Route 40 yesterday wrote about Atlantic County’s spending on drug and alcohol rehab services – half-way houses will get more money next year, but there will be less spent on counseling for outpatients. Read the story here. On a similar topic but over in Cherry Hill, NJPen’s Matt Skoufalos takes at what happened when a private company wanted to build a rehab center in local residents’ backyards. You can read that story here and check out NJPen for the rest of Skoufalos’ reporting on all sides of the Cherry Hill rehab center debate.
The Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg is following the battle over the Margate dunes from a court in Camden, where yesterday a civil engineer testified about the potential unsightly and dangerous side effects that dunes would bring to the beach. The engineer said storm water would accumulate along the stretch of dunes and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes, among other possible problems. The judge didn’t seem swayed, apparently. Read the story here. You can follow Amy Rosenberg on Twitter here.
Debt ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service says Atlantic County is not in such a bad financial condition, after all, since Atlantic City’s share of the county’s tax base has shrunk and the county has been making more money from taxpayers outside of the city (as all of you living offshore know only too well…) It’s a private report, but we have a copy, so you can get in touch with us if you’d like to know more or you could read this very brief review from Reuters.
Meanwhile, Atlantic City’s fortunes have deteriorated sharply in the last few years, to the extent that more than a third in the city now live in poverty, up from 23 percent before the recession. NJ.Com’s Stephen Stirling has the details here.
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The rest of today’s headlines include news on drones in Cape May, the chances of a white Christmas and some holiday-themed crime. See what we’ve been reading here:
Dreaming Of A White Christmas in N.J.? Here Are The Odds–If you live in New Jersey and you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, you may have to keep dreaming. The odds are stacked against you. Snowfall and temperature data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Cornell University Northeast Regional Climate Center show the New Jersey region has a fairly low probability of having 1 inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas Day. (That's how weather experts define a white Christmas.) NJ.com
Upper Deerfield Church Destroyed & Post Office Closed due to MVC – http://newsofsalemcounty.com/–On Sunday Dec. 11th a tractor trailer was reported to have swerved to avoid a car which pulled out into the intersection of Route 77 and Deerfield Pike (Rte. 540) causing him to collide with two other motor vehicles before clipping the USPS Post Office’s building then colliding directly into the church next door. The Well’s of Salvation God the Father Church Inc. building, located immediately next to Upper Deerfield Springfield Street Post Office, was unoccupied and, fortunately, there were no serious injuries suffered from the motor vehicle accident. newsofsalemcounty.com
3 Teens Caught With Car Full Of Stolen Christmas Decorations–Three 17-year-olds have been arrested on charges they stole Christmas decorations, Gloucester Township police said. A resident of the Mayfair Meadows development called police after see suspicious activity Monday night and notified police. NJ.com
NJ Poised To Benefit From Major Federal Funding For Healthcare Innovation–A new federal program pledges to invest more than $6 billion to promote cutting-edge healthcare initiatives, including research on cancer and brain disorders, and improve access to treatments for mental health and substance use disorders. And New Jersey, with its established pharmaceutical industry, is well positioned to benefit from the new law, observers suggested. www.njspotlight.com
How Much Is Jeffrey Chiesa Getting Paid? State Still Won’t Say–It’s been a month since Jeffrey Chiesa, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general, and close ally of Gov. Chris Christie, assumed power over the city. But state officials won’t reveal Chiesa’s compensation, saying only that he’ll be paid hourly. Press of Atlantic City
Pair Charged In Shooting Outside Atlantic City Casino–Two men are charged in a shooting that left a man wounded near an Atlantic City casino's parking lot. Police say they found 25-year-old Xavier Smith of New York shot near valet parking at Tropicana Hotel and Casino early Sunday. Smith is in serious but stable condition. timesleader.com
State Casino Association Opposes Expansion Of Gaming–The Casino Association of New Jersey has come out against a plan to allow online gaming at racetracks around the state, saying it goes against the will of voters. State lawmakers have proposed a bill to let Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport and Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford to partner with existing casino operators to create areas inside the racetracks that offer online gambling. Press of Atlantic City
ACIT Students’ Tidal Turbine Wins First State STEAM Tank Challenge–A turbine that can harness the power of water to generate electricity has won the first New Jersey STEAM Tank challenge award for three students from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Michael Moore, 17, and Tommy Liang, 17, both of Buena Vista Township, and Jacob Weber, 17, of Mays Landing, also known as the Tidal Tyrants, developed Tide Tech One as an alternative to fossil fuels to generate electricity. Press of Atlantic City
Questions Remain After 177th Passed Up For New Fighter Jets–Being passed over for the new F-35 fighter jets was a major setback for the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing, but officials still see a solid future for the base. Local officials, while disappointed with the decision, say recent investments made to the base and its location near three major East Coast cities ensure it will continue to operate well into the future. Press of Atlantic City
Drone Company Opening At Cape May County Airport–A small tech startup plans to open up shop at the Cape May County airport this week, becoming the county’s first drone company. Luftronix Inc. is opening a test and demonstration center Dec. 15 inside Hanger No. 1, which also houses the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. Press of Atlantic City