The Gloucester City Middle School Boys Grade 5/6 Team remained unbeaten when they top Haddon Twp 42-33 on Sunday.
The win for the school was the second this weekend as they beat previously unbeated Barrington.
Photo\’s Courtesy of Bruce Darrow
Pictured Below GHS Middle William Rodgers
Pictured below GHS Middle Guy Lynam
Pictured GHS Middle Keegan Cohan
Pictured below Middle School Vincent Kelly takes a Layup
Pictured below Carmen Palmiero Girls 3/4
Related:
ARTIST Dave Wolfe
Vol. 6 No. 31 (Jan. 26, 2020)
Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. (click image to enlarge)
JudicialWatch.org News
We now have another unnerving story about the border crisis, Iran, and national security. Our
Corruption Chronicles
blog
reports
:
Central American immigrants take part in a caravan heading to the United States on the road linking Ciudad Hidalgo and Tapachula, Mexico, on October 21, 2018. # Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty
As
hundreds join a new U.S.-bound caravan
in Honduras, authorities in the crime-infested Central American nation reveal that four Iranians were recently arrested there. Like thousands of illegal immigrants from around the world, the Iranians entered Honduras illegally and were heading north to the United States, according to a Honduran
newspaper article
that attributes the information to the president, Juan Orlando Hernández. The Iranians were transported to the capital, Tegucigalpa, and officials have launched an investigation.
Earlier this week Judicial Watch
reported
on a U.S. alert warning Mexico of armed Iranians planning to enter the country through the southern border, but it’s not clear if the cases are related and calls to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) went unanswered. The bulletin, issued by the Border Patrol’s regional intelligence operation center in Arizona, said that a Guatemalan national may try to smuggle five Middle Easterners—including a suicide bomber—into the U.S. through Mexico. The smuggler and four other men and a woman transited through Guatemala and Belize before reaching Veracruz, Mexico, according to the bulletin. The Guatemalan, whose name is redacted in the government document, was deported from California a year ago. U.S. authorities received the threat after picking up recordings distributed via social media, according to a Spanish-language
news story
published by a Latin American outlet.
The U.S. alert didn’t faze a busy Mexican border city’s police chief, who confirms the region is full of Middle Easterners, Africans and Asians trekking north. In a Latin American
news report
published shortly after the U.S. issued the bulletin, Mexicali Police Chief María Elena Andrade Ramírez matter-of-factly said the arrival of people from the Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as the rest of the Americas is “normal” in her California border city of about
a million residents
. In a separate article published in a Mexicali paper, authorities downplayed the situation by assuring citizens that the arrival of people from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and the rest of the Americas is “
something normal
.”
They don’t magically land in Mexico. Central America has long been a popular route for illegal immigrants from terrorist nations who want to reach the U.S. There’s no doubt many will infiltrate the new caravan heading to the Mexican border from the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula. President Hernández says some
70,000
immigrants from these countries cross through Honduras annually, even without an organized caravan.
When the first Central American caravan launched from Honduras in the fall of 2018, then Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales confirmed that nearly
100 ISIS terrorists
had been apprehended in Guatemala. Like its Honduran neighbor, Guatemala too is a major smuggling corridor for foreigners from African and Asian countries making their way into the U.S. In 2017, Guatemala’s largest paper, Prensa Libra, published an in-depth
piece
on the inner workings of an international human smuggling network that moves migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh to the U.S.
Over the summer
four ISIS terrorists
planning to enter the U.S. through Mexico were captured by the Nicaraguan military in a remote area where the men entered the country illegally from Costa Rica. Nicaraguan authorities identified the men as two Egyptian nationals—33-year old Mohamed Ibrahim and 26-year-old Mahmoud Samy Eissa—and two Iraqis, 41-year-old Ahmed Ghanim Mohamed Al Jubury and 29-year-old Mustafa Ali Mohamed Yaoob. The men arrived in Panama
on May 12
and in Costa Rica
on June 9
, according to an
article
published in Nicaragua’s largest newspaper.
Put all of this in the context of Democrats braying when President Trump took out Qassem Soleimani, leader of Iran’s elite Quds military force and considered the world’s No. 1 terrorist.
Updated January 24, 2020
Situation Summary
CDC is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. Chinese health officials have reported hundreds of infections with 2019-nCoV in China, including outside of
Hubei Province. Infections with 2019-nCoV also are being reported in a growing number of countries internationally, including the United States, where the
first
and
second
2019-nCoV infections were reported on January 21 and January 24, 2020, respectively, both in travelers returning from Wuhan.
Chinese health authorities were the first to post the full genome of the 2019-nCoV in
GenBank
external icon
, the NIH genetic sequence database, and in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (
GISAID
external icon
) portal, an action which has facilitated detection of this virus. On January 24, 2020, CDC posted in GenBank the full genome of the 2019-nCoV virus detected in the first U.S. patient from Washington state. The virus genetic sequence from the patient in Washington is nearly identical to the sequences posted from China. The available sequences suggest a likely single, recent emergence from a virus related to bat coronaviruses and SARS-CoV. The available sequence information does not provide any information about severity of associated illness or transmissibility of the virus.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with
MERS
and
SARS
.
When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of MERS and SARS between people has generally occurred between close contacts. Past MERS and SARS outbreaks have been complex, requiring comprehensive public health responses.
Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting person-to-person spread is occurring. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people.
Both MERS and SARS have been known to cause severe illness in people. The situation with regard to 2019-nCoV is still unclear. While severe illness, including illness resulting in a number of deaths has been reported in China, other patients have had milder illness and been discharged.
There are ongoing investigations to learn more. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.
On This Page
Situation Summary
Risk Assessment
What to Expect
CDC Response
Other Available Resources
Risk Assessment
Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including whether and how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).
Investigations are ongoing to learn more, but person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person-to-person. It’s important to know this in order to better assess the risk posed by this virus. While CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness precautions.
What to Expect
More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. Given what has occurred previously with MERS and SARS, it’s likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur.
CDC Response
CDC is closely monitoring this situation and is working with WHO.
CDC established a 2019-nCoV Incident Management Structure on January 7, 2020. On January 21, 2020, CDC activated its Emergency Response System to better provide ongoing support to the 2019-nCoV response.
On January 23, 2020, CDC again raised its travel alert for the coronavirus outbreak. The travel notice for Wuhan City was raised from Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions to
Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel
. CDC also issued a
Level 1: Practice Usual Precautions
for the rest of China.
CDC also is conducting entry screening of passengers
on direct and connecting flights from Wuhan, China to five major airports: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles, (LAX) New York city (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO).
CDC issued an
updated interim Health Alert Notice (HAN) Advisory
to inform state and local health departments and health care providers about this outbreak on January 17, 2020.
CDC teams have been deployed to support the ongoing investigation in Washington and Illinois to support the ongoing investigations of the two cases in the United States.
CDC has developed a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose 2019-nCoV in respiratory and serum samples from clinical specimens. On January 24, 2020, CDC
publicly posted the assay protocol
for this test. Currently, testing for this virus must take place at CDC, but in the coming days and weeks, CDC will share these tests with domestic and international partners through the agency’s
International Reagent Resource
external icon
.
CDC uploaded the entire genome of the virus from the first reported case in the United States to GenBank.
CDC also is growing the virus in cell culture, which is necessary for further studies, including for additional genetic characterization.
Other Available Resources
The following resources are available with information on 2019-nCoV
CDC Travelers’ Health: Novel Coronavirus in China
CDC Health Alert Network Advisory Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China
CDC Health Alert Network Advisory information for state and local health departments and health care providers
CDC Information on Coronaviruses
World Health Organization, Coronavirus
external icon
Content source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
,
Division of Viral Diseases
Gloucester Township NJ (January 25, 2020)–As we continue to move into 2020, I am pleased to report that the preliminary data for the crime statistics for 2019 indicate continued good news for the residents of Gloucester Township. Our community policing initiatives and proactive policing philosophy, have resulted in Violent Crime (Robbery, Murder, Forcible Rape, and Aggravated Assault)
dropping by 18%
(77 incidents in 2018 and 63 incidents in 2019). The Non-Violent Crime (Burglary, Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson) also
dropped by 7%
(948 incidents in 2018 and 881 incidents in 2019). The overall Index Crimes Total
decreased by 7.89%
(1026 incidents in 2018 and 945 incidents in 2019).
Chief David Harkin
While we are very pleased with these results, we know that we can even do better. We are regularly analyzing any crime trend and are looking for innovative ways to combat and lower crime in our community. But we need the help of our community members to continue to make Gloucester Township even safer. No one is better at spotting trouble in a neighborhood than the people who live there. If you see something out of place, call us. If you have a surveillance camera system, go to our website at
www.gtpolice.com
and register it with us. Contact our Community Relations Bureau at
communityrelations@gtpolice.com
to find out what you can do to make Gloucester Township a safer community.
Our officers are committed to your safety, and I am proud of their hard work and commitment to serve our community. I am proud to serve with the men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department, and proud to be your Chief of Police.
Address/Location
Gloucester Township Police Department
1261 Chews Landing Rd
Gloucester Township, NJ 08021
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500
Awards more than $2.4 million in grant funding to 481 nonprofits
CAMP HILL, Pa.–(
BUSINESS WIRE
)–The Rite Aid Foundation welcomed 481 nonprofits to its 2020 KidCents class – it’s largest ever – and awarded more than $2.4 million to support the charities that advance the health and wellbeing of children in communities that Rite Aid serves.
The number of KidCents charities has more than doubled since the program’s inception in 2014, when 204 nonprofits comprised the inaugural class. Over seven years, The Rite Aid Foundation has contributed a total of more than $34 million to KidCents charities across the country, thanks to members of Rite Aid’s loyalty program,
wellness+ rewards
, rounding up their in-store or online purchases to donate to KidCents.
“More than 3 million Rite Aid customers actively choose to make meaningful contributions to help children in their communities through KidCents. The program’s growth is a testament to their generosity and commitment to building safer, stronger and more supportive communities for youth across the country,” said Jessica Kazmaier, president of The Rite Aid Foundation and Rite Aid chief human resources officer. “The 2020 KidCents class has the opportunity to prove that change adds up exponentially, and we look forward to helping them achieve their goal of giving kids better lives and brighter futures.”
Each KidCents nonprofit will receive a $5,000 grant to start 2020. The funding will help organizations like The Children’s Developmental Center in Richland, Washington, provide programs – like autism evaluations, occupational therapy and speech language therapy – that help children reach their potential.
“The Children’s Developmental Center has been providing early intervention services to young children with developmental delays and their families since 1977. We support, educate and empower families to assist children in reaching their fullest potential,” said Cathryn Tames, executive director of The Children’s Developmental Center and a past recipient of The Rite Aid Foundation’s KIDCHAMP Award. “The support of The Rite Aid Foundation allows us to do what we do best – make a positive difference in the lives of our communities’ youngest children and their families.”
Examples of longstanding impacted nonprofits include:
Speech and Language Development Center, Buena Park, California:
The nonprofit school and therapy center serves children and young adults with special needs in language learning and/or behavior. More than 200 staff members provide programs and services for about 300 students.
Inspiring Minds, Warren, Ohio:
Founded in 2006, Inspiring Minds focuses on five key areas: education, college and career readiness, exposure to new experiences, health and wellness, and personal development. The nonprofit offers free after-school and summer enrichment programs to under-represented youth.
Mighty Writers, Philadelphia:
Mighty Writers teaches kids to write through four-day-a-week writing academies at six neighborhood locations in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. All programs are free for the children the nonprofit serves.
In addition to having 92 original charities among this year’s ranks, The Rite Aid Foundation also welcomed 69 new KidCents charities to the program in 2020. New participants include:
Girls on the Run, Dayton, Ohio:
A council of Girls on the Run International, Girls on the Run of Dayton inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that integrates running. The organization serves four counties and has inspired more than 5,000 participants over nine years.
ABC House, Albany, Oregon:
Established in 1997, this Child Abuse Intervention Center works with children, youth and families to overcome the crisis of abuse and neglect. Services include: child abuse assessment, treatment, support services, post-trauma counseling, and educational programming.
Fresh Youth Initiatives, New York:
Launched in 1993, Fresh Youth Initiatives (FYI) works with low-income immigrant and first-generation youth, with goals to help children succeed in school, navigate life transitions, pursue college and a career, and give back to their community. Through summer camps, afterschool programs and more, FYI works with 1,500 children and teens.
“Girls on the Run of Dayton is incredibly honored to join The Rite Aid Foundation’s 2020 KidCents charities. This $5,000 grant alone will allow us to offer over 60 additional scholarships this year,” said Kayleigh Clark, executive director of Girls on the Run of Dayton. “As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we remain dedicated to serving every girl across the Miami Valley. We believe every girl is inherently full of power and potential. As a KidCents charity, we look forward to building confidence and inspiration in our community and are grateful to The Rite Aid Foundation for its continued support.”
For a full list of KidCents charities and to learn more about how Rite Aid’s
wellness+ rewards
members can support charities in their own communities, please visit
www.kidcents.com
.
About The Rite Aid Foundation
Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded more than $68 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $92 million for Children\’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994.
About the KidCents Program
Through the KidCents program, which is The Rite Aid Foundation\’s charitable giving program dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children living in the communities Rite Aid services, members of Rite Aid\’s loyalty program,
wellness+ rewards
,
can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and donate their change to KidCents. Members can also choose to direct their change to a specific KidCents charity by visiting
www.kidcents.com
. For more information, visit
www.kidcents.com
.
About Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid Corporation is on the front lines of delivering health care services and retail products to over 1.6 million Americans daily. Our pharmacists are uniquely positioned to engage with customers and improve their health outcomes. We provide an array of whole being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,400 retail pharmacy locations across 18 states. Through EnvisionRxOptions, we also deliver pharmacy benefit management to approximately 1,900 clients and 3.4 million members. For more information, visit
www.riteaid.com
.
CAMDEN CITY, N.J. – A North Carolina man was arrested today on charges that he brought a loaded handgun and machine gun into a federal facility, and illegally transported the machine gun into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Dustin Peters, 25, a former Marine, was arrested in Cape May County, New Jersey, and is charged by complaint with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in a federal facility and one count of unlawful interstate transport of a machine gun. Peters is scheduled to have an initial appearance on Jan. 21, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case:
On Jan. 9, 2020, Peters attempted to enter the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. During a routine security search of his vehicle, Coast Guard personnel recovered a modified, fully automatic AK-47 rifle, a loaded 9mm Century Arms handgun, multiple large capacity magazines, ammunition, a ballistic vest, gas mask and canister, three boxes of ammunition, a nylon chest rig, and other items. Peters told law enforcement agents that he purchased the AK-47 in Virginia, but modified it on his own to become fully automatic.
The counts of possession of a firearm on a federal facility carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The unlawful interstate transport of a machine gun carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Atlantic City Resident Agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; members of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Rodney E. Newcomer; the Cape May Police Department under the direction of Chief Anthony G. Marino Jr.; and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisa Shver of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice\’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department\’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see
http://www.justice.gov/projectguardian
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New York, NY (January 24, 2020)–Mustafa al-Imam, a 47-year-old Libyan national, was sentenced today to 236 months in prison on federal terrorism charges and other offenses stemming from the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission and CIA Annex in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty
died in the attack.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu, Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
“We have not rested in our efforts to bring to justice those involved in the terrorist attacks on our facilities in Benghazi, which led to the death of four courageous Americans – Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Ambassador Christopher Stevens – and we never will,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Those responsible for these crimes must be held accountable. I want to thank the agents, analysts, and prosecutors – and all of their partners in the U.S. government – who are responsible for this important investigation.”
“Today’s sentence demonstrates the United States’ continuing commitment to pursue justice against those who commit terrorist acts against the United States no matter how far we must go or how long it takes. Mustafa al-Imam played an important role in the terrorist attack that destroyed the U.S. Mission and the CIA Annex in Benghazi,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against all those who murdered these four American heroes and who seriously injured our personnel defending these U.S. facilities overseas.”
“The tragic loss of four American lives in the Benghazi attacks will never be forgotten and today’s sentencing of Mustafa al-Imam is an important reminder of that,” said Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The FBI is committed to investigate and bring to justice all individuals involved in acts of terrorism against U.S. facilities or citizens and will use the full range of our resources to pursue such cases.”
“Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives,” said Assistant Director William F. Sweeney, Jr. “While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, today’s sentencing is a reminder that the safety of Americans—whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise—will always be our top priority. If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice.\”
Al-Imam was captured in Libya on Oct. 29, 2017, and brought to the United States to face trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was
found guilty
by a jury on June 13, 2019, following a six-week trial, of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists and one count of maliciously destroying and injuring dwellings and property, and placing lives in jeopardy within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. He was sentenced by the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper.
According to the government’s evidence, on the night of Sept. 11, 2012, a group of extremists, armed with AK-47 rifles, grenades, and other weapons, swept into the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, setting fires and breaking into buildings. During that violence, Ambassador Stevens, Mr. Smith, and Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent Scott Wickland valiantly tried to protect themselves when the attackers stormed into the Ambassador’s residence, sheltering in a secure area. However, when the attackers could not gain entry to the secure area, the attackers set fire to the residence. Ambassador Stevens and Mr. Smith suffocated from the thick, black smoke that enveloped the residence. Special Agent Wickland, who tried to guide them to safety, was injured and repeatedly took small arms fire while trying to rescue Ambassador Stevens and Mr. Smith.
Al-Imam arrived at the Mission shortly after the attack began, accompanying Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the leader of an extremist militia named Ubaydah bin Jarrah and one of the planners of the attack. During the attack on the Mission, al-Imam maintained contact with Khatallah in a series of cellphone calls, including an 18-minute phone call that took place during the height of the attack. Members of Ubaydah bin Jarrah, as well as other extremist groups, were caught on surveillance video attacking the Mission. After the American security personnel withdrew from the Mission, al-Imam, Khatallah, several UBJ members, and other extremists entered the Mission’s office and removed sensitive information, including maps and other documents related to the location of the CIA’s Annex in Benghazi.
Following the attack at the Mission, in the early hours of Sept. 12, 2012, the violence continued at the CIA Annex, first with gunfire and then with a precision mortar attack. While defending the Annex, Mr. Woods, Mr. Doherty, DSS Special Agent David Ubben, and CIA security specialist Mark Tiegen were hit by a precision mortar attack, leading to the deaths of Mr. Woods and Mr. Doherty. Special Agent Ubben and Mr. Tiegen were seriously wounded but survived.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office with substantial assistance from various other government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the two victim agencies, the CIA and the U.S. Department of State\’s Diplomatic Security Service. The National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section provided significant assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Cummings and Karen Seifert of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Coleman and Jolie Zimmerman, Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo, detailed Paralegal Specialist Ashley Davis, Intelligence Research Special Dustin Powell, contract Document Management Analyst Michael Watts, Victim-Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant, Tonya Jones, Laverne Perry and Wanda Queen, and Litigation Technology Chief Leif Hickling. Earlier stages of the prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Opher Shweiki and Julieanne Himelstein.
Finalists To Perform at the Prevention Concert April 3, 2020
MILLBURN — The New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music contest is back for its 16
th
year. The competition, sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), was open to any New Jersey high school individual or group, to create and enter original songs with an anti-drug message. The songs have been submitted and online voting is ongoing now through January 31.
“Each of the contestants are all unique, talented, and winners for just having participated,” states Angelo Valente, PDFNJ’s Executive Director. “It is a really great opportunity for people from all over the country to hear their music and the important anti-drug messages. More than 1 million people have listened to at least one of these students\’ songs over the course of 15 years.
Voting will remain open until April 2 for voters to choose their favorite performers. The online vote tallies will be factored into each final score at the end of the concert.
The finalists will perform in the statewide Prevention Concert, which will be held Friday, April 3, at the Two River Theater in Red Bank. Tickets to the event are free and can be ordered at the website (
www.shoutdowndrugs.com
).
The concert first-place winner will receive a $5,000 music contract, second place will earn a $3,000 contract, and third place will take home a $2,000 contract.
###
Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 180 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.
The following environmental legislation will be up in the state legislature on Monday, January 27, 2020.
Senate Community and Urban Affairs
S253 (Singleton): Requires public water systems to develop lead service line inventories and replace lead service lines.
“This legislation is important because it will help reduce lead levels in New Jersey drinking water. We need to know where the lead lines are, and then we need to replace them as soon as we can. This bill calls for ten years to replace lead service lines. We should really try to make this happen quicker. It is important that this bill specifies that utilities cannot pass on more than 25% of service line replacement costs to their customers. Water companies shouldn’t be profiteering from a problem they allowed to happen. There is a crisis in New Jersey as far as lead in drinking water is concerned. This legislation is a good start, but we need legislation with a shorter time period than ten years. We need to get this done and done now,” said Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
S320 (Rice): Requires contracts for sales of residential property to address lead service lines.
“We support this legislation because we have a serious problem with lead in New Jersey, and we have been dealing with this problem for far too long. Some places in the state are at crisis level, especially in areas that are poorer and urban. It is vital to make sure that water in properties that are for sale is safe enough to drink. Our children are being poisoned by lead in the water. It is important for the public to know what’s happening when it comes to lead in our drinking water systems. We need to protect our most precious resources – our children,” said Jeff Tittel.
S647 (Greenstein): Revises asset management and related reporting requirements in “Water Quality Accountability Act.”
“The bill is important to address the state’s crumbling water infrastructure. This legislation will not only require towns to come up with a mitigation plan to fix their water problems, however it will also require DEP to come up with rules to implement the Water Quality Accountability Act. It is critical for these assessments because it allows us to learn from them, where to fix certain programs, or what new laws or policies need to be implemented,” said Tittel.
Assembly Consumer Affairs
A1459 (Moriarty): Prohibits the sale of certain children\’s products containing lead, mercury, or cadmium.
“This legislation is critical to protect the health of our children. Children are at particular risk because of common development behaviors of biting, chewing or sucking on toys and other products containing metals like cadmium. Young children are at the greatest risk of health problems related to lead exposure, including serious brain and kidney damage,” said Tittel.
Assembly Commerce and Economic Development
A2204 (McKeon): Permits developer to qualify for low-interest loan from NJEDA when building a high performance green building.
“This legislation is important because it will help make green buildings a reality in New Jersey. Allowing green building projects to quality for low-interest loans will help reduce greenhouse gases in the state. This will also help stimulate New Jersey’s economy by creating jobs and promoting new industry. Jobs will be generated to produce the green building products and in construction. Building green infrastructure, including blue and green roofs, will help reduce flooding and mitigate climate impacts,” said Jeff Tittel.
A1653 (Quijano): Encourages development of zero-emission vehicle fueling and charging infrastructure in redevelopment projects.
“This legislation will stand in the way of New Jersey moving forward with electric vehicles. This bill encourages zero-emission vehicles, which are powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The only way to get hydrogen for these fuel cells is from natural gas. Instead of ZEVs, New Jersey needs to focus on increasing our sale and use of electric vehicles. New Jersey is one of the best states to utilize EV technology because most of our energy is already carbon free,” said Tittel.
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens
S695 (Ruiz/Cryan): Requires DEP, DOH, DCA, owners or operators of public water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires\’ disease.
“It is important for the Legislature to make sure our water companies, cities, and state agencies are held accountable when it comes to the water we drink. There are too many problems in New Jersey from one county to the next, whether it is PFOAs, volatile organic chemicals, cyanobacteria, or legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease. For too long, New Jersey has failed to adequately protect its drinking water and is putting the public at risk. This is mainly due to DEP’s failure to enforce the Clean Water Act, “said Jeff Tittel. “We have serious water problems throughout the state when it comes to our drinking water. That is why we need to make sure that different water purveyors take actions to identify their problems and correct them,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
source NJ Sierra Club