Let Us Now Praise Transparent Men
Gov.-elect Phil Murphy has asked members of his transition team to sign a non-disclosure agreement and promise not to speak to the press. Also they can’t talk about the agreement itself, Politico reports. Also, he worked for Goldman Sachs. Seems like a great start!
$600 Million
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services said New Jersey received $300.5 million in “school-based” Medicaid services that were not allowed, the valuable NJ Spotlight reports. The state also claimed another $306.2 million the feds want to review, according to the HHS audit. New Jersey’s Dept. of Human Services challenged the findings, which it says were premature, among other things.
Read Lilo Stanton’s story.
Kevin H.
The eastbound SRNJ freight service heading through Hammonton. Photo by Kevin H (@khustarelli on Instagram).
Speaking of audits, the state auditor was supposed to publish its review of everyone’s favorite local agency–the CRDA–in the summer (before the election) but it still hasn’t (after the election). Check back tomorrow for our in-the-works update on that story!
And read Route 40’s original coverage from back in May here. Pretty please.
Family Loses Home
Lynda Cohen of BreakingAC has details on a fire in Pleasantville that displaced a family of three who lost their home. The family cat hid under the bed and was rescued by firefighters.
Johnson & Johnson
Sarah Beth Johnson, the wife of outgoing Senator Colin Bell, has been nominated for the Superior Court in Atlantic County. “State senators are given the courtesy of recommending judges in their own districts,” the Press of AC’s John DeRosier reports.
The county Republican Chairman said the move “stinks of nepotism” which I think is not the same as saying it is nepotism. Maybe more sniffing is required.
The Press also notes Johnson’s name was put forth as a potential candidate in June 2016 when Whelan was still senator.
Johnson is also the daughter of Judge Nelson Johnson who wrote that book about Steve Buscemi.
XXX
New Jersey strip clubs have been “brazenly and repeatedly” using photos of international glamour models in their advertising, without the permission of those models, according to a series of recent lawsuits, NJ.com’s Rebecca Everett reports. One club named in the suit is an “erotic couples playground” in Atlantic City that’s currently looking for a new location. Willikers.
‘Holidays are not the Same’
Nicole Leonard at the Press of AC has an emotional story on letting go of holiday traditions as our loved ones get older.
For all that and more of the news that’s fit to print, see our Route 40 Roundup:
Murphy: GOP Tax Bill Doesn’t Change Support for Millionaires Tax–Governor-elect Phil Murphy said Tuesday that a Republican tax overhaul in Congress doesn’t change his plans to raise taxes on millionaires, a week after he seemed to open the door to reconsidering one of his top campaign promises. observer.com
Showdown at the Lighthouse–A dispute over the management of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse has led city officials to change the locks on the lighthouse’s doors to keep out the current operators. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Charges in Human-Trafficking Ring–Two South Jersey men ran a prostitution ring in which they used threats of violence and drugs to control at least six women, authorities in Pennsylvania said. www.nj.com
In Camden, Concerns Mount Over Methadone Clinic–“You wouldn’t want to put a Dunkin’ Donuts across from a Weight Watchers. … So why would you want to put a methadone clinic in a drug setting?” community organizer Sean Brown asked the nine-member board. www.philly.com
Cancer Survivor Donates 50,000 Condoms With A Message For Men–Standing amid stacks and stacks of boxes of condoms, Scott Petinga made his pitch Tuesday to about 50 advertising and public relations professionals gathered in a restaurant meeting room. His message: Men, especially young men, need to take care of their sexual health. www.philly.com
Man Allegedly Burglarized Atlantic City Home With A Mom And Kids Inside–An Atlantic City man was arrested after he allegedly entered a home while a woman and her children were home. Police were called to the home on the 900 block of Baltic Avenue at about 6:20 am Monday for the report of a man trying to get in, Sgt Kevin Fair said. breakingac.com