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- New Ward B Candidate: The Rev. Earlin Thomas says he is running for the Ward B City Council seat in November’s special election against incumbent David Donnelly. Among his main concerns: jobs and crime.

- Brawl Leaves Man on Life Support: A 22-year-old Warren man remains on life support after being brutally beaten outside Downtown bar/restaurant Grand Banks in the early morning hours Saturday during an incident in which two of his friends also were injured.

- Walgreens Rx Mixup Sends Boy to Hospital: A 2-year-old boy was rushed into intensive care in a life-threatening emergency Friday after ingesting a high-powered painkiller that the Kennedy Boulevard Walgreens dispensed along with the boy’s allergy medicine prescription. The 2-year-old appears to be fine now.

- Whose Fault Was the JCIA’s Phone Problem? Verizon says the Jersey City Incinerator Authority’s (JCIA) phones were shut off this week because they failed to pay their bills, but JCIA executive director Oren Dabney says Verizon must have lost the check. Either way, the phones are back on.

- Man Charged with Sex Contact: A 77-year-old Jersey City man was arrested after allegedly dragging a 14-year-old boy into a basement and fondling him while masturbating Tuesday afternoon in the Western Slope area of the Heights.

Today’s Best Bets:

- The closing reception for the Glossolalia exhibition is at 58 Gallery, featuring a live multimedia performance from Sara Wentworth and live music from Trenton’s Honah Lee (7 pm). And The Warehouse hosts a free screening of The Girl in the Cafe (8 pm).

In Statewide News:

- Schundler Lays it All Out: Bret Schundler, the former education commissioner fired last week after a blunder in a federal grant application that may have cost New Jersey $400 million, has released his chronology of events leading up to his termination and a series of emails, saying Christie “defamed” him.

- Education Board Vows to Press On with Reforms: The state Board of Education began its first meeting after the firing of former commissioner Bret Schundler by acknowledging feelings of “uncertainty” in N.J.’s education world after the “eventful” past few days — but vowing to continue moving forward to reform and improve the state’s schools. Also, after finding “disturbing” evidence that some New Jersey teens who didn’t possess simple math skills received passing grades in Algebra II and Calculus courses, education department officials say they plan new steps to make sure that struggling students get more remedial help fast.

- Outgoing Turnpike Authority Director Continues to Be Paid: Even though the executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority said her goodbyes on Tuesday — her last day in the position — she will continue to work as a consultant for the authority for approximately three months to ensure a smooth transition, earning a $3,134 weekly salary.

- New Medical Helicopter Rules: Controversial rules for dispatching medical helicopters to traumatic accidents were modified Wednesday, resolving for now a long-standing dispute between the state service and the private companies trying to compete with it. The new protocols will dispatch whichever helicopter is closest to the patient, regardless of whether it is state or private.

- NJ Transit Looks to Provide Wifi: NJ Transit officials say they’re seeking a provider of wireless broadband service at rail stations and on trains, and they’ve issued a request for proposals from potential firms.