The Morning Briefing - August 18, 2016
NEW BRUNSWICK – We all know climate change is an outrageous left-wing conspiracy, fueled by sandal-wearing, tree-hugging wackos who hate corporate growth. Yet, one Rutgers researcher says all this allegedly warmer air is affecting New Jerseyans with allergies. The researcher says hotter temperatures, increased carbon dioxide emissions and other hooey is bringing out pollen earlier, with a more intense irritation for allergy sufferers. But remember, this is just the crazy opinion of a non-partisan, well-educated scientist. We put our faith and trust in Big Business, which, of course, always makes us their first priority.
TRENTON – There’s actually some good news about all those stalled road, rail and bridge projects. As lawmakers are in a political standoff about how best to pump money into the Transportation Trust Fund, Gov. Chris Christie has made a move to get some workers back on the job now. He issued an executive order yesterday to use money from the state’s general fund to continue emergency repair work for the bridges, roads and rails in the worst shape. Good. But to end this stalemate and return to some sanity, everyone needs to agree on a 23-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax. And there, our friends, lies the problem.
AT HOME – You know that college graduate still living in your basement? You know the one … great SAT scores, admission to a great university and now a great job? Well, so why is he still eating your casserole surprise and giving you a hamper of laundry? Two words: College Debt. A new study is out, showing New Jersey ranks ninth in the nation in student debt, with an average per-student total of $30,653. The study, by LendEDU, also shows that 63 percent of Jersey college students are now taking out loans, fueling a lending industry with more than $1.4 trillion in national debt. Hey mom, what’s for dinner?
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP – Kudos to the State Police for nailing a truck driver who was caught hauling nearly $3 million worth of heroin in a tractor-trailer. Troopers stopped the truck on Interstate 78 in Greenwich Township for a safety inspection, finding 36 kilograms of the highly-addictive, cheap and commonly available drug. Hopes are the 58-year-old driver from Chula Vista, Calif. spills the beans on a larger network of heroin coming through the state. With heroin addiction at crisis proportions in New Jersey, getting as much of it off the market is priority No.1. Nice job.
ORANGE – No library card, just a federal warrant was all FBI agents needed to check out a whole bunch of riveting reading material from this town's public library. It seems the cartons of documents, computers and hard drives seized on in late July are part of some sweeping investigation into theft, fraud, extortion, money laundering and the misuse of government funds. Yeah, but at a public library? Apparently nothing's sacred, as NJ Advance Media says this all has to do with the library's HVAC system and janitorial services. Even its Saturday literacy program seems to be under suspicion. Guess we'll just have to wait as the feds make book on this mess.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
ON THE AIRWAVES – If you want to show voters that you are an approachable, easy-going guy, perhaps you don’t have your pit bull lawyer appear on CNN to chat about the campaign and what makes you so darn swell. The Trump campaign decided yesterday to put up attorney Michael Cohen, providing the public with an interview that will forever be used in media training courses. Sit back and enjoy this 26 seconds of “news.”
IN THE MEDIA
As the ranks of news reporters in New Jersey continue to decline, the remaining few are losing their reliable, all-in-one quotable source. James Hughes, a dean at Rutgers University, was the on-the-record, always-available expert to interview about virtually any topic. More taxes in Teaneck? Call Hughes. New housing in Hillsborough? Email Hughes. More Hispanics in Ho Ho Kus? For God’s sake, text Hughes. This ubiquitous talking head will be stepping down at the end of the year as the dean of the Bloustein School, ending a career at Rutgers that began in 1971. In retirement, expect Hughes to be a reliable source for the best Early Birds and tee-times, as well as to discuss demographic shifts in gated condo communities.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It must have been one heckuva party in Skokie, Illinois on this day in 1960, when the first birth control pill is made commercially available.
WORD OF THE DAY
Dunnage [DUN-ij] - noun
Definition: Loose material used to support and protect cargo in a ship's hold
Example: I don’t think there will ever be another time in my life when I use dunnage in a sentence.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Clouds