Gloucester Firefighter Shines in HYROX Contest

William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News

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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (June 20, 2026)–Gloucester City Firefighter Jack Driscoll participated in a HYROX contest held recently in Stockholm, Sweden. Jack is a Gloucester City native who graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School. He placed second in the World Wide contest in the Overall and Age Group.

Afterwards, Driscoll said, “I went all in on the sport this year and had some big goals written down before the season started. I wanted to win a pro race and won five. I wanted to make it to the start line of an Elite 15 race and made it to two, one in solo and one in doubles. I wanted to podium at Worlds, and pulled a hard-fought 2nd out of the best of the best.

“Thank you to my family and friends for all the support this year, especially my girlfriend Erika Tvedten I couldn’t do it without you all. And thank you to all the people who have cheered me on at races and online all year! Time to build better for next year.”

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Good Samaritans Rescue Crash Victim

William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook

PHILADELPHIA PA (July13, 2026)--On Friday, July 11, 2026, a man traveling on Kelly Drive suddenly veered off the road and crashed into the Schuylkill River. The river runs parallel to Kelly Drive.

According to NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle, the man experienced a medical emergency and plunged his red car into the Schuylkill River along the 2200 block of Kelly Drive. Bystanders, including a former national rower and a college coach, jumped into the water to rescue the trapped man before the vehicle fully submerged. [1, 2]

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Former Supt. Receives 6 Figure Deal from Manchester Twp. School

William E. Cleary Sr. |CNBNews

MANCHESTER, NJ (July 13, 2026)(CNBNews)— Former Manchester Township Schools Superintendent John Berenato has received a six‑figure settlement in connection with his lawsuit over his 2023 firing.

He was awarded $265,000 by the district’s insurance carrier under a settlement approved at the June 16, 2026, Manchester Township Board of Education meeting, according to open‑government advocate John Paff of Transparency NJ.

Berenato was fired on Nov. 7, 2023 at a special board meeting, with the dismissal taking effect immediately. The board claimed he failed to disclose a 2010 drunk‑driving conviction and license suspension on his employment application.

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CNBNEWS: July Cheers and Jeers

By William E. Cleary Sr

CHEER–Audubon Family Park Improvements

Camden County awarded Audubon Family Park a $25,000 grant for upgrades and maintenance, supporting safer and more accessible recreation for local families.

JEER—Rip and Boomer Dead…WHY?

UPDATE: A Salem County Sheriff’s Office sergeant is facing charges after prosecutors allege he left two K-9 partners in a hot vehicle for seven hours, resulting in their deaths. …

The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of the deaths of Rip and Boomer, who died together while on duty on Friday. The dogs were brought to an emergency veterinary hospital in Delaware, where they were pronounced dead, Miller told NJ.com. The circumstances of their deaths were not disclosed.

CHEER-Groundbreaking of the Camden County LINK Trail

Audubon is part of the newly launched 34‑mile LINK Trail, a major regional project that will give residents a safe, scenic route for walking, biking, and running. Construction on the Audubon–Haddon Heights segment began in March and is expected to finish by year’s end.

JEER-Gloucester City’s Public Buildings in Disrepair

We have $50,000 plus to purchase a new truck for the Gloucester City UEZ director. Yet, the Police Administration Building, the Municipal Building, and the Water Department storage tanks are all in need of painting. At the water works, one of the glass windows is broken, plus a broken-down trailer bed has been lying beside the property for a decade or more. The mayor and council are well aware of these maintenance issues.

CHEER-Audubon Civic REACH Community Leadership

The nonprofit umbrella group continues to energize civic life, celebrating the grand opening of the Audubon Historical Society Museum and organizing community events that strengthen local pride. CHEER- So happy that those driving E-bikes and E-scooters will have to be licensed and wear a safety helmet. Plus they need to have insurance.

JEER-What can be done about 637 Division Street?

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AI Tool Will Help Improve Cancer Treatment

BYLINE: CHRISTEN BROWNLEE

At a glance:

A new AI model called COMPASS uses tumor gene expression data to predict which patients will respond to cancer immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Analyzing past data from 16 clinical cohorts, COMPASS predicted ICI response 8.5 percent more accurately than the best existing approach.
If validated in clinical trials, the tool could lead to better precision medicine and cancer drug development.

Newswise — Cancer immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can be miracle drugs for cancer patients, curing some and turning deadly disease into a manageable chronic condition in others. But these drugs work for only a subset of patients, with few indications why — a knowledge gap that has detrimental effects on patient prognosis, clinical trial recruitment, and research that could lead to new therapies.

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Maryland Fishing Report – July 1

July 4 is a license-free fishing day throughout Maryland, so if you have a friend or relative who doesn’t currently fish, take them out with you.

Large red drum are providing catch-and-release fishing for anglers near the mouth of the Potomac River.

White perch can be found in the tidal rivers and creeks, sometimes mixed in with spot and croaker.

All the tidal rivers have populations of blue and channel catfish, and the larger female blue catfish are showing signs of being finished with spawning; they are now on the prowl to build up body stores. .

Check out the full report.

How Cryptocurrencies are Revolutionizing the Online Gambling Industry

The advent of cryptocurrency has sparked a modern-day digital gold rush, as investors and industries race to leverage the power of coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. While crypto volatility grabs headlines, a quiet revolution is happening in online gambling. Cryptocurrencies enable fast, private betting unrestricted by regulation or banking bottlenecks.

This perfect storm of anonymity and independence is accelerating the $66.7 billion global online gambling industry’s shift from fiat money. Let’s explore the undercurrent sweeping bookmakers, casinos, lottery, poker, and bingo brands to crypto.

Trustless Transactions Build Trust

Cryptocurrency solves two central issues for the online gambling sector – privacy and speed. For instance, RetroBet players have traditionally relied on banks or payment processors like Visa and PayPal to move money. These financial middlemen demand identity verification, track transactions, and can block payments they deem suspicious.

For passionate online gamblers seeking anonymity, this is unacceptable overreach. Cryptocurrencies operate on public blockchains secured by advanced cryptography, not third parties. Gambling sites leveraging crypto allow fast deposits and withdrawals without collecting sensitive user data. Their decentralized design also makes government oversight extremely difficult.

Most recreational bettors prefer privacy and convenience over brand recognition. A 2021 study showed that 58% of online gamblers use crypto to conceal their activity, while 68% cited faster payouts as the main benefit. As more players experience the perks firsthand, adoption is soaring.

Key Crypto Gambling Statistics

– 130 million people play online casino games or bet sports using cryptocurrency as of Q1 2022
– The crypto gambling industry will reach $260 billion by 2027
– 58% of online gamblers use crypto to hide gambling activity from banks or family members
– 68% say faster withdrawals and deposits are the main appeal
– 81% of online gambling sites now accept at least one cryptocurrency

Bitcoin and Offshore Sites

In crypto’s early days, Bitcoin was essentially the only game in town. The first regulated gambling site to accept BTC was SatoshiDice in 2012. But Bitcoin’s fixed supply and independence from banks appealed most to unlicensed offshore sites operating in legal grey areas.

Through the mid-2010s, crypto gambling remained an exotic concept. But pioneers like FortuneJack, BitStarz, mBit, and Betcoin.ag built reputations for quick cash outs without onerous “know your customer” requirements. This attracted American players to overseas sites as an end-run around restrictive US gaming laws.

Bitcoin’s semi-anonymous nature (all transactions are public, but wallet owners remain unknown) enabled true global access. Whether seeking big jackpots or sports odds unavailable locally, players used Bitcoin to place otherwise impossible bets anonymously. Crypto gambling sites saw usage and revenues grow steadily through word-of-mouth.

The offshore sector now generates $16 billion in cryptocurrency wagers annually from 30 million players. While still a fraction of fiat totals, it’s growing over 20% per year despite little mainstream promotion. However, Bitcoin’s high fees and slow settlement saw players yearn for better crypto options.

Altcoin Adoption – Lower Fees and Higher Speed

Since 2017, rising transaction costs and congestion have strained Bitcoin’s capacity. With average fees approaching $20, gambling sites adopted lower-cost cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. This altcoin boom gave players more choice between privacy, speed, or brand familiarity.

The most widely-used alternatives today are Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Tron (TRX), Monero (XMR), and stablecoins like Tether (USDT). Transaction fees are just pennies, while confirmation times range from seconds for XRP/TRX to minutes for BCH/LTC/ETH. Sites typically recommend using TRX or XRP to move funds cost-effectively.

According to CryptoGamblingNews, altcoin support is now mandatory for any credible site:

“Every online crypto casino worth its salt needs to have at least Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and Tether as options nowadays. Supporting other coins like Cardano, Solana or Polkadot is also becoming more common.”

This flexibility lets gamblers choose their deposit/withdrawal coin based on fees, volatility, wealth growth, or other factors. Lesser-known cryptos also enable betting emerging niches like gaming, sports collectibles, prediction markets, and more via features unavailable using fiat.

Regulation

While most government entities still grapple to define cryptocurrency, much less legislate it appropriately, the EU is pushing forward. In 2021, the bloc advanced a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets like utility and security tokens.

More locally, Malta pioneered accepting digital assets back in 2018. The small Mediterranean nation has since attracted significant operations from top global gaming brands like Betsson, Kindred, and GiG. Rival jurisdictions like Isle of Man, Curacao, Gibraltar, and the UK also regulate crypto gambling to varying degrees.

The biggest sign of crypto’s online gambling legitimacy came recently from Sweden. In 2021, state-run operator Svenska Spel integrated cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals across its sportsbook and lottery platforms. Players can now fund accounts in BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, DOGE, and more.

Svenska Spel Sport & Casino CEO Jonas Nygren explained the landmark decision:

“When consumers show increasing interest in other payment solutions than those traditionally offered, we as a company must adapt. It is then natural for us to also open up the opportunity to deposit with cryptocurrencies.”

Look for other European nations and Canada to follow suit in regulating cryptocurrency gaming transactions, either directly or through digital asset legislation. This will spur the next phase of mainstream crypto adoption.

In Summary

Rising from obscure origins on Bitcoin-friendly offshore sites, cryptocurrencies now stand poised to disrupt online gambling. The core appeals of privacy and speed that first attracted players still hold true. But increased altcoin support, regulation, and adoption by traditional brands are set to unlock mass market potential.

As more people realize the benefits of trustless, instant transactions for betting and gaming, expect crypto to challenge fiat currency’s dominance. Much like the gold rushes of centuries past, the early pioneers gave way to big business. But this time everyone with an Internet connection can stake their claim.

Trump’s Administration Scores Major Supreme Court Win

26, 2026

SUMMARY-The article describes the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants. The article also highlights the Trump Administration’s efforts to end the catch-and-release policy, expedite deportations, and crack down on sanctuary cities.

The Supreme Court has delivered a major victory for American sovereignty, ruling that the Trump Administration has full authority to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants. The Biden Administration weaponized TPS as a backdoor amnesty to flood the country with millions of unvetted migrants — and that loophole is finally closed.

This is the latest decisive win in President Donald J. Trump’s relentless effort to end the border invasion and put American citizens first.

The Trump Administration has made 60 changes in border rules since being elected :

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Paul Byington nominated for 2025 Civilian of the Year Award

The work of a fire safety inspector is rarely thrilling or glamorous. There are no flashing lights or fancy uniforms, no urgent radio calls, and no crowds gathering to watch. Most days pass quietly, and that suits Fire Safety Inspector Paul Byington.

“I’ve always been quiet—that’s just my personality. I tend to observe more than I speak,” Byington said. “But once people get to know me, I open up and they see more of who I am.”

Those who know him learn that he is a veteran of the United States Navy and the United States Army, with deployments to Honduras, the Bahamas, Japan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He served in the Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Seabees. While stationed in Louisiana, he supported recovery efforts by removing debris and assisting with infrastructure repairs in communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

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Inaugural Martyrs Day Celebrations Coming to New York, California, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware

In its inaugural year, Martyrs Day, a new national day of remembrance honoring American protesters and activists whose lives were lost in the ongoing struggle for civil rights, justice and equality in the United States, will be recognized nationwide on July 5, 2026.

Cities planning events on July 5th to commemorate the inaugural Martyrs Day include: