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- No Teacher Contract: The school board failed last night to ratify a teachers union contract that had been negotiated over a 15-month period and agreed to by the administration. Meawhile, the New Jersey School Boards Association is pushing to skip the customary public votes on local school budgets this year, as one way of dealing with sharp cuts in state aid.

- State Aid Figures Released: Jersey City would lose 17.45 percent of state aid under Gov. Christie’s proposed budget, according to figures released yesterday afternoon by the state Department of Community Affairs. The city would still receive $63.8 million in aid. Leaders of towns and cities around the state are predicting layoffs and sharp cuts to public services as a result of the aid cuts.

- Layoffs at Christ Hospital: The Palisade Avenue hospital plans to lay off at least 60 employees starting next week to cover an expected $12-$14 million shortfall. Hospital CEO Peter Kelly says the layoffs would be spread throughout the hospital and that no one department would be harder hit than others; Kelly himself will reportedly take a 10 percent pay cut from his current $585,000 yearly salary.

- Webb-Washington Gets Prison Time: Former Ward F City Council candidate and longtime housing activist La has been sentenced to a year and a day for taking cash bribes from government informant Solomon Dwek.

- Prep Grad Headed Likely Headed Pro: Rashawn Jackson, a former football player at St. Peter’s Prep, is likely to be picked at next month’s NFL draft. He is coming off a full scholarship at the University of Virginia, and is the second-rated fullback in this year’s draft class.

- Man Shot in Front of His Home: A 21-year-old Jersey City man was shot in the chin and arm during a robbery on the front steps of his Greenville home Wednesday night.

- Turnpike Closure: One westbound lane on the New Jersey Turnpike extension will be closed this weekend for priority repairs.

In Statewide News:

- More on the Budget: Gov. Christie’s proposed $29.3 billion 2010-11 state budget has drawn criticism from labor chiefs and environmentalists and praise from business leaders. Christie, acknowledging the public outcry over his cuts, says he doesn’t care about being re-elected.

- Christie Leaves Charter School Budget Untouched: Gov. Christie renewed his allegiance to charter schools yesterday, telling a crowd of educators they can expect to see more charter schools opening next year despite the state’s fiscal woes.

- Bear Hunt is On: Acting Department of Environmental Protection commissioner Bob Martin has approved the Fish and Game Council’s black bear management policy, setting the stage for New Jersey’s first bear hunt since 2005. The move is being criticized by the NJ Sierra Club.

- Unemployment Insurance Reform: The state’s unemployment insurance system is in need of immediate reform, business leaders told state legislators at a hearing yesterday. Employers are looking at a $1 billion tax increase on employers coming down the pike.