Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s extraordinarily important that I have a strong relationship with the press. But I do have a long-standing policy that when we’re on government property and when I’m on my constituents’ time, I don’t do hallway interviews.” – Rep. Kean
TOP STORY: Bashaw Debate Freeze Hardly Helps in Uphill Battle
Health care costs in the state are among the highest in the nation, according to NJ.com.
Far-right influencers have found an audience in the state, according to NJ.com.
Electric vehicle sales in the state are increasing, as is the sales tax, according to NJ Spotlight.
Hollywood is coming to the Jersey Shore, according to the Asbury Park Press.
NJ veterans’ families are wary of new oversight, according to NJ Spotlight.
American Water is dealing with a cyberattack, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Middlesex County improved election security.
ICYMI: Insider NJ’s Who’s And Who’s Down; labor hit Philly streets as PA Dems build Harris coalition; Philly Dems in gear for Harris; Murphy discussed lowering voting age
GOP Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw’s ‘debate freeze‘ drew attention. Bashaw announced a ‘Fill Up Jersey’ food tour.
Women leaders are preparing to fight the Trump ticket following the reversal of Roe.
In CD2, Joe Salerno was endorsed by Reps. Gottheimer, Norcross, Menendez, and Pallone.
In CD7, Rep. Kean gave an interview with ROI-NJ, addressing his relationship with the press, SALT, security, and other issues.
In CD9, Senator Pou was endorsed by 32BJ.
Activist Larry Hamm endorsed VP Harris.
ICYMI: Emhoff campaigned in the state; Altman held her fourth campaign town hall; NOW-NJ released endorsements; frustration over stolen lawn signs; Delgado will serve as the Harris-Walz state director; Ali to preside over GOP county chairs; Kim campaigned in Bergen; Bashaw positioned as centrist
Officials weighed in on how to keep cell phones out of students’ hands, according to NJ Monitor.
The Senate Budget Committee approved legislation implementing the StayNJ program.
Lawmakers say the state should stop charging parents whose children are in state care, according to NJ.com.
Assemblyman Marenco introduced bills to create a staet AI system, according to Hudson County View.
ICYMI: ‘Freedom To Read Act’ advanced;; insiders consider Scutari future
In Dover, Councilmember Ruiz set a fundraising record.
In Atlantic City, the city is considering ending Class II policing, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bernardsville, a stalled recreation plan is awaiting council action, according to NJ Hills.
In Bridgewater, 83 acres on Route 22 is being recommended for redevelopment, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Clifton, a plan to bond for road repairs was approved, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Freehold, the racetrack closure brings a lawsuit and questions about gambling, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Frelinghuysen, the town opened its first volunteer fire station in 40 years, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Jersey City, community groups hosted a BOE forum, according to Hudson County View.
In Millville, the town is targeting the homeless with a sleeping ban, according to NJ Spotlight.
In North Brunswick, an emergency shelter is being added to the municipal complex, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Paterson, Moody’s put the city’s finances ‘under review’ after a late audit, according to the Paterson Press.
In Sea Girt, wind power protesters took their rally to a Murphy event, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Tinton Falls, a leader’s unusual voice struggle spurred a fundraising, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Westwood, the new superintendent wants to keep schools moving forward, according to the Bergen Record.
ICYMI: In Marlboro, BOE race polarized; in Jersey City, Gilmore fundraising presence causes havoc; Solomon slapped at McGreevey as he kicked off his mayoral candidacy, which could shake up the 2025 race; in Paterson, oral arguments set to begin over takeover; in AC, Small, wife indicted
AROUND THE WEB:
NJ Democrats canvas Pennsylvania. Will it help?: Opinion
Charles Stile, NorthJersey.com
- New Jersey Democratic volunteers are targeting key suburban battlegrounds in Pennsylvania with canvassing efforts. Will it work?
Democrats push to lower voting age to 16 for school board races
Daniel O’Connor, NJ Monitor
- Top New Jersey Democrats promised to push legislation lowering the voting age to 16 for school board elections statewide at a teen activist conference at Rutgers’ Newark campus on Saturday. As book bans and the risks of school shootings have politicized high schools nationwide, dozens of young activists, many of them high school students, gathered at Saturday’s Vote 16 Youth Summit hosted by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.
Manufacturing Day marked by huge crowds, large amounts of optimism – and small pockets of concern
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- As he strolled to the podium at the annual Made in New Jersey Manufacturing Day, Peter Connolly – the CEO of the N.J. Manufacturing Extension Program – joked that they didn’t have his walk-up music going: Days Like These, by Van Morrison, he had requested. “Because there’s nothing like days like these,” he said to an overflow crowd of more than 1,000 at iPlay America in Freehold – a group that came to interact with more than 75 vendors and see more than 100 students compete in a robotics competition.
WATCH: The New Jersey U.S. Senate Debate
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Republican nominee Curtis Bashaw and Democrat Congressman Andy Kim met for their first and only planned debate on Sunday night at a webcast live event hosted by New Jersey Globe.
Op-Ed: NJ’s ‘half-measures and empty promises’ on school facilities
Robert Kim, Nikki Baker, NJ Spotlight
- The 2024-25 school year is barely underway, and already inadequate school facilities are having a negative impact on teaching and learning. Several school districts that opened in late August had to close or dismiss students early because of excessive heat. It’s hard to believe, but in 2024, in one of the wealthiest states in the country, we still send students and teachers into un-airconditioned, poorly ventilated facilities.
Gas is below $3 in NJ. Will Israel-Iran conflict cause it to rise again?
Daniel Munoz, NorthJersey.com
- New Jersey gas prices are reaching their lowest levels since 2021 before the effects of inflation had fully set in, but a hurricane and tensions in the Middle East could reverse that trend. Going into the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas on Israel, Iran launched missiles at Israel for the second time this year. Israel has promised to retaliate, further raising fears that what started as a regional conflict will engulf the Middle East.
Did New Jersey just try to nudge a judge for a congestion pricing decision?
Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- While one lawsuit seeking to force the start of New York’s $15 congestion fee to enter lower Manhattan is moving forward, an attorney in New Jersey’s separate case to stop the fee has nudged a judge for a ruling.
Face it: Donald Trump, at 78, has lost his grip | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- Has anyone noticed that Donald Trump, at age 78, is no longer capable of expressing a cogent thought? He is not the man he was in 2016, and the decline should scare us. You might not appreciate how much ground he has lost if you only read the snippets. Because reporters covering his rallies often try to help their readers make sense of Trump’s rambling by quoting short excepts, couched by their own interpretations of what he probably meant to say. There’s even a new term for it – sanewashing.
The five things we *know* as the final sprint begins
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- I’m not in the business of making campaign projections, Save Jerseyans, but when you’re on the radio and run a site like this one, people understandably want to know where yours truly believes the presidential race stands.
‘Patrice: The Movie’ shows NJ couple in new fight for marriage equality
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- Patrice Jetter and her longtime boyfriend Gary Wickham want nothing more than to get married and solidify their commitment to each other like countless other couples. But a new documentary streaming on Hulu called “Patrice: the Movie” reveals the harsh reality of their love story. If the Central Jersey couple legally marries– or even lives together– they’ll lose the very disability benefits they rely on to survive. It’s known as the marriage penalty, and it’s a devastating barrier people in the disabled community face regularly.
NJ veterans’ families wary of new oversight
Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight
- Veterans advocates and families are welcoming, but wary, after New Jersey agreed to accept an independent monitor at its troubled state-run veterans homes in Paramus and Menlo Park. “My father was very proud of his service in the Army, and our veterans didn’t get the care they deserved at Menlo Park,” says Regina Discenza.
No, Bruce Springsteen has not said he’s leaving the US if Donald Trump wins the election
Chris Jordan, Asbury Park Press
- Bruce Springsteen was born in the U.S.A., and he isn’t leaving. The false proposition that is Springsteen is leaving the United States if Donald Trump is elected president next month is starting to pop up again on social media, seemingly triggered by the Boss’ Oct. 3 endorsement of Kamala Harris.
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Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for October 8, 2024
As the sun rises on another day in New Jersey, Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing is here to provide you with all the latest news and updates from around the state. Here are some of the top stories you need to know for October 8, 2024:
1. Governor Murphy Announces New Initiatives to Combat Climate Change: Governor Phil Murphy has unveiled a series of new initiatives aimed at combating climate change in New Jersey. These include investments in renewable energy sources, efforts to reduce carbon emissions, and plans to protect the state’s natural resources. The governor emphasized the importance of taking action now to address the growing threat of climate change.
2. State Legislature Passes Bill to Expand Access to Healthcare: The New Jersey State Legislature has passed a bill that will expand access to healthcare for residents across the state. The bill includes provisions to increase funding for community health centers, improve mental health services, and address disparities in healthcare access. Supporters of the bill say it will help ensure that all New Jersey residents have access to quality healthcare.
3. New Jersey Schools Receive Funding Boost: Several schools in New Jersey are set to receive a funding boost thanks to a new state budget allocation. The funding will be used to support programs aimed at improving student achievement, providing resources for teachers, and enhancing school facilities. Education advocates have praised the move, saying it will help ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.
4. Local Businesses Prepare for Holiday Season: With the holiday season fast approaching, many local businesses in New Jersey are gearing up for increased sales and foot traffic. From small boutiques to large retailers, businesses are stocking up on inventory, hiring seasonal staff, and planning special promotions to attract customers. Business owners are optimistic about the upcoming holiday season and are hopeful for a successful end to the year.
5. Sports Update: In sports news, the New Jersey Devils are set to take on the Philadelphia Flyers in a highly anticipated matchup tonight. Fans are eager to see how the Devils will perform against their division rivals and are hoping for a thrilling game. Meanwhile, high school football teams across the state are gearing up for another weekend of action-packed games as they compete for playoff spots.
That’s all for Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for October 8, 2024. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day as we bring you the latest news and information from around the Garden State.
