.njspotlight.com
MV Twin Capes ferry To Be Reef Off NJ Coast–A 320-foot-long vessel that used to shuttle passengers between Delaware and New Jersey will be sunk in the ocean to become part of an artificial reef. Press of Atlantic City
NJ Weather: Lower Humidity, Minimal Rain, Cooler Temps for Now–We’ve turned the corner, New Jersey! The horrendous humidity has been once again zapped from our atmosphere, leading to cooler, drier, and much more comfortable conditions. New Jersey 101.5 – Proud to be New Jersey – New Jersey News Radio
Swimming Accident Results in Broken Neck for South Jersey Teen Athlete–Matt Fumo, a 19-year-old who recently graduated high school and was set to play college baseball next year, now faces an arduous recovery after sustaining a broken neck in a swimming mishap last Thursday. New Jersey 101.5 – Proud to be New Jersey – New Jersey News Radio
Atlantic City to Give Away Free Beach Concert Tickets to Residents–Starting Tuesday, living in the city could land you a free ticket to see Ruff Ryders and Friends in concert on the beach. Mayor Don Guardian said Monday the city will give 6,000 tickets to city residents to see the third beach concert of the summer Aug. 3, thanks to a partnership with Live Nation. Press of Atlantic City