The Morning Briefing - April 16, 2015

NEW BRUNSWICK – Police are looking for the man who exposed himself in front of a woman at the Alexander Library at Rutgers University. His likely defense: With the university banning fraternity parties this spring, where else is he supposed to expose himself?

NEWARK – When you hear about a state-commissioned, taxpayer-funded study, you assume the findings must be somewhat accurate. The Christie Administration reported that it would somehow be good for Newark if Saint Michael’s Medical Center was shuttered. But the hospital has a big problem with the findings, saying the closure would create a monopoly among the existing health care systems, create price increases of up to $180 million annually, eliminate 1,000 local jobs and cost taxpayers $50 million. Perhaps the state should review its “impartial” findings.

STATEWIDE – The tables have taken a strange turn in New Jersey schools. When we were kids, if you were given a test, you took it. No debate, no discussion, no “parent forums.” So it is somewhat amazing to learn that 15 percent of 11th graders across the state said “no, thank you” when they were handed the PARCC test this spring. NJ.com reports the opt-out figures are likely a record high. Interesting to see what happens when these juniors land jobs in a couple of years and offer up the same “no, thank you” when the boss assigns a task.

ATLANTIC CITY – Eagles fans are not a forgiving group, still livid that Gov. Chris Christie is such an unapologetic fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Yesterday, they were in full Eagles gear to meet Christie at the opening of a Bass Pro Shop in Atlantic City, booing and chanting "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" Christie chuckled – he’s a political pro, after all – while likely day dreaming about that the next flight to New Hampshire.

SHAMELESS PLUG

NEWARK – Our own Bruno Tedeschi and Matt Hersh have provided a level of news coverage to the Newark school board race that hasn’t been seen in years. Working with our client, the Newark Education Trust, our dynamic duo developed a comprehensive webpage on NationBuilder, produced a podcast of a candidate forum available on iTunes, and handled all the writing and photos. Check out the well-produced package by clicking here. You won’t find anything better. (Remember, this is a shameless plug.) 

IN THE MEDIA

NEWARK – A former Star-Ledger reporter, who sued the newspaper after he took a buy-out and later settled, is now suing a prominent businessman, claiming he ripped off his idea for a magazine that covers the downtown. Philip Read, now living in North Carolina, said he had plenty of detailed discussions with Paul Profeta about the creation of a magazine called “The Downtowner.” NJ.com reports that Profeta was apparently going to invest $500,000 in the magazine, after Read shared his vision and prospectus for the venture. But then, Profeta went his own way, now publishing a magazine called “Radius” that covers the downtown. No response from Profeta, now reviewing the lawsuit.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – The Washington Post gave a nice shout-out to NJ.com’s Brian Donahue for his Instagram super cut about how Gov. Chris Christie loves to throw off his jacket and toss it to an awaiting staffer. It’s all part of the “let’s get to work” image the governor portrays so effectively at town hall meetings. Enjoy it here.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

EAST LONGPORT, NY – It all began when a local man found some bedbugs in his rental car. He figured the best way to get rid of them was to douse the car with rubbing alcohol, Newsday reports. It all seemed to work well, until he lit a cigarette, setting the car ablaze Tuesday and burning himself. The car was so burned up that the heat damaged other cars in a supermarket parking lot, and license plates were left unreadable.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1990 that New York state increased unemployment benefits to $260 a week, giving Manhattan residents the disposable income to redecorate their cardboard boxes.

WORD OF THE DAY

Dipsomania – noun

Definition – “Thirst madness” or, better known as, alcoholism.

Example - An ad on social media:“Wanted: a few hopeless booze bags for testing a new patent remedy for dipsomania.”  Or, use it this way: “Have you seen Steve’s bar tab? Jeez, what a dipso.”