The Morning Briefing - May 27, 2015
PATERSON – With the crackdown of prostitution in the city, at least one local hooker has found a new way to generate revenue: charge $10 to reporters for interviews about the crackdown. The Paterson Press declined to cough up the cash to a woman named Wandaliz, stationed at her favorite spot at Market and East 25th streets, following her arrest at that same spot last week. Maybe the reporter could have negotiated two interviews for $15, as most city prostitutes are accustomed to bundling packages, we hear.
ATLANTIC CITY – While the story of Stockton University’s botched purchase of the Showboat casino has slid to the back pages of the newspaper, the meter is still running. The Record reports the university has already dropped $3 million on utilities, lawyers, staff, etc. as school officials eagerly look to dump the property on Florida developer Glenn Straub — who bought The Revel and is consumed with all the headaches involved in that. School officials hope the deal with Straub can be done this summer. Meanwhile, the bleeding continues.
EAST RUTHERFORD – As the deck continues to be reshuffled in Atlantic City, there’s lots of eagerness about the potential for a Hard Rock Casino to be built in the Meadowlands. It’s all in anticipation of a ballot question, in which voters will be asked if casinos can be opened elsewhere in the state, ending Atlantic City’s monopoly. (No, not the board game.) The Record reports the ailing Meadowlands Racetrack and Atlantic City casinos could reap a $400 million share in a Meadowlands casino. Jackpot.
NEWARK – The pressure continues to mount as Saint Michael’s Medical Center pushes Gov. Chris Christie to approve its sale to Prime Healthcare and remain open. The latest effort takes place at 1:30 p.m. today, with the community, local elected officials, employees and others holding a large rally and march at Central and University avenues, demanding their local hospital continue to serve the Central Ward and beyond.
IN THE MEDIA
NEWARK – The city will be enthusiastically welcoming NJTV into the fold today, as the state’s public television network opens up a spanking new studio at Gateway Center. There will be a ribbon cutting, all the congratulatory speeches and then the 6 p.m. recording of "NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams." This is a great investment in Newark and a win-win for all. We’re thrilled.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
COPENHAGEN – Killing a baby rabbit on the air is sure tough for one radio station to defend. But it has an important talking point for all: By fatally hitting a bunny with a bicycle pump, the host explains, he has proven “the hypocrisy of animal lovers.” The host says he smashed the bunny in the head "according to careful instructions by a professional animal caretaker.” He then took the rabbit home, skinned it and cooked it. It all caused a storm on Danish social media, with the most common comment, “Euw!,” delivered in an astonished Danish accent.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was one year ago today that Google revealed its self-driving car – the ideal product for someone who manages the wheel while also talking on the phone, applying lipstick, chewing gum and drinking coffee. But the prototype can only max at 25 mph, which some impatient drivers complain is too slow, even for the school drop-off line.
Of course, there are plenty of mishaps with this technology across all car brands, such as the “pedestrian detection feature” that somehow costs extra. Here’s a YouTube video that went viral May 19, showing a self-driving Volvo mowing down a couple of people during a presentation.
WORD OF THE DAY
Hootenanny – noun
Definition: A country or folk music get-together.
Example: “Dang, that was one hootin’, tootin’ hootenanny!”