Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I know sometimes people get frustrated; they say, ‘Are you having success? And I think we are having success, but there’s a lot more that needs to be done, because the magnitude of Trump’s policies and the hurt they’re inflicting on the country is devastating.” – Rep. Pallone
TOP STORY: Inside the Democratic Primary for Governor
The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be off on Monday and will return on Tuesday.
NJ schools are recovering from the pandemic, but inequities remain, according to NJ Spotlight.
Closing arguments were underway in Nadine Menendez’s trial, according to NJ Spotlight.
Partnerships are emreging to tackle homelessness at Newark Penn Station, according to NJ Herald.
Cape May County introduced the budget, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Mercer County leaders expressed opposition to SEPTA cuts, according to the Trenton Journal.
Morris County released a development activity report, according to NJ Hills.
Rep. Watson Coleman ignited a firestorm over comments about President Trump, according to NJ101.5.
Rep. Pallone wants to be a bulwark against President Trump, according to NJ Globe.
ICYMI: Booker held a town hall; Sherrill galvanized supporters; Booker made history; Christie considers Habba, gives guv race perspective
In Atlantic City, the budget includes the sixth straight tax decrease, according to Atlantic County Focus.
In Beach Haven, the budget was introduced, according to the Sandpaper.
In Bordentown, area developers offered $1M to the school district, according to TAPinto.
In Camden, a troubled scrapyard owner will pay $6.7M after a fire forced families to evacuate, according to NJ.com.
In Clifton, plans for a new hotel were scrapped, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Collingswood, a new public works building was opened, according to NJ Pen.
In Elizabeth, the council pushed back against the sale of the county jail, according to UC Hawk.
In Fanwood, the council is considering a cannabis cultivation facility, according to UC Hawk.
In Hoboken, the council voted to prohibit non-essential helicopter activity over the city, according to TAPinto.
In Lacey, schools are considering cutting sports and selling a school to balance the budget, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Lambertville, a PFAS crisis is unfolding on Connaught Hill, according to the Jersey Vindicator.
In Little Egg Harbor, residents raised concerns about the budget, according to the Sandpaper.
In Long Branch, a beachfront condo plan was approved, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Lopatcong, nearly $10M is planned to fix a Route 57 bridge, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Marlboro, a GOP challenger has to move quickly to get on the ballot, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Millville, residents demanded to know why a hydrant wasn’t working during a fatal fire, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Montclair, the school district withheld a budget document, according to Montclair Local.
In Montville, Republicans have a primary for two committee seats.
In New Brunswick, the budget was introduced, according to TAPinto.
In Old Bridge, the schools chief is departing, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Parsippany, the budget was introduced, according to Parsippany Focus.
In Perth Amboy, there’s a heated battle over properties, according to NJ.com.
In Piscataway, the town is incorporating workforce housing amid high costs, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Plainfield, the town faces the largest school tax increase in years, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Princeton, the council raised eyebrows at the library budget, according to TAPinto.
In Readington, a sign-stealing councilman pleaded to a lesser offense, according to NJ Globe.
In South Orange, Councilwoman Hilton resigned, according to TAPinto.
In Spring Lake, the town is debating a ‘paper street’, according to TAPinto.
In Stafford, the school district added $1M, according to the Sandpaper.
In Surf City, competing festival organizers are divided on the impact, according to the Sandpaper.
In Trenton, Councilwoman Feliciano addressed rumours about a mayoral run, according to the Trentonian. State Police still have a presence in the city, according to the Trentonian.
AROUND THE WEB:
The Assembly boom and every other competitive primary this year
Zach Blackburn, NJ Globe
- By the time U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi outlawed the county organization line for last year’s Democratic primary, the filing deadline had already passed, meaning that candidate lists were already set before the candidates knew what ballots would look like – and forcing the state to wait a year to see what a truly lineless election cycle could look like.
This is why New Jersey needs a balanced approach to affordable energy | Opinion
Wayne DeAngelo
- Last month, there was an updated draft of the Energy Master Plan — a blueprint that aims to make New Jersey a national leader in clean energy, cutting emissions, and building a more sustainable economy. I believe wholeheartedly in the vision of a greener future. But, as policymakers, we must also be honest: the path to that future must be grounded in practicality, affordability, and fairness.
Rowan College of South Jersey president is resigning. Here’s what’s next for him.
Nick Butler, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Fred Keating, the president of Rowan College of South Jersey, has resigned after leading the college for 15 years. Keating’s resignation is set to take effect June 30. He’s announced plans transition into a new leadership role with Rowan University instead.
New Jersey attorney general sues Discord app for ‘alarming’ security lapses
Dana DiFilippo, NJ Monitor
- New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin sued the messaging app Discord Thursday under the state Consumer Fraud Act, saying the tech giant has failed to protect underage users from sexual predators, harassment, and violent content. Platkin, who also has sued TikTok and Meta, alleges Discord misleads parents and users about the efficacy of its “porous security features that Discord knows do not work as promised.” The decade-old platform, which caters to teens and gamers, has 200 million users.
New Jersey’s autism rate rose 300% over two decades
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- We learned this week that U.S. autism rates have surged, Save Jerseyans: 1 in 31 American children are on the spectrum according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.
ELEC: O’Dea raises $225k in Q1 haul for Jersey City mayoral run, $1.1M COH
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea raised $224,871.21 in his quarter 1 haul in the Jersey City mayoral race, with $1,092,504.56 cash on hand, his latest reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) show.
Alfred Lubrano, Philadelphia Inquirer
- An Asian-owned company based in Nashville will be permitted to retain the $1.73 billion contract it won last year to run the E-ZPass electronic toll-collection system on the New Jersey Turnpike and other state roads.
Trump wants to deport criminals. OK. But where’s the evidence? | Opinion
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- The question seemed small, even inconsequential. Several weeks ago, the federal judge in Newark, hearing early arguments in the messy deportation case of a Columbia University student accused of leading pro-Palestinian campus protests, wanted to know who was in charge of the immigration detention jail in Louisiana where the student was being held.
Newsweek names 15 in NJ among America’s Best Maternity Hospitals
Dawn Furnas, njbiz.com
- Newsweek delivered its America’s Best Maternity Hospitals ranking for 2025, highlighting the facilities “that excel in providing exceptional care throughout the pregnancy, delivery and postpartum period.” Released April 16, the list names the 444 leading maternity centers in the U.S. For 2025, 15 New Jersey health care providers landed on the list, with seven earning the highest honor, and eight others ranking in the second tier.
A look back 5 years ago during COVID-19 lockdowns in NJ in photos
Dennis Malloy, NJ1015
- This month five years ago, we were still waiting to flatten the curve. This week marks the anniversary of states like New Jersey one month into the COVID lockdowns. Some people were scared to death and others were frightened by the actions of state governments like New Jersey’s that would restrict so much of our lives. Tempers flared, families became divided, and the public waited for the “all clear” or a miracle vaccine that would save us all.
Confessions of a white supremacist
Spencer Kent, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- A lost soul searched for community. He found it with a N.J. hate group.
How is Trenton working to address NJ’s coming electricity rate hikes?
Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com
- With New Jersey utility rates expected to rise this summer by as much as $20 each month — or about 17% to 20% — talk in Trenton has revolved around how the state got here and what can be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Van Drew signs onto GOP letter advocating against Medicaid cuts
Joey Fox, NJ Globe
- Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) has been saying for months that he won’t support Republican legislation that includes a cut to Medicaid; now, he’s put that commitment in writing. In a letter that was sent to House GOP leaders on Monday, Van Drew and eleven other House Republicans insist that as Republicans work to draft their major tax- and spending-cut legislation this spring, Medicaid – the massive federal health care program for low-income Americans – needs to be protected in order for a bill to earn their vote. The letter was first reported by Punchbowl News this morning.
New Law Mandates More Practice For Teen Drivers
Katie Moen, UC Hawk
- New Jersey teens will soon have to spend a lot more time behind the wheel before they can earn their driver’s license thanks to a new state law that mandates 50 hours of practice time for all new drivers.
Reports: Hamas ‘lost contact’ with Hamas hostage Edan Alexander
Dan Alexander, NJ1015
- Hamas says it has lost contact with its militants who were holding Edan Alexander, an IDF soldier from New Jersey, hostage in Gaza. A spokesman for the terrorist organization said that the Israeli army made a direct hit on the place where the now 21-year-old from Tenafly was being held. The Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Muwasi area was struck on Tuesday, killing a medic and wounding nine others but it’s not clear if that is where Alexander is being held.
Want a new hiking trail at Jockey Hollow? The National Park Service wants to know
Morristown Green
- The National Park Service (NPS) seeks public input on a proposed interpretative hiking trail at the Jockey Hollow area of Morristown National Historical Park. NPS will accept comments from April 17, 2025, to May 17, 2025.
Planned music festival was never going to take place near condos, Atlantic City mayor says
John O’Connor, Press of Atlantic City
- A Caribbean music festival originally planned to take place in July in front of the Ocean Club Condominiums at the former Chelsea Beach Bar is now expected to occur at a different location in the city, Mayor Marty Small Sr. says.
Insider NJ is a popular news source that provides daily briefings on the latest news and updates in New Jersey. Their daily briefing for April 18, 2025, was filled with important information that residents of the state should be aware of.
One of the top stories in the briefing was about a new bill that was introduced in the state legislature. The bill aimed to increase funding for public schools in low-income areas and improve access to quality education for all students. This news was met with mixed reactions from lawmakers and residents, with some praising the initiative and others expressing concerns about how the funding would be allocated.
Another key story in the briefing was about a major infrastructure project that was set to begin in Newark. The project aimed to improve transportation in the city and reduce traffic congestion. This news was welcomed by residents who had been dealing with long commutes and delays due to the city’s outdated infrastructure.
In addition to these stories, the briefing also included updates on local politics, business developments, and community events happening across the state. This comprehensive coverage of news and events in New Jersey makes Insider NJ’s daily briefing a valuable resource for residents looking to stay informed about what’s happening in their state.
Overall, Insider NJ’s daily briefing for April 18, 2025, provided a snapshot of the important news and updates that were shaping the state at that time. From legislative initiatives to infrastructure projects, the briefing covered a wide range of topics that were relevant to residents of New Jersey. By staying up-to-date with Insider NJ’s daily briefings, residents can stay informed and engaged with the issues that matter most to them.
