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- Epps Contract: Members of the Board of Education say they plan to move ahead with plans to extend the contract of Superintendent Charles Epps for another two years, despite state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler’s encouragement to engage in a nationwide search first. While allegations of a special meeting between Epps and his supporters before the board meeting were circulating yesterday, the superintendent denies that any such meeting took place.

- Provident Moving Jobs Out: Provident Bank’s headquarters on Bergen Avenue is up for sale and the majority of the bank’s corporate staff will move out early next year. The bank is moving workers from several offices — including 160 from Jersey City — to a new office in Metropark.

- Arrest in Stabbing Death: A 20-year-old Newark man has been charged in the stabbing death of a 19-year-old Jersey City man that occurred earlier this month on Bergen Avenue.

- School Construction: While the Christie administration yesterday continued to roll out construction and repair money following a halt to the program earlier this year, urban districts like Jersey City still face a wait of at least several more months, with an administration spokesman saying it will likely be end of October before a review of district needs is completed.

- ‘SVU’ Leaves Hudson County: Gov. Christie’s decision to eliminate the film and television tax credit this year has dealt a fatal blow to the North Bergen-based production unit for the television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which moved its shooting to NYC earlier this month.

- WomenRising Program Graduates a Dozen: Twelve Hudson County women participated in a graduation ceremony Friday for the Jersey City-based WomenRising’s Strong Foundations program, which teaches job and life skills.

- St. Peter’s to Offer Doctorate Programs: St. Peter’s College says the first two doctorate programs in the college’s 138 year history will begin this fall — a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in educational leadership, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Today’s Best Bets:

- At the Attic Ensemble’s Barrow Mansion space, Sonas will perform live Celtic music (8:30 pm), while Michael Haneke’s Code Unknown will be screened for free at the Warehouse (8 pm).

In Statewide News:

- Family Planning Cuts: New Jersey’s family planning health centers are bracing for reduced hours, layoffs, and even closings after Gov. Christie’s veto of a bill to restore $7.5 million for women’s health services.

- Funding for Schools & Municipalities: After a year of deep budget cuts, the state’s schools and municipalities should plan for the same level of funding in next year’s budget — and no more, the state treasurer says.

- Looking to Reverse Cut to AIDS Program: State Sen. Joseph Vitale is asking Gov. Christie to reverse a budget cut that will remove more than 950 low-income people with AIDS from a program next week that pays for their complex and costly regiment of medications.

- Middling Beach Water Quality: New Jersey ranked 14th in water quality out of 30 states with coastal or Great Lakes beaches for 2009, according to a report released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

- NFL Players Alumni Association: The NFL’s newly reorganized Players Alumni Association officially opened its new headquarters in Newark Wednesday night with a focus on the needs of its retired players and their health.