The Morning Briefing - October 1, 2015
ON THE RAILS – Yep, same NJ Transit service. But now, even more expensive! Fares are up 9 percent today for bus and rail commuters. Long timers are quick to note that this is the fifth NJ Transit fare increase since 2002, as the agency struggles to close a $60 million budget hole, even after the agency already slashed $40 million. Now, it will cost $16.75 for just a one-way ticket from Trenton to New York, suggesting that perhaps it’s cheaper just to stay home and catch a movie.
MONROE – As the health care industry in New Jersey appears as stable as a toddler’s Band-Aid, it seems the theme “Brace for Change” is the perfect fit for today’s seventh annual “State of the State in Healthcare” symposium, attracting more than 400 leading health care professionals to Forsgate Country Club. The event is coordinated by the New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters, comprising health insurance brokers tasked with understanding a myriad of insurance plans, delivered by hospital networks that are always merging, separating, closing, expanding, going bankrupt and adding multi-million-dollar pavilions.
DOWN THE SHORE – All this talk about Hurricane Joaquin slamming New Jersey just appears to be talk, as disappointed, quasi-suicidal weathermen are now muttering it may just hit the Chesapeake Bay – far from our news coverage area. Of course, meterologists still want us to “BE Vigilant!” and “BE Prepared!” and “BE Worried!,” as they carefully track “Joaquin ’15.” And, of course, for the love of all that is holy, we must “Stay Tuned!”
NORTH ARLINGTON – Under the weird news category this morning, we have a cemetery worker facing charges for biting a child on the leg. NJ.com reports the guy knows the child, but authorities aren’t giving much more information. The suspect was released yesterday on a $50,000 bond, ordered to have no more contact with this child’s leg or any other part.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
NEW YORK – “The Titanic is going down! To the lifeboats! Save the women! Save the children! Take nothing! Go, Go GO!” Let’s assume that was the panicked dialogue on April 15, 1912, as the Titanic sunk, taking 1,500 souls. Yet through all this, a first-class passenger decided to grab the Titanic’s lunch menu and stuff it in his pocket, figuring, hey, what a souvenir. That menu sold at auction for $88,000 yesterday, showing that the Titanic’s first-class elite is still reaping benefits from that ticket.
MILWAUKEE – No, no, no. Wisconsin wildlife officials say there is absolutely no truth to a hoax they mistakenly added deer lawn ornaments to the last two annual statewide deer tallies. Officials went to Facebook to say several people received letters ordering them to remove concrete deer ornaments from their yards by Nov. 1 so they are not counted again this year. "This letter is a fake. It was not crafted, nor distributed by (the) Department of Natural Resources)," officials posted. Dozens of people responded in jest, with one posting: "However, the pink flamingos are another story."
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1995 that Bermuda begins using the area code “441,” as we officially take random, useless trivia to the nth degree.
WORD OF THE DAY
Philogrobolized – adjective
Definition: A fancy way to say someone is hung over.
Example: Might I suggest that Pedialyte freezer pops can help even the most philogrobized bar patron?