Trenton, NJ – The Christie administration today announced that six vocational school districts are eligible for nearly $16 million in state funds toward the cost of 25 capital maintenance and construction projects.
“Vocational schools need ample facilities to continue providing innovative and high-quality job training programs,” Governor Chris Christie said. “The state grants we are providing to vocational districts will allow critical projects to move forward and give New Jerseyans the necessary tools to find a quality and meaningful job.”
“The grants will enable the six recipient vocational schools to undergo much-needed repairs and improvements while lessening the weight on county taxpayers,” Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler said.
The 25 eligible projects are estimated to cost approximately $30 million in state and local funds. The state grants represent at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects in the vocational districts. The grants are contingent on approval of the remaining share of costs from district budgets or school bonds sold by county governments.
Facilities grants for vocational school district projects are approved by the Department of Education(DOE) in fixed annual allocations based on a prioritization process that considers critical needs, such as health, safety, handicapped accessibility, renewal of existing buildings and improvements to vocational instructional space to meet industry certification standards. Types of construction include capital maintenance, renovation, expansion and new facilities.
“Suitable facilities are critical to New Jersey's county vocational schools to enable them to provide exceptional education and training to students,” said Schools Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Marc Larkins. “The release of these grants for county vocational schools along with the grants for the regular operating districts continue to show the state's strong commitment to the future of our schoolchildren.”
DOE determines which school projects receive grant funds from the Schools Development Authority. The full list of school districts, eligible projects and available funding can be found on DOE’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/apvoc.pdf
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Christie Administration Approves $270 Million in Facilities Grants For School Districts
More than 175 Regular Operating Districts statewide Eligible for partial state funding of 740 projects
Trenton, NJ – The Christie administration announced today that 177 school districts are eligible for approximately $270 million in state funds toward the cost of 740 capital maintenance and construction projects.
“Efficient, up-to-date school facilities are a priority of this administration and part of ensuring New Jersey children receive a quality education. These grants will fund critical projects across our state, helping to improve the learning environments for our students and providing necessary support to districts by easing their local property-tax burden,” Governor Chris Christie said.
“This funding for school improvements will help school districts keep their facilities properly maintained and ease the burden on local property taxpayers of doing so,” added Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler.
Including state and local contributions, the 740 eligible projects are estimated to cost approximately $697 million and would generate as many as 6,000 jobs over the duration of construction. The state-funded grants represent at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects in the Regular Operating Districts (RODs). These grants are contingent on voter or budget approval of the remaining cost to local school districts.
Grants are approved by the Department of Education (DOE) in fixed annual allocations based on a prioritization process that considers critical needs, such as health, safety, special education, renewal of existing buildings and overcrowding. Types of construction include capital maintenance, renovation, expansion and new facilities.
“The Schools Development Authority is proud to support Governor Christie and his administration’s continued commitment to the future of New Jersey’s schoolchildren,” said School Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Marc Larkins. “By providing hundreds of millions of dollars in additional state aid, this administration is further infusing the state’s economy with much-needed job support, and we are pleased to serve as a catalyst toward economic recovery.”
A report on the allocations – including districts, approved projects and available funds – can be found on the DOE Web site at www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/aprod.pdf.
DOE determines which school projects receive grant funds from the SDA. The authority currently has a portfolio of 1,126 ongoing grant projects in the RODs.
Trenton, NJ – The Christie administration announced today that 177 school districts are eligible for approximately $270 million in state funds toward the cost of 740 capital maintenance and construction projects.
“Efficient, up-to-date school facilities are a priority of this administration and part of ensuring New Jersey children receive a quality education. These grants will fund critical projects across our state, helping to improve the learning environments for our students and providing necessary support to districts by easing their local property-tax burden,” Governor Chris Christie said.
“This funding for school improvements will help school districts keep their facilities properly maintained and ease the burden on local property taxpayers of doing so,” added Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler.
Including state and local contributions, the 740 eligible projects are estimated to cost approximately $697 million and would generate as many as 6,000 jobs over the duration of construction. The state-funded grants represent at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects in the Regular Operating Districts (RODs). These grants are contingent on voter or budget approval of the remaining cost to local school districts.
Grants are approved by the Department of Education (DOE) in fixed annual allocations based on a prioritization process that considers critical needs, such as health, safety, special education, renewal of existing buildings and overcrowding. Types of construction include capital maintenance, renovation, expansion and new facilities.
“The Schools Development Authority is proud to support Governor Christie and his administration’s continued commitment to the future of New Jersey’s schoolchildren,” said School Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Marc Larkins. “By providing hundreds of millions of dollars in additional state aid, this administration is further infusing the state’s economy with much-needed job support, and we are pleased to serve as a catalyst toward economic recovery.”
A report on the allocations – including districts, approved projects and available funds – can be found on the DOE Web site at www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/aprod.pdf.
DOE determines which school projects receive grant funds from the SDA. The authority currently has a portfolio of 1,126 ongoing grant projects in the RODs.
$8.7 Billion More Disappears in Iraq
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| U.S. Army / Spc. Christopher Wellner |
An Army private provides security at the construction site of a new prison in Basra, Iraq.
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The
special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction says the Pentagon
cannot account for $8.7 billion of Iraq’s money. The Department of
Defense was supposed to spend the funds, which came from the sale of
oil and other assets, on reconstruction, and it may have—it just
doesn’t know for sure.
BBC:The money was in a special fund administered by the US Department of Defense, the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI), and was earmarked for reconstruction projects.But the report says that a lack of proper accounting and poor oversight makes it impossible to say exactly what happened to most of it.According to the report, the Pentagon is unable to fully account for $8.7bn of funds it withdrew between 2004 and 2007, and of that amount it “could not provide documentation to substantiate how it spent $2.6bn”.
Edi Gathegi Playing Darwin in X-Men: First Class
Posted by Allan Ford
Edi Gathegi, who played the vampire Laurent in Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, will play a biracial mutant named Darwin in X-Men: First Class, reports Deadline.
Darwin has the power of “reactive evolution,” which allows him to adapt to any situation or environment.
Deadline also reports that Aaron Johnson is still rumored to play the role of Cyclops although EW says Johnson’s he’s not playing Cyclops or any other role in the movie. EW also said that Fox is releasing the names of characters who aren’t in the film so that it will be a surprise for fans when it’s announced which roles the actors are really playing.
X-Men: First Class, following the classicMarvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. BeforeCharles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X andMagneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the firsttime. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends,working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stopthe greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a riftbetween them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
Gathegi joins a cast that also includes Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Alice Eve, Nicholas Hoult, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till, and Kevin Bacon.
Matthew Vaughn is directing the film, which is being written Jane Goldman.
X-Men: First Class is set to open on June 3, 2011.
Edi Gathegi, who played the vampire Laurent in Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, will play a biracial mutant named Darwin in X-Men: First Class, reports Deadline.
Deadline also reports that Aaron Johnson is still rumored to play the role of Cyclops although EW says Johnson’s he’s not playing Cyclops or any other role in the movie. EW also said that Fox is releasing the names of characters who aren’t in the film so that it will be a surprise for fans when it’s announced which roles the actors are really playing.
X-Men: First Class, following the classicMarvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. BeforeCharles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X andMagneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the firsttime. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends,working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stopthe greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a riftbetween them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
Gathegi joins a cast that also includes Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Alice Eve, Nicholas Hoult, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till, and Kevin Bacon.
Matthew Vaughn is directing the film, which is being written Jane Goldman.
X-Men: First Class is set to open on June 3, 2011.
Harry Galbreath And Single Game Tickets
The Miami Dolphins are a short four days away from kicking off their
2010 season but the organization is morning the death of former
offensive guard Harry Galbreath.
Galbreath was working in Mobile Alabama when he suffered a heart problem. He was 45 years old.
Galbreath, an 8th round pick of the Dolphins in 1988 spent 5 seasons in Miami and was a member of the all rookie team following that first season.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
In other less somber news, the Miami Dolphins will put single game tickets on sale starting this Saturday, July 31st, at 10:00 am. The Dolphins will face their 3 division rivals in addition to the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steeelers, Tennessee Titans, Chcago Bears, and Detroit Lions.
Galbreath was working in Mobile Alabama when he suffered a heart problem. He was 45 years old.
Galbreath, an 8th round pick of the Dolphins in 1988 spent 5 seasons in Miami and was a member of the all rookie team following that first season.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
In other less somber news, the Miami Dolphins will put single game tickets on sale starting this Saturday, July 31st, at 10:00 am. The Dolphins will face their 3 division rivals in addition to the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steeelers, Tennessee Titans, Chcago Bears, and Detroit Lions.
Diana Ross’ Niece Claims She’s Michael Jackson’s Love Child. Could It Be True?
A
love child, abduction, murder…it sounds lik3tweetse the plot to a supermarket novella, a soap opera plot line, or the basis of a Lifetime Entertainment channel movie. But it’s real and it gets even stranger. It involves Michael Jackson.
Mocienne Petit Jackson has filed legal documents claiming that she is the love child of Michael Jackson and that she was conceived when he was just 17 years old. Her mother is Diana Ross’ sister Barbara, making this entirely plausible.
But then it just gets weird. Very, very weird.
Mocienne says that Katherine Jackson tried to “abduct” her and send her to Belgium to protect Michael’s “reputation,” reports TMZ. And that’s not the strangest claim.
She had not one, but seven abductors all, every single one, of whom were later murdered.
If a judge grants her a DNA test and it proves positive, Mocienne could stand to inherit a large chunk of change and would like to have custody of Prince, Paris, and Blanket so that she can give them a “more normal life.”
Thus far her proof is that 1) Her mother Barbara would have been around Michael. 2) She has the same rare disease as Michael, Vitiligo. 3) She actually wants to go through with a DNA test, so she is probably pretty certain.
There may be a good chance that her claim she is Michael’s child is legitimate, but that doesn’t mean the rest of her story isn’t pure crazy.
NYC Settles Sean Bell Civil Suit For Millions
The city of New York has settled the civil suit regarding the Sean Bell case in which he was gunned down by undercover police officers in a hail of 50 bullets.
The city has settled its civil lawsuit with the
families of the victims of the infamous Sean Bell shooting outside of a
Queens strip club.
Lawyers for the city announced that more than $7
million will go to the the estate of Sean Bell — who was killed in a
hail of 50 police bullets — and the two other men who were injured,
Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield.
Bell’s estate, will receive $3.25 million, while Guzman will get $3 million and Benefield will receive $900,000.
“The Sean Bell shooting highlighted the complexities
our dedicated officers must face each day,” said NYC Corporation
Counsel Michael Cardozo in a statement. “The City regrets the loss of
life in this tragic case, and we share our deepest condolences with the
Bell family. The City is also settling claims with Mr. Guzman and Mr.
Benefield. We hope that all parties can find some measure of closure
by this settlement.”
As a condition of the settlement, the city doesn’t admit any wrongdoing.
Bell was killed outside a Jamaica, Queens bar in
November 2006 while leaving his bachelor party on what would have been
his wedding day. Three police officers were acquitted of manslaughter
and other charges in 2008. Federal authorities in February declined to
bring civil rights charges against them.
The Nov. 25. 2006, shooting sparked massive outcry
across the nation, with civil-rights advocates leading protests and
demanding convictions for the detectives who shot and killed Bell.
Bell had been outside a strip club with his two
friends Guzman and Benefield after his bachelor’s party, when
undercover cops investigating reports of prostitution at the
club apparently misheard their conversation and thought one had a gun.
No weapon was found.
The would-be groom’s friends, who were seriously
wounded in the fusillade, had led the charge for retribution in
conjunction with Bell’s family.
Family advocate and National Action Network
president Al Shaprton, said he “respected and defered” to the victims’
judgement in accepting the settlement.
“They must all provide for their families but this
in no way mitigates or repairs the permanent damage done to them and
the pain it has caused them forever nor does it diminish the outrage in
the community,” said Sharpton.
Meanwhile, Detective’s Endowment Asociation head Michael Palladino called the settlement “absurd.”
“Bell was inteoxicated, double the legal limit and
caused his own demise,” said Palladino. “Cops were exonerated in a
court of law and a federal review, yet tax payers are on the hook for
seven million dollars.”
I Don't Understand HOW This Could Happen: Autistic Man Dies Horrible, Needless Death in Hot Van
The Trentonian
reports that a 20 year old autistic Middleton, Pennsylvania, man,
living in a residential facility was found dead in the back of a hot
van. He had attended an outing with three other residents and two
counsellors, each counsellor responsible for only 2 residents. How could a person forget and leave one of only two persons in their care in a hot van? The matter is under investigation but what could possibly explain this result?
I just don't understand."Police detectives are investigating the tragic death of an autistic 20-year-old client who had returned to the Woods Services residential facility from Sesame Place and was found dead hours later in the back of the Woods’ van.
The New York man had apparently been left inside the van from about noon until 4 p.m. Saturday when a nurse seeking to dispense his medication couldn’t find him, police said.
“The nurse and other personnel initiated a search of all the local buildings with room to room searches until a supervisor started checking the vehicles and found the client deceased in the back of the van that he had been transported to Sesame Place in,” police said in a press release.
“No names are being released at this time due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation and in deference to the family of the deceased.”
Woods Services is a residential facility for people with exceptional needs. Middletown Township Police responded as well as Penndel Middletown Emergency Squad, which confirmed that the client was deceased.
An investigation is under way to determine if there is any criminal liability involved, police said.
The deceased had made the trip to Sesame Place in the morning along with three other clients, accompanied by two residential counselors each being responsible for two clients."
Countdown to Arizona's Immigration Law
Enlarge
Recently-deported Mexican immigrant Jose Manuel,
42, outside an aid station July 27, 2010 in Nogales, Mexico, just
across the border from Arizona. Manuel lived in San Mateo, California
for 10 years.
(John Moore/Getty)
Arizona's
controversial immigration law will come into effect tomorrow, unless a
federal judge says otherwise. We take a look across the border to Loma
Buenavista, Mexico. Sixty percent of the town's population is thought
to have crossed the border into Arizona. The 800-person town depends on
residents' relatives in the U.S. to send money back home; if their
relatives leave, the town stands to be significantly affected by this
new law.
Inma Gil Rosendo, Mexico correspondent for BBC World, has been talking to residents of Loma Buenavista, and she shares what they have to say.
Terrell Owens Signs With The Cincinnati Bengals
Terrell Owens has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and will join Chad Ocho-Cinco and Carson Palmer on the already high powered offense.
Terrell Owens has agreed on a one-year, $2 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. The veteran and controversial all-star will join receiver Chad Ocho Cinco as well as Carson Palmer in The Queen City.
Although Owens and Chad Ocho might seem like the most dominant 1-2 in the NFL, many believe that Owens coming off his worst season ever is past his prime, and the two ego maniac players may have off field issues during the season.
Owens spent last season with the Buffalo Bills. He caught 55 passes for 829 yards and hauled in five touchdowns as the Bills finished the season 6-10.
The Rams and Jets both showed interest, but with the combination of his good friend Ocho and word from Carson Palmer that he had a good workout, Ciny has decided to give Owens a chance and show that he has not run out of steam yet.
Do you think this is the best move for the Bengals, or do you think this is a disaster waiting to happen?
by Jason Weintraub
Terrell Owens has agreed on a one-year, $2 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. The veteran and controversial all-star will join receiver Chad Ocho Cinco as well as Carson Palmer in The Queen City.
Although Owens and Chad Ocho might seem like the most dominant 1-2 in the NFL, many believe that Owens coming off his worst season ever is past his prime, and the two ego maniac players may have off field issues during the season.
Owens spent last season with the Buffalo Bills. He caught 55 passes for 829 yards and hauled in five touchdowns as the Bills finished the season 6-10.
The Rams and Jets both showed interest, but with the combination of his good friend Ocho and word from Carson Palmer that he had a good workout, Ciny has decided to give Owens a chance and show that he has not run out of steam yet.
Do you think this is the best move for the Bengals, or do you think this is a disaster waiting to happen?
by Jason Weintraub
Plane Crashes into Margalla Hills Islamabad on 28th July 2010 BREAKING
A passenger plane, with about 150 passengers onboard, crashed into
Margalla Hills in Islamabad on Wednesday morning but no immediate
casualty report has been received, police sources said. The private
airlines flight traveling from Turkey to Islamabad via Karachi, the
south port city of Pakistan, lost contact with the control tower of
Islamabad airport, a private TV reported. Police and rescue teams have
been dispatched to the site of crash. The plane crashed behind the
mountainous range of Margalla Hills, near the Damanekoh resort,
according to reports. Fire is visible from the picnic spot of DamaneKoh
and rescue teams are trying to reach the site. Eyewitnesses have seen
the aircraft taking a very low flight. It was a private aircraft coming
from Karachi to Islamabad, local media reported. It is raining in
Islamabad and dense fog might have caused the incident, a source in the
Rescue-1122 emergency services told media on phone. Many flights have
been grounded due to bad weather in eastern city of Lahore. The well
guarded hills surrounds northeast of the capital city. Some parts of it
are fitted with anti-aircraft guns and many Pakistani troop checkpoints
are located on the hills.
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