Mostly sunny with high temperatures in the upper 40s.
U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARING SPORTS-BETTING CASE TODAY
Gov. Chris Christie is in Washington, D.C., today to listen in as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments about whether sports betting should be legal in New Jersey. Christie has a lot at stake in the case, Kevin Draper and Nick Corasaniti write in The New York Times, as the governor – who has very low approval ratings – looks for something to cement his legacy. If New Jersey loses in court, Christie’s reputation could take another hit.
BEAR HUNT UNDERWAY, BUT IT MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE
The second part of the 2017 bear hunt began this morning, and if Gov.-elect Phil Murphy fulfills his campaign pledge, it will be the last for a while. In a statement, Murphy said before authorizing any more hunts, he wants a better understanding of the effectiveness and "proof it works better than non-lethal options," Bruce A. Scruton reports for the New Jersey Herald. In the first part of this year's bear hunt, held in October, hunters bagged 244 bears.
THE TRAFFICKERS NEXT DOOR: DRUG CARTEL GETS A FOOTHOLD
Members of the Mexico-based Sinaloa drug cartel are living in New Jersey, often going unnoticed in local communities, Ken Serrano reports for the Asbury Park Press. “They’re in sleepy towns,” State Police Detective Sgt. 1st Class Larry Williams said. “They’d rather be in a Willingboro or another place where they can’t be robbed or can’t be found. They want to blend into their surroundings.” It’s estimated that the cartel controls about 90 percent of the wholesale heroin that comes into the state.
SHOULD FAILURE BE AN OPTION IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS?
A growing number of school districts are adopting “no zero” grading policies, in which any student who shows up and makes a reasonable effort will earn a grade of at least 50 percent. This has opened debate about the purpose of grades, Carly Sitrin writes for NJ Spotlight. Are they meant to be rewards and punishments, or measures of proficiency? Newer approaches to grading, like no-zero and second-chance testing, are drawing objections from students as well as some teachers and administrators.
DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT TAKES TO NJPAC STAGE
When Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show,” and Samantha Bee, host of “Full Frontal,” took the stage at NJPAC on Saturday night for the annual Montclair Film Festival fundraiser, the conversation quickly turned to the flood of sexual harassment reports in the news, Sharilyn Johnson writes for Vanity Fair. “The speed and velocity of which everything is coming forward is impressive to me,” Bee said, “and I’m happy to be alive in this moment where people are feeling freer with their stories.”
ICYMI: BILL TO BAN BUMP STOCKS ADVANCES IN ASSEMBLY
Legislation to ban the bump stock, a device that allows semiautomatic weapons to fire more rapidly, was advanced Thursday by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, Brent Johnson reported for NJ.com. The bump stock was used in the mass shooting two months ago in Las Vegas in which 58 people were killed. The proposed legislation calls for penalties of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
