Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for January 13, 2025

Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’ve spoken with the president about the wind turbines, and he told me to have my people draw up an executive order. We got it done in forty-eight hours.” – Rep. Van Drew on drafting an executive order freezing offshore wind at President-elect Trump’s request

TOP STORY: Fulop and the Bear Hunt

AROUND THE WEB:

What’s the real message of Phil Murphy’s State of the State? Buyer beware | Opinion

Anthony M. Bucco

• November’s election sent an unmistakable message: Americans are eager for change. Across the nation, voters embraced Republican proposals, handing the GOP control of the presidency, U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. This decisive shift reflects a renewed optimism for pragmatic principles aimed at addressing the real-world challenges that families and businesses face every day.

Preserving open space and meeting housing obligations don’t go together in NJ | Opinion

Kristin Corrado

• Late last year, state Sen. Bob Smith and former state Sen. Kip Bateman authored an op-ed titled, “Open Space Efforts Benefit New Jersey. We have to keep going.” We write this letter in concurrence with the positions stated in the recent editorial. Preserving open space is extremely important for the well-being and quality of life of our residents. It can help stop overdevelopment, mitigate flooding and protect the environment. We are fully committed to supporting state-level efforts to aid its municipalities and preserve open space.

Sen. Ruiz: This is how N.J. can deliver the best universal preschool education | Opinion

1. Teresa Ruiz

• Nearly a decade ago, while chairing the Senate Education Committee, I held a hearing focused on preschool and early childhood education.

These are the economic questions N.J.’s candidates for governor must answer | Opinion

Steven Lestition

• The candidates who intend to run for Governor of New Jersey are routinely asked their views on making consumer and healthcare prices affordable, on lowering property taxes, and on maintaining school funding. But this misses a broader set of economic dangers that will result from the policies being promised by the incoming Presidential administration.

Elon Musk isn’t just arrogant. He’s wrong about NJ teachers | Editorial

Star-Ledger Editorial Board

• The man who recently appointed himself “first buddy” to Donald Trump just mocked the state of New Jersey for allowing teachers into the classroom who can’t read. Or so he claimed. Elon Musk told his more than 200 million followers on X last week that due to a new law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, reading teachers “don’t need to know how to read in New Jersey.” It triggered a social media furor and breathless coverage on Fox News: “This is truly the blind leading the blind!” pundit Tomi Lahren declared. Please.

How New Jersey should respond to congestion pricing | Opinion

Eric Allen Conner

• This past Jan. 5 marked an increase in the Port Authority’s bridge and tunnel tolls and inaugurated New York’s much-delayed congestion pricing. New York’s new congestion tolls are designed not only to ease traffic in Manhattan’s central business district but also to raise revenue for the MTA, improve air quality across the region, and decrease carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Insurance companies are hiking costs, dropping N.J. homeowners more often due to climate risks

Steven Rodas, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

• You can look to the rising seas, raging wildfires and the lack of snow. A harbinger for the changing climate has also arrived for New Jerseyans in the form of something more innocuous but by no means less glaring: home insurance policies. Or, rather, the lack of them in some cases.

‘Curious’ zoo lion dies of cancer at his sister’s side

Rick Rickman, NJ1015

• For the second time in nine months, a popular animal refuge in Forked River is mourning the loss of an African lion. On Friday, the Popcorn Park Animal Refuge announced that Aslan the lion had died. He had an aggressive form of cancer that spread quickly, the zoo said.

Morris OEM coordinator named president of state association

Morris County Commissioners

• Jeffrey S. Paul, director of the Morris County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), was sworn in today as president of the New Jersey County Emergency Management Coordinator’s Association.

Crunch Fitness acquires five locations from Jersey Strong Gym

Linda Lindner, roi-nj.com

• Fitness Holdings North America, a leading franchisee of Crunch Fitness, is significantly expanding its New Jersey footprint by acquiring five locations from Jersey Strong Gym in Tinton Falls, Ocean Township, Wall Township, Freehold, and Marlboro. These new locations will undergo over $20 million in renovations and upgrades to enhance member experiences with modern amenities and cutting-edge equipment.

Forcing Overdevelopment in New Jersey

Gerry Scharfenberger

• Among many of New Jersey’s unique attributes is the moniker “most densely populated state in the nation.” Anyone who drives around the state, whether it is the Garden State Parkway or New Jersey Turnpike, or Main Street in suburban and rural municipalities knows that congestion, particularly during rush hour, is reaching crisis proportions. Try getting through Red Bank between the hours of 4 pm and 6 pm and you will see a microcosm of what is happening all over New Jersey.

A brief electoral history of Bill Spadea

Joey Fox, NJ Globe

• Most of the candidates running for governor in New Jersey this year have gone about their political lives in a very careful, ordered way. They’ve slowly built up connections in their local communities, won a seat in the state legislature or perhaps in Congress, and bided their time for the chance to run statewide. Bill Spadea has a different theory of the case.

Tiffany, we hardly knew ye

David Wildstein, NJ Globe

• The four-day tenure of Tiffany Williams Brewer as the executive director of the State Commission of Investigation was three days shorter than the time Assemblywoman Evelyn Williams (D-Newark) served in the New Jersey Legislature. Assemblyman Donald Tucker, who had also been a Newark City Councilman for 31 years, passed on October 17, 2005 – 22 days before Election Day. He remained on the ballot and still won re-election in a landslide.

Antisemitic remarks made by Trenton official are ignored to fill cabinet vacancy

LA Parker, The Trentonian

• Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora joined a chorus of city officials who said a Jewish police officer made claims of antisemitism that were “not substantiated”. The determination set the stage for a unanimous 7-0 vote by members of City Council to tab Arch Liston as permanent director of Housing & Economic Development despite a pending lawsuit initiated by Lt. Alexis Durlacher. The veteran officer alleged Liston made cringe-worthy remarks that connected to her Jewish faith.

New Jersey school bus driver reads with kids between bus routes

Melanie Burney, Philadelphia Inquirer

• School bus driver Herman Cruse was looking for something to do to pass time in between routes. So, he started reading to students at Middle Township Elementary #1 and he loved it. His passion for helping students has turned into a reading program for the South Jersey district – Mr. Herman’s Kids.

NJ students need more opportunity. Expand the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program

Andy Mulvihill, Special to the USA TODAY Network

• New Jersey boasts some of the best schools in the entire country, yet the latest statewide test scores show that a majority of public school students are not meeting critical learning benchmarks. In fact, only 52.2% of students tested at or above expectations on the English language arts portion of the statewide New Jersey Student Learning Assessments for the 2023-2024 school year, and only 39.6% of students were at or above grade level for math.

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Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for January 13, 2025

Insider NJ’s daily morning briefing for January 13, 2025, is packed with important news and updates that are sure to keep readers informed and engaged. From political developments to local events, this briefing covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to residents of New Jersey and beyond.

One of the top stories in today’s briefing is the latest on the state’s budget negotiations. As lawmakers work to finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, there are a number of key issues at play, including funding for education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. Readers can stay up to date on the latest developments and learn how these decisions may impact their communities.

In addition to budget news, today’s briefing also includes updates on upcoming events and initiatives in the state. From town hall meetings to charity drives, there are plenty of opportunities for residents to get involved and make a difference in their communities. Insider NJ’s morning briefing provides all the details readers need to stay informed and engaged.

Another important topic covered in today’s briefing is the latest on the state’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With cases on the rise once again, officials are working to implement new measures to protect public health and safety. Readers can learn about the latest guidelines and recommendations, as well as how they can do their part to help slow the spread of the virus.

Overall, Insider NJ’s daily morning briefing for January 13, 2025, is a valuable resource for residents looking to stay informed about the latest news and developments in the state. Whether you’re interested in politics, community events, or public health issues, this briefing has something for everyone. Be sure to check back each morning for the latest updates and insights from Insider NJ.