Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Law enforcement decisions should never depend on who you know, your family connections, or donations to police unions. Nepotism and favoritism undermine our laws and make our roads more dangerous.” – Acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh
TOP STORY: The Mystery Drones on
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An OSC investigation finds that State Police troopers gave a ‘free pass’ to motorists with courtesy cards or police ties.
The feds say drones pose no danger, but NJ officials are taking no chances, according to MyCentralJersey. Alleged drone sightings have skyrocketed in the state since mid-November, according to the Daily Journal. The mystery of the drones is droning on.
The state’s toxic military burn pits could soon be curbed, according to NJ Spotlight.
The state may enact a ban on retail pet sales, following NY, according to NJ.com.
The state is looking to blunt social media impacts on eating disorders, according to NJ Spotlight.
The state recovered nearly $596M from lawsuits and investigations last year, according to NJ Biz.
The state’s federal district court could soon get the chance to expand, according to NJ Globe.
Nick Mammano will succeed Paul Juliano as NJ Sports and Exposition Authority CEO, according to NJ Globe.
The state is weighing making underage gambling no longer a crime, according to NJ101.5.
Senator Kim discussed his six years in the House, according to NJ Globe.
Rep. Gottheimer provided an update on drone activity following a classified briefing.
Cooper University Healthcare was honored at the ESGR awards ceremony.
ICYMI: Murphy announced commutations, pardons; officials demand answers on drones; Murphy signed ‘Freedom To Read Act’, Hickson lead-off speaker; Corbett will depart NJT; Assad’s fall sparked celebration; no landing in sight in Monmouth Airport battle; Pfeiffer will serve as Kim COS
Senator Steinhardt called for action on his bill to restrict foreign ownership of state farmland.
Assemblyman Schaer urged action on anti-Semitism legislation stalled for months, according to NJ Monitor.
Cannabis consumption lounges are coming next, according to NJ Spotlight.
Public notices are set to go online, according to NJ Spotlight.
Organizations are kicking off a project to build a climate ready state, according to MyCentralJersey.
The NJLCV expressed support for NJBPU approval of funding for electric school buses.
ICYMI: Legislature moves towards ending legal notices requirement; Assembly cmte advanced ballot legislation; Assembly cmte heard ballot bill testimony; ballot questions dogged committee; state preparing to defend against deportation; guv candidates converged at conference; Haytaian passed away; Bramnick bucked party
In Paterson, Mayor Sayegh praised a court decision restoring police department control to the city.
In Atlantic City, the aquarium will reopen next year, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The NJBPU is considering a 8% increase in AC Electric utility rates, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The mayor says departments met 94% of their goals for 2024, according to the Press of Atlantic City. Mayor Small was indicted on witness tampering charges, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Bradley Beach, a cop says the town shortchanged his pay during Coast Guard duty, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Bridgewater, the town heard a presentation on road improvements, according to TAPinto.
In Loch Arbour, two groups of millionaire homeowners are fighting over a food shack, according to NJ.com.
In Middle Township, a redevelopment plan moved forward, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Palisades Park, the town blames ex-employees for a police trailer investigation failure, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Roselle Park, the town will outsource animal control services, according to TAPinto.
In Somerville, plans were approved for the first weed dispensary, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Toms River, residents say another injustice is happening at Superfund site, according to NJ.com.
In Verona, a new manager was appointed.
In Wayne, the BOE voted ‘no confidence’ in a trustee, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI n Dover, Ruiz urged disempower ‘party puppeteers’; in Edison, apologies and retractions; in Newark, Crump passed away; in Morristown, familiar name resurfacing; in Marlboro, sign-stealing an issue; in Howell, GOP won election; in Marlboro, voters elected split BOE ticket; in Hoboken, Councilwoman Giattino passed away
AROUND THE WEB:
The latest on New Jersey’s drone drama
Matthew Fazelpoor, NJBIZ
- As drone sightings continue to unnerve New Jerseyans, officials maintain there is nothing nefarious to report. Sightings of the drones were first reported in mid-November – and have continued since – setting social media abuzz as well as lawmakers, with their constituents demanding answers. The situation has come to a head in recent days. And while officials affirm there is no need to alarm, the lack of a full explanation of what is happening in the skies continues to roil New Jerseyans’ fears and frustrations.
North Bergen’s portion of Hudson Tunnel project now more than 50% complete
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- The North Bergen portion of the Hudson Tunnel, specifically the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation project, is more than 50 percent complete after breaking ground in November 2023, officials said.
Hoboken council to vote on supporting future 5-year tax break for 4th Ward market
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- The Hoboken City Council will vote on a resolution to support a future five-year tax abatement for a 4th Ward supermarket planned for 38 Jackson St.
Rutgers University seeks public input in president search
Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight
- Rutgers University is in the process of hiring a new president to replace outgoing Jonathan Holloway, who served as the university’s president since July 2020. NJ Spotlight News spoke with Amy Towers, chair of the Rutgers Board of Governors, about the process so far, what the board is looking for as a leader, and where the broader community can help.
NJ making it easier for problem gamblers to ban themselves
Wayne Parry, Associated Press
- New Jersey is making it easier for people with a gambling problem to ban themselves from casinos. The state Attorney General’s Office, which includes the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, said Wednesday it will allow people to put their names on the state’s gambling self-exclusion list for physical casinos by using the division’s website.
NJ residents have shared alleged drone visuals for weeks. Look for yourself what they saw
Kyle Morel, NorthJersey.com
- New Jerseyans continue to report sightings of alleged drones in the night skies, as residents and elected officials demand answers from federal authorities that so far are not forthcoming. The phenomenon, and the uncertainty surrounding it, has spread to news and entertainment programs throughout the country. Mayors, members of Congress and even President-elect Donald Trump have weighed in on the matter, while some savvy local businesses are using the drones as a marketing tool.
Q&A: Guidelines for ideal new NJ ballot design
Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight
- New Jersey lawmakers last week introduced a bill outlining the design of new primary election ballots to conform to a federal judge’s ruling and agreements by nearly all county clerks to not use the traditional party line ballot design.
What kind of senator does Andy Kim want to be?
Joey Fox, NJ Globe
- The last 14 months of Senator Andy Kim’s life have been all about getting somewhere. Getting through a statewide Senate primary with virtually the entire state Democratic establishment arrayed against him; getting elected against Republican Curtis Bashaw in a year that turned out to be surprisingly poor for his party; getting his House office shut down and his Senate office ready for action under a second Trump presidency.
These 5 places had ‘mystery’ drone sightings before N.J.
Tina Kelley, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- New Jersey is not the only part of the world to experience unexplained sightings of mysterious drones. Other parts of the U.S. and other nations have reported similar strings of unexplained drone sightings in recent months — including some that had alleged explanations.
Many say they’ll leave country because of Trump’s win | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal
- “If Trump wins, I’m leaving the country.” You probably heard a few people say that this fall, and you probably heard the same about Obama, Harris and both Clintons. But the folks who said that are still around, aren’t they?
The O’Toole Chronicles: Loyalty
Kevin O’Toole, NJ Globe
- If I learned anything in politics, it is that you rarely make friends in this world and you rarely see this thing called loyalty. I’m fairly sure that this truism can be said in all facets of life, but it seems to me that it is particularly applicable to today’s politics, and unwaveringly and unflinchingly so.
Water supply means emergency declared for NJ river basin
Rick Rickman, NJ1015
- Don’t let the rain fool you, New Jersey remains under a statewide drought warning. Every part of New Jersey has seen rainfall well below average over the past 90 days, according to the National Weather Service. Deficits have run between 5.6 inches to 6.6 inches below average rainfall. That’s impacted every water supply in the state from the Manasquan Reservoir to the Delaware River Basin, which supplies drinking water to more than 14 million people.
N.J. Senate Judiciary Committee backs Jersey City director to be Hudson judge
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee backed Jersey City Department of Recreation and Youth Development Director Lucinda McLaughlin to be a Hudson County Superior Court judge today.
Life-saving biomarker testing advancing in NJ
Raven Santana, NJ Spotlight
- Regina Tommey Bueno was diagnosed in the spring of 2021 with multiple myeloma, a rare cancer of the bone marrow. With the help of biomarker testing, Bueno said she received targeted therapy that avoided a complex surgery.
‘We’re like rock stars’: Point Pleasant Battle of the Bulge veteran meets Belgian king
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press
- In the spring of 1944, Fred Nungesser graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Union City. A little more than six months later he was fighting the Nazis, subfreezing temperatures and long odds during the Battle of the Bulge. The largest and bloodiest battle fought by the U.S. in World War II began 80 years ago this week, and for the first time since then, Nungesser returned to the scene in Belgium. The 99-year-old Point Pleasant resident was greeted, quite literally, like royalty.
Trenton’s New Beginnings Housing Program looks like it’s getting an untimely ending
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Scrap heap the city’s New Beginnings Housing Program. It’s a bust. A wrap, another wild-eyed, waste of good-intentioned money; one more do-gooder Democratic boondoggle dressed in sheep cloth, a misappropriation that will require a locksmith with Houdini-like talents for extrication of city involvement from this incredible entanglement.
Can New Jerseyans take down drones themselves? Here’s what experts say
Jenna Calderón, Ken Serrano, Asbury Park Press
- While some New Jerseyans are ready to take down drones on their own, experts say it’s easier said than done. Shooting down drones is far more difficult than people assume, said Joel Anderson, counter-drone expert and founder of a company called ZeroMark, which produces AI-powered, auto-aiming devices for firearms to take out drones.
Drones over schools? NJ considering new crackdown on pilots
Dino Flammia, NJ1015
- As the Garden State works to learn more about the countless drone sightings that have been occurring on nearly a nightly basis, legislators are considering a proposal that would crack down majorly on the use of unmanned aircraft above school buildings.
Atlantic County employees mark the season of giving
Access News
- Atlantic County employees are helping to make spirits bright during the holiday season for local children and families as well as through contributions to local, national and global charities. “I continue to be impressed with the generosity of Atlantic County employees. No matter what the season or the reason, our employees step up for those less fortunate, and the holiday season is no exception,” Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said in a release.
Hudson Pride Center cuts the ribbon in Union City, marking 2nd office location
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- Hudson Pride Center hosted a ribbon cutting in Union City yesterday, marking their second office location after operating exclusively out of Jersey City for roughly 31 years.
Bergen girls launch gift drive for HIV/AIDS patients at Paramus’ Harrison House
Stephanie Noda, NorthJersey.com
- Two Bergen County girls are spreading some holiday cheer for those living with HIV in a group home in Paramus. They’re gathering Christmas gifts to make the holidays brighter for the men at Harrison House.
First Bojangles restaurant could open at Jersey Shore at this long-derelict site
David P. Willis, Asbury Park Press
- North Carolina chicken chain Bojangles is on the list of new fast-food restaurants that want to open on the site of the former Beachwood Shopping Center, a long vacant property on Route 9. On Thursday night, the township Planning Board will hear a proposal by redeveloper Berkeley Shopping Center Urban Renewal LLC to build five fast food restaurants, a coffee shop, and a car wash on part of a 40.3-acre property that fronts Route 9 between Mizzen and Gladney avenues.
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Good morning, New Jersey! It’s December 19, 2024, and Insider NJ has got you covered with all the latest news and updates in our Daily Morning Briefing.
Let’s start off with some breaking news: Governor Murphy has announced a new initiative to combat climate change in the state. The plan includes investing in renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable practices across all sectors. This is a major step towards creating a greener and more sustainable future for New Jersey.
In other news, the state legislature is set to vote on a new bill that would increase funding for public schools. This comes after years of underfunding and budget cuts, which have had a negative impact on the quality of education in many districts. If passed, this bill could provide much-needed resources to schools and help improve student outcomes.
On the political front, Senator Booker has announced his candidacy for re-election in the upcoming midterm elections. He will be facing off against a challenger from the Republican party, who is already gaining traction in the polls. This race is shaping up to be a closely contested one, so be sure to stay tuned for updates as the campaign progresses.
In local news, several towns across the state are gearing up for their annual holiday events. From tree lighting ceremonies to parades and festivals, there’s plenty of festive fun to be had in New Jersey this season. Make sure to check out Insider NJ’s event calendar for all the details on what’s happening in your area.
And finally, in sports news, the New Jersey Devils are gearing up for a big game against their rivals, the New York Rangers. The Devils are currently sitting at the top of the standings in the Metropolitan Division, but the Rangers are hot on their heels. This game is sure to be a nail-biter, so make sure to tune in and cheer on your favorite team.
That’s all for today’s Daily Morning Briefing from Insider NJ. Stay tuned for more updates and news throughout the day. Have a great day, New Jersey!
