The Jersey City Independent "

- The Journal kicks off its series of mayoral candidate profiles with a look at Mayor Healy, “a bit of a character.”

- The Insider says incumbent Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano won’t debate any of his challengers. He also sarcastically “thanks” neighborhood groups around the city for not holding any debates this week to clear the schedule for the mayor’s block parties — too bad he’s wrong.

- The Hudson Diversity Action Council, which endorsed Mayor Healy for reelection two weeks back, has now endorsed City Council candidates — all Team Healy, save for Steven Fulop in Ward E.

- Speaking of endorsements, is Sen. Bob Menendez set to endorse Healy and his council team today?

- The one child who survived a brutal 2005 stabbing attack that took the life of his mother, sister and brother tells his story to the Journal. Meanwhile, the suit brought by the child’s father against the city — which alleged the city bungled 911 calls during the incident — has been dismissed.

- A 33-year-old Jersey City man who was reportedly shot on early Sunday morning drove himself to the Jersey City Medical Center with a bullet lodged in his face.

Today’s Best Bets:

- Three jazz ensembles at New Jersey City University will give their annual spring concert tonight, under the direction of Dr. Edward Joffe with guest conductor Maria Schneider. The ensembles will be playing works by everyone from Tito Puente to Leonard Bernstein to Cole Porter. The concert starts at 7:30 in Hepburn Hall’s Margaret Williams Theatre (2039 Kennedy Blvd.); tickets are $15 ($10 for seniors or students). More info here.

- After a rainout in Ward A on Friday, the annual Mayor’s Block Parties will get going today (if the rain holds off) in Ward B’s Lincoln Park. (The Ward A block party has been moved to May 14.)

In statewide news:

- The state might be barred from using some of its higher-education federal stimulus money to expand a financial-aid program as it had planned. This could add another $34 million hole to the beleaguered state budget.

- Federal nuclear regulators did not require the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in South Jersey to inspect all of its buried pipes — two of which recently leaked radioactive tritium — before renewing the facility’s license for 20 years.

- An internal audit obtained by the Star-Ledger shows that UMDNJ, the state’s medical university, spends more than $1 million a year for pagers and cellular phones but can’t account for many of them.

- State election officials say the 2005 law change that allowed voters to request absentee ballots without listing a reason has had the dual effect of making both voting and cheating much easier.

- More people are turning to the state’s Self-Employment Assistance program, which offers monthlong business courses for the unemployed at 10 community colleges around the state.

- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Chris Christie is pledging to create a school voucher program that allows students from failing districts to attend schools in districts that accept them.

- State tourism officials are targeting the approximately 30 million people who live within 300 miles of the Jersey Shore, promoting a wallet-friendly summer vacation.

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