Taj Sale
There’s a sale at the Taj today (it started at 10 am, but it’s a 60-day liquidation). The new owners are selling everything from the white elephants to the chandeliers and card tables. Read all the details via The Press of Atlantic City.
Microgrids
Remember Energenic, AKA the former Revel casino’s very own energy center? It’s still there in the Inlet and the legal wrangling over its ownership is over, but not a whole lot seems to be happening with it while Revel/Ten’s future is still up in the air. South Jersey Industries is still a small investor. We don’t have any news on it (sorry), but reading this story by NJ Spotlight about a microgrid in Trenton reminded us that Atlantic City is
Batsto at night, via @khustarelli on Instagram
home to a massively under-utilized and nearly-brand-new energy asset. The state’s Board of Public Utilities says it wants towns to study microgrids as a way to increase resiliency. Under the BPU’s program, Trenton got a chunk of change to upgrade its small power center. Atlantic City also got some money – $175,000 – as part of the study. AC will use the money to upgrade its Midtown Thermal Control Center, which powers the hospital, Boardwalk Hall and Caesar’s and Bally’s casinos. Galloway Township also received $175,000 for a feasibility study for a ‘town center’ microgrid that would connect the hospital, Stockton, Galloway’s schools and ShopRite. More details here.
In the rest of the day’s news, of course Christie still used his veto powers in the budget, there were an estimated 100,000 people on Atlantic City’s beaches on Sunday, Atlantic County’s Veterans Museum is now open, lifeguard races start Friday, a former EHT football star is facing life in prison, Brigantine wins best Atlantic County beach for the third year in a row (hmmmm), and have you met Chuck – the unofficial mayor of Ventnor’s Dorset Ave beach? All that and more below:
Stockton and Rowan Approve Tuition Increases–Tuition and fees at both Stockton and Rowan universities will increase by about 2.5 percent for the 2017-18 academic year. Press of Atlantic City
Creato Set to Face Second Trial in Son’s Death–A second trial will be held in September in the case of David “D.J.” Creato Jr., the Haddon Township father charged with killing his 3-year-old son, Brendan, and dumping the boy’s body in woods in 2015. Philly.com
NJ Won’t Share Non-Public Voter Info with Trump Commission–A New Jersey official said Wednesday that the state would not share any information that's not already available to the public. North Jersey
Here’s Why Millions Meant to Clean Up the State Will be Used for Something Else–Christie vetoed language that dedicated half of environmental settlements to "remediation, restoration, and clean up." NJ.com
Trump’s Request For Voter Data Still ‘Under Review’ in NJ–New Jersey is still deciding whether to comply with the Trump administration’s request for voter data as part of the president’s investigation into alleged election fraud. President Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity sent a letter to each state last month requesting “publicly available voter roll data,” such as registrants’ names, addresses, dates of birth, and political party affiliation. Philly.com
Evesham Man Charged With Shooting at Burlco Police–A 54-year-old man has been charged with firing a gun at a Burlington County police officer during a well-being check in May, prosecutors said Wednesday. Jeffrey R. Wass, of the Nieuw Amsterdam Apartments in Evesham Township, was charged with second- and third-degree aggravated assault, causing a risk of widespread injury or damage, and other offenses and was being held in the Burlington County jail. Philly.com
Gov Touts Lottery as Answer to NJ’s Pension Problems, but Critics Deride Plan–After making several partially successful attempts to solve the funding problems plaguing the public-employee pension system, Gov. Chris Christie is giving it one more shot, turning the state Lottery into an asset of the troubled system. Christie insists the move will do the trick, but many state legislators are less enthusiastic, although they acquiesced to his plan. www.njspotlight.com
Budget Debate Delays Potential Out-of-Network Insurance Reform–Once framed as an urgent priority for New Jersey by Gov. Chris Christie and some lawmakers — as well as a broad coalition of patient advocates, labor leaders and business interests — a proposal to reduce out-of-network medical bills failed to make it to the legislative finish line last week. A revised version of the controversial measure to curb so-called surprise health insurance charges, under development for nearly a decade, passed a Senate committee Monday and was amended by the full Assembly Thursday. www.njspotlight.com