The Jersey City Independent "

- Jury selection in the federal corruption trial of former deputy mayor and Healy campaign treasurer Leona Beldini will begin Monday, after a District Court judge declined to have the case dismissed, as Beldini’s lawyer requested yesterday. Beldini’s trial will be the first of the federal corruption trials, so it should be interesting to see what will come out as evidence. Prosecutors reportedly have tapes of phone calls between Beldini and former political consultant Jack Shaw (his phone was tapped), as well as tapes of Beldini’s conversations with FBI informant Solomon Dwek.

- None of Hudson County’s state senators say they plan to exercise their power of senatorial courtesy to block Gov. Christie’s nomination of former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler as state commissioner of education.

- A 21-year-old Jersey City man, the second wanted in the execution-style murder of a Jersey City man earlier this month, surrendered to a judge yesterday morning.

- Jersey City firefighters are mounting a “boot drive” to collect donations for the Haiti relief effort, and Mayor Healy says he’s looking into other ways the city can help out.

- Gov. Christie says he remains opposed to increasing New Jersey’s gasoline tax — one of the lowest in the nation — but won’t rule out NJ Transit fare hikes or service cuts.

- NFL star and Hudson County native Kenny Britt, who was arrested a week ago, is coming under more scrutiny after posting bail of approximately $165,000 for a friend from Jersey City two days later. The friend, Albert “Albee Al” Robinson, was appearing in front of Hudson County Superior Court Judge Fred Theemling on charges of hindering the prosecution and possession of a firearm in connection with a murder in Jersey City in December. In a statement, Britt says the two “are childhood friends” and that he is not “condoning any of his past actions.”

- Exchange Place restaurant American Masala (which our Michelle Weber gave a very positive review) has reportedly been torpedoed, with the restaurant’s chef gone and the name changed to 95 Greene.

- The HudsonJewish organization is holding lively salons is held the second Wednesday evening of every month at the C.A.S.E. Museum (80 Grand St.).

- Melissa Surach’s latest “Hey! It’s Jersey City.” video takes a look at the Lamp Post.

In statewide news:

- New Jersey’s unemployment rate hit 10.1 percent in December, slightly higher than the national rate of 10 percent, and the highest rate the state has seen in 33 years.

- Gov. Christie got to work yesterday, signing eight executive orders to, among other things, reduce labor unions’ political donations, temporarily freeze some state spending and encourage business growth. He says he and his team are looking at how to close an unexpected $1.2 billion budget gap; he promises not to raise taxes, but says furloughs or layoffs of state workers are possible. A push back against that idea from the unions is beginning to take shape.

- New Jersey’s residential foreclosure fillings jumped 29 percent at the end of 2009 from 2008.

- Gov. Corzine made a bunch of last-minute appointments before he left office, placing dozens of Democratic loyalists on state boards that in some cases will allow them to maintain and boost their public pensions.

- A couple of drug dealers tell the Daily News they are worried that New Jersey’s new medical marijuana law might take a bite out of their profits.

- A new report finds that one in eight New Jersey children lived in poverty during the height of the recession in 2008, creating a surge in demand for government programs that helped people feed their families and pay their utility bills.

- Superior Court Judge Lee Solomon, a former prosecutor, will reportedly be named as the new president of the state Board of Public Utilities today.

Like what you've read here? Please consider making a donation or becoming a sustaining member. As a grassroots news organization, we rely on community support -- as well as paid advertising -- to survive.