The Morning Briefing - June 13, 2016
Aurora. San Bernardino. Newtown. Virginia Tech. And, now, Orlando. No one wants to believe the new normal of America is these mass killings. Once again, our country will express shock, horror and dismay. Candles will be lit; there will be vigils and half-staff flags. There will be detailed reports of the life of the shooter. Politicians on both sides will demand for change, blaming others. There will be emergency declarations; all state and federal resources will be deployed. And we will all be left to ponder: Will anything ever change?
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EDISON – A team of J.P. Stevens High School art students just scored $50,000 from Vans action footwear. Teacher Alison Paolello had her students re-imagine Vans sneakers for the apparel company's annual Custom Culture competition. Using Jersey's art deco diners as inspiration, the kids came up with foodie footwear designs including burgers, fries and a milkshake on neon-lit sneakers. Outshining more than 2,400 other national school entries, Edison's young artists traveled to Los Angeles last week when they bested four finalists from Hawaii, Kentucky, Oregon and California. In addition to awarding the $50,000 grand prize, Vans will manufacture the Edison team's delicious-looking footwear for sale – perhaps beginning at the Menlo Park Diner.
ATLANTIC CITY – Wanted: Bean counter for a down-on-its-luck gambling resort. The city's part-time, state-appointed fiscal monitor's job will be available July 1, as Edward Sasdelli has quit after a nerve-racking five years. Sasdelli handed the state Community Affairs Department his resignation letter Friday, telling The Press of Atlantic City, a state takeover will mean longer hours. The retired town manager says he just can't do that because of state pension limits. Besides owning an abacus, or perhaps a calculator, applicants should be ready to cope with stomach jitters, nail-biting, tremors, inexplicable rashes and eventual hair loss.
ATLANTIC CITY – The check's in the mail … not! When Gov. Chris Christie okayed a rescue package for the cash-strapped seaside city, it came with promises of a “bridge loan” to give city officials 150 days’ breathing room to come up with a sensible, five-year fiscal plan. But, that loan still hasn't arrived as New Jersey grapples with its own $486 million budget gap. So, Mayor Don Guardian tells The Press of Atlantic City he's thinking of dipping into $12.2 million just sitting in the city's capital fund and terminal leave accounts to keep his town afloat for the rest this month. Meanwhile, Christie is undoubtedly still wondering: “Where's your rescue plan, mayor?
DOWN THE SHORE – As if cigarette butts and litter aren't enough, now “clinging jellyfish” are turning up along the Jersey Shore, most recently in Barnegat Bay near Point Pleasant. Just one of these dime-size jellyfish packs quite a wallop and multiple stings could mean a lights-and-sirens trip to the hospital, a marine biologist told News 12 NJ. Usually found in warmer, calmer Pacific Coast waters, these jellyfish are also turning up as north as New Hampshire.
STATEWIDE – Sure, its Monday morning, and probably the last thing on your mind is which beach bars to hit up this weekend… (or maybe not.) Our recommendation is to patronize one of the bars on this list, all of which provide free, non-alcoholic soft drinks to designated drivers who register through a website and take a pledge. It’s all part of thee Jersey Shore HERO program. “The HERO in our campaign is the designated driver who can save lives by giving their friends and family members a safe drive home,” said campaign chairman Bill Elliott, who launched it after losing his son to a drunken driver in 2000.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
CONCORD, N.H. – A prominent Republican is running to become the “Register of Probate” for Rockingham County. Her platform? Get rid of the dumb position. Donna Sytek, former speaker of the New Hampshire House, said she is the best candidate for the obscure, meaningless, $100-a-year job. And, if elected, she vows to eliminate it. “We have a title with hardly any responsibilities,” Sytek said. “I said, `That's a job for me! I can do that!’”
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1994 that Cubs second basemen Ryne Sandberg decided to give up $15.7 million of his $25 million contract, retiring from the game because he suddenly stunk. (He returned to the Cubs in 1996.)
WORD OF THE DAY
Semelparous (se-MEL-per-is) – adjective
Definition: Managing to reproduce once in a lifetime
Example: With the lousy way that Bob hits on the ladies, we’re amazed if he ever achieves semelparous status.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Dry.