Sewage Leak Stopped
The leak that was spilling sewage into waterways near Bader Field in Atlantic City has been stopped, but repair work to the pipe is continuing, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority reported this morning. Water testing and monitoring in the area, as well as the precautionary suspension of shellfish harvesting, also continues. Updates via ACUA here.
Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve via Matt Gerhardt (@mattgern on Instagram)
Taxes & Healthcare
The latest GOP tax plan doesn’t look too friendly to New Jersey residents, since the proposal would eliminate the federal deduction for state and local taxes (read more on that via wires and Burlington County Times). In more not-so-good-news for New Jersey’s collective finances, the Children’s Health Insurance Program is three days away from being eliminated if the U.S. Congress doesn’t take action to renew it. New Jersey might have enough money to pay for its Children’s Health Insurance Program through Spring, NJ Spotlight reports (but a lot of other states would be really screwed).
Rip Currents
2017 has been the deadliest year for rip currents on record, with eight deaths due on New Jersey beaches this year, NJ.com reports. Experts attribute the record to back-to-back storms and the particularly active hurricane season. Separately, a woman and her dog walking along the Atlantic City beach at Vermont Avenue were knocked down by a storm surge and dragged into the water yesterday (AC’s Beach Patrol reported that both were safe though very wet).
In the rest of the day’s news, New Jersey climate experts gathered yesterday to talk about plans for tackling extreme storms and climate change (spoiler alert: there is no plan), the Atlantic Club owners told authorities they will fix the recently-collapsed porte cochere, Ventnor Heights’ Wawa closed and a post about it on Facebook drew 84 tearful emojis, read (and watch) this wide-ranging interview with Rep. Frank LoBiondo by SNJ Today, and the public has some questions about the Atlantic County master plan. All that and more below:
Clergy Masses Against Hate Directed at South Jersey Pastor–Religious leaders and members of the community gathered Wednesday morning to show their support for a South Jersey minister who received online threats after speaking out against hate crimes. When he stood up for a fellow pastor who was comdemning hate speech, Rev Ryan Paetzold of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Audubon said an admitted white supremacist sent threatening messages to him via social media. www.newsworks.org
West Nile Infected Mosquitoes Caught in Cape May Co.–Officials with the Cape May County Department of Mosquito Control have confirmed that West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes have been collected in the area. The mosquitoes that tested positive were isolated in the lower and middle parts of the county. www.snjtoday.com
Atlantic City Dolphins Retire Jersey Of Man Slain Last Year–The Atlantic City Dolphins retired the jersey of slain former player Demond Cottman on Sunday. The 21-year-old new husband and father was fatally shot outside the Hamilton Mall at about 1 am on Black Friday, leaving behind a young widow and a then-7-month-old son. breakingac.com
Absegami Student Arrested For Bringing Imitation Firearm To School–A 16-year-old Absegami High School student was arrested Wednesday morning after he allegedly brandished an imitation firearm at another student. School staff immediately placed the school into “shelter in place,” Chief Donna Higbee said. The surrounding elementary schools were also locked down as a precaution. breakingac.com
Woman Used ‘Missing Granddaughter’ To Aid Shoplifting, EHT Police Say–A Little Egg Harbor Township woman and her adult son were arrested after she allegedly falsely reported her granddaughter missing to distract from a shoplifting. Police were called to the Walmart to investigate a missing 8-year-old girl. breakingac.com
Galloway Man, Teen Arrested With More Than $30,000 In Drugs–A Galloway Township man and a teenager were arrested with more than $30,000 in drugs after a traffic stop Saturday, State Police said. Daniel Williams, 28, was stopped for a traffic violation around milepost .9 heading East on the Atlantic City Expressway. breakingac.com
Outoging ELEC Chair Ron DeFilippis Honored in Atlantic City–On Tuesday, September 26th former ELEC (NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission) Chair Ron DeFilippis received multiple proclamations in recognition of his long time and honorable service as ELEC Chair. Governor Chris Christie states in his proclamation "As the longest serving Chairman in history, you have been a role model for public servants across the State by displaying dignity, integrity and fairness in all aspects of your work, and have set a standard of professionalism that will be difficult to parallel." www.tapinto.net
Cape May County Prosecutor to Resign at End of Week–Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor announced Wednesday he will step down at the end of the week. First Assistant Prosecutor Robert Johnson will be sworn in to take his place on an interim basis during a ceremony on Friday. www.pressofatlanticcity.com