The Jersey City Independent "

- Epps’ Pay Continues to Be Among Highest in NJ: The number of public school administrators paid $200,000 or more increased nearly eightfold in the last five years, according to new payroll numbers released by the state Department of Education. The data shows that Jersey City Schools Superintendent Charles Epps is the fourth-highest paid public school employee in the entire state, with a salary of $258,200. The district doesn’t have any other employees above the $200,000 mark, but of the nine employees with salaries of $150,000 or more, all are administrators or supervisors. Also, in the last year, Hudson County handed out the biggest raises to administrators and supervisors even while thinning the ranks. The number of administrators in the county dropped by 16 percent, but the average salary rose 19 percent to $131,000, the highest among New Jersey counties.

- Trying to Save Jobs at Liberty Academy: A Jersey City parent Jessica Hellinger is pushing to save the jobs of nine teachers and two classroom aides at the Liberty Academy Charter School by moving the school’s kindergarten eligibility date.

- Teen Who Was Shot Drowns: Cops say a 17-year-old Jersey City boy who was shot in the stomach along the Jersey City waterfront just after midnight Friday jumped into the Hudson River and then drowned.

- Primary Elections Tomorrow: The Journal takes a quick look at the Hudson County sheriff’s race, in which current sheriff Juan Perez, a former Democrat, is running as a Republican, and facing a challenge from Christian Araujo. Current undersheriff Frank Schillari is running unopposed on the Democratic side. In addition, two of the three members of Congress that represent parts of Jersey City will also face primary challenges; to see who’s running, click here. Meanwhile, 48 percent of adult New Jerseyans don’t even realize there is a primary tomorrow, according to a new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University Public Mind.

- Hudson County & Alleged Terrorist Plan: According to the complaint against Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, 20, of North Bergen, and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, 24, of Elmwood Park — the two suspected terrorists arrested this weekend at JFK International Airport — many of their alleged plans were cultivated in and prepared for in Hudson County.

- Questions About Rothman’s Vote on Fighter Jet Engine: U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman and fellow Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen received nearly $10,000 in contributions from key defense contractors in the days surrounding their votes last week to keep funding a fighter jet engine that the military does not want. Rothman, whose Congressional district includes part of the Heights, as well as parts of Bergen and Passaic Counties, contends the contributions had no effect on his vote.

- Former Municipal Judge Pleads Guilty: Wanda Molina, the former chief judge of the Jersey City Municipal Court, pleaded guilty Friday to criminal charges for fixing parking tickets. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that she receive a sentence of probation conditioned on her serving up to 364 days in the county jail. Molina had resigned from her judgeship in September 2007 in connection with this case; now she will be permanently barred from public employment.

- What’s Next for Steve Lipski? The former Ward C councilman, whose CREATE Charter School will not likely reopen in September, tells the Reporter he may start a new career in real estate or open a restaurant.

- Is Epps Lobbying Against JC’s Newest Charter Apps? That’s what the JC Ed Observer blog is hearing.

In Statewide News:

- Budget Deal Being Worked Out to Avoid State Shutdown: An agreement is reportedly taking shape between Democratic and Republican lawmakers that would make sure the budget is passed by July 1, averting a shutdown of state government. The plan would allegedly leave Gov. Christie’s $29.3 billion budget largely intact, preserving most of the most unpopular cuts, like $820 million in aid to school districts. But several smaller changes will be made, which could include more money for public libraries.

- Medical Marijuana Bill Headed to Court? Legal advocates say they will sue if implementation of New Jersey’s new medical marijuana law is delayed, as Gov. Christie has proposed doing. Meanwhile, the Ledger’s Susan Livio heads out West to learn more about Colorado and New Mexico’s medical marijuana laws. The result is a handful of stories: here, here, here, here and here.

- Wind Power Bill: The state’s efforts to develop offshore wind farms at the Jersey Shore could take a huge step forward this week with the introduction of an eagerly awaited bill to provide a framework for financing the projects. According to NJ Spotlight, the key provision in the bill would set up a process for establishing offshore renewable energy certificates (ORECs), which would be given to owners of the wind farms for each megawatt of electricity the turbines generate. The certificates are similar to solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs), which have helped propel New Jersey’s fast-growing solar sector.

- Using Lawsuit $ to Green Dry Cleaning Equipment: The Department of Environmental Protection has established a $5 million fund for the cleanup of polluting dry-cleaning equipment using money collected from a lawsuit against three coal-fired Midwestern power companies whose plants’ emissions reach New Jersey.

- NJ Firm’s ‘Shrek’ Glasses Recalled: Cadmium has been discovered in the painted design on Shrek-themed drinking glasses being sold nationwide at McDonald’s, forcing the fast food chain to recall 12 million of the collectibles while dramatically expanding contamination concerns about the toxic metal beyond imported children’s jewelry. The glasses were produced by Millville-based ARC International.

- Foreclosures & Faith: Many houses of faith have come on the market in New Jersey alongside a flood of foreclosed residences.

- The Identity of ‘Wally Edge’ is Revealed: The longtime anonymous editor of Politicker is really former Livingston Mayor David Wildstein, the Star-Ledger reports. He’s left the site unofficially to start his new job as director of interstate capital projects at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He will reportedly be replaced at Politicker by former Trenton Times reporter Darryl Isherwood, who will not be anonymous.

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