The Jersey City Independent "

- O’Donnell Will Replace Chiappone: Bayonne Democrat Jason O’Donnell has been unanimously chosen to replace 31st District Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone by roughly 200 committee members of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. Chiappone resigned earlier this month after pleading guilty to campaign finance fraud charges in June.

- Beldini Asks to Remain Free During Appeal: In an 11th-hour attempt to keep from being locked up, former deputy mayor Leona Beldini and her attorney asked a federal judge yesterday to allow her to remain free on bail pending an appeal of her corruption conviction. If the judge chooses not to intervene, Beldini will report to a prison in Texas Monday. The judge says he will give “serious consideration” to the request, and if he doesn’t decide by Monday he will push back the prison start date.

- Federal Contracts for Ellis Island Work: The National Park Service has awarded more than $29 million in contracts — over $27 million of it to two New Jersey companies — for three projects to improve Ellis Island.

- Fire on Ege Avenue: Dozens of people had to be relocated and three firefighters were injured in a two-alarm fire that caused heavy damage to a four-story building on Ege Avenue early yesterday morning.

- More Publicity for Synergy Sign-Writer: Following up on last week’s buzz about Joe D’Allegro’s Mel Gibson sign at Synergy, bNet’s Jim Edwards says D’Allegro, who also contributes to JCI, is “arguably the best copywriter not working in advertising today.”

Today’s Best Bets:

- Free live music is on tap for 2nd Street tonight. Jess Ray and Campbell the Band perform at Lucky 7′s (9 pm), while the Crosstown Country Allstars are at the Lamp Post (10 pm).

In Statewide News:

- State Supreme Court Won’t Hear Marriage Equality Case: In a split decision, the state Supreme Court has declined to hear a case from six same-sex couples seeking the right to marry, saying the case needs to wind its way through the lower courts first.

- The Federal Climate Bill and NJ: The collapse of efforts to pass climate change legislation in the U.S. Congress left many clean energy advocates disillusioned, but it was doubly disappointing here in New Jersey where residents and businesses already are footing the bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is a fear that other states that are not committed to clean energy and cap-and-trade programs may now be in position to undersell New Jersey on the price of power.

- Teaching Jobs Saved by Federal $, but For How Long? New Jersey’s public schools were able to save or create nearly 16,000 jobs with federal stimulus funds last year, according to new state data. But the gains could be short-lived: The state’s largest teachers union this week estimated as many as 10,000 positions being lost in the coming year due to layoffs and retirements.

- Monmouth is First County to Adopt ‘Complete Streets’ Policy: On July 22nd, Monmouth County became the first county in New Jersey to adopt a Complete Streets policy; just days earlier, Mercer County’s West Windsor Township became the second municipality in the state — after Montclair — to do the same.

- NJ Ranks High in Kids Count Survey: New Jersey is an expensive place to live, but with its competitive public school system and access to health programs for working poor families, it’s also a good place to raise and educate children, according to the latest Kids Count nationwide survey of child health, wealth and well-being.

- Hottest July Ever? With just five days left, this month has the potential to be the hottest July ever in New Jersey — as long as we get another blast of oppressive heat, according to state climatologist David Robinson.

- Privatizing Roadside Assistance: The state is considering replacing its free roadside assistance program with a private company that would charge to change a tire or charge a battery.

- Housing Market Outlook is Shaky: New Jersey’s housing market is headed for a frigid fall and winter, according to Jeffrey Otteau, president of East Brunswick-based Otteau Valuation Group Inc., who said June home sales in New Jersey were down 27 percent, year over year.

- NJ Marine Dies in Afghanistan: A 37-year-old Toms River Marine was killed July 22 while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

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