The Jersey City Independent "

- Adult Education Cuts Will Hit Hudson: Hudson County Technical School, which operates the largest adult high school in the state with more than 2,000 students, will have to cut enrollment by up to 75 percent under Gov. Christie’s proposed state budget, which cuts the $10 million line item that provides nearly all of the funding for the 35 adult high schools in New Jersey. Still, Hudson Technical is one of the lucky ones, according to the executive director of New Jersey’s Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, who tells the Ledger that most of the schools will just have to close.

- Sports on the Agenda at Freeholders Meeting: A representative from the Hudson County Schools of Technology is expected to attend today’s Board of Freeholders meeting to discuss the elimination of the district’s sports programs, as two freeholders threaten to hold up the county budget if the issue is not resolved. Meanwhile, in a letter to the Journal, parent Joanne Agresti argues “these cuts have been levied against the county schools in a very unfair and hasty manner.”

- Teens Will Stand Trial as Adults in Beating Death: Four Jersey City teenagers who were juveniles when they allegedly beat a man to death with a brick in February 2009 have been indicted on charges including felony murder; they will be prosecuted as adults

- As Many as 20 Pols Spurned Dwek: Under cross-examination in the corruption trial of former Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt, Solomon Dwek said he attempted to bribe as many as 20 public officials who ultimately did not accept the money he was offering. “I walked away from 15-20 other honest public servants,” he said.

- The Jaw Gets a Promotion: Speaking of Dwek, Thomas R. Calcagni, who prosecuted former deputy mayor Leona Beldini and is better known to JCI readers as “The Jaw,” has been nominated by Gov. Christie to lead the Division of Consumer Affairs.

- Brawl at Lincoln High: Cops say six students were arrested at Lincoln High School after a large fight that included a teacher being struck with a fire extinguisher.

- Truck Crash, Oil Spill: A tractor trailer crashed into five cars parked in the lot of an auction dealer and destroyed a traffic light after jumping a curb at Sip Avenue and Route 1&9 yesterday morning. The collision caused the cars to leak oil, and a private contractor hired by the Department of Environmental Protection later came to clean up the spill.

- New Restaurant at Five Corners: The Taj Mahal Restaurant on Newark Avenue has opened after more than 2 years of construction, according to the Journal Square blog.

- New Work by Nancy Cohen: Left Bank Art Blog’s Charles Kessler stops by the studio of Jersey City artist Nancy Cohen to check out her new sculpture and reliefs. His verdict? “Some of the best work I’ve seen in a while.”

- Elsewhere in HudCo: Voters in Bayonne, Weehawken and Union City re-elected incumbent mayors in municipal elections yesterday.

Today’s Best Bets:

- It’s not the best weather for an outdoor concert, but two excellent bands — Bern & the Brights and Plastiq Passion — are slated to play tonight’s free Groove on Grove show (6 pm). Down the block at Bar Majestic, Bryan Beninghove will play a free show with his Organ Trio (8 pm).

In Statewide News:

- Solar Program Halts Rebates: New Jersey’s rebate program to encourage homeowners to switch to solar power is not taking any more applications until September, because it has run out of money for rebates.

- Court Overturns Libel Ruling: The state Supreme Court has ruled that a newspaper cannot be held liable for accurate reporting of allegations made in a lawsuit before trial, overturning a 2008 appeals court ruling that found The Record libelous for its reporting of a lawsuit.

- Booker Re-elected: Newark Mayor Cory Booker easily won a second term Tuesday night, but with a tighter margin of victory than in 2006, and with only seven of his nine council candidates winning re-election, according to incomplete election results.

- Black Bear Hunt Hearing: Supporters and opponents of what would be the state’s first approved bear hunt in five years weighed in Tuesday on rules that would authorize a fall hunting season.

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