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- New Council Year Begins Today: Council president Peter Brennan tells the Journal that striking a budget, streamlining services and solving the food truck licensing issue are among his top priorities for the council year that begins today.

- Man Indicted for Paulus Hook Towers Murder: A 41-year-old homeless man has been indicted on charges he stabbed a Jersey City woman to death in December while robbing her Montgomery Street home and tried to kill the woman’s infant son, who was also stabbed multiple times.

- Going Green at LSP: The DEP says a host of long-term, energy saving improvements that were identified in an audit of select high energy use buildings in Liberty State Park and 13 other state parks will be implemented beginning this year, with a potential savings of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars annually, a cut in fuel use and reduction in polluting emissions.

- Jersey City’s Gas Stations Take Advantage of Low Tobacco Prices: Phil Hwang of the Valero gas station near the Holland Tunnel says he expects to see a 20 to 30 percent increase in cigarette sales when New York state adds $1.60 in taxes to each pack in an effort to close its gaping budget deficit. “I’m sure we’re going to sell a lot more cigarettes because we are going to be cheaper,” he tells NPR. “I’m probably gonna have to stock up.” The new tax begins today.

- Pedestrian Struck by SUV: A man in his late 60s or early 70s was left in extremely critical condition after being pinned under an SUV and dragged 100 feet at the intersection of Vroom Street and Bergen Avenue yesterday.

- JC Company Pushes Gas Pipeline in Asbury Park: Excalibur Energy is pushing its Liberty Natural Gas pipeline project, which would travel through densely populated areas of Asbury Park before heading to Linden. But, much like the natural gas pipeline extension being proposed in Jersey City by Spectra Energy, it is facing still opposition from local politicians and residents.

Today’s Best Bets:

- Ed’s Salvage Co. hosts a closing reception for Duda Penteado’s exhibit David and the Bird before Penteado leaves Jersey City for an extended trip to Brazil (6 pm), and a free screening of Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona is at The Warehouse (8 pm).

In Statewide News:

- Special Property Tax Session in Trenton: Lawmakers will convene at the Statehouse today to begin a special session called by Gov. Christie regarding his property tax plan, centered on a 2.5 percent a year limit on property tax increases. But Democratic lawmakers plan to review Christie’s plan over the next few months, blowing past a July 6 deadline the governor has set in his effort to put his Cap 2.5 plan before voters this November.

- Christie Slams Legislator Over Recidivism Bill: Gov. Christie’s office is sharply criticizing veteran Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, accusing her of jeopardizing public safety by reneging on a promise to alter legislation allowing early release of certain inmates.

- Construction Jobs Continue to Dwindle: New Jersey had 126,900 construction jobs in May 2010 — down 15,200 from the year-ago period, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Associated General Contractors of America, based on federal Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers.

- NJ Included in Movie Piracy Crackdown: Federal officials have announced a major crackdown on movie piracy that involved seizing several websites that were offering downloads of pirated movies just hours after they appeared in theaters. Officials also seized assets from 15 bank, investment and advertising accounts, and executed residential search warrants in New Jersey, North Carolina, New York and Washington.

- Rutgers Selling Naming Rights to Stadiums: Rutgers University is looking to sell the naming rights to its football stadium and basketball arena.