Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He’s the Democrats’ new boogeyman. The Democrats are looking to nationalize this election, but really, in the end in November, it’s going to come down to New Jersey issues.” – GOP strategist Jeanette Hoffman
TOP STORY: Hudson Hijinks, Mangled Counties, Hard Contests, and Middlesex Muscle
A Stockton poll finds most NJ voters favor more restrictive health policies on food.
Senator Menendez’s wife Nadine Menendez was convicted earlier this week on corruption charges.
The state is taking ‘fail safe’ measures to fend off pandemic aid clawbacks, according to NJ Spotlight.
NJ Transit says engineers’ demands would force a 17% rate hike, according to NJ.com.
The state is suing landlords and a software company alleging a rent-fixing scheme, according to NJ Monitor.
President Trump’s inauguration donors included big names with significant Jersey ties, according to NJ Spotlight.
The NJ Turnpike Authority will obtain properties for a disputed expansion, according to NorthJersey.com.
Alleged overtime padding by NJ Transit police is under investigation, according to NorthJersey.com.
Rutgers’ international students are suing the feds over revoked status, according to NJ Monitor.
The wildfire in Ocean County has forced thousands of evacuations, according to NJ Spotlight. The fire could become the biggest in two decades, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Senator Kim faced both hecklers and celebrity treatment as he talked Israel and Trump at a town hall, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Senator Kim and Mayor Baraka will hold a senior roundtable.
What about Bob? How a new bill could save money and lives in New Jersey (Sponsored Content)
Hudson County drama transcends the county, with gubernatorial repercussions.
Democrats vying for Governor are targeting a new boogeyman: Elon Musk, according to NJ Monitor.
Former Senate President Sweeney slammed Rep. Sherrill for voting against HR2494.
Mayor Baraka served tipped workers at a restaurant, calling for a minimum wage for them. Baraka proposed raising taxes on the wealthy, according to NJ Globe.
Rep. Sherrill’s electoral history shows a profile that’s proven unbeatable so far, according to NJ Globe.
ELEC reported that the ‘big six’ fundraising committees’ lagged in the first quarter, but have ample coffers.
In LD32, Hoboken Councilwoman Fisher endorsed Fonseca and Pu for Assembly, according to Hudson County View.
ICYMI: Khanna took aim Kean; primary pulse points; Dems battling for ‘fighter’ role; the edge in the Dem guv primary; Kranjac looks to make impact; Gottheimer acknowledged ‘obsession’ w/ cutting taxes; Spadea sees pathway to victory; Fulop rolled out affordability plan
Download and read Insider NJ’s Healthcare Power List publication.
Governor Murphy tapped Jeff Brown as Acting NJDOH Commissioner.
Conduent will challenge the $1.7B EZ Pass deal in court, according to the Jersey Vindicator.
The state’s judicial vacancy crisis may be coming under control, according to NorthJersey.com.
Assemblyman Inganamort questioned the state’s wildfire management, according to SaveJersey.
In Asbury Park, the NJ AIDS Walk aims to end the epidemic in five years, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Fair Lawn, municipal taxes will increase, according to TAPinto.
In Flemington, the town is considering joining the county improvement authority, according to TAPinto.
In Franklin, open space preservation was advanced, according to TAPinto.
In Harvey Cedars, the mayor joined Ocean County’s planning board, according to the Sandpaper.
In Lacey, sports programs cuts were proposed to fix the budget, according to NJ.com.
In Little Egg Harbor, the Pinelands regional school district proposed a tax increase, according to the Sandpaper.
In Mendham Township, there’s no tax increase this year, according to NJ Hills.
In Montclair, the town is planning for new affordable housing units, according to Montclair Local.
In Morristown, the budget was proposed, according to Morristown Green.
In Palisades Park, two more lawsuits filed by police against the town were settled, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Passaic, a program allows residents to use bikes for free, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Paterson, the city will lose $1M in HUD funding for affordable housing, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Raritan Borough, the budget passed, according to TAPinto.
In Red Bank, the council is looking to create a visual arts committee, according to TAPinto.
In Ringwood, the town could become the next tourism destination, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Roxbury, the budget was approved, according to TAPinto.
In Summit, a vote on the homelessness ordinance was delayed, according to TAPinto.
In Trenton, a sign blocking a memorial mural was removed after the community reacted, according to the Trentonian.
In Tuckerton, the budget was adopted, according to the Sandpaper.
In Ventnor, the police chief retired, according to Downbeach.
In Warren, the budget was introduced, according to NJ Hills.
In Wayne, a wooded tract is eyed for development, according to NorthJersey.com.
In West Caldwell, protesters rallied against the Trump Administration, according to NJ Hills.
AROUND THE WEB:
ELEC: Watterman brings in $36k, spends $55k, in Q1 in bid for Jersey City mayor
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman brought in $35,627, spent $54,618.04, and has $42,096.02 cash on hand for her bid for mayor, her April 15th report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) says.
STEMCivics fights closure with ‘better than Trenton’ assertion
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Leigh Byron, founder and head of STEMCivics Charter School, drumbeats a last-ditch effort to give 600 students what he calls a better option than being returned to an underperforming Trenton Public Schools education system.
ELEC: Ali raises $72k in Q1 for Jersey City mayoral run, has $200k cash on hand
John Heinis, Hudson County View
- Former Jersey City Board of Education President Mussab Ali raised $72,016 in the first quarter of this year, spent $41212.61, and has $199,976.01 cash on hand for his mayoral run, according to his most recent campaign finance reports.
Rowan University’s search for a new director of athletics is over
Tom McGurk, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Shawn Tucker has been appointed as Rowan University’s new Director of Athletics, the school announced on Wednesday.
NJ wildfire: Advocates search for homeless people living in woods as fire rages
Jean Mikle, Asbury Park Press
- Outreach coordinators from homeless advocacy group Just Believe Inc. searched the smoldering woods in southern Ocean County the afternoon of April 23, looking for any unhoused people who may have been displaced by a massive forest fire that has burned more than 11,500 acres.
‘We serve people’: Can we learn from Pope Francis’ enduring message of grace? | Opinion
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- Sometimes small episodes tell us much about really big people. Such was my first glimpse of Pope Francis. It was just after dawn — about 7 a.m. — on a Sunday in September 2015. On assignment for my New Jersey newspaper, I stood in the middle of the “Plaza de la Revolucion” atop a hill overlooking Havana.
Hospital faces huge fine for injuring, medically neglecting patient
Susan K. Livio, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Without warning, a psychiatric patient last summer struck a hospital employee in the face, landing a punch on the worker’s chin. But how security workers, nurses and other employees at the Trinitas Adult Psychiatric Clinic responded to the assault last summer has resulted in a nearly $300,000 fine following a nine-month investigation into the patient’s abuse and medical neglect, according to state Health Department records.
‘Crazy’: Forest Service cuts ignite fear, fury over wildfire risks
Jordan Wolman and Natalie Fertig, Politico
- Emergency hires. A new sales tax. An infusion of state money. Officials from Nevada to New Jersey to Utah and beyond are scrambling to take stock of President Donald Trump’s cuts to the U.S. Forest Service — and deciding how to respond as the summer wildfire season looms. “Forest fires aren’t going to take four years off just because of who’s in the White House,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in an interview following the announcement of $7 million in state wildfire mitigation grants. “So it’s really important that states up the bar on preparation.”
A New Jersey property tax apocalypse is right around the corner
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Think it’s bad now? Brace yourselves, Save Jerseyans. APP reported on Tuesday that the Murphy Administration is urging nearly half of the state’s school districts to raise school taxes in order to buoy a failed funding formula:
The Watcher: Internal polls in the governor’s race, and Essex County gets to vote for Pope
David Wildstein, NJ Globe
- Internal polls can drive people bonkers, not that there’s anything wrong with that. An internal poll conducted for Ras Baraka’s campaign last week shows some tightening in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey: Mikie Sherrill is in first with 18%, with Baraka and Steve Fulop each at 14%. After that: Sean Spiller (11%), Josh Gottheimer (9%), and Steve Sweeney (8%). That leaves the undecideds around 26%, as tens of millions in spending begins to influence actual voters in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.
Ciattarelli, Sherrill Polling Ahead in Primary Races
Rick Mellerup, The Sand Paper
- Any New Jersey resident who watches a fair amount of television knows that the 2025 gubernatorial election is heating up because the political advertisements are starting to pile up before the June 10 Democratic and Republican primaries. There are six Democrats in the running, including two U.S. representatives, the mayors of the Garden State’s two largest cities, the president of the New Jersey Education Association (the teachers union), and a former president of the New Jersey Senate. All should have a pretty solid electoral base.
Report says NJ has lower housing costs than other states. But consider these factors
Maddie McGay, NorthJersey.com
- While New Jersey is notoriously known as one of the most expensive states to live in the nation, one report claims there are states with pricier housing costs than the Garden State. In WalletHub’s latest report, the personal finance website ranks all 50 states by how much both homeowners and renters typically spend on housing. This is based on how much of each state’s median monthly household income goes towards housing expenses like rent, mortgage payments and home energy.
Insider NJ’s Daily News Update: April 24, 2025
As we dive into the latest news from Insider NJ’s daily update on April 24, 2025, we are met with a mix of both local and national headlines that are sure to capture the attention of readers across the state.
One of the top stories making waves today is the announcement of a new initiative by Governor Smith to combat climate change in New Jersey. The governor unveiled a comprehensive plan that includes investing in renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable practices across industries. This bold move has been met with praise from environmental advocates and residents alike, who see it as a crucial step towards protecting the state’s natural resources for future generations.
In other news, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new high-speed rail project that will connect major cities in New Jersey, providing commuters with a faster and more efficient way to travel. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and stimulate economic growth in the region, making it a significant milestone for transportation infrastructure in the state.
On the national front, President Johnson signed a new healthcare bill into law that aims to expand access to affordable healthcare for all Americans. The bill includes provisions for lowering prescription drug costs, improving mental health services, and addressing disparities in healthcare access among marginalized communities. This move has been hailed as a major victory for healthcare reform advocates and is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Americans.
In lighter news, a local bakery in Trenton was featured on a popular cooking show for its innovative dessert creations. The bakery’s signature dish, a decadent chocolate lava cake with a twist, wowed judges and viewers alike, earning it the title of “Best Dessert in New Jersey.” This recognition has brought newfound fame and success to the small business, showcasing the talent and creativity of local chefs in the state.
Overall, today’s news update from Insider NJ highlights the diverse range of stories shaping the political, economic, and cultural landscape of New Jersey and beyond. From bold climate initiatives to exciting infrastructure projects and culinary triumphs, there is no shortage of compelling stories to keep readers informed and engaged. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to bring you the latest news and developments from Insider NJ.
