| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Friday morning! Or not. This weekend marks the demise of the Jersey Journal, and the all-but-official end of The Star-Ledger. The Jersey Journal shutters Saturday and the Ledger’s final print edition will be Sunday. The Ledger will still have print-style issues available online, but aside from the editorial board and a couple columnists, it has been effectively dead for years. For all intents and purposes, its news coverage was shifted to NJ Advance Media 10 years ago. The news media was never perfect. It never could be. But at daily newspapers — especially large ones like the Ledger — editors and reporters typically upheld standards of accuracy and accountability. People from all political persuasions read them and, even if they criticized their coverage, they didn’t dismiss it out of hand. This type of journalism still exists, including at NJ Advance Media. But many people are on a steady diet of “news” that just reinforces their beliefs and feelings and virtually no local coverage. I think we’re all worse for it. The Star-Ledger won some Pulitzers and had some splashy series. But I think the biggest loss is the day-to-day coverage of local government. There are some hyperlocal news sites, and they’re important, but they have neither the resources nor reach of the old papers. New Jersey still has a hard-working Statehouse press corps, even if it's a fraction of its former size and some of us now work remotely from other states (no need to name names). When I began my career in journalism nearly 20 years ago, I decided I wanted to cover New Jersey politics and I set my sights on the Ledger. It took me a while to get there — I'm still a little bitter about that — but it helped shape the reporter I am today. You may say that’s a strike against it, but you read this far. WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Craig Coughlin, Michael Kempner. Saturday for John Azzariti, Winnie Comfort, Diane Lattuca Pennacchio. Sunday for Hollie Gilroy, Aaron Keyak, Danny Reiter QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I can't just be wrong — I have to be evil and worthy of deportation. That's the very thing we have to move away from." — Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who asked Trump to have mercy on minorities during the inaugural prayer service. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com | | | | A message from Amazon: Lina started as a part-time employee in one of Amazon's fulfillment centers in Monroe Township, New Jersey. Through a free skills training program, she's turned that job into a full-time career as a robotics trainer.
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Read more employee success stories. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | HACKENSACKED — Contract dispute between Hackensack Meridian, Horizon could leave hospitals out of network, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Hackensack Meridian Health’s hospitals will be out of network with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey policyholders, both companies announced Thursday, unless the two can come to a contract agreement. Horizon’s contract with Hackensack Meridian will be terminated on Saturday, with continuation of care period until June 1, according to the hospital. The move would impact commercial policyholders but not Medicaid, Medicare or Braven Health policyholders, and Hackensack Meridian’s physician groups would still be considered in-network, according to Horizon. The state’s largest health system and the state’s largest health insurer have been in contract negotiations and are at odds over reimbursement rates for care, with Horizon saying the health system is asking too much and Hackensack saying the insurer is being too stingy. ILL WIND — Offshore wind industry in tatters amid Trump uncertainty, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey’s offshore wind industry is on life support following President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt wind development. In recent days, two New Jersey projects have been thrown into uncertainty. On Thursday, energy giant Shell paused involvement in Atlantic Shores, an offshore wind project that Trump last week called “dead.” It was the only active project in New Jersey that had federal permits to proceed. Attentive Energy, a TotalEnergies subsidiary, also told state utility regulators it needs to delay key deadlines on its project through the end of the year. The request for the delay was submitted last week but only made public Thursday. A third project, Leading Light Wind, was facing delays even before Trump took office. While representatives of all three projects have said they are going to keep working to build wind turbines off the New Jersey coast, the fate of each project is now quite murky given they lack the necessary permits or financial conditions to proceed. ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FOURTH GRADER? — “NJ fourth grade reading scores continue to fall after COVID pandemic,” by The Record’s Mary Ann Koruth: “Despite being a top state for public schools, fourth grade reading skills and eighth grade math performance in New Jersey's schoolchildren had generally been dropping even before the pandemic hit, according to the Edunomics Lab, a Georgetown University think tank that compared results from the national report card with state spending. Fourth and eighth graders nationally are not making the progress needed to regain ground lost during the pandemic, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which releases the report card, said in a statement Wednesday. New Jersey's public school students, while performing above the national average, still reflected the national trend — declines in fourth grade reading and unremarkable changes in eighth grade math performance. Fourth graders continued to drop in reading levels in 2024, two full years after the COVID pandemic ended and despite an unprecedented $4.3 billion infusion in federal relief funding to the state government.” CAMDEN COUNTY DEMOCRATS TO THE RESCUE — Bill to make it harder to run for office in NJ lands on Murphy's desk, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: It could soon be harder for candidates to get on the ballot in New Jersey. The Assembly and Senate on Thursday gave final passage to controversial legislation that would significantly increase the number of signatures residents need to get on the ballot in primaries and nonpartisan races, sending the bill to Gov. Phil Murphy. “This is a task that is worthy of all sincere candidates and is achievable by any candidate that is interested in running for office,” the bill’s top sponsor, Democratic Assemblymember Lou Greenwald, said. But Republican Assemblymember Dawn Fantasia called the measure a “power grab,” noting that some candidates for office are already gathering signatures, which are due March 24 … The bill states that “too many unserious and frivolous candidates that lack support from their community complicates ballot design, provides opportunity to confuse and misdirect voters away from candidates who have the support of their community, and erodes voter confidence in elected representative democracy,” reads the statement of the bill … Greenwald is a Democrat from Camden County. Camden County Democrats are notorious for recruiting "phantom candidates" in primary and general elections whose sole purpose appeared to be to confuse voters. | | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | |
RADIO STATION THAT LAID OFF EXPERIENCED STATEHOUSE REPORTER MOCKS YOUNG STATEHOUSE REPORTERS FOR INEXPERIENCE — “Republican Bill Spadea steps down from radio show, as unfairness complaints mount,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “Bill Spadea, a Republican running to become New Jersey’s next governor, ended his 10-year stint as a conservative radio show host Thursday, amid mounting criticism from campaign rivals that his radio station bosses gave him unfair advantages … During his final show Thursday, he poked fun at his detractors, peppering defiant disclaimers amid the ads that mocked a statement his employer, Townsquare Media, has been airing to disavow any election scheming … In between the disclaimers and traffic, weather, and news reports, Spadea mostly spent his four-hour show taking calls from gushing fans who vowed to support him and thanked him for advocating for conservative causes, as well as Republican politicians alluding to his gubernatorial campaign … He bashed the political press, too, agreeing when broadcaster Eric Scott, who will take over Spadea’s show, complained that the Statehouse press corps is 'a bunch of teenagers’ who lack intellectual curiosity and skills. ‘They took some local courses at Rutgers, and they, you know, they’re wannabe journalists. And they’re not journalists,’ Spadea added. ‘Their experience is all social media.’”
— “Pinelands Republican Club straw poll: The winners, the non-winners and the no-shows” — “Last year, homelessness in N.J. was up 24%. Why some fear it’s even higher now” — “Senate, Assembly welcome new members” — “Another Republican mulls bid for DiMaio’s seat” — Press release: "Attorney General Platkin announces TRUST Commission" | | | | A message from Amazon:  
| | | | | TRUMP ERA | |
BOBBING FOR PARDONS — “What's Gold Bar Bob's next move? Kowtowing to Donald Trump for a pardon,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “The fiery street-corner remarks had the feel of a final fail-safe move for a man whose once-promising career arc — one that saw him begin as a young Union City reformer who proudly wore a bulletproof vest when he fingered his corrupt patron, former Mayor William Musto, in 1982 — had cratered into a harsh sentence that could keep him in jail into his early 80s. So it's not entirely shocking that Menendez, desperate to stay out of a federal prison somewhere in the tristate region, would make a last-ditch appeal to a president with a persecution complex who has vowed vengeance on his enemies by weaponizing the U.S. Department of Justice.”
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DEFEND MENENDEZ CLEMENCY — “Is that all it will take for Trump to pardon Menendez?” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “It is worth wondering what Republicans in New Jersey, where Trump, of course, has a golf course and a residence, are going to do. Will they do nothing? Or will they reach out to the White House and tell the president — ‘No pardon, please?’ Just think for a minute the harm a Menendez pardon would do to the Republican brand in New Jersey.” — “State could seek to pull Menendez pension, lifetime ban on public employment" — “What N.J. Republicans are hoping for out of the reconciliation process” — “Want to buy federal office space in NJ? Trump is looking to sell” — “How an anti-windmill group is banking on whales to halt Jersey Shore projects” — “Volunteers hit the streets in New Jersey town to inform immigrants of their rights” — “Sentencing of one more NJ businessman ends ex-Sen. Menendez bribery chapter” — Murphy: “I’m a governor who worked at the DNC. Here’s what we need from its next chair” | | | | New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today. | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
POLICE ALSO VULNERABLE TO MASS HYSTERIA — “NJ drone mystery exposes ‘vulnerability’ in modern police work: Ocean County sheriff,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Erik Larsen: ”Local law enforcement agencies must have the tools to protect the airspace above their communities, Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy told the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday. Speaking to county commissioners at an agenda session of the board, Mastronardy said the December drone sightings over New Jersey exposed what is an increasing 21st century 'vulnerability' for police: the lack of legal authority to preserve the peace above a certain altitude. Under the current law, the Federal Aviation Administration alone administers control of U.S. airspace and is therefore the principal authority in instituting regulations about drone use, which the agency does through unmanned aerial vehicle registration and the requirement that commercial operators be certified as drone pilots. While the FAA also sets altitude restrictions and no-fly zones, its focus as a federal agency is on broader public safety and national security issues, not local privacy and nuisance complaints. The sheriff said he is working with Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, on legislation that could change that.”
— “Kean: 'Still many unanswered questions' about Central Jersey drone sightings” — “Married [Hamilton and Mercer County] police officers charged with having sex in front of kids, made recordings” — “Atlantic County Commissioner Coursey declines to run for reelection” — “Chilly Newark apartment owner tells city: ‘We’re actually the good guys’” — “Toms River to NJ: We don't need 670 affordable homes, we only need 114 — or maybe none” — “Newark gets ready to welcome 16- and 17-year-olds voting in April’s historic school board election” — “What Newark schools will do in the face of Trump's mass deportation remains unclear” — “Ali: What The Jersey Journal has meant to me | Opinion” | | | | A message from Amazon: For years, Lina worked various jobs to support her family. But after losing regular work, she found herself struggling to afford food for her son.
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THE NEWSHOLE IS SIX FEET DEEP — “Demise of The Star-Ledger: End of an error,” by Guy Sterling for New Jersey Globe: “In a few days, The Star-Ledger will cease printing after 86 years and then fade into history as a daily newspaper produced by what was once one of the premier news organizations in America. But in truth, the death knell began sounding at the end of 2008 when the paper lost 40 percent of its news staff in coerced buyouts as the owners felt a need to drastically downsize the operation. Included in that group of around 150 employees were many veteran reporters, editors and photographers across all areas of coverage as well as young and promising ones, with most never returning to daily journalism. It was a blow from which the paper never fully recovered, and the exodus of skilled and experienced talent hastened its trip along the road to obscurity.”
MILL MURRAY — “Requiem for a groundhog: The magical rise and soul-crushing fall of Groundhog Day in small-town N.J.,” by NJ Advance Media’s Adam Clark: “There will be no Groundhog Day in Milltown this Feb. 2 … The Milltown Wranglers, the group of about a dozen diehards behind the quaint borough’s Groundhog Day event, could not find a groundhog to replace their beloved Milltown Mel. The second Mel died just before Groundhog Day 2022. The state confiscated his replacement just a few months later. So yet another hollow Feb. 2nd will pass in Milltown without the glory of a marmot’s meteorological prophecy. Without the black tie wardrobe. Without Mel. It’s been four bitter years. 'It might sound clichéd,' said McNamara, the leader of the wranglers, ‘but it feels like "Groundhog Day" the movie. Over and over. The same thing. Every day … Groundhogs can’t predict the weather. Yet Milltown Mel melted hearts. He captivated a community. He spurred proposed legislation. And he motivated a surprisingly complex and possibly impossible mission to legally import a groundhog from outside the state. But the forces of opposition are formidable. The effort to replace Milltown Mel has angered animal lovers and fueled influential pushback from New Jersey’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, which enforces strict rules on wildlife as pets. After all, groundhogs can carry rabies. And they are wild animals that don’t like to be handled. What comes next in the quest to revive Milltown’s Groundhog Day is anyone’s guess. But what’s clear is the battle has only begun." R.I.P. — “N.J. loses another Groundhog Day forecaster, as hedgehog Elsa dies” — “Last major commercial airliner plane crash before D.C. tragedy departed from Newark” R.I.P. — “George Tice, ‘Bard of New Jersey’ with a camera, dies at 86” | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
