Polercoaster
The vertical rollercoaster planned for the former Sands casino site in Atlantic City got a grant of $38.4 million from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Press of Atlantic City reports. The developer hopes to open the attraction – which will also feature other draws such as a zip line and ninja course – in time for the 2019 summer season.
Photo of the Atlantic by @jillfermonte on Instagram.
First Responders
NJSpotlight has this piece on a program run by the Jersey City Medical Center that is training volunteer first responders. The program began as a way to help the medical center reduce its response times and (according to the director) it seems to have helped… But the volunteer training program is pretty intense, requiring 60 hours of training and a serious commitment, which seems to have limited the actual number of people who have completed the course.
Seal
A gray seal was hanging out on a Margate beach near Lucy the Elephant yesterday. Bob Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine said the seal was a healthy male pup that had been picked up previously by the center. The Press of Atlantic City has photos here.
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In the rest of the headlines from the last 24 hours, meet the EHT police explorer lieutenant who’s helping officers better understand Islam, lawmakers are (predictably) wrangling over how to spend the Transportation Trust Fund billions, and Local 54 could return to the Taj Mahal casino. All that and more below:
On Free Coffee Day, a Town Mourns its Closing Wawa–Sandra Cox would be called a traitor if she got her coffee from any Wawa other than the small store at the Tilton Times Plaza. Workers there know what she wants, and they’re friendly, she said. Press of Atlantic City
Christie, in new populist mode, lashes out at United–He has challenged top executives at New Jersey’s largest health insurer to “reveal” their salaries. Philly.com
Virtua wins health planning board OK to build a $1 billion medical campus in Westampton–Virtua Health can proceed with its plans to build a $1 billion hospital complex in Westampton, Burlington County, as long as it meets 13 conditions, the New Jersey Health Planning Board decided Thursday after reviewing the proposal. Philly.com
2 Birdsall execs admit roles in $1M pay-to-play scheme–Eight employees in the company have been convicted of crimes for funneling illegal campaign contributions to Jersey politicians. NJ.com
Flounder season uncertain as New Jersey continues to fight cuts–GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — New Jersey’s fight against approved summer flounder measures hangs in the balance, and a meeting next month could prove critical for flounder fishermen. Press of Atlantic City