Saturday Morning News Roundup
By Shane Smith • Mar 28th, 2009 • Category: Blog- Jersey City will get $2.32 million in federal stimulus funds earmarked for energy efficiency projects.
- GRACO is holding a 3 pm rally at 900 Garfield Ave. today to call for a more comprehensive cleanup of the chromium-contaminated site.
- In an omnibus column, the Insider trots out a legitimate criticism of Mayor Healy’s refusal to appear at the April 1 debate. He also reports that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will host a campaign fundraiser for Healy next month, and that Ward B Councilwoman Mary Spinello’s resignation was a result of her vote on the AMB warehouse project, which he says invoked the ire of her constituents.
- A second arrest was made in the murder of Elisha “Elijah” Benjamin, who was shot and killed in January while working in a Greenville bodega. Cops say they picked up the getaway driver, but are still looking for the shooter.
- The dead woman found Thursday morning in the Skyway Motel has been identified by police.
- Irene Williams, who was pictured on the cover of Friday’s Journal ostensibly reacting to a shooting near her home in Greenville, took exception to the paper’s use of her image. She wishes to make it clear that neither she nor her family was involved in the shooting, a fact she says she was confirming with police when her picture was taken.
- The Times points to construction on 225 Grand and Monaco Towers as some of the “signs of life in the housing market,” before pointing out that “several other high-profile projects planned for Jersey City are proceeding with less alacrity,” namely the second tower at Trump Plaza, the Rem Koolhaus-designed 111 1st St. and Provost Square, the controversial Toll Brothers project in the Powerhouse Arts District.
- The date for the trial of Susan Kolb’s dogs has been set at May 8.
- Rounding out yesterday’s trial news, Dwayne Wilson, who is accused of murdering his sister and two of her children in 2005, was diagnosed with dissociative personality disorder, more commonly known as multiple personalities. Both the prosecution and the defense agreed with the diagnosis; Wilson may be found not guilty by reason of insanity at a later hearing.
- Jersey City’s Naimah Terry has been selected as this year’s Cherry Blossom Princess by the NJ State Society.
- As part of ongoing construction to repair the dilapidated structure, there will be lane closures on the Pulaski Skyway this month.
In statewide news:
- The federal government has awarded New Jersey nearly $207 million to bolster its unemployment insurance fund, making it the first state to receive funds to help the jobless under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- The state’s public advocate says the state’s psychiatric hospitals are in need of more qualified and better trained staff.
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Shane Smith is the managing editor of Jersey City Independent.
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