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- Funding Cuts Reduce Adult Ed Opportunities: When the adult education program at the Hudson County Schools of Technology reopens in the fall, students will find themselves competing for spots and paying tuition. State funding was cut by more than three-quarters and the program will accept only one-fifth as many students as it has in past years. The district plans to charge $200 per person and create a scholarship fund for those who cannot afford it.

- Surprise Inspections Raise Concerns About Commuter Vans: Of 33 independent commuter vans stopped for surprise inspections last week, 23 were found to be unsafe, according to the county Prosecutor’s Office. Wednesday’s inspection yielded 285 citations for a range of safety infractions including bad brakes, faulty steering components, non-working emergency exits and lights, and bald tires, as well as 37 summonses for drivers without insurance, without licenses and with fraudulent documents.

- Thousands Gather for Red Bull Air Race: This weekend the Red Bull Air Race made a stop in Jersey City, and thousands of spectators were on hand to take in the action. Check in with JCI later today for photos.

- Liberty State Park Bus Service Resumes: A shuttle service that links a NJ Transit Light Rail station to several stops around Liberty State Park resumed Saturday, and will continue to run on weekends through August. NJ Transit cut the shittle in May, citing low ridership and budget constraints.

- Goldman Sachs Walkway Reopens, Crystal Point’s Remains Closed: The stretch of Hudson River Waterfront Walkway around the Goldman Sachs Building in Jersey City will reopen this weekend; it was closed earlier this month for construction to prepare for an upcoming building inspection. But the waterfront walkway at luxury condo tower Crystal Point has been closed while the developer awaited state approval to complete the walkway.

- Student-Made Mosaics Brighten Greenville School: After two years of work, students at Ezra L. Nolan Middle School 40 in Greenville have completed 14 wall-sized mosaics that adorn the lunchroom area of the school.

- Bobek Pleads Guilty: Former United States figure skating champion Nicole Bobek pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine and faces from probation to five years in prison for her role in a major Hudson County drug ring.

- No-Contact Order Issued in Neglect Case: Dashnay Beckwith of Jersey City — who was arrested last week after police and a school official found her three young sons home alone, hungry and poorly clothed — has been ordered by a county judge not to see her children.

In Statewide News:

- Sweeney and Christie Butt Heads Over Tax Cap: Gov. Christie’s proposal for a constitutional amendment to cap property tax increases at 2.5 percent a year was dealt a severe blow Saturday when Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he wants to limit annual increases to 2.9 percent — and do it through law, not a constitutional amendment.

- PSE&G Raises Gas Delivery Fees: After state Board of Public Utilities commissioners approved a 0.9 percent increase in electric rates last week, PSE&G was granted a 0.9 percent increase in its gas delivery charges Friday, finally resolving the utility’s request to raise customer fees.

- DEP Data Favors Offshore Wind: The state Department of Environmental Protection released a draft report Friday on the preliminary findings of a two-year research project examining the potential ecological impact offshore wind energy projects would have in the Garden State. According to the report, wind energy turbines, which could be located three to 20 miles off the New Jersey coast, would have negligible impacts upon bird, fish and marine mammal life.

- A Call for Stricter Court Standards on Eyewitness Testimony: A report expected to be released today, commissioned by the state Supreme Court, will suggest New Jersey adopt the toughest standards in the nation for allowing eyewitness testimony in the courtroom.

- New Law Allows Judges to Forgive State Fees: Until recently, unpaid state-assessed fees associated with convictions could never be forgiven, even if the defendant was indigent or bankrupt. But a new law enacted in January allows municipal judges to reduce or eliminate such financial penalties. Judges also can assign community service or jail time to replace fees.

- Racinos Face Long Odds: Intense out-of-state competition for horse racing action has largely drawn the best horses and jockeys out of New Jersey, but a proposal to build a “racino” at the Meadowlands is meeting with stiff opposition from Atlantic City casino owners. Now a special commission appointed by Gov. Christie on New Jersey’s sports, gaming and entertainment industries could end up deciding the ultimate fate of horse racing and the casinos.