Big Game Specials Announced for North Beach Atlantic City

Atlantic City, N.J. (January 21, 2020) –

North Beach Atlantic City announced today Big Game specials to be offered amongst the entertainment district of Atlantic City that fans will not want to miss.

It’s that time of year again when two of the best professional football teams go head-to-head to battle it out for ultimate bragging rights on Sunday, February 2, and let’s not forget those jaw-dropping commercials in between. The question is where will you be watching the Big Game?

Four of the North Beach Atlantic City partners are offering up special events, promotions and menus for fans in the region including:

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City:

The Big Game will be shown in three different locations on the property including the Lobby Bar, Hard Rock Cafe Center Bar and the Hard Rock Sportsbook Bar, where $5 domestic draft beers and $8 well drinks will be offered.

Wild Card Reward Members can cash in on the card program by attending a special event set to take place in Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. to watch the Big Game on large screens. Guests will enjoy stadium style food and beverage and get the opportunity to meet NFL Greats like former Philadelphia Eagles tight end

Brent Celek

and linebacker

Seth Joyner

, former Buffalo Bills running back

Thurman Thomas

and former New York Giants wide receiver

Amani Toomer

. Each guest will receive an official game day hat.

Hard Rock Casino Online will be offering Square Pools, the classic sports bar type of contest that should be familiar to players including 10X10 grids of 100 squares to choose from.

All squares will be available on a first come first serve basis.

Once game starts, contests are locked and numbers 0-9 will be randomly generated across each axis’ row/column.

Up to 5 winners based on each team score in the corresponding period (1st quarter, 1st half, 3rd quarter, Final score and Final score in Reverse).

A player may win multiple times based on the numbers they have.

All winners will be identified, and any prizes won will be credited manually.

Players will also be able to pick a square from the kiosk screen at Sportsbook.

Hard Rock Casino Online will also be offering Big Game Bingo, which follows traditional bingo mechanics (mark 5 in a row = BINGO).

Each player will be issued a unique 5X5 sheet with a total of 25 events that can occur during the Superbowl.

As events occur, they are updated in the system so that players can mark their sheets and view a list of events that have already occurred.

Players must “claim” a bingo, they are not automatically notified of a win, therefore they must manually mark their bingo sheets.

Ocean Casino Resort:

Topgolf Swing Suite, dubbed the “new Sunday Funday spot” in Atlantic City, has 22 screens, melt-in-your-mouth food and drink specials, plus virtual games like football, golf, carnival classics, and zombie dodgeball to have fun with the squad come halftime.

Gastropub, Villain + Saint, located in the heart of the casino, will be serving out-of-the box creations including Korean Fried Chicken Wings and a wagyu Chef’s Burger. There is even a chance to win some Big Game giveaway prizes!

William Hill Sportsbook at Ocean has the biggest screens in Atlantic City to watch the biggest game of the season! The Sportsbook features a 7,500-square-foot integrated experience with a center bar to drink and dine. Place your bet any time before the game at William Hill Sportsbook or at the den, which will also be streaming the game live!

For a more intimate setting to take in the Big Game, visit High Water Wine Bar overlooking the William Hill Sportsbook. This tucked away wine bar offers 42 wines by the glass and 8 wines on tap and features a perfect aerial view of the William Hill Sportsbook.

Resorts Casino Hotel

DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts will have $4 Imported and Domestic Beers plus special promotions all day long.

Bar One will have $10 Miller Lite Pitchers and $25 buckets of Coors Light or Miller Lite Bottles.

Gallagher’s Burger Bar will offer $2 Bud Light and Shock Top Drafts, $3 Heineken, Heineken Light and Michelob Ultra Bottles and $4 Everyday IPA Drafts.

Landshark Bar and Grill has $20 Buckets of Miller Lite and Coors Light Bottles.

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

Watch the Big Game on 8 large screen TVs.

Enjoy an award-winning gastropub menu with 40 plus beers on tap.

A free half time buffet will be offered with $3 Miller Lite pints and $8 pitchers.

Miller Lite swag giveaways all night long.

North Beach Atlantic City

With a new energy, brand-new eateries and a beautiful Boardwalk overlooking the pristine Atlantic Ocean, North Beach Atlantic City has developed into the city’s cultural epicenter and entertainment district of Atlantic City. Over the last year, the opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Resort Casino and Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall has pumped new life into this northern section of the Boardwalk, adding to the excitement already established by Resorts Casino & Hotel, Steel Pier and the Absecon Lighthouse. For more information, visit

atlanticcitynorthbeach.com

or follow along on social media through #NorthBeachAC.

Pennsylvania: Suicide Prevention Task Force Calls for Removing Stigma and Barriers to Care

HARRISBURG, PA (January 2020)–Governor Tom Wolf today announced the initial report of Pennsylvania’s

Suicide Prevention Task Force

based on the statewide listening sessions held throughout fall 2019. The work of the Suicide Prevention Task Force is a complement to the goals and strategies surrounding the governor’s Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters initiative

announced

earlier this month and his Executive Order to protect

vulnerable populations

signed last year.

“My administration is committed to developing a comprehensive suicide prevention plan that will save precious lives, support people in crisis, and help loved ones of attempt survivors and those we’ve lost,” Gov. Wolf said. “We’ve taken a giant first step toward that goal by opening this dialogue with Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth, and I want to thank the members of the Suicide Prevention Task Force for their hard work and all who shared their stories, insights, and experiences at a listening session last year.”

Informed by the testimonies and suggestions of people affected by suicide, mental health professionals, and other stakeholders from across the commonwealth, the report will be used to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy of significantly reducing the number of suicides in Pennsylvania.

In August, the task force announced a series of 10 public listening sessions to be hosted throughout Pennsylvania. Over the next several months, Pennsylvanians gathered to talk about how suicide has affected their lives and to help inform the task force’s draft prevention plan and work to reduce stigma around discussing topics such as mental health and suicide. More than 800 people – community members, state and local officials, representatives from county suicide prevention organizations, and stakeholders from other sectors of government – attended the sessions.

As a direct result of these listening sessions, the Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Task Force has identified the following key themes to inform the commonwealth’s four-year suicide prevention strategy:

Stigma associated with mental health, suicide and suicide attempts can affect the likelihood of individuals seeking help or continuing treatment, and how policymakers make decisions that affect mental health systems.

Resources needed to elevate mental health as a public health issue, incentivize the integration of physical and behavioral health, and improve suicide prevention resources at the local level.

Barriers to treatment such as cost and insurance gaps.

Access to more detailed suicide and suicide-attempt data to help policymakers make effective, meaningful decisions.

Issues within the mental-health workforce, such as pay and barriers to entry, to improve quality of care.

With proper resources, Pennsylvania’s schools and educators are uniquely positioned to save lives with suicide prevention strategies and resources.

The Legislature could take direct action to prevent suicides through the passage of a Red Flag law (to provide a means to remove firearms from someone at risk for suicide) or safe storage requirements for firearms.

“On behalf of the entire task force, we are grateful to everyone who took time to share their stories, experiences, recommendations, or even just showed up to listen and learn themselves. The themes and recommendations outlined in this report give us a clear path forward for actionable ways to support and enhance suicide prevention efforts across the commonwealth,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller. “I truly believe elevating this issue and utilizing this meaningful, collective approach to prevention efforts will save lives across Pennsylvania.”

According to a 2018 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2017, more than 47,000 individuals died by suicide nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, 2,023 individuals died by suicide that year.

Gov. Wolf announced the first-of-its-kind statewide task force in

May 2019

with the goal of developing a four-year plan to reduce suicide in Pennsylvania. The Task Force is made up of leadership and staff from multiple state agencies, members of the General Assembly, and Prevent Suicide PA. State agencies include the departments of Human Services (DHS), Health (DOH), Corrections (DOC), Aging (PDA), Education (PDE), Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Transportation (PennDOT), Agriculture (PDA), Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Task Force members brought forth a wide array of knowledge of constituencies they represent or serve professionally, from their own lived experiences as loss survivors or attempt survivors of suicide, or as individuals who experience or support someone facing mental-health challenges.

The task force anticipates releasing a comprehensive four-year statewide suicide prevention plan in the first quarter of 2020 that will be available for a public comment period. Following updates based on public comment, the task force will publish the final 2020-2024 Pennsylvania statewide suicide prevention plan, which will include:

The landscape and gap analysis of detailed suicide statistics nationwide and in Pennsylvania.

Guiding principles for suicide prevention in Pennsylvania.

Goals and objectives to reduce suicide and suicide attempts in Pennsylvania, including reducing stigma associated with suicide, suicide attempts, and mental health challenges.

Recommendations for local and state policymakers, including public and elected officials, as well as cross-sector partners.

A structure for the implementation and evaluation of Pennsylvania’s statewide suicide prevention plan.

The task force is represented on the Governor’s Special Council to Reduce Gun Violence and the Reducing Suicide by Firearm workgroup and will continue to provide input on the recommendations included in the Council’s report.

“This is just the beginning, and we will deliberately continue on this path of reducing stigma around mental-health issues and encouraging Pennsylvanians in crisis to seek help when they need it,” Gov. Wolf said. “Everyone’s life has value, and things can and will get better.”

To read the task force’s initial report,

click here

LEGAL SPORTSBOOKS IN INDIANA TO JOIN NJ

AT THE MOVIES WITH ODDS ON 92ND ACADEMY AWARDS

LAS VEGAS) — Sportsbooks in Indiana have joined New Jersey as the only states offering movie buffs the opportunity to join their favorite actors, actresses, and directors as big winners from the 92nd Academy Awards. A year after New Jersey’s retail and online sportsbooks broke new ground in the United States by offering legal betting on the Academy Awards for the first time, both Indiana and New Jersey will be offering odds on the Oscars, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 9.

To prepare for the movie industry’s star-studded night, PlayUSA has created a complete rundown of the Oscars at

www.playusa.com/sports-betting/oscars

, including odds on every major category, a pick sheet, what sites are accepting bets, and analysis on the races.

“Oscars betting was a hit in its first year in New Jersey, and we suspect that interest will only grow,” said Jessica Welman, betting analyst for

PlayUSA.com

and

PlayIndiana.com

, as well as a movie historian who earned a master’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Indiana University Bloomington and a bachelor’s in Cinema-TV Critical Studies from the University of Southern California. “We saw last year that bettors were less motivated by the favorites and more interested in backing their favorite films and movie stars. This year\’s field of nominees has star power in front of and behind the camera, so that should help drive interest.”

New Jersey sportsbooks accepted an estimated $1 million in bets in the first year that it was offered, according to PlayUSA. Now that the Indiana Gaming Commission has authorized betting on the Oscars at the state’s sportsbooks, which happened on Wednesday, Hoosier State bettors will have the same chance.

The Indiana operations of FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to be the first in Indiana to offer odds in the state, but more will likely follow.

“It is exciting that Indiana has opened the doors to Oscars betting,” Welman said. “The Academy Awards will likely only generate a fraction of the bets of the NFL’s big game, but the interest should still be significant. For Indiana bettors, it will make a fun and new way to enjoy the Oscars.”

DraftKings in New Jersey became the first sportsbook to post the Oscars, followed by FOX Bet, and more are expected soon. DraftKings New Jersey is offering odds on all 24 categories at the Academy Awards. In 2019, most books limited action to the six major Oscars categories, including best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress.

“The top categories will undoubtedly draw the most interest,” Welman said. “This year, in particular, is shaping up to be a controversial one. Again, critics can point to a lack of diversity in nominations and some films, such as Joker, have received polarizing audience reactions. But instead of fighting with friends about a movie\’s merits, New Jersey movie buffs can quietly put their money where their mouth is.”

The four major acting categories all feature prohibitive favorites. Joaquin Phoenix (-1,667), for Joker, and Renee Zellweger (-1,000), for Judy, are the clear frontrunners for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively. Brad Pitt (-1,000), for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Laura Dern (-1,000), for Marriage Story, are the favorites for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Sam Mendes (-134), for 1917, and Bong Joon Hoo (+225), for Parasite, are leading a tight race for Best Director.

The closest major race appears to be for Best Picture, led by Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (+160) and 1917 (+200).

“Best Picture seems like a two-horse race between the two Golden Globe picture winners, 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Welman said. “While no one is arguing that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino\’s best film, the Academy is typically concerned with ensuring deserving nominees get rewarded. This could be the Academy’s last chance to give Tarantino the top prize, and that often carries a lot of weight.”

For more information and analysis on regulated online gaming in Indiana, visit

PlayIndiana.com/news

. For more Oscars information, visit

www.playusa.com/sports-betting/oscars

About the

PlayUSA.com

Network:

The

PlayUSA.com

Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states,

PlayUSA.com

and its state-focused branches (including

PlayNJ.com

and

PlayIndiana.com

) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

Pennsylvania ranks 37th best in new economic outlook analysis

The Center Square

Pennsylvania finished 37th

in a study

by the website Rich States, Poor States that examined the 50 states’ economic outlooks based on 15 weighted policy measures.

The economic outlook ranking for Pennsylvania examined such variables as top marginal personal income tax rate (6.95) and top marginal corporate income tax rate (16.88). Other measures examined include property and sales tax burdens, existence of estate or inheritance taxes, debt service as a percentage of tax revenue, and the number of public employees per 10,000 people.

RichStatesPoorStates.org

also ranked states based on their economic performances from 2007 to 2017. In that assessment, Pennsylvania ranked 33rd.

The state’s cumulative gross domestic product from 2007 to 2017, its overall loss of population to other states between 2008 and 2017, and nonagricultural job growth from 2007 to 2017 determined how it fared in the economic performance ranking.

—

State Rankings on Economic Outlook and Performance

State

2019 Economic Performance Ranking

2019 Economic Outlook Ranking

Top Marginal Personal Income Tax Rate

Top Marginal Corporate Tax Rate

Utah

4.95%

Idaho

6.93%

North Dakota

2.9%

4.31%

Nevada

4.95%

Indiana

5.25%

5.75%

North Carolina

5.25%

2.5%

Tennessee

6.5%

Florida

5.5%

South Dakota

Arizona

4.54%

4.9%

Wyoming

Michigan

6.65%

Oklahoma

Virginia

5.75%

7.62%

Texas

2.62%

New Hampshire

7.7%

Colorado

4.63%

Georgia

5.75%

6.38%

Mississippi

Wisconsin

7.65%

7.9%

Alabama

4.15%

6.03%

Missouri

6.4%

6.59%

Arkansas

6.9%

6.5%

Ohio

7.5%

3.67%

Iowa

5.37%

11.64%

Louisiana

3.78%

6.32%

Kansas

5.7%

Massachusetts

5.05%

South Carolina

New Mexico

4.9%

5.9%

Alaska

9.4%

Kentucky

6.5%

Nebraska

6.84%

7.81%

Maryland

8.95%

8.25%

West Virginia

6.5%

Delaware

7.85%

11.74%

Pennsylvania

6.95%

16.88%

Montana

6.9%

6.75%

Washington

6.75%

Minnesota

9.85%

9.8%

Connecticut

6.99%

7.5%

Rhode Island

5.99%

Maine

7.15%

8.93%

Oregon

10.66%

11.65%

Hawaii

11%

6.4%

New Jersey

11.75%

11.5%

California

13.3%

8.84%

Illinois

4.95%

9.5%

Vermont

8.75%

8.5%

New York

12.7%

17.23%

Source:

RichStatesPoorStates.org

/ American Legislative Exchange Council

published here with permission of The Center Square

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BLOCKED IN NEW JERSEY

source

KE ANDREWS

New Jersey school districts were about to raise funds by raising property taxes, but the governor blocked it. The districts will have to find another way to compensate for the cuts that have taken place to state funding. When vetoing the bill, the governor made a statement that taxes on the wealthy should be raised to pay for schools, instead of asking middle-class taxpayers to pay more. Some districts have lost state aid, due to changes to the formula for school property tax funding.

CNBNEWS GRAPHIC FILES

If the measure would have passed without veto, it would have allowed school districts to exceed the two-percent cap on New Jersey property tax increases that were previously set. But Governor Murphy made it clear that he would not support the development of another way to exceed the cap, especially when it increases the burden of property tax and harms voters. The current school funding formula for the state tells voters how much every district should be spending, how much comes from the state, and how much should be generated from property taxes.

The funding formula has been in overhaul mode for years, and those changes have been controversial. The goal of the changes has been to shift state aid away from overfunded districts and to districts that are not funded as well. But at the same time, hundreds of millions more are being put into schools every year, and every district should get 100 percent of what is owed to them. There are 172 districts that will lose state aid, because they have been getting more than the current formula states that they need.

For the last seven years, there have been other districts that are losing money and not receiving enough funding. Programs reductions, budget cuts, and layoffs are part of the future for those districts, if changes to the distribution of state education funds are not made. By exceeding the two-percent property tax cap, these schools could get more funding and reduce their chances of ongoing financial problems. There would have been 40 districts that qualified for the changes. Still, the governor vetoed the bill and strongly suggested that districts find another way to address the issues. The goal is to avoid increasing how much families pay in property taxes, and it is a decision that should be taken seriously.

The governor continues to propose raising the tax on wealthy people, but defenders of the original bill argue that none of the money from an increase on wealthy people’s taxes would actually go to the districts that need the funding. According to the New Jersey School Board Association, the governor is also mistaking the bill’s actual effects. That Association states that the bill was thought out carefully, and would have helped school districts without causing the significant and unrestricted increases in property taxes the governor implied.

KE Andrews: Property Tax Consultants

Pemberton Man Dies After Being Shot Outside His Home

PEMBERTON, NJ (January 23, 2020)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Pemberton Township Police Chief David H. Jantas announced that a 64-year-old Browns Mills man who was shot Monday outside of his residence has died at a Trenton hospital.

Kenneth J. Ryan, of Apache Trail, was pronounced dead yesterday morning at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that the victim died as the result of being shot in the head.

No arrests have been made. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113, the Pemberton Township Police Department’s tip line at 609-894-3352, or send an email to

tips@co.burlington.nj.us

The case is being investigated by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Pemberton Township Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Brian Miller and Pemberton Township Police Detective Jay Luis.

Pedestrian Killed Walking On Williamstown Road Crossing AC Expressway Bridge

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP NJ (January 23, 2020)–An adult male pedestrian was walking on Williamstown Road crossing the Atlantic City Expressway bridge,

when he was struck by an unknown vehicle.

The vehicle that struck the pedestrian fled the scene towards Monroe Township.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away.

The accident occurred on 01/22/2020 at 10:34 Pm.

If anyone has any information about the accident, please contact Winslow Officer Rich Saunders, 609-567-0700 Ext. 1196 or Camden County Prosecutors Office Detective Rowand 856-225-8514.

The victim\’s name is being withheld until notification to his family.

Demand for Pet Blood

As a result of recent advancements in veterinary medicine and owners increasingly willing to spend more money on care for the family pet, the

demand for pet blood

has increased; however, pet blood supplies around the country continues to fall short. In fact, many veterinarians today rely on out-of-state blood banks that often have an extremely limited supply.

January is

National Blood Donor Month

, which makes it a perfect time to bring awareness to the importance and benefits of pet blood banks.

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital

has

eight pet blood banks

across the country that are helping to treat heart disease, heat stroke, immune system conditions, kidney disease or injury, acute trauma, poisoning and more in pets. BluePearl also works with

Canine Blood Heroes

, a national system of local canine blood donation programs, in Phoenix and Kansas City to provide local pet owners and veterinarians with access to safe canine blood.

\”Dogs and cats require blood transfusions for many of the same reasons humans do: illness, injury, or surgery,” remarked Dee Ann Dugger, Senior Clinician, Head of Emergency Service, Blood Bank Director at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa, Fla. “However, with only a handful of banks nationally, getting safe blood to a pet who is in immediate need is a challenge. Right now, we, as a veterinary community, are not producing enough blood for veterinarians around the country. We simply need more donors.”

Similar to humans, cats and dogs have different blood types; felines have three different feline-specific blood types, and canines have six. While pet donor requirements and screening can vary slightly by state and program, the need for pet blood supplies is constant.

To donate, dogs must be one to seven years old, healthy, up-to-date on vaccines and weigh more than 50 pounds. Canine blood, specifically, is not breed specific, but greyhounds are known for being universal donors. Conversely, cats must weigh more than 10 pounds, live indoors, and be two to seven years old. Cats must also test negative for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, and have not previously bred or received a blood transfusion.

Pet Tips

Pets Are The Best

Incumbent Congressman Jan Van Drew Endorsed by Camden County Republicans

JANUARY 23, 2020)–Camden County Republican Chairman Rich Ambrosino released the following statement announcing the Camden County Republican Committee has officially endorsed Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew for re-election.

“Over the last few days the Waterford Township and Camden County Republican Committees thoroughly screened all of the candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District,” said Ambrosino. “Upon completion of the candidate interviews, it was the unanimous recommendation of our county screening committee to endorse our Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew for re-election. I am honored to affirm their recommendation and award Congressman Van Drew the use of our Camden County Republican line and slogan in June’s Republican Primary. We know he will continue fighting for South Jersey and we look forward to working with him to grow the Republican Party.”

Nutley Man Pleads Guilty To Causing Fatal Crash in Mt. Laurel While Impaired

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 26-year-old Nutley man pled guilty yesterday in Superior Court to being intoxicated when causing the death of another motorist during a 2018 collision on Route 73 in Mount Laurel.

Under an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office, William Dunbar pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter (First Degree) in exchange for a sentence of 10 years in New Jersey state prison. The Hon. Philp E. Haines, J.S.C. scheduled sentencing for May 14.

The investigation revealed that Dunbar was driving northbound at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle traveling in the same direction near Church Road on August 19, 2018.

The driver of the vehicle that was struck, Christopher Pappas, 34, of Howell, New Jersey, was pronounced dead at the scene. The force of the impact caused his car to overturn and strike a utility pole before coming to rest. Neither vehicle had passengers.

Dunbar, who is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Douglas J. Bligh, indicated when entering his plea that he had been drinking alcohol at a concert earlier in the day. Dunbar did not dispute the results of toxicology tests which determined his blood alcohol content was .16 percent shortly after the crash.

The investigation was conducted by the Mount Laurel Police Department, with assistance from the Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey State Police. The lead investigator was Mount Laurel Police Sergeant Nicholas DiGirolamo.