The Jersey City Independent"

- Former At-Large city council candidate Lori Serrano, who was one of the many Jersey City pols swept up in a July federal corruption bust, pleaded not guilty yesterday. The complaint against Serrano accuses her of conspiring with former Housing Authority commissioner Edward Cheatam and consultant Jack Shaw to accept bribes from federal witness Solomon Dwek in exchange for special consideration of a fictitious development project. Cheatam pleaded guilty on September 18, and Shaw was found dead days after his arrest in July.

- The federal National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against Jersey City-based nursing home operator Omni Health Systems. The complaint alleges that the company, which operates three Hudson County nursing homes, has violated several labor laws, including refusing to reinstate 14 striking workers and harassing and intimidating workers for participating in lawful union activities.

- County jail assistant director Tom Fricchione, who served as city councilman for Wards A and B between 1981 and 1989, was found dead in his home yesterday. Fricchione was also the treasurer of disgraced former Ward B councilman Phil Kenny’s 2009 election campaign.

- Former mayor Gerry McCann is mixing it up in a political fight in Rutherford.

- The Philadelphia scrap company Northeast Metal Traders Inc. is suing Jersey City’s Northeast Iron & Metal Inc. for allegedly infringing on its trademark and common law rights by using its name to attract customers. At issue is the Jersey City company’s website, www.northeastmetals.com, which the Philly company alleges violates its trademark.

- Horn Tootin’ Time: Blue Jersey has some nice things to say about us.

- Representatives from local hospitals showed up at yesterday’s Board of Freeholders meeting to question a proposed county contract with the Jersey City Medical Center for ambulance dispatching services.

- The Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) won a court victory on Monday when a judge ruled that their use of the term “coke dealer” to describe a former aide to Union City mayor and then-Assemblyman Brian Stack was not defamation, even though the aide’s drug conviction had been expunged.

- Francine Shelton was sworn in Monday as Hudson County’s first female African-American undersheriff.

- Apna Bazar looks like its moving into the former Tiffin Box space on Kennedy Boulevard near India Square. As Jersey City Construction points out, the store’s sign could use a little proofreading.

In statewide news:

- Bad budget news: Gov. Corzine has detailed $839 million in cuts and savings to help the state close a budget gap of nearly $1 billion. Meanwhile, Gov.-elect Chris Christie is going to try to cut state spending by as much as 25 percent in fiscal year 2010-11.

- Good and bad ‘complete streets’ news: The New Jersey Department of Transportation has adopted a complete streets policy, a concept that requires new or rehabilitated roads to be built for all users, including walkers, cyclist, transit riders, and drivers. But the Tri-State Transportation Campaign says the new policy “contains overly broad exceptions and lacks any public process, both of which could undermine its effectiveness.”

- A report commissioned by Public Advocate Ronald Chen concludes that the state could save up to $27 billion over the long term by taking steps today to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

- President Obama has issued a disaster declaration and ordered federal aid to help repair damage in the shore communities affected by the November nor’easter.

- Gov. Corzine signed an executive order yesterday that created the “Non-Public Education Funding Commission,” a 23-member panel that will consider the challenges and educational needs of New Jersey’s 1,200 non-public school children and recommend how the state can play a role in improving their education.