Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
TOP STORY: Republicans Try to Make a Contest of it in Morristown
The state fears the impact of deep federal health funding cuts, according to NJ Spotlight.
NJ is among the states that want to make oil companies pay for climate disasters, according to NJ Monitor.
NJ student loan borrowers could see their credit scores drop, according to NorthJersey.com.
A NJ Wall Streeter is President Trump’s pick to lead Social Security, according to NJ Spotlight.
Canadian tourists may avoid the Jersey Shore this summer, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
I-80 lanes will remain closed for another month, according to NJ101.5.
Senator Booker gave a marathon speech on the Senate floor.
Rep. Conaway held a livestream Q&A, according to TAPinto.
Rep. Kean held a brief telephone briefing for constituents, according to NJ Spotlight.
MAGA celebrity Scott Presler seeks to turn the state red, according to Politico.
Rep. Sherrill seems to be the Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner, but it could be a mirage, according to NorthJersey.com.
An ad urges Jewish Republicans to vote for Rep. Gottheimer in the Democratic primary, according to NJ Monitor.
Over 300 attended a ‘Women for Ras Baraka’ fundraiser.
Kranjac lost over 200 petition signatures on the first day of a challenge, according to NJ Globe.
In LD32, Assembly candidates Bhalla and Brennan say the state should withhold tax payments to the federal government in response to cuts.
In CD7, a Disney exec is mulling a candidacy, according to Politico NJ.
ICYMI: Fulop LG names circulating; Sweeney picked fight with Sherrill; notable observations from filing day; source describes GOP guv primary as ‘over’; Russo slammed Spiller; guv primary movements sparked intrigue; Fulop to announce LG pick; Sherrill unveiled ‘Affordability Agenda’; Durr ended guv bid; Pennacchio endorsed Ciattarelli; Wimberly hasn’t decided on guv pick
Download and read Insider NJ’s Healthcare Power List publication.
A judge’s retirement party solicited cash for gifts and caused judicial delays, according to NJ Globe.
The Chamber of Commerce of Southern NJ promoted two, according to ROI-NJ.
In Cranford, the budget was discussed, according to TAPinto.
In Edison, the budget was introduced, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Glassboro, a groundbreaking heralded a new downtown duplex project, according to Burlington County Times.
In Mendham, a lawn sign campaign rejecting a approved development is ramping up, according to NJ Hills.
In Metuchen, another convenience store may be coming to downtown, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Ocean, the township is eying a aging shopping center as a new municipal HQ, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Palisades Park, the Bergen prosecutor took over police internal affairs, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Parsippany, the council will discuss affordable housing, according to Parsippany Focus.
In Plainfield, the school district wants to raise taxes 36%, according to NJ.com.
In Robbinsville, Mayor Fried won’t seek re-election, according to NJ Globe.
In Trenton, the mayor says a flawed no-bid park contract ‘got away from us’, according to the Jersey Vindicator.
AROUND THE WEB:
The I-80 sinkholes sunk my commute from Sussex to Morris. How are we coping? | Opinion
Kate Finnegan, Special to the USA TODAY Network
- “Should I go through Lake Hopatcong? Maybe try and get to the Wharton back roads? Maybe way out down 206 through Chester?” If you’re a northern New Jersey commuter whose life has been disrupted by the sinkholes on Route 80, this morning monologue may sound familiar.
When will New York and New Jersey’s politicians stop filing meritless lawsuits? | Opinion
Alex Daniel and Tom Stebbins, Special to the USA TODAY Network
- Over the last six months, judges in New Jersey and New York have made clear to headline-hunting politicians that using local lawsuits to regulate matters of global concern is a waste of courtroom resources that undermines bedrock Constitutional principles.
The Emanet family thanks their South Jersey neighbors with free food as deportation proceedings loom
Jeff Gammage, Philadelphia Inquirer
- It was a line of love, made up of hundreds of people who collectively stretched halfway down the block from the front door of the reopened Jersey Kebab restaurant on Sunday. One man drove all the way from New Brunswick, bringing dates as a gift. Others brought flowers. And hugs, handshakes, and words of care as Celal and Emine Emanet joyfully reopened their Haddon Township restaurant, closed since the Turkish couple was arrested by ICE agents last month.
50 years of Mount Laurel: Shaping affordable housing
ROI NJ Staff
- This week marks 50 years since the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Mount Laurel decision, a landmark ruling that established the state’s commitment to affordable housing. The March 1975 decision declared that municipalities could not use zoning laws to exclude lower-income residents, setting a precedent for housing policy nationwide.
New Jersey lawmakers should embrace transit, not traffic
Patrick DiRoma, Bergen County Complete Streets
- Three months into the long-awaited congestion pricing program, the signs are clear: congestion pricing works. The policy is doing what no amount of roadway expansions have managed to achieve – significantly reducing travel times, saving residents valuable time that they would rather spend doing anything other than sitting in traffic. And unlike adding more car lanes, as the proposed New Jersey Turnpike expansion would do, it is creating healthier and safer places to live, work, and play.
New Jersey must do more to stop illegal vapes
NJ Monitor
- In 2020, federal officials and the state of New Jersey banned flavored vapes, a move meant to curb youth addiction to nicotine. But if you take a walk in one of our cities, step into a corner store, or glance at the discarded vape cartridges littering our streets, you’d find it hard to believe those bans exist. The scent of cotton candy, blue raspberry, and fruit punch drifts across our streets, a telltale sign that these products are still everywhere, still easily accessible, and still hooking an entire generation on nicotine.
VIDEO: Kanitra gets BPU president to admit she’s focused on climate ideology, not affordability
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Paul Kanitra (R-Ocean) did a beautiful job of getting the president of the Board of Public Utilities to admit during a Friday Assembly hearing that her priorities are green ideology and not affordable energy for residents. The hearing comes only a week after a story – first reported by Save Jersey – detailing a DEI-style BPU plan to tie utility bills to ratepayer income.
ICE arrests owner of Montgomery restaurant YaYa Noodles
Krystal Knapp, Planet Princeton
- US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Montgomery resident and business owner Ming Xi Zhang on March 24 in Newark and placed him in an ICE detention center. Ming Xi Zhang, known to many area residents as Sushi John, owns YaYa Noodles, which is located in the Montgomery Shopping Center on Route 206 North in Skillman.
Large vessels on the Delaware River lose steering, propulsion or power monthly
Susanna Granieri, Delaware Currents |
- Large vessels on the Delaware River have lost power, steering or propulsion an average of at least 13 times a year from January 2013 through January 2024, putting bridges and other vessels in danger of a catastrophe similar to what happened in Baltimore last year, according to U.S. Court Guard data exclusively analyzed by Delaware Currents.
Teen attacked outside of Trenton McDonalds deserves better than spectators
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Students watched as several attackers kicked and punched their victim until he fell onto the sidewalk. The beating continued until a man managed to intervene and end the brutal incident as the victim rose to find his face covered by blood.
Linwood’s Blee will miss the bench in new job overseeing 9,000 judges, staff
Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City
- Superior Court Judge Michael Blee had a choice to make when he graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a few decades ago. He could pursue a Ph.D., teach at the university level and coach football and rugby, which he played in college, or go into law. The law won.
Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for April 1st, 2025
Insider NJ is a trusted source for news and information in New Jersey, providing daily updates on politics, business, and current events in the state. The Daily Morning Briefing for April 1st, 2025, offers a comprehensive overview of the top stories and developments happening in New Jersey.
One of the key highlights from the briefing is the latest on the state’s budget negotiations. Governor Smith is set to unveil his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, outlining his priorities and spending plans for the state. This will be a crucial moment for lawmakers and residents alike, as they look to see how the budget will impact key areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
In addition to the budget news, the briefing also covers updates on important legislative initiatives in the state. From healthcare reform to environmental protection measures, Insider NJ provides a detailed look at the bills and policies being discussed in Trenton.
Another key focus of the briefing is the upcoming elections in New Jersey. With several key races on the horizon, including the gubernatorial race, Insider NJ provides analysis and insights into the candidates and their platforms. This will be a critical election year for New Jersey, as residents look to elect leaders who will address pressing issues facing the state.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for April 1st, 2025, offers a comprehensive snapshot of the latest news and developments in New Jersey. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or policymaker, this briefing provides valuable information to keep you informed and engaged in the state’s political landscape. Stay tuned for more updates from Insider NJ as they continue to cover the latest news and events shaping New Jersey’s future.
