Prescription Probe
Two pharmaceutical reps from Marlton and Moorestown pled guilty yesterday as part of an ongoing investigation into healthcare fraud in South Jersey, reports Lynda Cohen for BreakingAC. This time the Attorney General’s office did not release the plea agreements, but it did release the ‘informations’ for each plea. The only real takeaway we noticed from the docs here is that the rate of the alleged received kickback in the scheme for each of these two reps was dramatically different. Marlton’s Judd Holt caused the ‘Pharmacy Benefits Administrator’ to pay $769,762.53 for compound creams and Holt personally received $95,574.49 in payments. Meanwhile, Moorestown’s George Gavras caused the ‘Pharmacy Benefits Administrator’ to pay $679,368.53 for compound creams and Gavras personally received $204,002.02. There are still so many questions…
Photo from Newport, Cumberland County via Sue (@suerogo0624 on Instagram.)
Voting Block
For the first time in 12 years, New Jersey is choosing a governor without an incumbent in the race. It’s a critical moment for the future of the state, and it comes at a time when conversations across the political divide are becoming increasingly difficult. Route 40 is writing about the election issues that matter to residents of Atlantic City’s Bungalow Park as part of Voting Block, a New Jersey collaborative reporting effort. The project, produced in collaboration with The Record, NJ Spotlight, WHYY, WNYC, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, the Center for Cooperative Media and New America Media, will explore the gubernatorial election through different neighborhoods around the state. Find more reporting from the series here. Read our first piece from Bungalow Park here.
Dinner Under The Stars
We were blown away by the ‘Night Under the Stars’ event organized by the non-profit 4AC x AC and we’re now looking forward to hearing where their next pop-up dining event will be. Last night’s seven-course dinner was at Atlantic City’s closed surf stadium – read more here.
In the rest of the headlines, prosecutors have opened a new front in the Sen. Bob Menendez trial (involving a port security contract he allegedly helped co-defendant Salamon Melgen with), officials are asking for watercraft activities to be suspended around Atlantic City’s Bader Field after a sewage leak was detected, three drowned and dozens were rescued this weekend as dangerous surf conditions continue along the Jersey shore, read about a new book written with help from the letters of a Vietnam war casualty from Runnemede, and a Monday-night fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association featuring candidate Phil Murphy and South Jersey’s George Norcross was expected to raise at least $450,000. All that and more below:
Ventnor to Clarify City’s Intent With Vehicles on the Beach Ordinance–Ventnor City officials want local fishers who participate in the annual Absecon Island Surf Fishing Derby to know that, as in the past, they will not be charged a second fee to drive their vehicles on the beach during derby season, which ends on Dec. 3. www.shorenewstoday.com
Long-Awaited Update to Atlantic County Master Plan Set For Hearing Wednesday–One good thing did result from Hurricane Sandy: an updated master plan for Atlantic County. The county received funding for the update, the first since 2000, after creating a Strategic Recovery Planning Report with money the state awarded to counties hurt most by the 2012 hurricane. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Fake News a Big Hit For Rural South Jersey ‘Funny Paper’–The pen his pitchfork, his wife the censor, part-time comedian Ken Camp said he’s found the secret to a successful newspaper. “Light comedy in the front, centerfolds and more risque stuff in the middle, and the dirty stuff goes in the back,” Camp, 69, said last week in his tiny office across from a horse farm in Elmer, Salem County. www.philly.com
One Killed, Three Wounded In Hamilton Township Shooting–A Mays Landing man was killed and three others wounded in a shooting Sunday night in Hamilton Township. Police were called to the Brandywood Townhomes at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday for multiple gunshot victims, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said. breakingac.com
Response To Officer’s Shooting Focus Of Atlantic City Police Foundation Hero Luncheon–An Atlantic City officer shot last year and the partner who took out one attacker will be honored at a luncheon next month. The Atlantic City Police Foundation’s second Hero Luncheon will honor Officers Josh Vadell and Thomas McCabe for their actions September 3, 2016. breakingac.com