Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This is history. You guys are making history — the first in the state, pioneers, to register and vote in school board elections. You’re going to change the landscape of our city and the state of New Jersey.” – Mayor Baraka at a teenage voter registration drive
TOP STORY: Sherrill Hits the Streets
The state may allow a return to paper grocery bags if they’re recyclable, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
A Rutgers report sheds light on the reality of the state’s child care crisis, according to NJ.com.
The move to shut the USDOE could hit NJ special education, according to Burlington County Times.
NJ Transit will offer discounts to rider affected by sinkholes, according to NorthJersey.com.
Black bears are waking up in the state, according to the Daily Record.
Governor Murphy says that I-80 sinkholes will take months to repair, according to NorthJersey.com. USDOT Secretary Duffy visited I-80 sinkholes, according to NJ.com.
A company that challenged a Union County building complex is suing, according to TAPinto.
Senator Kim held a packed town hall in Branchburg on Friday.
Rep. McIver held a town hall on Medicaid.
Rep. Kean reintroduced the ‘Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act’, according to TAPinto.
ICYMI: Murphy signed legislation extending primary early voting; judge dismissed Norcross case; Murphy presented record $58.1B budget
President Trump’s win has insiders questioning women’s electability, but Rep. Sherrill shrugs it off, according to NBC.
Rep. Sherrill won the backing of the Essex County Democrats, with a nearly 2-1 margin over closest rival Mayor Baraka. Sherrill attended a protest in Bedminster.
Reps. Sherrill and Gottheimer ditched Elon Musk company donations, according to NJ.com.
Mayor Baraka brandished an internal poll showing him tied with Rep. Sherrill, according to NJ Globe.
Rep. Gottheimer filed over 7,800 petitions for his gubernatorial candidacy, according to NJ Globe.
Jack Ciattarelli and President Trump had a private talk, according to NJ Globe. Bill Spadea also met with Trump, according to NJ Globe.
In LD16, Assemblymembers Freiman and Drulis filed petitions for re-election.
In LD28, Onyema won the backing of the Essex County Democrats over incumbent Assemblywoman Hall.
In Hudson County legislative districts, 8 Assembly candidates submitted petitions early, according to Hudson County View.
Statehouse lobbying topped $100M after a record decline, according to NJ Monitor.
Governor Murphy’s budget proposal is bad news for local news, according to NJ Monitor.
NJ Democratic gubernatorial candidates want to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, according to Politico NJ.
There’s a renewed push for cursive in schools, according to NJ.com.
Lawmakers are planning help to curb eating disorders, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Asbury Park, Holy Spirit Church will be knocked down to build 6 homes, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Atlantic City, the Orange Loop is undergoing more changes, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Beachwood, there’s no swimming allowed at the beach this summer, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Carteret, an apartment building plan was stalled over a traffic study, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Egg Harbor Township, a request was made to rename the nature preserve for a former committeeman, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Jersey City, Guilford will seek the Ward A council seat on Ali’s ticket, according to Hudson County View.
In Lakewood, a housing plan was rejected for the second time, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Longport, the city is moving to hire a new administrator, according to Downbeach.
In Lumberton, resignation calls are beginning for the mayor, according to Burlington County Times.
In Madison, two Democrats will run for council, according to NJ Hills.
In Middletown, there was a fiery BOE meeting as the district faces a financial crunch, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Montclair, the council will vote on aid for ailing library buildings, according to Montclair Local.
In Morris Township, the committee voted for cannabis ordinances, according to Morristown Green.
In New Brunswick, BOE incumbents are running unopposed, according to TAPinto.
In Paterson, the city will force illegal dumpers to perform community service, according to TAPinto.
In Phillipsburg, the town is weighing privatized management of municipal hall, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Rahway, the council is investing in two park improvement projects, according to TAPinto.
In Ridgewood, legal notices will be published digitally, according to TAPinto.
In Sayreville, a developer who bought a dump is changing plans, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Summit, a new police chief was tapped, according to MyCentralJersey.
In Swedesboro, allegations of nepotism and racial discrimination are rocking the town, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Trenton, interim Director Harris faced questions on the Stacy park saga, according to the Trentonian.
In Warren, the Watchung Hills BOE introduced an unexpected motion to repeal the transgender policy, according to TAPinto.
In West Caldwell, the budget was discussed, according to NJ Hills.
In Westfield, the council clashed over OPW, according to UC Hawk. Republican Domogala kicked off his mayoral campaign.
AROUND THE WEB:
What Makes Jersey Run: Andy Kim dishes on Trump, Schumer, gov race, writing his own songs
Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Andy Kim talks … and writes songs? Congress is currently on a week-long recess, which means Andy Kim — the freshman U.S. senator and maybe the closest thing Jersey Democrats have to a rock star right now — is back home. And he’s not being quiet.
Ask not what you can do for your mayor, ask what your mayor can do for your business?
Mike Condon, NJ Hills
- If you are a business owner in Roxbury, Randolph, Mount Olive, Mount Arlington, Netcong or Wharton, your local officials want to know what they can do to better serve you.
$1.5M retirement nest egg? How long that lasts in NJ
Judi Franco, NJ1015
- You may not be thinking about retirement. For some of us, it’s a long way into the future. But did you ever wonder how much it would take to be built up in that nest egg for you to say goodbye to the 9-5 forever? Unless we’re financial pros, most of us can’t even conceive of how we’ll make it last once we hit our golden years.
Why the recent closure of a movie theater outside of P’burg is breaking hearts
Glenn Epps, For lehighvalleylive.com
- Melancholy reverberated across the Phillipsburg area this month as the Pohatcong Regal Cinema announced its permanent closure this month. Many area residents said they were surprised, while others expressed a deep sadness at news of the loss of another antique pastime arena belonging to a bygone era.
Five years later, ‘long COVID’ still threatens jobs and benefits
Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight
- A New Jersey nurse at Mt. Sinai Hospital shared some pizza with co-workers back in March 2020. But they also unwittingly shared the COVID-19 virus, said one of them, Aliza Parver. And she got so sick that even months later, she needed a doctor’s note citing “ongoing COVID symptoms” that made her “not fit yet to return to work.”
Trenton’s annual trash cleanup won’t address the cause of the problems
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- A received email delivered this headlined item. ‘Mayor Gusciora and Director Onitiri to Announce City-Wide Cleanup Initiative’ with a press conference on Monday, March 24 at 2 p.m. at Trenton City Hall. The pair will discuss the City-Wide Clean-Up Initiative and the specific collection date for each ward.
NJ school principals fear Trump bid to end Education Department
Mary Ann Koruth, NorthJersey.com
- The looming impacts of President Donald Trump’s coordinated efforts to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education outweighs most every other concern among New Jersey school officials — and were the main focus of questions directed at Sen. Andy Kim during a conference of school principals and supervisors Friday.
Jeff Gammage, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Celal Emanet is sharing some of the books and articles he has written on Islam, scholarship undertaken in three languages, when the ICE monitor on his ankle interrupts, its flat metallic voice bleating that its battery is full.
Trump targets Rutgers over NJ nonprofit that promotes diversity of doctoral students
Mary Ann Koruth, NorthJersey.com
- Rutgers University is one of 45 universities under investigation by the Trump administration over allegations that it violated student civil rights because of its connection to The PhD Project, a North Jersey nonprofit that aims to increase access to doctorate degrees in business from underrepresented groups.
‘Do the right thing!’ Voters, activists call on Chris Smith to push back on Trump
Mike Davis, Asbury Park Press
- Armed with handcrafted posters, catchy sing-song chants and undeniable vitriol, hundreds of community activists, workers and voters packed into a union hall on Saturday demanding their congressional representative push back against the Trump administration.
Why is Monmouth University Polling Institute shutting down? Costs or politics?
Joe Strupp, Asbury Park Press
- The Monmouth University Polling Institute, which launched 20 years ago and rose to be one of the most respected public survey operations in the country, is slated to shut down and its director dismissed in July, officials said.
These bridges in and around NJ make list to evaluate for risk of collapse
Lucas Frau, NorthJersey.com
- The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that several bridges across the country, including two in New Jersey and several in New York, undergo a vulnerability assessment for potential levels of collapse risk.
How this reporter uncovered N.J.’s shocking network of hate
Enrique Lavín, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- In his spare time, Spencer Kent immerses himself in his Princeton home’s art studio, bringing to life oil and acrylic paintings with broad brush strokes and meticulous details.
230 feet of beach gone in 1 town? What huge project would do to the Jersey Shore.
Steven Rodas, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Given all the history, lawsuits, letters and meetings, it can easily feel like you’re neck-deep in sand when thinking about the “Five Mile Island” project.
Wharton State Forest wildfire spreads to 2,300 acres
Diane Mastrull, Philadelphia Inquirer
- A wildfire inside Wharton State Forest in Camden County that had spread to 500 acres Saturday night and prompted the evacuation of two campgrounds had grown to 2,300 acres by Sunday evening, according to fire officials.
Point Pleasant man indicted on charges he sexted victims while working as NJ investigator
Erik Larsen, Asbury Park Press
- A Point Pleasant man, employed as an investigator for the New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office, has been indicted on charges he sent sexually explicit messages to victims of violent crimes whom he had been assigned to help, said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on Thursday.
Insider NJ’s Daily News Update: March 24, 2025
As we approach the end of March, Insider NJ brings you the latest news updates from around the state. Here are some of the top stories making headlines today:
1. Governor Signs Bill to Increase Funding for Education
Governor Smith signed a bill today that will increase funding for education in the state. The bill, which was passed by the state legislature last week, will allocate an additional $100 million to schools across the state. This increase in funding is expected to help improve educational outcomes for students and provide much-needed resources to teachers and schools.
2. New Initiative Launched to Combat Climate Change
In an effort to address the growing threat of climate change, a new initiative was launched today by a coalition of environmental organizations and government agencies. The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions in the state by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal will require significant changes to the state’s energy infrastructure and transportation systems, but advocates believe it is necessary to protect the environment for future generations.
3. State Unemployment Rate Drops to Lowest Level in Years
Good news for job seekers in the state as the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in years. The latest data from the Department of Labor shows that the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in February, down from 4.2% in January. This decrease is a positive sign for the state’s economy and suggests that businesses are hiring and expanding.
4. Local School District Receives National Recognition
A local school district in Bergen County received national recognition today for its innovative approach to education. The district was awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School designation, which is given to schools that demonstrate high academic achievement and excellence in teaching. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teachers, students, and administrators in the district.
5. State Legislature Approves New Gun Control Measures
In response to recent incidents of gun violence, the state legislature approved a package of new gun control measures today. The measures include universal background checks for all gun purchases, a ban on assault weapons, and increased funding for mental health services. These measures are aimed at reducing gun violence and keeping communities safe.
Stay tuned to Insider NJ for more news updates and developments from around the state. Remember to stay informed and engaged in your community to make a difference.
