The Morning Briefing - January 24, 2017
ATLANTIC COUNTY - Freeholder John Carman says it was all in good fun, but he is now facing the full wrath of women for a couple of stupid Facebook "meme" posts he posted about the historic nationwide marches on Saturday. His first post features a woman cooking in a kitchen, with text over the photo asking, "Will the woman's protest be over in time for them to cook dinner?" The second one has Kermit the Frog drinking a cup of tea with the message: "There must be a large sandwich making class going on in DC today." The Republican tells the Press of Atlantic City: "People need to lighten up." Women note something else funny: He is up for re-election this year.
TRENTON - Good news for businesses that sell curtains and upholstery, as the state Assembly is pushing a bill that bans the declawing of cats in New Jersey. The legislation, scraped together by Democratic Assemblyman Troy Singleton, now heads to the Senate, where it could then be shredded. New Jersey could be the first state to ban declawing, which is a pretty nasty procedure in which Muffy's toes are amputated at the last joint. Violators could face a fine of up to $1,000, as well as civil penalties - like putting 20 fully-clawed cats in your fancy new sports coupe with the Nappa leather.
SHORT HILLS - Just because a dentist is dead, why should he no longer be able to bill taxpayers with fake Medicaid bills? That, at least, is the rationale of one Short Hills dentist, who assumed the identity of a dead colleague and then submitted a bunch of fake Medicaid bills. NJ.com tells the story of 58-year-old Roben Brookhim who lost his dental license in 2004, and then figured he could make a living by billing the federal government under the name of a dead dentist. Brookhim, who already served nine months in jail, has been fined $1.1 million for the scam and has a 50-year ban from participating in any federal health care programs. Good news for when he turns 108.
NEW BRUNSWICK - The losing battle over heroin use in New Jersey appears to have no end. One woman attended a City Council meeting last week to plead that cops crack the whip on drug dealers who plague French Street, TAPinto New Brunswick reported. Sobering facts here: 20 people were admitted to the ER at Robert Wood Johnson in November alone, while Saint Peter's sees six to eight heroin cases a month. "I know you can't stop a person from doing what they want to do," Danielle Moore told the City Council. "But, oh my, seeing so many deaths and pick-ups in the one area-yes, I think it's time for something to be done." Read more here.
IN THE MEDIA
NORTH JERSEY - It is sad commentary when Gannett announced yesterday it is further slashing its news organization in northern New Jersey, yet still proclaimed it is "proud to be North Jersey's No. 1 local news source." The fact is - with the gutting of newspapers over the past decade - Gannett can keep cutting and cutting and still, somehow, legitimately be the No. 1 local news source. That's because there's no real competition. By week's end, 141 employees are to receive layoff notices. The hit will be across The Record, the Herald News, NorthJersey.com, 30 weekly newspapers and the (201) magazine group, including reporters who cover the courts, education and features. Feel free to thank the Borg family, who sold its mini media empire to Gannett, knowing full well this would happen.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
GREELEY, Colo. - He may have gotten ejected from a basketball game, but probably earned plenty of votes, as Greeley Mayor Tom Norton is getting national media attention for his antics at a University of Northern Colorado basketball game. The Greeley Tribune reports the mayor was furious at a call during Saturday's game against Weber State University in his hometown. He jumped up from his courtside seat and walked onto the floor to complain. The refs bounced the mayor, but he was able to pull some strings and get himself readmitted; just as long as he sat a safe distance from the floor. Weber State won, 74-69.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1984 that Steve Jobs introduced the personal computer known as the Macintosh. Yeah, it will never catch on.
WORD OF THE DAY
Froideur [frwa-doer] - noun
Definition: An attitude of haughty aloofness; cold superiority.
Example: I don't understand the froideur of Steve Jobs and his fancy new computer.
WEATHER IN A WORD
Puddles