The Jersey City Independent "

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- When officials charged in the federal corruption probe begin to go to trial, the success or failure of the cases will depend largely on how members of the jury interpret the government’s tapes. Attorneys tell the Associated Press that is dicey proposition for both sides.

- Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson joins Ward D’s Bill Gaughan on the list of those who were approached by Solomon Dwek in the corruption probe. Richardson tells the Reporter that Dwek approached an unnamed “intermediary” before and after this May’s election to set up a meeting with her, although no name was given other than a “rich Jewish developer.”

- Some council members are questioning the amount of money the city continues to spend in the ongoing legal fight with developer Steve Hyman over the 6th Street Embankment. The city has spent more than $300,000 thus far; the battle now heads to U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

- The 49th Annual Puerto Rican Heritage Parade and Festival had a successful three days of celebration this weekend. Ward C councilwoman Nidia Rivera Lopez, who is currently embroiled in a lawsuit seeking to determine her true residency, served as the grand marshal for the parade. A Journal editorial calls the honor “a smug affront to propriety.”

- The Insider reports on “a quiet struggle” between city building inspectors and the Healy administration over temporary structures being built at Liberty National Golf Club in order to accommodate bigwigs right on the fairways during this week’s Barclay’s tournament. Building officials have yet to issue certificates of occupancy for the corporate skyboxes; the administration says they will do so before the tournament starts on Thursday. Speaking of the Barclay’s, the Insider notes that Bruce Alston’s plans to demonstrate outside the tournament seems to have created a rift between him and Dan Levin’s One Jersey City group.

- Two arts groups are hoping to bring more murals to Jersey City.

- Apparently there is a “parking squeeze” at the new County Plaza office complex, as not all of the lots have opened. There will eventually be 600 parking spots there for visitors, clients and 1,100 county workers.

- A thief stole nearly $2,000 worth of goods from a wedding at the Hyatt over the weekend.

- St. Peter’s College is welcoming six new professors to the school this fall.

In statewide news:

- More than 2,000 residents have connected to the state’s Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program since it’s statewide launch in January.

- The New Jersey Turnpike Authority spent $62.6 million last year to police the turnpike and Garden State Parkway — a 37 percent increase over 2004.

- Upon installing its 4,000th solar panel, New Jersey now has more solar photovoltaic installations than Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada combined and is second only to California in total solar capacity.

- A Supreme Court Committee on Women in the Courts report finds that a majority of females and minorities believe lawyers of their own sex or gender had been treated unfairly.

- Tuition at New Jersey’s public colleges and universities will rise by the lowest rate in more than 20 years, thanks to an infusion of federal stimulus money and a cost limit imposed by state lawmakers.