January 17, 2018
Rain and snow with high temperatures in the mid-30s.
NEW GOVERNOR STRIKES NOTES OF OPTIMISM AND URGENCY
After taking the oath of office in Trenton on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy invoked themes from the late President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address, calling for service and inclusion, NJ Spotlight writes. “The public is tired of pessimistic and short-sighted thinking,” Murphy said. He also claimed a mandate for sweeping change and vowed to focus on the stagnant economy, The New York Times reports.
GREWAL BECOMES FIRST SIKH ATTORNEY GENERAL IN U.S.
Gurbir S. Grewal took the oath of office as state attorney general Tuesday shortly after the state Senate voted 29-0 to confirm his appointment by Gov. Phil Murphy, NJ.com reports. Grewal, 44, the son of immigrants from India, is the first Sikh to become an attorney general in the United States. Previously he was the Bergen County prosecutor.
MURPHY SIGNS ORDER AIMED AT EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
In his first official action, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Tuesday prohibiting managers in state government from asking job applicants about their previous salaries, NJ.com writes. Murphy said the order would help bridge the pay gap between men and women who work in state government. “This is our first executive order – and that’s not a coincidence,” Murphy said.
BOOKER CHALLENGES HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF ON RACISM
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, Sen. Cory Booker accused Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen of “complicity” in what some have called the racism of President Donald Trump, HuffPost reports. Nielsen testified that she did not hear Trump use a vulgarity to refer to Haiti, El Salvador and some African countries in a recent White House meeting. Booker replied: “You can’t remember the words of your commander-in-chief? I find that unacceptable.”
NORTH JERSEY SCHOOLS CRACKING DOWN ON VAPING
In some school districts, the use of electronic cigarettes, known as vaping, is a violation of substance abuse rules, The Record writes, and schools are cracking down. School officials say they are concerned about a rise in the the nicotine-delivery devices by teenagers. Students caught vaping are subject to drug testing in some districts.
DEP SEEKS COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC ON WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN
The state Department of Environmental Protection is revising New Jersey’s Wildlife Action Plan for the first time since 2005 and is seeking public comment, TapInto.net reports. The plan will be used to guide wildlife conservation efforts in the state over the next 10 years. The deadline for comments is Friday.
WHAT CHRISTIE MAY NOT WANT TO ADMIT: HE HAD SUCCESS WITH OBAMACARE
Although it may not be what he wants to cop to politically, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's expansion of Medicaid and well-done implementation of the Affordable Care Act has been good for the state, WNYC reports.
