Christie says Sweeney and Prieto have not shared their gas tax plan with him

MMM file photo

Brian T. Murray, Governor Chris Christie’s spokesman, told MMM in an email that Christie has not seen the Transportation Trust Fund legislation that Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced today.

New Jersey’s infrastructure construction projects have been shut down since July 8 when the TFF was down to a $10 million balance which being held for emergency projects.

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DNA evidence clears Long Branch Man of 1992 rape conviction

Dion Harrell of Long Branch spent four years in prison for a rape he did not commit.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced this afternoon that a recent DNA test proved the Harrell was not the source of the biological evidence found in the 17 year old victim of the 1987 rape.  Gramiccioni sad that Harrell’s conviction will be vacated.

Harrell was convicted on March 26, 1993 and released from prison in 1997.  He turned 50 years old last week and is homeless, according the the New Jersey Sex Offenders Registry.

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Beck Opposes Sweeney/Prieto Gas Tax Plan

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), the leading opponent of a gas tax increase in the legislature, announced her opposition to the compromise legislation out forth by Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.  Beck says the Sweeney/Prieto plan is just as bad for taxpayers as the Senate plan that failed last month.

“The tax plan announced by Democrats today would still raise the gas tax by 23 cents per gallon, just as the last failed plan would have,” said Beck. “The cosmetic changes that the Senate President and Assembly Speaker have agreed to are just window dressing on the core $1.2 billion tax increase on drivers that remains largely unchanged from the previous version of the legislation.”

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FROM THE DESK OF LILLIAN G. BURRY: Fair is fair and the library has an app        

Freeholder Lillian G. Burry

Folks get ready, it’s that time of year again, and the 42^nd Annual Monmouth County Fair is set to get underway. Once again you can enjoy all the wonderful fun activities that have become synonymous with the Monmouth County Fair. Congratulations to the Monmouth County Parks system and the Monmouth County 4-H Association for leaving no stone unturned. This year’s fair will prove to be one that you surely will not want to miss, and it will run from Wednesday to Sunday, July 27 – 31 delivering excitement for the entire family. From the 4-H shows & exhibits, home and garden competitions and horse shows to the games, rides and live entertainment, it is guaranteed to be a great time. Additionally, you can expect to see crafters and commercial vendors. You will have many opportunities to sample some delectable food, as well as have an opportunity to make purchases from the farm stands that will be featuring local produce. There is even a climbing wall! I encourage everyone to come out to the Monmouth County Fair and be prepared to be totally entertained with lots of laughs and good surprises along the way.

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6 N.J., 4 Philly radio stations sold in $240M deal

Six New Jersey radio stations and another four in Philadelphia have been sold as part of a $240 million deal. Naples, Fla.-based Beasley Broadcasting agreed to buy the stations from Greater Media Inc. in a transaction that includes $100 million in cash and about $25 million in Beasley stock, the company announced Wednesday. The New Jersey… Read the rest of this entry »

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Poké Pallone wants to regulate your Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff and Pallone

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr is hard at work for the people of Monmouth and Middlesex counties.

The 28 year incumbent and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee along with two other Democrat members of the committee wrote to the president of Niantic, Inc, the developer of the Pokémon Go app, earlier this week inquiring into what the company is doing to ensure that users of the game do not wander outside their home wireless network and incur unexpected data charges on their cell phone bills.

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Gopal Declares War On Monmouth County Legislators

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal, speaking at his “Chairman’s Ball” fundraiser in Neptune last night, declared that he is targeting every Monmouth County Republican seat in the legislature in the 2017 election, according to a report on PolitickerNJ.

Gopal singled out Senator Joe Kyrillos, Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblymen Declan O’Scanlon and Dave Rible in his remarks.

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Homeland Security awards grants to local Jewish organizations

Ken Philmus, Security Taskforce Chair for the Jewish Federation and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden address security measures with Jewish leaders

The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey announced that 16 Jewish organizations throughout Monmouth and Middlesex counties are among the 58 recipients statewide of nonprofit grants awarded by the Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

The grants are intended for security equipment, such as cameras and surveillance systems, lighting, card access readers, blast film, fencing and bollards (short posts used to protect an area against vehicles).

“In total, New Jersey-based applicants received $4.26 million, more than double than last year,” said Security Taskforce Chair for the Jewish Federation Ken Philmus. “The number of Jewish organizations receiving grants represents a five-fold increase from 2015. It will bring more than a million dollars in security upgrades to the Jewish community.”

The Federation worked closely with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office on the security effort.

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The Arnone Report: Show us the 9-1-1 money!

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Summer is in full swing and the weather is extraordinary! I’ve been all over the place the past few weeks with my fellow Freeholders, visiting towns, festivals and businesses throughout our beautiful Monmouth County, and nothing makes me happier than to see businesses thriving and residents and tourists enjoying all that we have to offer here. Speaking of festivals, many of these summer events would not be possible without the support of our law enforcement officers, first responders and volunteers.  I’d like to take a moment to thank all of our first responders, especially our law enforcement officers during this sad and tragic time in our country. Thank you all for serving and protecting us every day and making our communities a safe place to live. The officers here in Monmouth County are among the best in the country and I pray you stay safe each and every day.

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Christie Selected, Pallone Snubbed by National Bobblehead Hall of Fame

Breaking news out of Cleveland is that Governor Chris Christie has been admitted to the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.  The Hall and Museum are actually in Milwaukee, WI, but their representatives are in Cleveland this week selling their wares to RNC delegates and protesters. Presumably they will be in Philadephia next week for the Democratic Convention.

By glaring omission, New Jersey’s 6th District (Monmouth and Middlesex counties) Congressman Frank Pallone has not yet been admitted to the Bobblehead Hall of Fame.

Clearly, Pallone merits the honor more than any politician, athlete or movie star.

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