Category: NORTH JERSEY

What to Know Going into an Oil Field Job

Gloucestercitynews.net (December 27, 2019)–By this point, many people have heard of the great prospects that lie in the oil industry, and working out on an oil field can be an attractive prospect for some, especially those with a predisposition for physical work. But it’s not a smooth experience all the way, and there are various potential problems that you’ll need to prepare for if you want to maximize your chances of success. This is not among the easier industries to be in, and you should definitely anticipate a rough uphill battle in the beginning, especially if you’re coming from another line of work.

It’s Tough

There’s no soft way to say this – working in the oil industry is simply very challenging. You should be prepared for long days of hard manual work with little in the way of breaks, and on some days, it might be particularly bad depending on the current state of the setup. It’s a very physically demanding job, so don’t expect that you’ll be able to perform it well with a soft body that’s been sitting in a desk chair all day long. That’s not to say that you can’t work on that, but it’s going to take quite a bit of effort to bring yourself up to a good enough state.

It’s Dangerous

Even if you’re already in a top physical condition, working in an oil field is going to be challenging and will hold many risks for your health, some of which you can’t really anticipate. You should be prepared for the problems that you can, though, and know a good

oil field accident attorney

who can assist you in case you run into a bad situation. Keep in mind that resolving these problems can sometimes take quite a long time, especially if it’s a more serious issue. This can leave you in a difficult financial situation, and you will want to plan ahead for this as well.

Isolation Can Creep Up on You

This does not apply to every job in this sector, but it’s definitely something you will want to keep in mind as a possibility. Depending on where you work, you might find yourself in a

somewhat isolated environment

without any contact other than your coworkers for days on end. While it’s not as bad as being out on an oil rig, it can still be a pretty big challenge for those who are used to more variety in their social interactions, and you should get ready for a difficult starting period.

The good news is that most of those things can be accounted for in advance and dealt with effectively if you put some planning and thought into it. It’s not going to be a smooth ride – we can tell you that right now. And, even if you’re very prepared, problems are still going to come up. But in the end, this is one of the best ways to earn a lot of money for physical work right now, and it’s definitely something you should look into if you’re looking for a new career.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

GUEST OPINION: NJ Sierra Club End of Year Review – 2019

We have had a very eventful and busy year in 2019. We accomplished a lot to protect New Jersey’s environment. We won some battles and lost some, and there are a few that keep coming back. In addition to everything we have accomplished this year, we still have a lot that we are trying to get done.

“This has been a year of many accomplishments and many disappointments at the state, local, and national level. We still have a lot of work to do. The Murphy Administration has been frustrating because of their failure to move forward, especially on issues like climate change and sea level rise. We have been calling for a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects for over a year, but Governor Murphy has failed to act. He has also failed to repealed a single Christie-era rule,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The current administration does not see the urgency of climate change and the extreme impacts it is already having on New Jersey. In spite of these drawbacks, we are seeing some environmental progress and we hope to see more in 2020.”

Environmental Battles Still in Progress

We are still trying to get bills passed in lame duck, including S2252 (Smith/Greenstein), a bill that would set up EV charging infrastructure, and S2776 (Smith/Greenstein), a bill that would comprehensively ban plastic across the state

NJ Sierra Club is suing BPU and Pinelands Commission for approving the Southern Reliability Link (SRL), but the Murphy Administration has refused to issue a stay. This means the pipeline could be built before we have a chance to stop it in court

Murphy has made three nominations to the Highlands Council and five nominations to the Pinelands Commission, but the Senate has yet to vote to appoint the nominations

The Pinelands Commission has failed have a full quorum to vote on withdrawing their approval for South Jersey Gas’s pipeline

The DEP has denied permits for Williams Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE) three times without prejudice, but the Transco keeps reapplying

Environmental Wins

New Jersey’s new smoking ban, which prohibits smoking on public beaches and state parks, went into effect at the beginning of this year

B.L. England, the last major coal-powered plant in New Jersey, closed after more than 50 years of burning fossil fuels

The DEP purchased Holley Farm, a vital ecologically important area in the Pine Barrens and Delaware Bayshore forest region, after a 20 year battle to protect it

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that the PennEast Pipeline cannot use state lands. This will delay the project for at least two years and could possibly stop it or cause it to be rerouted

BPU granted the state’s first offshore wind solicitation of 1,100 megawatts to Ørsted, setting the record for the single largest award for offshore wind in the U.S

Governor Murphy raised New Jersey’s offshore wind goal to 7,500 megawatts by 2035

Governor Murphy came out against the Meadowlands Power Plant, although he has yet to take any action to stop it

Keegan Landfill in Kearny and Silver Spruce Drive in Vernon will be finally closed and cleaned up after illegal dumping of materials by NJSEA in Kearny and Joseph Wallace in Vernon.

Environmental  Losses

The Murphy Administration has failed to repeal a single Christie-era rule

Lead levels in Newark’s drinking water were at record highs this year, reaching 52 parts per billion between January and June.

The Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI), the agency responsible for setting standards of acceptable limits for toxins and carcinogens in our water, has not had a single meeting in 2019

This summer had a record number of algae blooms due to climate change and water pollution

New DEP Stormwater Rule fails to properly manage certain contaminants and will lead to more flooding and pollution. Even Trump’s FEMA criticized the rule.

Several bills that had consensus in the Legislature were weakened by last-minute amendments that came from the DEP and the Governor’s Office, including the Beach Access Bill S1074 (Smith), the Carbon Bill S3207 (Smith), and the Environmental Justice bill S1700 (Singleton/Weinberg).

DEP granted permits for the Roseland Compressor Station even though the compressor station is unneeded and will create more pollution and flooding in the region

Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan draft changes the definition of clean energy to include dirty energy like  natural gas, fossil fuel plants with carbon sequestration, and incinerators

The New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) Program is close to crashing because of the cost cap on solar energy

The DEP has fewer employees now than under Christie, and New Jersey is 10th in the nation for the reduction of environmental staff

NJ Transit is rated the worst in the nation. They need to move forward with electric buses.

Governor Murphy has failed to stop the bear hunt, even though he said the he opposes it

Although there has been some progress, the Murphy Administration has continued to move much slower than we had hoped. State agencies are still implementing many of Christie’s policies because they are led by the same people and the same rules. The Trump Administration has continued to attack the environment by rolling back critical rules that protect our clean air, clean water, and open space. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, released the following statement:

“There have been many successes and progress in the environment. But this is the year that climate change, toxins in our drinking water, and dirty water have really hit New Jersey hard. We saw climate impacts with sunny day flooding, sea level rise, storm surges, and more pollution in our waterways. Our water systems were contaminated with lead and chemicals like PFOAS. Newark’s drinking water had record levels of lead this year, and we had 70 suspected and 39 confirmed harmful algal blooms in New Jersey. Invasive clinging jellyfish were found in larger numbers in our bays and rivers. A DEP report showed that we can only consume 38% of our drinking water supply because of contamination and pollution. The report also showed that only 5% of our streams and rivers meet criteria for fishing and swimming.

“We had a lot of environmental wins this year. Environmental victories this year include the implementation of New Jersey’s smoking ban for public beaches and state parks, the closing of our last coal-fired power plant B.L. England, and the DEP’s purchase of Holley Farm to preserve it. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed approval of the PennEast Pipeline, slowing them down for two years and perhaps stopping the project or causing it to be rerouted. The BPU granted the state’s first offshore wind solicitation of 1,100 megawatts and Governor Murphy raised NJ’s offshore wind goal to 7,500 megawatts by 2035. Governor Murphy also came out against the Meadowlands Power Plant, although he has yet to take any action to stop it.

“There have been many environmental lows this year. The Murphy Administration has still failed to repeal a single Christie-era rule. Lead levels in Newark’s drinking water reached a record 52 parts per billion, which is over ten times the federal limit. The DEP signed off on a weak Stormwater Rule and also granted permits for the Roseland Compressor Station. NJ Sierra Club is suing BPU and Pinelands Commission for approving the SRL pipeline, but NJ refuses to issue a stay which means the pipeline could be built before we have a chance to stop it in court. Murphy has redefined clean energy to include dirty energy, the Solar Program is close to crashing because of the cost cap, and NJ Transit is rated the worst in the nation. New Jersey is also 10th in the nation for environmental staff reductions, with fewer DEP staff now than under Christie.

“Climate change is here, and it is only getting worse.  A recent DEP study projects dramatic sea-level rise in New Jersey of up to 8.8 feet over 2000 levels by 2100. Instead of limiting development and pulling back from building on flood-prone areas, we are putting more homes in flood risk zones. According to a new Zillow report, New Jersey is developing in flood prone areas faster than any other state. We are still using Christie-era rules like the Flood Hazard Rules, Waiver Rules, Stormwater Rules, and CAFRA rules that encourage development and cause more flooding and pollution. We are also still the only state in the region without a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan.

“New Jersey needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help mitigate climate change impacts. There are currently over a dozen new fossil fuel infrastructure projects in New Jersey that will increase emissions by over 32%. Last year, we formed a coalition called Empower New Jersey that now has over 90 groups. The coalition has been calling on Governor Murphy to put a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects until we have the programs and standards in place to achieve our 100% clean energy goals. So far, Murphy has not been willing to put a moratorium on these projects. Our state can be a national leader in clean energy and green jobs if we aggressively move forward with renewable energy.

“Governor Murphy’s draft Energy Master Plan does not address the urgency and existential threat that we are facing. The Governor has made a commitment for 100% clean energy by 2050, but instead of trying to meet that commitment he has changed the definition of clean energy to dirty energy. He redefined clean energy to include natural gas, fossil fuel plants with carbon sequestration, nuclear power plants, incinerators, biomass, carbon credits and offsets. The Plan fails to mention the 15 fossil fuel projects in the state, which means that New Jersey supports moving forward with these projects even though they will undermine GHG reductions and renewable energy.

“This was a record year for algae blooms and closed lakes. The DEP failed to clean up our lakes and get rid of this problem. They need to reverse Christie’s rollbacks, restore New Jersey’s lake management program, and deal with phosphorus. A recent Environmental Working Group report showed levels of cyanotoxins in lakes, rivers, and other water bodies across the country at levels higher than EPA health guidance standards. New Jersey needs to be doing more when it comes to preventing toxic algae blooms in the future. DEP needs to establish stream buffers and enforce real Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards that limit pollutants in our lakes. We also need to reduce overdevelopment and sprawl in environmentally sensitive areas.

“Another major water problem we faced this summer was the presence of an invasive species of clinging jellyfish in our waterways. The jellyfish were first spotted in New Jersey in 2016 and have turned up every year since. This is a stinging rebuke of failed policies to deal with overdevelopment and stormwater runoff. Seeing jellyfish in New Jersey waterways like Barnegat Bay and Shrewsbury River is a canary in the coal mine. These jellyfish thrive in warm water and areas with pollution because they need less oxygen than other sea life. The state needs to work to reduce pollution and address climate impacts. We also must work to restore watersheds, wetlands and streams, and preserve environmentally sensitive areas.

“New Jersey has far too many water problems, whether it is PFOAs, chlorpyrifos, cyanobacteria in our reservoirs, or lead. For too long, New Jersey has failed to adequately protect its drinking water and is putting the public at risk. Our Water Supply Master Plan is still outdated, and DEP have yet to adopt strict standards for hazardous chemicals in our drinking water. The Drinking Water Quality Institute, the agency that is supposed to set standards and protect public health, did not meet at all in 2019. The Murphy Administration made a commitment to move forward with protecting our drinking water, but no drinking water standards have been set or amended this year.

“Plastics have become a bigger and bigger problem that affects our environment and our water. They are a menace and an existential threat to our drinking water, beaches, and wildlife. So far, over 40 towns in New Jersey are moving forward on banning plastic. New Jersey needs a comprehensive plastic ban bill that will protect our environment and public health. We are still trying to get S2776 (Smith), a comprehensive statewide plastic ban bill, passed in the lame duck session. We need to keep fighting to get this bill heard and released before our plastic waste problem gets worse.

“There were several bills that had consensus in the Legislature that were weakened by last-minute amendments. Governor Murphy signed a weakened Beach Access Bill, S1074 (Smith), and a weakened Carbon Bill, S3207 (Smith), into law this year. The Beach Access Law still allows towns to block access to beaches and waterfront that should belong to all of us, and the Carbon Bill falls short of steps taken by other states to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Other bills that have been weakened by amendments include the Electric Vehicle Bill S2252 (Smith/Greenstein) and the Environmental Justice bill S1700 (Singleton/Weinberg).

“We are fighting multiple battles to protect the integrity of New Jersey’s environment. We are in court challenging a BPU and Pinelands Commission approval of NJNG’s Southern Reliability Link Pipeline. We have asked for a stay because we believe they will cause irreparable harm by moving forward with the construction of the SRL pipeline, but the state has refused to issue a stay. This means that the pipeline will be built before we have a chance to fight it in court. The Pinelands Commission has a resolution to withdraw their support for the South Jersey Gas pipeline, but the resolution has been tabled since April. New Jersey Sierra Club is also involved in litigation against the Bellemead Sewer Plant and in a rate case challenging a powerline for the Meadowlands power plant.

“The current Administration has made some environmental progress this year, although much more needs to be done. Governor Murphy finally signed the stormwater utility bill S1073 (Smith) into law this year, which will help us mitigate stormwater runoff. In August, Murphy made three nominations to the Highlands Council, finally replacing Christie appointees. He has also made five nominations to the Pinelands Commission so far, but he and President Sweeney need to get these nominations moving. In October, Attorney General Grewal and DEP Commissioner McCabe announced new Environmental Justice actions targeting polluters in lower-income and minority communities in the state.

“New Jersey came out blue with a green tide in this year’s elections. Environmental champions were selected on a state and local level. An overwhelming majority of our endorsed candidates won by comfortable margins. Many returning legislators have been leaders on a variety of environmental issues, from pushing electric vehicles to securing critical environmental protections to advocating for environmental justice. This year’s election day was a win for the environment on a state and local level. Now with re-elected incumbents and new leaders, we must move forward to fight climate change and protect New Jersey’s clean air and clean water.

“Our legislative priorities for 2020 include 100% renewable energy by 2035 and zero carbon by 2050. The Murphy Administration needs to take climate change and water pollution more seriously in 2020. They need to fix outdated rules like CAFRA and move forward with a Coastal Commission. They also need to work on removing lead from our water and banning dangerous contaminants like chlorpyrifos. More funding needs to go toward urban and state parks, NJ Transit needs to buy electric buses, and we need to remove the solar cost cap. We hope to see legislation like A5033 (Pinkin) passed that would prevent backsliding of certain State regulations due to changes in federal law or regulation. The Trump Administration has continuously rolled back critical rules and regulations, and we need to build a green wall around our state.

“In 2020, New Jersey can move forward with renewable energy to create green jobs and a green economy. We will continue pushing for a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects because we need to stop dirty power plants and other fossil fuel infrastructure from taking over the state. Let’s start the New Year on the right track toward meeting Governor Murphy’s 100% clean energy goals. Murphy still has time to change, but he needs to act quickly. He needs to step up and take leadership in making New Jersey cleaner and greener. New Jersey can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Togel Singapore – Everything to Know About It

Gloucestercitynews.net (DecemberThe brick and mortar casino had put a stepping stone for the online casinos. And now online casino sites are taking the gambling fun to the globe. But we must not forget giving thanks to the internet that has a huge role in making it popular. Today, no matter where you go and what you want, everything is accessible at your fingertips. That’s 100 percent true. Say any gambling casino games and it is available on the casino site. And most popular across all the games is

togel Singapore

. Not only Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are enjoying the game but even the western world has accepted the game.

Unfortunately, even today some people have no access to togel games because they don’t even know about togel. For all those who have played the game once or trying it for first, this is a handy guide on togel Singapore.

About the togel game

This is a game of fate and luck where players predict the lucky numbers. The right prediction wins. However, not everyone playing togel is lucky enough to win the game. As a result, they

lose all the cash

. Therefore, if you feel that you are unfortunate to predict the right number then doesn’t dare to play.

Despite this many people wager every day again and again and hopes that they will win. Moreover, different people use different statistics to predict the right number. But the question is what makes the togel Singapore popular. Its numerous advantages that it has and you must know about them, so read further.

Togel advantages to know

Less capital

A common myth among players is that the game requires huge capital to invest. However, it is not the fact because online lottery requires less capital than your imagination. This is why most of the players switch to the togel online. This is also one reason that you will find most of the players betting online.

Ease in playing

Unlike Texas Hold’em and other poker games, togel is a pretty simple game to play. Moreover, learning the rules take only few minutes and easy to understand. Ultimately, everyone and anyone can play this game irrespective of being professional or beginner. There are four lines on which players bet. And if their prediction is correct then they win and the rest of the players lose.

Safety

Another common myth about togel Singapore is that they are not safe. And this is again beaten by the reputed and reliable online casino websites. Moreover, these websites are designed in a way that anyone from any city can feel

safe while betting

. Their information and money are safe within them.

On the other hand, there is no surprise if you land on fraud websites. It is because they are also available in bunches. But there is a way to ditch those websites by checking their legality and gingerly reading their privacy policy. Your safety is in your hand so check the websites each information and then play.

Bonus

No doubt this is a better and top reason to play togel Singapore. The bonuses these websites have are worth taking and no player can ignore them. Luckily, the bonuses are never-ending and one can see them every day. Therefore, you never lose a chance of winning them. They have lots of bonuses in each category as well.

Due to these advantages, players like togel online more than other online games.

Togel Singapore- how to play?

Luckily, all you have to find a website and start betting online. This is a fun way to make some more money besides your 8 hours job. Start by enrolling in those sites and begin betting. Register to the website and then click on togel game and predict a right number. Also, while registering you may get lots of bonuses, cashback offers, referrals, deposits discounts, and more. In addition to this, you may get some promo codes to use while playing the games to earn more points.

You can make use of any of the offers while making deposits. However, remember that deposit money is non-refundable in case you lose, you lose money and bet. Therefore, we suggest you have a perfect foolproof strategy to win the betting. This will take some time for research but since togel Singapore is a luck-based game you may not even try finding strategy tips. Well, don’t rely on the fact because it is possible to use some tips and make close to the right prediction.

And to help you, we have some tips for winning at togel.

First, get as much bonus as you can so that even if you lose the game you don’t feel regret. Moreover, new online casino sites give a bonus equal to your deposit.

Get free spins scores from new online casinos.

Find odds of the winning

Before starting with these tips you should know about the account options available for transactions. A player will have to register with a bank account when registering for the online togel websites. This will ensure that all the credit, deposits, and withdrawal will be made from your bank account.

Regulation and legislation

The majority of the casinos deal with some regulation and legislation that needs to be identified to ensure the trustworthiness of a site before playing. This is very important because your money is at stake and you cannot leave it in the hands of any

fraud websites

.

Once you are assured that everything is okay about the websites, you are ready to play

togel Singapore

. But it can be an addiction so, one should know when to stop before situations get worse. Moreover, until you replaying within limits and not greedily for the money you are safe. Play togel only for fun and not for money because this is the real pleasure of the game.

Don’t lose the real fun of the game in the haste of making money. No matter whether you win or lose it will be fun playing and spending some time on a new game. This will fill you with new energy.

Video: How Did Political Boss George Norcross Acquire Waterfront Land in Camden City at Such Low Prices?

The tower, located on the Camden City waterfront, is owned by George Norcross and two other partners who received a $245 million tax break

(image courtesy of David L. Lewis/WNYC)

CNBNews.net

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (December 26, 2019)–

NJTV NEWS interviewed a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer who wrote an investigating article about South Jersey Political Boss George Norcross and his quest to buy up properties along the Camden City waterfront. How did George Norcross obtain acres of land along this prime section of waterfront at prices under the appraised value?

What is known is Norcross and his friends used tens of million in state-approved incentives to obtain the properties.  The

Delaware River Port Authority and Camden Redevelopment Agency held interests in one of the properties, which was

appraised at $2.3 million in 2015

. Public officials

agreed to sell it to Liberty for $800,000

. After the sale, Liberty gave Norcross and his business partners an option to buy the property — which they eventually did, for $350,000 — or 15 cents on the dollar of the appraised value when it was held by public agencies.

The \”Inky\” confirmed hearsay that federal prosecutors in Philadelphia are carrying out their own investigation into the controversial New Jersey program.

Michael Hill,

NJTVonline.org

News correspondent talks with Catherine Dunn, one of the lead reporters on the story in the video below.

video source

https://www.njtvonline.org/

Related:

How power broker George Norcross and friends got waterfront land for cheap

Both the Delaware River Port Authority and Camden Redevelopment Agency held interests in the land, which was

appraised at $2.3 million in 2015

. Public officials

agreed to sell it to Liberty for $800,000

. After the sale, Liberty gave Norcross and his business partners an option to buy the property — which they eventually did, for $350,000 — or 15 cents on the dollar of the appraised value when it was held by public agencies.

And while Norcross and his partners aren’t allowed to build on the parking lot for five years, they could develop it by 2023 if they choose.

The series of transactions also underscores the influence and reach of the Mount Laurel-based law firm Parker McCay, led by George Norcross’ brother Philip.

CONTINUE

Related:

Taking Down The South Jersey Political Mafia

You may think we live in a state run by democratically-elected officials, but the reality is closer to a system of political corruption that would surprise most Americans. The truth is, the mafia is alive and well in New Jersey and it controls the political machine in the state. This isn’t the Cosa Nostra of the old days, but an even more sinister cabal of powerful men working to consolidate power and enrich themselves at the cost of the taxpayers.

George Norcross has been called the most powerful unelected person in New Jersey. He controls nearly every elected Democrat in South Jersey including party chairs, state senators and  assemblymen. Even if you get elected outside of his control, you will get nowhere in the party. Norcross and his team have done a masterful job of consolidating power in a relatively short period of time; only a few decades. They have insured that you can’t get elected without his support, and if you do, and you don’t play ball, you will be sidelined to political Siberia. Without his endorsement and the cooperation of Senate President Steve Sweeney, you won’t get on any committees. You won’t get resources. You won’t get money for staff. You will be irrelevant.

Consequently, the candidates you find on your ballot have been hand-chosen by Norcross and his political organization. The Democratic Party is beholden to his

CONTINUE

Related:

How The Norcross Political Machine Muscled In On Camden City\’s Prime Real Estate, NJ\’s Poorest Community

But the Norcross brothers had other ideas.

The most powerful political family in the state had spent months helping to engineer the tax break law. George E. Norcross III, a prolific Democratic fundraiser and power broker, had championed the idea among lawmakers; his brother Philip Norcross, a lawyer and lobbyist with deep ties to local and state government, wrote parts of the legislation; and a third brother, Donald Norcross, then a state senator and now a member of Congress, had co-sponsored it. Once the law passed,

the Norcrosses’ allies, business partners and clients

took advantage.

published

Gloucestercitynews.net

December 26, 2019

CNBNews Spotlight on NJ College Students

McDaniel College Students Return From Studying Abroad During Fall Semester

WESTMINSTER, MD (12/23/2019)– Nearly 20 McDaniel College students immersed themselves in another country through their study abroad experience during the fall 2019 semester,

including:

Valerie Galderisi of Ocean View (08230) studying at McDaniel College in Budapest in Budapest, Hungary

Hannah Thomson of Pennsauken (08109) studying at ISEP in Netherlands – Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, ISEP Exchange in Nijmegen, Netherlands

Over one-third of McDaniel students study abroad for academic credit in more than 50 countries.

For more information about the study abroad options at McDaniel College, including exchange programs, affiliated partners and McDaniel College Europe, visit

https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/career-services-experiential-opportunities/study-abroad

.

Visit

www.mcdaniel.edu

for more information about McDaniel College.

McDaniel College, founded in 1867, is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences offering more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including pre-professional specializations and student-designed majors, and over 20 graduate programs. One of 40 \”Colleges That Change Lives,\” McDaniel emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. Represented by the Green Terror, its 24 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. A student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.

www.mcdaniel.edu

Local Students Graduate During College of Charleston Winter 2019 Commencement

CHARLESTON, SC (12/23/2019)– More than 600 students graduated from the College of Charleston during Winter Commencement on December 14, 2019. The following local students earned degrees:

Michelle Latzer of Moorestown with a degree in Public Health .

Haley Spellman of Mount Laurel with a degree in Exercise Science .

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation\’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities, cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Exposure to Ozone Pollution or Wood Smoke Worsens Lung Health of Smokers/Former Smokers

Newswise — Over many years, exposure to the levels of ozone and other forms of pollution found in most U.S. cities and some rural communities can take a toll on a person’s health. Two studies led by Johns Hopkins researchers describe the impact of pollution on lung disease, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in the U.S.

In one study, published Dec. 9 in

JAMA Internal Medicine

, Johns Hopkins researchers found that, among other effects, long-term ozone exposure increases the risk of lung disease — and the severity of that disease — among both former and current smokers. In another study, published Oct. 23 in

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

, Johns Hopkins researchers also found that increased neighborhood use of wood as a primary heating source — which releases fine particles into the air — is associated with higher prevalence of lung disease among never-smokers in the community.

“Even if you spend very little time outside, the cumulative effect of pollution over many years seems adequate to have a negative impact on respiratory health,” says

Nadia Hansel, M.D., M.P.H.,

director of the pulmonary and critical care division, professor of medicine and associate dean for research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of both studies.

Ground-level, or tropospheric, ozone is formed when industrial pollutants interact with sunlight, and it is the main ingredient in the smog found around major cities. Ozone is known to irritate the lungs by increasing inflammation, and spikes of very high ozone levels — such as those that occur on hot, sunny days with heavy traffic — can exacerbate lung diseases such as asthma.

Former and current smokers are at high risk of chronic lung diseases and are particularly susceptible to environmental triggers for lung disease flare-ups. Smokers are particularly prone to COPD, a group of diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, characterized by chronic and progressive lung inflammation that leads to shortness of breath and coughing.

In the new

JAMA Internal Medicine

study, Hansel and her collaborators around the country used data collected from people in several U.S. cities as part of the SPIROMICS (Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study) air pollution study. Participants in SPIROMICS were former and current smokers ages 40–80. The new analysis included a subset of SPIROMICS participants for whom there was available data on the previous 10 years of ozone exposure — based on where people lived. These 1,874 participants were 54% male, 79% white, 37% current smokers and had smoked an average of 50 pack-years — the equivalent of 25 cigarettes a day for two years, or five cigarettes a day for 10 years.

After adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors as well as smoking status and pack-years, the researchers found that people who had been exposed to higher levels of ozone over the previous 10 years were more likely to have COPD. For every 5-parts-per-billion increase in a person’s 10-year ozone exposure, they were 16% more likely to have COPD and 37% more likely to have had a severe exacerbation of the disease in the year prior to study enrollment. The same 5-parts-per-billion increase in ozone exposure was also associated with an increase in the percentage of people with emphysema and a worsening score of the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, which reflects health impairment affecting quality of life.

“What really stood out was that the effect was apparent even among current heavy smokers,” says Hansel. “This means that active smoking doesn’t outweigh this effect of ozone.”

In other words, even people already at the highest risk of COPD had an increased risk with ozone exposure. Moreover, Hansel says, the effect of increasing ozone was apparent even when ozone exposure was at the low end of the spectrum, such as among people living in northeastern cities where dark winters lead to an annual ozone exposure that’s relatively low compared with that of many southwestern locales.

“I think this adds to increasing evidence that there is probably no healthy level of ozone,” she says. “There are policies that suggest we just need to reach certain targets and everything will be OK, but in my mind that is probably not enough.” Policymakers must develop ways to get ozone as low as possible, she adds, rather than aiming for a particular target number.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that COPD costs the U.S. health care system more than $32 billion, and that there are approximately 7 million COPD-related emergency room visits in the U.S. each year. Hansel and her colleagues calculated that a 5-parts-per-billion decrease in 10-year ozone levels could reduce emergency room visits by 27%, saving a substantial amount of money on COPD care.

While the

JAMA Internal Medicine

study only measured lung health, previous research has suggested that high levels of ozone can affect cardiovascular health. So Hansel hypothesizes that long-term exposure to ambient levels of ozone may have similar effects on heart disease as it does to lung disease.

“The adverse health effects of ozone likely go beyond what we’ve identified here,” says Hansel. “And we need to keep building evidence of these effects so that it’s not debatable anymore that we need to do more to clean the air.”

In the second paper, researchers including Hansel, associate professor of medicine Meredith McCormack, M.D., M.H.S., and pulmonary and critical care medicine fellow Sarath Raju, M.D., studied data on 8,500 adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 2007–2012. Of the participants, 19.5% resided in rural areas and 29.6% in urban areas. Rural areas, with a 12.0% prevalence of COPD, had more than double the disease burden seen in urban communities, with a 5.9% prevalence.

By analyzing differences between urban and rural communities that might affect COPD risk, the team discovered that communities with a high rate of solid fuel use — either coal or wood for primary heating — were associated with COPD prevalence. A 1% increase in the number of homes using wood as the primary heating source was linked to 12% higher odds of COPD among people who have never smoked. In rural areas, 4.1% of people used wood as their primary heating source, as opposed to 0.6% in urban areas.

“Wood smoke is a household source of pollution that is associated with high levels of particulate matter and toxic gases,” says Raju, first author of the

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

paper. “We hope that this paper raises awareness of the growing epidemic of rural COPD.”

The researchers are now launching further studies that aim to collect individual level — rather than community level — data on environmental exposures that might contribute to COPD. They’re also partnering with other institutions to study COPD rates and risks in rural Appalachia.

Other authors on the

JAMA Internal Medicine

paper were Han Woo, Roger Peng, Ashraf Fawzy, Nirupama Putcha and Patrick Breysse of Johns Hopkins; Laura Paulin of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; Amanda Gassett, Kipruto Kirwa and Joel Kaufman of University of Washington; Neil Alexis of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Richard Kanner, Robert Paine III and Cheryl Pirozzi of University of Utah; Stephen Peters of Wake Forest University; Jerry Krishnan of University of Illinois at Chicago; Mark Dransfield of University of Alabama, Birmingham; Prescott Woodruff of University of California, San Francisco; Christopher Cooper of University of California, Los Angeles; Graham Barr of Columbia University Medical Center; Alejandro Comellas and Eric Hoffman of University of Iowa; MeiLan Han of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Fernando Martinez of Weill Cornell Medicine.

The work described in the

JAMA Internal Medicine paper

, part of the broader SPIROMICS study, was supported by the National Institutes of Health (HHSN268200900013C, HHSN268200900014C, HHSN268200900015C, HHSN268200900016C, HHSN268200900017C, HHSN268200900018C, HHSN268200900019C, HHSN268200900020C, U01 HL137880, R01ES023500, K23ES025781), AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Bayer, Bellerophon Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A., Forest Research Institute Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Grifols Therapeutics Inc., Inkaria Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Nycomed GmbH, ProterixBio, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanofi, Sunovion, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Theravance Biopharma, and Mylan.

Other authors of the

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

paper are Emily Brigham, Nirupama Putcha and Aparna Balasubramanian of Johns Hopkins and Laura Paulin of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The

AJRCCM

paper was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P50MD010431, F32 ES029786-01, R21ES025840, T32 HL007534-36) and the Environmental Protection Agency (R836150).

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Agents

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning after using his Twitter account to threaten to kill agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and charged by complaint with one count of interstate communications containing threats to injure. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 11, 2019, Tariche used one of his Twitter accounts to post threats to ICE agents: “We need to kill all ICE agents.”  He also posted: “Why can’t mass shootings occur at @ICEgov buildings them mfs need to get smoked.” Tariche also used his Twitter account to compare his feelings to that of Elliot Rodger, the individual who carried out a mass shooting at Isla Vista, California, murdering six people and shooting 14 others. Tariche also posted on Twitter: “You might’ve heard I paint houses,” a phrase that refers to murdering people and that was recently popularized by the movie, “The Irishman,” which depicts a mafia hitman.

Law enforcement officers were able to link Tariche to his Twitter account through an investigation of his social media accounts and the locations from where he logged onto his Twitter accounts.

The charge of interstate communications containing threats carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Find out what you need to figure out when decorating your walls with mosaic

Gloucestercitynews.net (Dec. 25, 21019)–Mosaics are not the recent discovery, as you may know. Earlier their use was mostly confined to the floor decoration. But things started changing since the Paleochristian era when they made their appearance on the building walls for decorative purposes. The art may have disappeared from the trend for some time; however, nobody could resist its luxurious appeal and uniqueness. That’s why perhaps it has made a successful comeback both in commercial and residential projects. So, as a homeowner, if you want to adopt this tiled artwork in your interiors, then make it a part of the walls. It can breathe in a new soul into them when done thoughtfully.

Find the right place for it first

Mosaic tiles can decorate any walls easily

, and hence, you don\’t need to limit your imagination and choice of design. But make sure the side you choose for this artwork has clear visibility in the house.

For example, if you explore previous designs and themes, you will notice that most of them found their place in the entrance halls where anyone would host their guests. Considering this factor, you can have it beautify the wall in the lounge, a dining area, kitchen, or even a bathroom. In the bathroom, it can give you a bit of a Roman feel.

No matter which area of your house you choose for this, you should feel enthusiastic about it. Then only it makes the best choice.

Designs

Dimension and form can be two critical factors to consider here. What location you choose for this artwork will be integral to this decision. If you select a huge theme for a small space, it can look loud, and if the area is reasonably large and the piece of mosaic art is comparatively tiny, then it will not be as effective as it should be. Hence, being sure about the dimension is necessary.

When done with this part, you can decide on the types of shapes, sizes, textures, and techniques. During ancient times, artists used tiles directly on the walls. But in this era, you can have them framed and use as paintings.

So, there is a vast scope of experimentation. You can bring something to cover the entire wall or a part of it. You can also buy one large frame and a couple of tiny ones to arrange them attractively. It is all up to you what you want to do. Nowadays, the artistic style is quite popular. If you are an ardent lover of art and believe in collecting timeless pieces, then the creative designs should appeal to your taste.

These are two main points that need your attention when you plan to jazz up the appearance of your walls in the house. Some people still go with the idea of embedding the tiles into a wall. Although there is nothing wrong with it, you will not have the flexibility to do anything else there in the future. However, it doesn\’t mean that it will go out of trend. It is just that if you get a frame, you will have much more freedom. For design ideas and other assistance, you can visit

Mosaicist

.

image source pinterest

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Agents

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning after using his Twitter account to threaten to kill agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and charged by complaint with one count of interstate communications containing threats to injure. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 11, 2019, Tariche used one of his Twitter accounts to post threats to ICE agents: “We need to kill all ICE agents.”  He also posted: “Why can’t mass shootings occur at @ICEgov buildings them mfs need to get smoked.” Tariche also used his Twitter account to compare his feelings to that of Elliot Rodger, the individual who carried out a mass shooting at Isla Vista, California, murdering six people and shooting 14 others. Tariche also posted on Twitter: “You might’ve heard I paint houses,” a phrase that refers to murdering people and that was recently popularized by the movie, “The Irishman,” which depicts a mafia hitman.

Law enforcement officers were able to link Tariche to his Twitter account through an investigation of his social media accounts and the locations from where he logged onto his Twitter accounts.

The charge of interstate communications containing threats carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

One Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Wins $140,963 Jackpot in Ocean County

TRENTON (Dec. 24, 2019) – One lucky ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $140,963 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the Monday, Dec. 23, drawing. The winning numbers were: 10, 22, 23, 25 and 40 and the XTRA number was: 04. The retailer will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for the winning ticket sold. That ticket was sold at Jay’s Food Mart, 358 Herbertsville Rd., Brick in Ocean County.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 286,462 tickets purchased for the drawing. By adding XTRA, for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn. For correctly matching four of the five numbers drawn, 39 ticketholders won $543 each and 13 others won $2,172 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three of the five numbers drawn, 1,789 ticketholders won $14 each and 355 others won $56 each with the addition of XTRA. Lastly 4,456 ticketholders each won $2 for correctly matching two of the five numbers drawn with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.