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- Does Nidia Rivera Lopez, who is set to be sworn in as the Ward C representative on the City Council today, technically reside in Florida? That’s what runner-up Jimmy King claims in a suit filed in Hudson County Superior Court. He hired a private detective to investigate the rumors he’d heard about Lopez. “She deceived all of us,” King tells the Journal. “I feel cheated.” The Lopez camp calls the suit “sour grapes,” but the tax records laid out at Politicker clearly show that Lopez claimed a $25,000 homestead exemption in 2008 for her Orlando home. Florida law requires homeowners who take the exemption to be permanent residents. So even if a court deems Lopez to be a resident of Jersey City, she clearly bent — if she didn’t break outright — tax law, and should make things right.

- As we just mentioned, the mayor and City Council members will be inaugurated this morning. Most of the folks are returning to the council; the only new face of the bunch is Lopez. Meanwhile, it looks pretty clear that Mariano Vega will retain his post as council president, despite At-Large councilman Peter Brennan’s hopes of getting the leadership position.

- As part of the July 4 festivities at Liberty State Park, the historic A.J. Meerwald schooner will be open for free guided tours from 9 am-6 pm.

- In a letter to the Journal, Thomas M. Curtis urges the City Council to give Mayor Healy’s illegal apartment “amnesty program” a chance.

Today’s Best Bets:

- If the storms hold off, Groove on Grove is all set to go around 6 pm with performances by The Touristas and Kilsy.

In statewide news:

- Benefits allowing workers to take up to six weeks of paid time off to care for a sick family member, newborn or newly adopted child take effect today. New Jersey has shown national leadership in this area, becoming the third state in the nation to enact paid family leave legislation.

- Employees in New Jersey’s largest state-worker union, the Communication Workers of America, have ratified a revised contract agreement that defers a raise and trades furloughs this year for future vaction days.

- A $50 million contract has been awarded by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to widen the roadway between exits 6 and 9. That $50 million will pay for one mile of widening.

- Speaking of cars: New Jersey is one of 14 states to receive approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles in line with California’s.

- In the “About Time” department, Gov. Corzine has signed into law a bill that will clear the way to close 25 small school districts that do not operate schools and merge them into larger districts.

- A series of legislative moves are bringing the state closer to making financial literacy and personal finance a part of high school graduation requirements.

- The funeral industry isn’t immune from the sour economy.