The Morning Briefing - October 21, 2016
STATEWIDE – National weather forecasters are looking toward the winter, and here is the conclusion for New Jersey: it could snow a lot, it could snow a little, or maybe it won’t snow at all. Here’s the incoherent NOAA explanation, so you can really plan out your winter: “Historically, in La Niña winters we oftentimes do see less-than-average snowfall in the mid-Atlantic area.” But, no snow forecasts right now, as “it does not necessarily mean we cannot see above-normal snow, but just historically, the odds do favor less snow (with a La Niña) than the norm.” Try to read that three more times.
IRVINGTON – It made for an interesting living for a mom and her daughter, authorities said. The dynamic duo from Irvington have been indicted for stealing premium cosmetics from Ulta stores and then returning the items to J.C. Penney stores, receiving store credit that was later converted into cash. Authorities think the pair made off with $107,000 – which must have included countless tubes of lipstick – from stores in six states. You can bet J.C. Penney is reviewing its return policy, once again.
SOMERVILLE – Let’s hand an extra apple to Lindsay Frevert, a second-grade teacher at Van Derveer Elementary School, the winner of a $25,000 national award honoring outstanding educators. The Milken Educator Award was handed to this teacher for a startling achievement: Sixty-seven percent of Frevert's students started out reading below grade level last year. By the time she was done with these kids, 95 percent of them were reading at grade-level.
PATERSON – An obvious question to ask your local school officials: Does the district carry student accident insurance? The Record tells the startling story of a Paterson football player who broke his leg in a game last month. When mom took him to the hospital, it was learned the school district cancelled its policy in the spring to save $400,000. The insurance is meant to cover everything from sports, to field trips to recess. Based on nothing more than common sense, it seems school districts would be rolling the dice to cancel such policies, as they would ultimately be caught in a web of liability lawsuits that far exceed the insurance premiums.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
NEW YORK – One thing we can guarantee: our next President won’t be intentionally funny. Last night was a great opportunity for the two candidates to let down their hair and tell some jokes, as Catholic charities held its Al Smith dinner to raise money. It was so unfunny, there were actually some historic boos among the 1,500 attendees. “Here she is tonight, in public, pretending not to hate Catholics,” Trump said. Here was a Clinton gem, with Melania in the audience: “Donald looks at the Statue of Liberty and sees a 4 -- maybe a 5 if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair.” Sigh.
LEBANON, Tenn. – At Derek Dodson’s campaign HQ for mayor, you can bet no one is talking about one awkward fact: The candidate is banned by a court restraining order from entering City Hall. The Tennessean reports Dodson was kicked out for speaking during a Feb. 11 council meeting when public comments weren’t allowed. That resulted in the restraining order and, shall we assume, an easy re-election bid for Mayor Philip Craighead, running on a platform of “dignity.”
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1979 that Disney World celebrated its 100-millionth guest, found dozing on a two-hour line for “It’s a Small World.”
WORD OF THE DAY
Pusillanimous [pyo͞osəˈlanəməs] – adjective
Definition: Timid
Example: The pusillanimous candidate ran off the debate stage to sob in the corner.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Wet