a yeye Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save CAPE MAY — Even when the city opened its then-state-of-the-art desalination plant more than 25 years ago, it was clear it would not last forever, Nick Asselta told City Council during a meeting this week. The former state senator, who was also on the state Board of Public Utilities, participated in an update on efforts to plan and fund a new plant, presented by the firm Consulting and Municipal Engineers and the consulting firm Triad Associates. “We knew eventually this facility would have to be upgraded,” he said. “There’s been questions about how to fund it.” Council heard plans for a new water treatment plant next to the existing one on Canning House Lane, in a new building next door that will be designed and built to resemble the current plant, which is housed in a century-old structure. There are also plans to seek funding from multiple state and federal sources, including grants and low-interest loans from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S Department of Agriculture, which helped Cape May build the current plant in the 1990s. Questions about Gillian’s Wonderland finances draw angry response from Mita Pleasantville man accused of murdering girlfriend Mays Landing man charged in hit-and-run that injured man, killed dog in Absecon Mainland Regional falls to Old Tappan in state final Northfield intersection to become four-way stop 4 Bridgeton men indicted in alleged sex trafficking ring Everything you need to know about Mainland Regional's state title game Wonderland developer to pitch vision again Wednesday at Ocean City Tabernacle $680,000 Atlantic City charter bus purchase mostly covered by state, Small says Atlantic City mayor waives first appearance on witness tampering charge Northfield Councilman Leeds resigns, citing concerns over Mayor Chau's criminal charges Former Galloway gymnastics co-owner accused of sex with minor to remain in jail Some Atlantic City casino workers call on union boss to resign for opposing a smoking ban Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to Longport administrator and former police chief Scott Porter dies The design work and other efforts have been supported by $600,000 in congressionally directed spending, and CME has been meeting with officials at multiple levels of government to nail down funding details. “It’s a difficult task to find free money for communities that are very successful. You’re a successful community, there’s no doubt,” Asselta said. He and other speakers said it could be a very expensive project. The plan is to make it as easy on taxpayers as possible, Asselta said. The latest estimates put the cost of the project at about $30 million, Mayor Zack Mullock said Friday, with the project taking 14 to 16 months to complete. Critics and supporters of a $37.5 million plan for the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, along with the simply curious, crowded the Lower Township meeting hall to learn more and have their say Thursday evening. “We want to be in a position where by the summer we can go out to bid, provided that the money is lined up,” consultant Michael Zumpino said. He expressed optimism that the funding would come through. “It’s a work in process, but the process is maturing,” he said. CME has been working on plans to expand the current desal plant, which falls short of the recommended capacity for the community it serves. When it was built in the late 1990s, with significant help from state and federal grants, it was an extraordinary step to address saltwater intrusion into the aquifers that serve New Jersey’s southern Cape. The plants are still unusual. A report from 2019 for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation shows about 400 desalination plants have been built since 1970, with a steady increase in the use of the technology. But only about half of those built remain in operation, and most of those are in California, Florida and Texas. The report shows three plants in New Jersey. Similar plants are in use around the world , but some reports indicate American cities and utilities have been slow to adopt them. Cape May officials have long said without the desal plant, the town, some surrounding communities and the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center would not have enough water to function. With salt water on three sides, drawing fresh water from the Atlantic City Sands aquifer and the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer has also drawn in salty water. For years, that just meant digging a new well a little farther inland, but that approach would not have worked indefinitely. The aquifers are hundreds of feet below the surface and contain massive amounts of water, but not infinite amounts. A new water treatment plant may provide millions of gallons of water a day to thirsty Cape May residents, visitors and Coast Guard recruits, if the city can find the money. The current Cape May plant uses revers osmosis to remove the salt. A portion of the water, now a concentrated salt water, is discharged into the already brackish creek, while the rest is treated, including returning some minerals to the mix, and added to the potable water supply. Project manager Mike Dziubeck, an engineer with CME, told council the DEP has concerns about the capacity of the current plant, primarily because the system does not have any built-in redundancy, so if part of the system went down on a summer weekend, there would not be enough capacity to meet the need. The current capacity is 2 million gallons of water a day, while the new system could handle 3.2 million gallons a day. As proposed, the new plant would include space to expand its capacity for the reverse osmosis system and a system to remove iron from water from the well drawn from the Cohansey. The building would also include offices, and plans call for solar panels on the roof to offset the power costs, one of the most expensive elements of the operation. The building, as proposed, would be fairly simple, but with a brick façade at the front that would mimic the existing building. It would be two feet above the level of what is described as a 500-year flood, Dziubeck said. That would be a flood that would have a 1-in-500 chance of happening in a given year. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.No. 22 Xavier aims to keep its perfect record intact Monday night in Fort Myers, Fla., when it takes on South Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Musketeers (5-0) are coming off an 80-55 victory on Wednesday over Siena, while the Gamecocks (3-2) beat Mercer on Thursday 84-72. Against Mercer, South Carolina sank a season-best 12 3-pointers -- tied for the fourth-most in a single game under third-year coach Lamont Paris. Jamarii Thomas, a senior transfer from Norfolk State, had 19 points and swished 4 of 5 shots from behind the arc. "Thomas got some good, clean looks," Paris said. "It was good to see those guys make their shots. Hopefully it gets those guys going in the right direction." On the season, the Gamecocks are making 7.8 3-pointers per game and shooting 32.5 percent from deep. Senior guard Jacobi Wright makes a team-best 1.8 3-pointers per game and shoots 37.5 percent from behind the arc. At 13.0 ppg, he is second on the team behind Collin Murray-Boyles (15.8). Xavier is allowing eight makes from deep per game and is letting opponents shoot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, which ranks 337th in the country. And despite an undefeated record so far for the Musketeers, third-year coach Sean Miller is worried about his players developing bad habits. "We have a virus that everybody is looking at the stat sheet, trying to get as many points as they possibly can," Miller said after the win over Siena. "They want to win, but they really want to win and score. We need a couple of guys that are willing to rebound, defend, make the extra pass, play at a high level defensively and understand what makes a team great." Marcus Foster did a decent job of doing a little bit of everything for Xavier against Siena, piling up 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. It was the first double-digit scoring outing for Foster -- a grad transfer from Furman -- in a Xavier uniform. Since 2008, Xavier is 25-11 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, but it hasn't played South Carolina in that stretch. --Field Level Media

PITTSBURGH , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - RoadBlock Solutions, a division of RSG International, a leading Canadian company in road safety infrastructure, is officially expanding. Effective immediately, the merger of Corbin Highway Products, Laura-Metaal, Dimensional Products Inc., Summit Rentals US, and Pivot Safety US will unite their collective expertise, cutting-edge technology, and extensive resources. This strategic merger positions RoadBlock Solutions as a major player in the road safety sector, ready to offer innovative and comprehensive solutions. Ryan Samek , Senior Vice-President of RoadBlock Solutions, brings over two decades of road safety experience to the role. He is supported by a team of industry veterans, including Gary Lallo , Roger Spencer , Tony Cappella, Shannon Carroll , and Alex Wolfinger , ensuring a wealth of expertise drives the company's success. "The merger of these five companies represents a major milestone in our organization," said Ryan Samek . Solutions. "By combining our talented and experienced team, we aim to set new standards in the road safety space and offer unmatched service and solutions to our clients. I am thrilled to stand beside this experienced group of industry professionals and am looking forward to what we can accomplish RoadBlock Solutions specializes in the sale and rental of road safety products essential for roadway safety. It's extensive range includes crash cushions, steel and concrete barrier, and other essential devices designed to protect road users and workers. "The merger has created a resourceful, solutions-based network dedicated to delivering top-tier safety, sales, rentals, and installation services," says Roger Spencer , Business Development Manager for RoadBlock Solutions and former Business Development Manager at Corbin Highway Products, with over two decades of industry experience. "This collaboration fuels innovation and value, ensuring safer roads for everyone." Together, this team brings decades of experience and is dedicated to enhancing services, expanding product offerings, and delivering advanced solutions for road safety infrastructure. "We're combining our strengths to innovate, protect, and pave the way for a safer and brighter future on every road," adds Tony Cappella, Business Development Manager at RoadBlock Solutions and former National Sales Manager for Hill and Smith. These words were echoed by the former General Manager of Dimensional Products Inc (DPI). "The merger of DPI will provide us with resources and knowledge from some of the best in the industry. Being part of the Roadblock team will allow us to grow and expand our business to new levels," added Luke Myers , Chesapeake branch manager Roadblock Solutions. RoadBlock Solutions is a customer-focused, solutions-driven company that not only connects clients with the products they need but also introduces them to cutting-edge innovations they never knew existed. About RoadBlock Solutions RoadBlock Solutions is a leading provider and distributor of road safety devices, offering both sales and rentals. As a division of RSG International, RoadBlock Solutions is committed to enhancing road safety through innovative and reliable solutions. About RSG International RSG International is a global leader in the road safety sector, creating advanced solutions for critical safety challenges. Its portfolio includes comprehensive services across road safety infrastructure, including construction, installation, product distribution, new product development, and auxiliary services. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-roadblock-solutions-a-merger-of-five-road-safety-industry-leaders-302324362.html SOURCE RSG International

ATLANTA — A month after the November election, a series of major developments has shaken up Georgia’s political landscape as Donald Trump prepares his return to the White House. The president-elect’s announcement Wednesday that he will nominate former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler to his Cabinet was his second appointment that will have broad implications for Georgia’s 2026 races. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

A majority of social media influencers don’t verify information before sharing it with their audiences, a study published Tuesday by the UN’s scientific and cultural arm found, underscoring concerns that some of the biggest online figures can uncritically spread misleading claims. According to the UNESCO study , 62 per cent of surveyed creators said they don’t vet the accuracy of content before sharing it with their followers. Roughly one-third of influencers said they shared information without checking its validity if it originated from a source that they trusted, while 37 per cent said they verified information with a fact-checking site before circulation. The study, which surveyed 500 digital content creators across 45 countries and territories in August and September 2024, included creators with more than 1,000 followers. While only 12 per cent of the surveyed influencers said they produced content about “current affairs/politics and the economy,” UNESCO warned that “the low prevalence of fact-checking highlights their vulnerability to misinformation, which can have far-reaching consequences for public discourse and trust in media.” Rather than verifying information, more than four in 10 influencers said they evaluated a source’s credibility by “popularity” — the number of likes and views it had received — while one in five said trusted friends and experts were the most common factor in determining an online source’s credibility. Only 17 per cent said documentation and evidence was their top factor in gauging credibility. “The prevalent lack of rigorous critical evaluation of information highlights an urgent need to enhance creators’ media and information literacy skills, including identifying and using reliable fact-checking resources,” UNESCO said. The study comes in the wake of the 2024 US presidential election, in which social media influencers played a key role as an information source for voters. During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris harnessed social media influencers and podcasters with millions of followers, including Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper, to appeal directly to voters. A recent report from the Pew Research Center found that almost 40 per cent of young Americans aged 18 to 29 “regularly” get their news from influencers, most of whom have never been employed by a news organization. And a separate survey from Pew found that more than half of American adults “at least sometimes” get their news from social media. “But unlike journalists who are often equipped with skills and tools to assess sources’ credibility and verify facts, digital content creators often lack formal training in these areas, which can lead to challenges in ensuring the accuracy of their content,” UNESCO said. Online influencers generally do not rely on official sources of information, such as government-issued reports and documents, the UNESCO study found. Roughly six in 10 influencers deferred to their own personal experiences as a source of information, while nearly 40 per cent used their own research and interviews with knowledgeable sources. Mainstream news and online sources tied for third, accounting for 37 per cent each. To this point, 69 per cent of the surveyed influencers believed they were promoting “critical thinking and digital literacy” despite not engaging in thorough fact-checking or source evaluation. “Everything I post is based entirely on material drawn from my own life experiences,” Zhang Zhaoyuan, a China-based influencer, told UNESCO in an interview. Still, others were more scrupulous in their presentation of information. Kassy Cho, a UK journalist with more than 30,000 followers on Instagram, told UNESCO she often looks to mainstream media “just to understand like what is going on around the world” as a jumping-off point. Influencer promoted mis- and disinformation has posed a thorny challenge for governments. Earlier this year, false claims that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing their neighbors’ pets and eating them exploded on social media, amplified by right-wing influencers and the Trump campaign. While city officials attempted to fact-check the baseless claims, they were outmatched by viral claims that led to bomb threats, school closures, and a community largely under siege. In September, a Justice Department indictment alleged that a suite of major conservative influencers — including Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and Dave Rubin — assembled by Tenet Media unwittingly took in millions of dollars from Russia to promote divisive narratives that achieved the Kremlin’s goals. While the influencers were not accused of wrongdoing by the Justice Department, the indictment highlighted how opaque the sector is. Social media platforms have also largely removed guardrails preventing the spread of misinformation. Elon Musk’s X, for instance, relies on “Community Notes” to address misleading or altogether false information, and seldom removes content. The platform’s efforts are often undermined by Musk himself, who has gutted the platform’s moderation team since acquiring the company in 2022 and often uses his personal account to promote misinformation. Similarly, while YouTube prohibits the monetization of videos that include demonstrably false claims that risk undermining trust in electoral and democratic processes, the Google-owned company has still profited from content that champions election misinformation. And while Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, imposes penalties on users who share fact-checked content, the platform does not remove the posts. Unlike their counterparts in the mainstream media, online influencers are not obligated to divulge the source of their funding or whether their content was sponsored. The UNESCO study confirmed that influencers are not always upfront about funding. While 53 per cent of respondents said they had created sponsored content or endorsed brands and products, 7 per cent said they didn’t disclose their sponsorships, instead presenting content “as if it were unsponsored.”

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D.R. Horton Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitorsBy Lisa Curry Everyone is feeling the pinch these days — charities, postal workers and the communities we serve. At Megaphone, instead of succumbing to division — a tactic often used to weaken collective power — we are choosing solidarity. Regardless of personal opinions about the current postal strike or its outcome, we are grateful that unions continue to exist to champion workers’ rights, despite their imperfections and decades of systemic efforts to dismantle them. At Megaphone, we believe everyone deserves safe, meaningful and dignified work. Contrary to prevalent narratives around poverty and its related challenges, we know that people want to work. Humans are inherently social beings, driven to contribute and connect with their communities. Despite this, societal messaging often paints a harmful picture, claiming that certain people don’t want to work or contribute. The truth is more complex. Many folks face barriers that make participation in traditional workplace environments difficult, if not impossible. People with disabilities, mental health challenges, or issues with executive functioning — such as memory, planning or focus — are often excluded by economic ideologies that value efficiency over accessibility. These systems, built on a “survival of the fittest” ethos, leave little room for those who don’t fit the mold. Through our programs, we provide accessible, meaningful opportunities for self-determined work. Our Vendor Mentorship Program exemplifies this commitment. For those unfamiliar, our Vendor Program is open to anyone, no questions asked, allowing vendors to work when and wherever it is best for them. That said, selling Megaphone products on the streets of Vancouver is no easy task. We live in an increasingly isolated and even hostile society, and many of our vendors face significant barriers to connecting with the larger community. Our Vendor Mentorship Program, launched in May of 2023, bridges this gap by offering new vendors three paid mentorship sessions with a veteran vendor. These sessions provide essential skills, peer support and a small cash boost to help new vendors start buying products to sell on their own It’s been a hugely successful endeavour, and in September, this program won an international award for “Best Vendor Support” at the International Network of Street Papers conference in Liverpool, England. As such, our current annual Winter Campaign is fundraising for this specific program, which is essential to our operations. However, the current postal strike has put us in a precarious position, with our mailouts ready to go... but grounded as the dispute drags on. So our team of staff, board members and volunteers are hitting the streets in December to deliver fundraising packages on foot across Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby. If you like what we do, please watch for these envelopes, or consider making a donation online at . We also now accept gifts of securities.And don’t forget to buy your 2025 Hope in Shadows calendar — while quantities last! The two sheets of vendor-designed wrapping paper you will find in this issue of the magazine are the perfect fit for wrapping up the calendars, so your gift-giving is covered! Our vendors are out in full force throughout Vancouver, but if you have trouble finding one, give us a call at 604-255-9701, ext. 137.

Genesis Bryant scores 27 and No. 19 Illinois women beat UMES 75-55 in Music City ClassicST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) — Alejandro scored 25 points as UAB beat Louisiana 98-86 on Monday. Vasquez shot 8 for 19 (2 for 9 from 3-point range) and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line for the Blazers (4-4). Yaxel Lendeborg added 20 points while shooting 9 for 12, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc while he also had six rebounds. Christian Coleman had 16 points and shot 7 of 13 from the field. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil led the way for the Ragin' Cajuns (1-6) with 19 points. Christian Wright added 15 points and six assists for Louisiana. Koron Davis also put up 14 points. Coleman scored 10 points in the first half and UAB went into the break trailing 44-42. Vasquez scored 17 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Eric Bieniemy out as UCLA's offensive coordinator. AP source says Tino Sunseri tabbed as replacement

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Lincoln Tech, Johnson Controls Celebrate First Graduating Class from JCI Academy at Denver CampusNone