The Jersey City Independent "

- Push for More Public Comment on Gas Pipeline: Mayor Healy and NY/NJ Baykeeper are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the public comment period on Spectra Energy’s proposed natural gas line through Jersey City and Bayonne. The company has until August 24 to file an updated pipeline route, but the public comment period ends August 20.

- Beldini Avoids Prison for Now: A federal judge ruled on Friday that former Jersey City deputy mayor and Healy campaign treasurer Leona Beldini can remain free on bail pending her appeal of a federal corruption conviction. She had been set to report to a federal prison in Texas today. In an editorial, the Star-Ledger says it “couldn’t swallow” Beldini’s citing her old age for mercy, adding that “the justice system shouldn’t hand out senior discounts.”

- The Politics of the Epps Contract Fight: The Insider thinks Ward E councilman Steven Fulop is taking a big risk by being the vocal leader of the fight against superintendent Charles Epps, saying he might alienate black voters who Fulop will need in order to win his race for mayor in 2013.

- Recall Effort Narrows: The Jersey City residents who formed a committee this year to try to recall several City Council members say they have decided to focus for now on unseating Mayor Jerramiah Healy, after becoming aware of legal restrictions on how many officeholders they can target. But they say new committees have formed to try to recall several members of the City Council. Meanwhile, as part of the recall petition, Healy gets to state his case with a statement asking residents not to sign the petition — you can read his letter here. Meanwhile, the Journal — noting the recall petition filed last week — once again calls on the mayor to step down from office, saying “residents need someone who is not only capable in office but who cares about all people.”

- Man Dies from Gunshot: A 21-year-old Jersey City man died after being shot on Martin Luther King Drive near Warner Avenue at 1:40 am yesterday. Prosecutors say no motive has been determined, and an autopsy is set to be performed today. The man leaves behind a girlfriend who is four months pregnant.

- Yacht Marina Proposed for Golf Course Site: The developer of the Liberty National Golf Course near Liberty State Park is looking to build a yacht marina as part of the course, but park advocates have expressed concerns about the project.

- Cop Dead in Apparent Suicide: A Jersey City police officer was found dead in her Bayonne home yesterday morning, the result of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

- Problems at Salem Lafayette Apartments: Management at Jersey City’s Salem Lafayette housing complex was fined $500 after pleading guilty Wednesday to having failed to clean up an apartment properly when gallons of raw sewage backed up, as well as other violations there. Meanwhile, the new site manager is promising changes.

- Tech Firm Posts Profit Turnaround: Jersey City telecom technology supplier Bel Fuse Inc. is reporting a second-quarter profit of $4.7 million — a turnaround from the year-ago $1.3 million loss — on a 73 percent increase in net sales that included the first-quarter acquisition of Cinch Connector.

- JC Church’s Plan for Fest in Bayonne Goes Nowhere: The Eastern Christian Free Methodist Church’s plan to hold a festival on 19th Street in Bayonne was quashed when residents complained it would prevent them from parking there.

- Blood Donors Honor Falled JCPD Detective: More than 50 people donated blood Friday in honor of slain JCPD detective Marc DiNardo in the Newport section of the city.

- Scholarship for JC Student: Monica Bridgelall of Jersey City, an incoming student at Rutgers University in Newark, has been awarded a $500 NJAC-PSE&G Green Scholarship.

- Parole Violators Arrested: Prosecutors say eight Hudson County fugitives were busted for parole violations during the past couple of weeks, doubling the number of offenders already locked up in the ongoing roundup by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and other agencies.

In Statewide News:

- Is Public Worker Pay Really the Problem? As the debates rage in Trenton about how to balance the state budget and keep property tax growth at bay, a new Rutgers University study challenges the argument that public worker pay and benefits are the main problem. Factoring in salaries, benefits and hours worked, New Jersey public workers’ compensation is about equal to private sector workers, according to the study.

- Pension Contribution in Jeopardy: Gov. Christie says the state might not be able to make a half-billion-dollar contribution to the public worker pension system next year, as a new law requires.

- Solar Rebates to Return: State regulators are prepared to reinstate rebates for new residential solar power systems as soon as September 1. A round of rebates in May overwhelmed the New Jersey Office of Clean Energy, causing it to temporarily suspend the program.

- No More Vehicle Inspections: Saturday was the last day the state inspected motor vehicles for mechanical problems. New Jersey is now the 30th state that doesn’t look for bald tires, silent horns or nonworking lights and turn signals. Instead, inspection stations will just check emissions on vehicles five years or older.

- School Funding Formula: As directed by the state Supreme Court, the Christie administration is reviewing the formulas used to determine aid for schools. Recommendations are due to the legislature by September 1.

- Assembly Panel to Hear Testimony on Deficit: On Thursday, the Assembly Budget Committee will hear testimony about whether or not the state is really facing a potential budget deficit next year that could rise as high as $10.5 billion.

- Christie Says Rutgers Medical Marijuana Decision ‘Disjointed’: Gov. Christie says he was surprised that Rutgers University turned down an opportunity to be the lone grower of the state’s medical marijuana crop because it was the school’s idea.

- Cell Phones in Prisons: New Jersey Corrections Commissioner Gary Lanigan is touting federal legislation to jam cell phones at correctional facilities as a way to combat the problem of contraband phones in prisons.

- Birding: Shorebirds have already begun the hard work of fall migration, making it a great time to do some birding at the beach and in the mudflats of the Meadowlands, as large groups of shorebirds start to make their annual New Jersey stopover on their trek to South America.

- Business Leaders Want Regulatory Reform: If New Jersey is to catch up to its neighboring states in the current economic recovery, business leaders say, it is essential that the Christie administration deliver on its promise to reform the state’s regulatory structure in order to attract and retain employers.

- Corzine/Katz Emails: The Ledger has obtained more than 100 of the emails between former Gov. Jon Corzine and Carla Katz, his ex-girlfriend and a powerful union leader.

- Senior Freeze Deadline Extended: The state has extended the deadline to apply for the “Senior Freeze” property tax rebate program meant to protect senior citizens and the disabled from rising property taxes, from August 2 to November 1.

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