Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Whether it’s politics, money, picking up lunch, we’ll do whatever it takes.” – Governor Murphy pledging support to VP Harris in the presidential election
TOP STORY: Sherrill Ahead of the Game
NJ Democrats praised President Biden for his ‘devotion’ and ‘selflessness’ in opting against seek re-election, according to NJ.com.
Governor Murphy endorsed VP Harris for President, according to the Bergen Record.
Black female leaders in the state participated in a Zoom call with Vice President Harris, according to NJ.com.
Governor Murphy says the conversation is serious with the Sixers about relocating to NJ, according to NJ.com.
Latinos want to move on from Senator Menendez, according to NJ Monitor.
The Menendez conviction raises questions about benefits for corrupt officials, according to NJ Spotlight. The Senate’s ethics panel will review alleged rules violations by Senator Menendez, according to NJ Monitor.
There’s a fight to save the state’s cedar forests, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
A Camden County animal shelter is overcapacity, according to Burlington County Times.
Hunterdon County unveiled a new public health nursing facility, according to NJ Hills.
Ocean County halted foreclosure sales over fears of phony non-profits, according to the Asbury Park Press.
A WalletHub survey ranks New Jersey as having the nation’s 4th best school system.
ICYMI: Biden withdrawing, and endorsed Harris, Dems scrambling to advance potential VP picks; Menendez saga still unfolding, Senator says there ‘seems to be an effort to force me into a statement‘, Murphy in position to appoint, Booker would lead expulsion effort; Menendez found guilty and faces a reckoning; Trump injured in assassination attempt; Norcross pleaded not guilty; Sherrill doesn’t want President Biden to run; Menendez verdict will come soon; Murphy signed budget; courts shaping political developments; Critchley, Marino statement on Norcross
Governor Murphy signed the ‘Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act’.
The Murphy Administration released a plan to better protect residents from the effects of extreme heat.
Assemblywoman Quijano expressed concern with ongoing NJ Amtrak delays.
The UTCA praised outgoing Gateway Development Commission leader Kris Kolluri.
A report finds chronic neglect and inaction in state disability services, according to NJ Herald.
ICYMI: Way appointed Wolkenberg NJDOS COS; Murphy announced departure of Gutierrez-Scacetti; Murphy says he doesn’t think about his legacy; Murphy announced promotions
In Atlantic City, the city launched a first-time homebuyer lottery program.
In Jersey City, the city unveiled the newly revitalized Bergen Square.
In Bedminster, a new public works head was named, according to NJ Hills.
In Bridgewater, the budget increases spending by 8.9%, according to MyCentralJersey. A shared services agreement was reached with Raritan to share municipal court services.
In Flemington, the town is moving forward with a system to improve sewer facilities at the police station, according to TAPinto.
In Howell, the former police chief was sentenced for a workplace affair coverup, according to NJ101.5.
In Keyport, an investigation was launched into lead found on the shore, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Monroe, another massive warehouse was proposed, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Ocean City, Vaules dropped a challenge in a council race, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Paterson, an activist was involved in an assault, according to Paterson Press.
In Phillipsburg, the town welcomed its first female police officer, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Riverside, a long-vacant landmark could become apartments if the plan isn’t derailed, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Scotch Plains, homeowners associations say the town hasn’t reimbursed them for snow removal costs, according to TAPinto.
In Union City, a gonzo journalist is suing the mayor and city over an arrest, according to the Jersey Journal. Senator Menendez’s hometown says he needs to go, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Voorhees, a court fight was ended over a planned Wawa on Route 73, according to Burlington County Times.
In Woodbridge, a plan aims to divert freight trains from idling in town, according to MyCentralJersey. Records show 100 animals dead at SeaQuest since 2019, according to MyCentralJersey.
ICYMI: In Union City, residents reacted to Menendez conviction; in Newark, Speight announced candidacy for Central Ward; in Wayne, debate popped up; in Parsippany, Musella kicked off mayoral campaign; in Dover, bumpy transition
AROUND THE WEB:
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s allies push him for VP pick
Daniel Han, Politico
- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s allies are floating the possibility of the governor being a vice presidential pick after President Joe Biden abruptly exited the presidential race Sunday. Three people close to the governor granted anonymity to speak candidly underscored Murphy’s experience in state and national politics as qualifications. One person close to the governor said that Murphy would not be a contender for the top slot as president but said there is “chatter” around Murphy being a contender.
Handicapping Phil Murphy’s Veep Chances
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- It’s probably a fool’s errand to assume ANYTHING in this wacky present political climate, Save Jerseyans, but as of Monday morning, it looks like Kamala Harris is the frontrunner to succeed Joe Biden as the Democrat presidential nominee in August.
NJ leaders react to Biden’s decision and what’s next
Matthew Fazelpoor, NJBIZ
- A Sunday afternoon bombshell from President Joe Biden reverberated around the world, the country — and, of course, here in the great Garden State. Following a brutal debate performance last month, Biden has faced increasing calls from within his party to step aside, citing concerns over age and fitness to serve another four years. Drips over recent weeks include polls trending in the wrong direction, donor money drying up and key support eroding. That’s punctuated further as more Democratic lawmakers call on the president to pass the torch in the 2024 race to the party’s next generation of leaders.
Norcross details growth plan for Cooper in Cape May, Atlantic counties
Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com
- Cooper University Health Care Chairman George Norcross offered his long-term vision for the Camden-based health system — something that has been expected since the system acquired Cape Regional Health 18 months ago. The goals are extensive, including an expansion of a number of specialty care ambulatory offices throughout Cape May and Atlantic counties — as well as the likely development of large, multispecialty campus in the Shore region, similar to the recently opened Moorestown Campus.
Curbing Legionnaires’ disease in NJ
Lilo H. Stainton, NJ Spotlight
- Seven years ago, Morristown resident Kevin Hanlon, then 47, was recovering from lung cancer when he encountered something in a Manhattan office building that proved even more deadly: Legionella. The bacteria, spread through water droplets propelled by powerful commercial air conditioners, resulted in Legionnaires’ disease, a serious pneumonia that is particularly dangerous to people with preexisting health conditions. Ten months later he was dead.
Man charged with animal cruelty after allegedly decapitating seagull in Wildwood
Milan Varia, Philadelphia Inquirer
- A man was arrested and charged in Wildwood this month after allegedly decapitating a seagull at a boardwalk amusement park, police said Monday. Franklin Zeigler, 29, of Cape May, was arrested on July 6 after witnesses told police that he had beheaded a seagull at Morey’s Pier, according to a statement from the North Wildwood Police Department.
On Admiral Wilson Boulevard, a colorful look at East Camden
Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- The walls can’t talk but they do tell a story at a building here. A recently completed mural presents the story of East Camden on donated space at the headquarters of Bush Refrigeration on Admiral Wilson Boulevard. The images of people and places reflect a neighborhood that’s likely unknown to many motorists speeding past.
LBI offshore wind critics sound alarm after Massachusetts turbine breaks
Amanda Wallace, NorthJersey.com
- A Long Beach Island-based group critical of offshore wind development is calling for a moratorium on additional New Jersey’s wind projects following the failure of a turbine off the coast of Massachusetts this month. “Save LBI” called for the moratorium from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Monday, citing the impacts from a broken turbine at the Vineyard Wind project off Martha’s Vineyard. After a blade broke off the turbine, beaches in the region were littered with debris and shards of fiberglass.
Biden gets it half right | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- There will be time to argue about Kamala Harris, an average politician at best, a woman who Americans know well and don’t much like, giving her a 39 percent approval rating on average, the same as President Biden’s.
Are New Jersey’s colleges and universities worth it? Lawmakers propose bill to cap tuition
Amanda Wallace, NorthJersey.com
- Higher education is a hot topic these days, and with the fall semester quickly approaching, college students likely have quite a few questions that they need to answer. Where am I going to live? What classes do I want to take? Which books do I need to buy? How am I going to afford this?
Biden is out, but with Harris, Trump, GOP won’t have to change their message
Dace Potas, USA TODAY
- President Joe Biden has proved that, for the first time in years, the GOP is the more organized political party in our country. Over the past month, while Republicans were putting the finishing touches on their Trumped-up party platform and campaign ticket, Democrats were debating whether the man who has been running the country for four years was capable of running for reelection. The infighting and public conversation from Democrats made it clear. They were losing faith in their leader. Now that Biden has dropped out, that debate is over.
Democratic delegates face big decisions on a presidential nominee
Jacob Fischler and Ariana Figueroa, NJ Monitor
- Democratic National Convention delegates from across the country praised President Joe Biden’s decision Sunday to end his reelection bid, and a few state party leaders followed Biden’s endorsement and immediately threw their support to Vice President Kamala Harris. Delegates are scheduled to hold a virtual roll call vote early next month to officially select the party’s pick to face Republican Donald Trump in November, with the nominee to accept the nod at the party’s convention on August 22.
EPA opens public comment period on air quality for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project
Down Beach
- Supporters and opponents of the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project have until Aug. 13 to comment on their views of the wind energy program’s effect on air quality. The Atlantic Shores project will include up to 200 offshore wind turbines, up to 17 small-to-large substations to collect electricity produced, and underground cables to transport the energy to substations on the mainland.
Counties with the worst droughts in New Jersey
Stacker, Down Beach
- About one-fifth of the continental United States is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Storms during this past winter brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020 to 2022. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue. West Virginia is currently the state with the most widespread drought, covering 90.5% of the state’s area.
Presenting the 2024 NJBIZ Law Power 50
Jeffrey Kanige, NJBIZ
- In recent years, the NJBIZ editorial staff has taken steps to transform these power lists. The lists once included dozens of government bureaucrats and elected officials alongside company founders, CEOs and other business leaders. That seemed incongruous for a couple of reasons.
New academy for adults with autism to open at Brookdale
Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
- Eileen Shaklee knows how difficult it can be for young adults with autism to transition out of school at age 21. On the brink of adulthood, they lose school-provided services like speech therapy, occupational therapy and life skills training. The routine of the school day and socialization with peers come to an end.
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Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for July 23, 2024 provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the latest news and developments in New Jersey and beyond. This daily newsletter is a valuable resource for staying informed about important issues and events that impact the state and its residents.
One of the key highlights from today’s briefing is the announcement of a new initiative by Governor Smith to invest in renewable energy projects across the state. This initiative aims to reduce New Jersey’s reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change by promoting the use of clean and sustainable energy sources. The briefing provides details on the specific projects that will be funded and the potential impact they will have on the environment and economy.
In addition to the renewable energy initiative, the briefing also covers updates on various other topics, including healthcare, education, and transportation. Readers can learn about new legislation being introduced in the state legislature, upcoming events and community initiatives, and important announcements from local government officials.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Daily Morning Briefing for July 23, 2024 is a valuable resource for anyone looking to stay informed about the latest news and developments in New Jersey. By providing a comprehensive overview of current events and important issues, this daily newsletter helps readers stay engaged and informed about what’s happening in their state.
