The Morning Briefing - December 10, 2015
TRENTON – Will “Tobacco 21” become state law? Health advocates will try today to persuade the Assembly's Health and Senior Services Committee to hike New Jersey's legal age to buy cigarettes from 19 to 21. The full Senate already approved the measure in 2014. But, its biggest opponent – conveniently the Gasoline-Convenience Store-Automotive Association – says it's “feel good” legislation that will cost the state $19 million is lost tax revenue from the 8.2 million packs of cigarettes now sold to 19-21 year olds. Fifteen towns – among them Englewood, Garfield, Highland Park, Paterson, Rutherford, Sayreville and Teaneck – have passed their own “Tobacco 21” ordinances this year. Interesting that you can become a trained armed killer for Uncle Sam at age 18. Just don’t light a cigarette for three years, OK?
CHATHAM – Kids should keep that flask of whiskey at home, as school officials announced random tests for drinking. The district will need to buy alcohol screening devices so they can check kids when they come to dances, games or other school events. The school board adopted the policy Monday, in response to dealing with drunk students needing emergency treatment.
NEWARK – Say what? There are 34 firefighters who have filed a federal lawsuit against the nation's five biggest fire truck manufacturers and the most-popular siren-maker, claiming on-the-job hearing loss, the N.J. Law Journal first reported. The current and former firefighters are from Bayonne, Cranford, Elizabeth, Kearny, Linden, Ridgewood, Union Township and West New York. They're not alone. About 4,400 firefighter hearing-loss cases have been filed nationwide. Next up: barbers suing manufacturers because of “overly sharp” scissors.
EDISON – A real-life Grinch is in handcuffs, accused of swiping holiday deliveries from porches across New Jersey. The arrest is good news for one North Edison family who had three stolen quilts returned to them by Edison police on Monday, the Home News-Tribune says. A package containing the quilts – custom-made to honor a 21-year-old family member who died last year – was stolen from their front porch in November. Lyndhurst police found the quilts among other stolen items when they arrested some guy last week for a string of thefts. His home for the holidays will be the Bergen County jail, where there are no decorative quilts.
NEWARK – Professional hockey players end up in the hospital from time to time. So, it will not be strange territory for the Devils today, as the team’s players fan out to eight area hospitals to visit with patients and caregivers. A very cool idea, as they pass out the pucks. Here’s the lineup:
- Hackensack University Medical Center: Keith Kinkaid, Adam Henrique, Kyle Palmieri and Jordin Tootoo
- Holy Name Medical Center: Adam Larsson, Jacob Josefson and Tuomo Ruutu
- Morristown Medical Hospital: Cory Schneider, Mike Cammalleri and David Schlemko
- Overlook Hospital: Damon Severson, Bobby Farnham and Brian O'Neill
- Robert Wood Johnson: Eric Gelinas, Jon Merrill and Stefan Matteau.
- Saint Barnabas Medical Center: Patrik Elias, Andy Greene and Tyler Kennedy
- Saint Joseph's Hospital: John Moore, Jiri Tlusty and Lee Stempniak
- University Hospital: Travis Zajac, Stephen Gionta and Sergey Kalinin
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
MOSCOW – Seems an odd priority for public money, but Moscow authorities are focusing their efforts on bringing Wi-Fi to three cemeteries in the city. While it is very unlikely the “permanent residents” of those graveyards care about having the latest version of iTunes, there is some hope that web savvy people will begin visiting for the great Internet access. City officials hope more visitors will come to the cemeteries to “unwind,” surf the net and maybe visit Great Aunt Ethel.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1992 that Oregon Senator Bob Packwood apologized for what he called "unwelcome and offensive" actions toward women. (That included grabbing women on his staff for some deep kissing.) Yet, even with 24 women filing complaints, the overcharged senator didn’t resign until Oct. 1, 1995.
WORD OF THE DAY
Garçonnière (gar-son-NYER) – noun
Definition: A bachelor's apartment or quarters.
Example: After the big fall-out with his wife, the senator and I ate Chinese take-out at his garçonnière.