Local News

Avalon has a new police officer in its ranks.  Mayor Marty Pagliughi swore in new officer Lukas Hill during the Borough Council meeting held Wednesday night.  Hill fills a vacancy in the ranks created by a recent retirement.  Hill has a degree in Criminal Justice from West Chester University.

There could be a tax decrease in Sea Isle City in 2019.  Mayor Len Desiderio announced that the municipal tax rate is expected to drop in Sea Isle City by a half cent, and he’s also promising no tax hike in 2020.  Sea Isle City is also making final preparations …

Cape May city officials are expected to discuss the new municipal budget during a meeting Tuesday afternoon.  Following that meeting, Council is expected to consider ordinances that would address historic preservation and the Shade Tree Commission.

North Wildwood will introduce its 2019 municipal budget during its next Council meeting Tuesday morning.  Council is also expected to discuss and adopt the budget for the Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District during the meeting, and may introduce an ordinance to vacate portions of 14th Avenue.

A Family Dollar store is not welcome at the corner of West Chestnut Avenue in Vineland.  The city’s Planning Board voted this week unanimously against the store being located on the site.  Various building requirements would have to be waived in order to get the store built.

A 40 year old Pleasantville man who was wanted in connection with a shooting at the Hard Rock Casino earlier this month has been captured in Georgia.  Authorities say Emory Chapman had a handgun when he was arrested in Georgia.  Chapman is accused of shooting a 25 year old man …

A local diving coach has been charged with using Snapchat to share child abuse images.  29 year old Mark Balesteri Jr. of Egg Harbor Township is accused of various exploitation offenses.  Balesteri has been suspended from the school district pending the outcome of the investigation.

Two California men have been arrested and charged with shipping a large amount of drugs to the East Coast, including Atlantic City.  The two men are from San Jacinto, California and shipped more than 30 pounds of crystal meth to our region.

There were no winners in Wednesday night’s Powerball lottery jackpot drawing.  That means the next drawing to be held on Saturday night will have a top jackpot of $260 million.  There were two $1 million tickets last night, but neither was sold in New Jersey.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker confirmed that a woman will be his running mate if he gets the democratic nomination for President.  Booker announced on a talk show last night that he has selected the gender for his running mate.  Booker trails other democrats badly in early polling.