Latest news with #Platkin
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
NJ settles lawsuit against Morris County gun store in violation of safety law
New Jersey officials settled a lawsuit against a Morris County-based gun store that had guns within reach of a ground-floor window. FSS Armory, located in the Pine Brook section of Montville, was named in a lawsuit in December 2023 by Matthew Platkin, the state attorney general, along with two Pennsylvania stores for violations through the New Jersey Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office. SAFE was created as a way for the state to go after the gun industry in court for the "violations of the law that harm the health and safety of New Jersey residents," according to a statement from the Attorney General's Office. According to court documents, FSS "stored loose, unsecured rifles, stacks of handguns and gun boxes in an open room directly under two ground-floor windows" abutting a glass-doored entrance from the parking lot. The documents said the weapons were visible from the outside and in July 2022, posted a picture online showing the loose guns and gun boxes. In January 2023, the store was burglarized with the thieves breaking the ground floor windows, leaning inside and removing 18 guns within arm's reach. They stole seven pistols, six shotguns, four rifles and one revolver. The alarm wasn't triggered and it wasn't until the owner got to the store the next morning that the police learned of the burglary. According to the settlement, one of the burglars had searched gun stores in New Jersey on his phone and FSS Armory was part of the search. After the theft of the guns, the burglars traveled to a Passaic jewelry store and held the owners and two customers at gunpoint and stole "a significant amount of jewelry" while injuring one of the owners. Only nine of the stolen guns have been recovered and have been at a crime scene or on a criminal, Platkin stated. 'This case is a stark example of the consequences that can result when unsecured firearms fall into the wrong hands," Platkin said. "By storing these firearms with inadequate security measures, FSS Armory made it easy for them to be stolen and later used in crimes" Platkin said other licensed gun retailers "should take heed" of what happened in FFS Armory. FSS Armory admitted liability for its negligence and for improperly storing the guns in the store. It agreed to several measures, including: Improving the store's security and firearm storage The security measures and other compliance obligations are subject to final approval by the SAFE Office Installing an alarm system capable of making real-time notifications of a break-in on all windows and exterior doors, Installing bars on all exterior windows that don't allow someone to reach their arm through Store all shotguns and rifles in a rack with a locking device. Firearms and ammunition should be stored in a heavy-gauge metal cabinet or a heavy-gauge mesh wire cage or secured in a safe or vault. Those displayed in a glass case can remain as long as they are secured with a steel cable or other "adequate-looking device." Working with the Attorney General to appoint an independent monitor to check its compliance for four years and FSS will bear the costs for the inspection. FSS is also financially responsible and is required to pay a total of $125,000 to the New Jersey State Department of the Treasury. The first payment of $15,000 is due in 30 days and then payments of $10,000 will continue every month until May 2026. 'Today's settlement agreement demonstrates that our state's firearms industry public safety law works exactly as intended,' Ravi Ramanathan, director of SAFE, said. 'Companies in all industries are held responsible when their actions jeopardize the health and safety of the public." Once the provisions in the consent judgment are complete, the claims against FFS will be dismissed with prejudice. This article originally appeared on Morris County NJ gun store settles lawsuit with New Jersey
Politico
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Platkin enters the battle for Cherry Hill
Good Tuesday morning! Attorney General Matt Platkin is weighing in on the fight to fill Cherry Hill's 71 vacant Democratic committee seats. And here's a shocker: It's not on the South Jersey Democratic machine's side. Platkin filed a motion to intervene Monday in favor of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats, who won a shocking landslide victory in last month's Democratic primary, when their slate of just three candidates for Democratic committee in Camden County's largest town beat the full slate of 74 backed by the Camden County Democrats. The Camden County Democratic Committee is suing and convinced a judge to block the progressives from filling the seats ahead of a court date on Friday. But Platkin's office says there's no ambiguity about the law for filling vacancies: It's up to the elected county committee members to do it. He accused the Camden County Democrats of trying to 'rewrite the rules of the election after the rules were already set.' I try not to assume readers' knowledge about political relationships, but if you're an even semi-regular reader you don't need me to explain the state of affairs between Platkin and the Camden County Democrats' unofficial boss, George Norcross. But from my non-lawyer's perspective, Platkin and the South Jersey progressive Democrats have the plain language of the law on their side. 'In any election, voters go to the polls and cast their ballots based on the understanding that their properly cast ballots will be counted according to settled rules, and that their ballots will likewise be translated into election outcomes according to settled rules,' read the filing for Platkin, written by Assistant Attorney General Christina Brandt-Young. 'It would severely undermine voters' confidence in the electoral process. It would effectively deprive voters of the franchise, denying them the benefit of the rules according to which they cast their ballots.' State senator and Camden County Democratic chair James Beach suggested in a phone call that Platkin's intervention was related to Beach's bill, proposed a couple weeks ago, to remove the State Police from Platkin's purview. 'He's proven himself time and time again to be more focused on headlines and politics than doing his job for the people of the state of New Jersey,' he said. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'The old-school gangsters would just stick a gun in your mouth and say, 'Do this.' Today's gangsters put a pen in your face. They're just a little more educated about it.' — Atlantic Club owner Rocco Sebastiani, on why he's putting it up for sale HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Everyone I mentioned Monday because I couldn't keep dates straight: Brian Bergen, Mo Butler, Naomi Nix, Michael Boonin. And those I missed Monday: Barry Albin, Michael Soliman, Fred Butler, Ben Giovine, Kate McDonnell WHAT TRENTON MADE TURN THE STATE AROUND. LOVE TO HEAR DISCUSSION. TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN. HATE TO SEE REPERCUSSION — 'Murphy says his final budget caps efforts to 'turn our state around',' by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: 'From affordability to sustainability to opportunity, Gov. Phil Murphy has cast his final state budget as a spending plan that gives New Jersey a 'brighter future' as he readies to leave office early next year. Murphy, a term-limited Democrat, has emphasized to the public increased funding for direct tax-relief programs and K-12 public school aid as major advancements, along with the setting aside of an estimated $6.7 billion surplus that will be inherited by his successor in 2026, if all goes according to plan ... However, others paint a far different portrait of the budget's overall impact on a state with many residents struggling to manage major concerns like housing and mass-transit affordability, even as total state spending by New Jersey has now risen to a record-high, nearly $60 billion. And the surplus being left to the next governor could have been even bigger, Murphy's critics note, if Murphy and majority Democrats who control the Legislature weren't planning to spend nearly $1.5 billion more than the administration estimates will be collected from taxes and other revenue sources over the next 12 months.' SURE, IT'S REGRETTABLE THIS HAD TO GO. BUT AT LEAST BAD FOR-PROFIT NURSING HOME OPERATORS AREN'T PENALIZED — Key part of suicide prevention hotline may close, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: A key expansion of the state's suicide prevention hotline program may close after lawmakers declined to give it additional funding in the state budget. The Department of Human Services told POLITICO it may have to halt plans to open centers designed to provide immediate services for people who call the 988 suicide prevention hotline. The comments come as lawmakers declined to include a 40-cent monthly fee on phone plans to help fund the 988 suicide hotline in the state budget. Gov. Phil Murphy called for the 40-cent fee in his initial spending plan. PLAINTIFFS HERE SEEK TO DEFY THE LOGIC OF ALL SEX LAWS — 'A N.J. court just made it harder for sex offenders to get off Megan's Law registry,' by NJ Advance Media's Colleen Murphy: 'A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that individuals seeking removal from the state's sex offender registry must prove they are not a danger to the public in any way, not just that they are unlikely to commit another sex crime. The ruling, which sets a new legal precedent in New Jersey, stems from two cases involving men convicted of sex offenses decades ago who later asked to be removed from the state's sex offender registry and released from lifetime supervision … A Middlesex County judge granted both men's requests — but the state appealed, arguing the court failed to consider their full criminal histories. The Appellate Division found that the lower court was wrong to focus only on the risk of future sexual offenses.' MURPHY DECIDES IT AINSWORTH IT — ''How many will close forever?' N.J. just dealt a massive blow to local newspapers, advocates say.,' by NJ Advance Media's Jelani Gibson: 'A decades-old law requiring towns and government agencies in New Jersey to publish meeting notices in newspapers was abolished last week, raising concerns that some local publications covering the state may be forced to close … The consequences of the end of the meeting notice law could be dire for New Jersey's smaller publications, according to Brett Ainsworth, publisher of The Retrospect, an award-winning newspaper in Camden County. 'There are independent, hometown newspapers everywhere in the state that will be devastated,' Ainsworth said. 'The only question to me is how many will close forever.' Ainsworth said he is worried about his own newspaper. 'As publisher for the last 25 years of my hometown newspaper, The Retrospect, I have grave concerns about this 123-year-old newspaper's viability,' he said.' JOHN LYDON MAY JOIN CIATTARELLI CAMPAIGN — 'Tim Lydon joining Sherrill campaign as policy director and general counsel,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'Former Superior Court Judge Timothy Lydon is taking a leave of absence from his post as executive director of the New Jersey Senate Majority Office to head up the policy shop for Democrat Mikie Sherrill's campaign for governor and serve as general counsel to the campaign. With Lydon, Sherrill gains an advisor deeply rooted in the functions of state government, as well as friends on both sides of the aisle and in Gov. Phil Murphy's office.' COPS — 'NJ attorney general's 2024 major discipline report lists 644 incidents, up 19.7% from '23,' by The Record's Amanda Wallace: 'The 2024 report, which was released July 7, lists 644 incidents of major discipline taken last year by 172 agencies in New Jersey against 543 officers. The numbers are up 19.7% from 2023, when there were 538 major disciplines from 167 agencies involving 460 unique officers … 'Major discipline' is defined by the office as terminations, reductions in rank or suspension of more than five days.' — 'New Jersey lawmakers chip away at judicial vacancies' — 'N.J. is finally fixing its 911 system. See the counties where calls could be answered faster' — Snowflack: 'The Eagleton Poll' TRUMP ERA IT'S NOT SAL MELGEN'S VILLA BUT IT'LL HAVE TO DO — 'Bob Menendez transferred to low-security prison,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has been transferred to a minimum security federal prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. He arrived at LSCI Allenwood on July 1, a spokesperson for the prison told the New Jersey Globe. Menendez began serving his 11-year prison sentence on June 17. The 71-year-old former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, now known as federal prisoner number 67277-050, had initially been assigned to FCI Schuylkill, a medium security federal prison with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp in Minersville, Pennsylvania, about two-and-a-half hours from his home in Englewood Cliffs and about 50 miles west of Allentown. His new prison is about 75 miles north of Harrisburg and a little under three hours from his New Jersey home in Englewood Cliffs.' — 'When will Medicaid cuts take effect in NJ now that the 'Big Beautiful Bill' has passed?' — 'Trump's tax bill: Here's what it means for New Jersey wallets' LOCAL JACKSON SEEKS PRO SE REPRESENTATION BY MAN IN THE MIRROR — 'Another delay in Paterson election fraud case: Councilman Jackson changing lawyers,' by the Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'Facing thousands of dollars in contempt of court fines, Paterson Councilman Michael Jackson has decided to switch defense lawyers in the state's five-year-long election fraud case against him. Sohail Mohammed, the judge who imposed $250-per-day fines against Jackson in May, gave the councilman two weeks to find a new attorney during a court session on July 7. Mohammed previously said he would consider sending Jackson to jail under the contempt order if the councilman did not provide the New Jersey Attorney General's office with the passcode for Jackson's cell phone seized by state investigators more than two years ago. Authorities seized his cell phone in May 2023 after witnesses in the original election fraud case reportedly recanted their allegations against the councilman. Mohammed has said witnesses changed their statements after having substantial communication with Jackson.' I AM SHOCKED — SHOCKED! — TO FIND CORRUPTION GOING ON IN THIS GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT — 'Citing 'corrupt' Atlantic City government, owner is selling part of the former Atlantic Club casino,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'Citing 'corruption' in city government that he says has frustrated his development plans, the owner of the former Atlantic Club casino is putting part of the property up for sale. Rocco Sebastiani has listed one of the property's two hotel towers for $55 million while he ponders what to do with the remainder of the property at the southern end of the Boardwalk. As recently as February, the New York developer was optimistic about his plan to create a hotel-condominium complex at the former casino site after years of what he said were difficult interactions with city officials regarding the project. When the state took over supervision of the project in February, Sebastiani was heartened, thinking the project could quickly move forward. But he said Thursday that the state is not accepting previous approvals that were hard-won from city government … 'I never expected the corruption that exists in Atlantic City,' he said. 'You read about Nucky Johnson — that stuff still exists.'' UP THE SHORE — 'Jersey Shore towns report banner Fourth of July weekend,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'For those who could find a parking spot and a couple of square feet of sand for a blanket, Independence Day weekend 2025 seemed made for the shore. 'What a spectacular weekend: sunny and mild, warm and calm ocean, some nice breeze to cool things off,' Doug Bergen, Ocean City's public information officer, said Monday. 'It doesn't get much better.' For much of the spring, weekends brought rain or punishing heat. Along with economic uncertainty and multiple other factors, that meant fewer reservations at the shore and concerns from many merchants. There were no such concerns over the weekend, with fully booked hotels, long lines at restaurants and cars parked in almost every available space. Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock reported Monday that water use from the city utility broke records, a sure sign of a crowded town.' LAKEWOOD — 'Lakewood yeshiva student out of jail after arrest claim that he offered teen money for sex,' by the Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'A township man, who is also a student at Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), was released from jail pending trial after being accused of trying to lure a teenage boy into a sexual act for money, according to investigators. Binyamin Kubani, 40, was arrested on July 3 and charged with luring and solicitation during an alleged encounter with a 15-year-old boy, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Kubani is accused of approaching the victim in a silver van near a car wash … 'The defendant then asked the victim if he would like to make some money, while motioning his hands to the act of masturbation,' [Assistant Prosecutor Gregory] Lenzi said. Kubani's arrest has led to demonstrations in support of him as well as a statement from BMG defending him and calling the case a 'miscarriage of justice.' … Yosef B. Jacobovitch, Kubani's attorney, sought to counter Lenzi's claims … 'This is an individual who everyone who knows him to be a pious, religious, family-oriented man.' Jacobovitch said. 'This is an individual by all accounts and by everyone who knows him to be a good man.'' — 'Efforts to stop gas pipeline in New Jersey's Highlands area failed. See why' — Opinion: 'The $32M question: Why fire the DRBA? The public deserves the truth about the Cape May airport dispute' — '[West Deptford] ex-volunteer fire chief admits possessing massive stash of child sex abuse material' — 'O'Dea slams Solomon: 'Council members need to do more than just say no'' — '2 minor injuries during [Jersey City] fireworks display after crowd 'panicked,' cops say' EVERYTHING ELSE NEW JERSEY EXPORTS HEROES, AND NOT JUST MEATBALL PARM — 'Coast Guard swimmer from N.J. hailed as hero who rescued 165 people from raging Texas floodwaters,' by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino: 'A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey was singled out as a hero after saving the lives of nearly 200 people over the holiday weekend during deadly flooding in Central Texas. Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, 26, a helicopter crew member, braved the dangerous waters to rescue dozens, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 'Scott Ruskin [sic] is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the U.S. Coast Guard,' Noem wrote on Facebook. Ruskan 'directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas,' Noem said. Public records show Ruskan is from Warren County and lives in Corpus Christi, Texas.' JOURNEY TO NEW JOB RISKS CHOLERA, TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY — 'Ex-N.J. health leader who quit on Trump's inauguration day lands [Oregon] university president job,' by NJ Advance Media's Liz Rosenberg: 'Dr. Shereef M. Elnahal, a former New Jersey health commissioner who was also CEO of University Hospital in Newark during the worst of the pandemic, will be the next president of Oregon's health research university. Oregon Health & Science University — which describes itself as a 'national research hub, with thousands of scientists developing lifesaving therapies' — is also a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington. Elnahal, who most recently served as undersecretary for health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under the Biden administration, was selected for the Oregon job last week.' — ''It's chaos': Newark Airport workers rally as United Airlines slashes jobs, healthcare and immigration legal benefits' — '9 killed in crashes on N.J. roads during deadly holiday weekend' — 'Rutgers interim AD Ryan Pisarri set to leave school after 14 years: Here is where he is headed'
The Hill
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
NJ attorney general: Universal injunctions still possible after Supreme Court ruling
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin (D) argued Monday that sweeping injunctions blocking the Trump administration's policies could still be achieved, despite a Supreme Court ruling against them last week. '[The Supreme Court] said very clearly: States still may need nationwide relief if, in fact, the harms that we experience as states … the consequences to states are enormous; so, they asked lower courts to consider that question,' Platkin, one of the state attorneys general who has advocated on behalf of the injunctions, told CNN's Kate Bolduan in an interview. 'I think we will very clearly be able to meet the standard that even this Supreme Court set out for states to meet should we need nationwide relief.' The high court issued a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines Friday that pushed back on judicial holds that have been used to stymie the president's agenda since his return to the White House in January. 'These injunctions — known as 'universal injunctions' — likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted to federal courts,' Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the court's six Republican-appointed justices, after the Trump administration argued that judicial overreach was entrenching on the president's powers. The justices ordered the lower courts to move 'expeditiously' to reconsider their injunctions and comply with the Friday ruling. Platkin told Bolduan he thinks that leaves room for universal injunctions in some cases. 'Notably, it was a rhetorically very strong opinion, but it actually was quite a middle of the road opinion for what the administration wanted,' he said. The case that prompted the court's decision centered on an executive order Trump signed earlier this year to restrict birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrants. The court didn't weigh in on the merits of birthright citizenship. 'Look, I think it's important to remember what the Supreme Court did not do on Friday,' Platkin said. 'They didn't opine on the merits of birthright citizenship because everyone, for the last 157 years, has understood that babies born on U.S. soil since the Civil War have been treated as citizens.'
The Hill
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
New Jersey AG ‘confident' in battle against Trump birthright citizenship order
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, one of the plaintiffs in a 22-state lawsuit against President Trump's executive order curbing birthright citizenship, said Saturday he was 'confident' the order could still be blocked nationwide following a Friday Supreme Court ruling that broadly restricted the ability of the court system to halt the president's policies. 'There's a whole range of administrative challenges that would make this completely unworkable, which is why I'm confident we'll get the nationwide relief we've sought when we go back to the lower courts,' Platkin said in an MSNBC appearance. The nation's highest court ruled Friday that Trump's executive order could be partially enforced because lower-court judges had exceeded their authority in issuing nationwide injunctions that blocked the policy. The ruling did not address the underlying constitutionality of Trump's order, but still drastically limited a judicial tool that has been used for decades, including to block federal policies from multiple presidential administrations. New Jersey is one of 22 Democratic-led states, along with a group of expectant mothers and immigration organizations, that sued to block the executive order almost immediately after it was issued in January. The injunctions issued by three federal judges in Washington, Maryland and Massachusetts in the ensuing months granted relief not just to those plaintiffs, but everyone in the country. That move, the Supreme Court majority said Friday, was unconstitutional. Instead, injunctions should be narrowly tailored to provide 'complete relief to each plaintiff with standing to sue.' The lower courts will now get the first attempt at tailoring injunctions to comply with the ruling. On MSNBC, Platkin contended that 'complete relief' to the states harmed by the executive order would still involve blocking the executive order across the country. 'It would be impossible to administer a system of citizenship based on which state you live in,' he said. The suits of the non-state plaintiffs, meanwhile, were quickly refashioned into class-action lawsuits, a legal route that Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted could provide broader relief against the birthright citizenship order in her majority opinion. The executive order remains blocked for at least 30 days while the courts and parties sort out the next steps.
Politico
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Sherrill gets Scutari to back off Cabinet power play
Good Wednesday morning! Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill phoned Senate President Nick Scutari late last week after she learned of his proposal to limit the amount of time Cabinet members can serve without confirmation. Sherrill, perhaps not shockingly, didn't like the idea of giving the Senate more leverage over the executive branch. But Scutari didn't put up a fight. He agreed to put then never-formally introduced proposal aside — at least for now. Still, we don't know who the next governor is going to be. And if it's Republican Jack Ciattarelli, I can't help but wonder whether Scutari will take this idea back off the shelf. In other moves related to the balance of power, a bipartisan group of senators wants to make the State Police its own department for the first time since 1948, moving it out of the Attorney General's purview. More on that below. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Don't try to get me killed out here. I mean, that's what killed those people in Minnesota.' — Senate President Nicholas Scutari on a stalled package of abortion rights bills HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Leonard Lance, Henry Klingeman WHAT TRENTON MADE BAD BOYS BAD BOYS, WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY MAKE A DEPARTMENT FOR YOU — Lawmakers seek to make State Police its own department, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Amid tensions between New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and the state Legislature, a bipartisan group of senators is seeking to move the State Police out of the attorney general's authority. The new legislation would make the New Jersey State Police its own department for the first time in 76 years, removing it from within the Department of Law and Public Safety, which is led by the attorney general. 'I don't think a politically-appointed lawyer who does not know anything about policing should be the person responsible for the State Police to report to,' said state Sen. James Beach, a Democrat from Camden County who's the bill's prime sponsor. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office declined to comment. While the bill comes during a period of tension between Platkin and the Legislature — as well as between Platkin and the State Police — it likely won't take effect until the end of his tenure at the earliest if it passes, since New Jerseyans will elect a new governor in November. Beach and state Sen. Mike Testa, a Republican, are the two prime sponsors of the bill, NJ S4613 (24R). Democratic Sen. Linda Greenstein — chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee — and Republican Sen. Bob Singer are co-sponsors. VICE AND CONSENT — 'State will lessen tax hikes on internet and sports betting to 19.75% instead of 25% Murphy wanted,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'New Jersey will raise taxes on internet gambling and online sports betting, but not by as much as Gov. Phil Murphy had proposed. In a deal reached Monday night, lawmakers agreed to raise the tax rate on both forms of gambling to 19.75%, down from the 25% Murphy sought in his budget proposal in February. Online sports betting is currently taxed at 13%, and internet gambling is taxed at 15%. The deal was confirmed by five lawmakers and industry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they say they were not authorized to discuss budget negotiations publicly. … Pennsylvania taxes online sports betting at 36% and online slot machines at 54%. New York taxes online sports betting at 51%. Last year, online sports betting in New Jersey brought in $138.3 million in tax revenue, and internet gambling generated $358.3 million in taxes.' —'New Jersey lawmakers eye hiking nicotine taxes to boost revenue' ROEING AGAINST THE CURRENT — 'Sherrill Goes after Ciattarelli on the Anniversary of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade,' by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: 'Elections are not the same. Candidates are different, as are the offices sought. Still, some wondered if abortion rights as a motivator to drive Democratic turnout had waned. That's a very relevant issue in light of the New Jersey governor's race. That became clear Tuesday when Mikie Sherrill held a zoom call with the press to announce her endorsement by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. It was noted that when it comes to abortion, women growing up today have fewer rights than the grandmothers. She was asked if the abortion issue still resonates widely. 'I think this still is a really key issue,' she said. New Jersey has moved to protect abortion right legislatively, but has not yet done so through a constitutional amendment, which Sherrill supports.' —'Concerns about student health as transgender policy clashes continue' — 'Beloved N.J. environmental school will shut down if 'tragic' budget cut is approved' TRUMP ERA MCCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE — McIver heads to court as watchdog group files complaint against Alina Habba: by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) is expected to appear in federal court for the first time Wednesday morning on a trio of charges following a May scuffle outside a federal immigration facility. At her arraignment in Newark, McIver will plead not guilty, spokesperson Hanna Rumsey said. McIver is accused in a three-count indictment of slamming a federal agent with her forearm and 'forcibly' grabbing him and using her forearms to strike another agent. Allegations of physical violence by a sitting member of Congress are rare, with a handful of incidents including the pre-Civil War caning of a senator by a member of the House. … Her allies are also trying to turn the tables on the federal prosecutor bringing the case, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba. The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, filed a complaint this week against Habba with the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. The complaint alleges Habba has acted improperly since becoming a prosecutor and cites her actions in the McIver case, along with comments about turning 'New Jersey red' and announcing investigations into its Democratic governor and attorney general over immigration. BOVE, B___H, GET OUT THE WAY — U.S. Sen. Andy Kim wants to testify against the nomination of controversial Trump administration lawyer Emil Bove to a New Jersey Third Circuit judgeship before the Judiciary Committee today, but he doesn't expect he'll be allowed to. In a letter this morning, the freshman Democrat said Bove 'has demonstrated that he lacks the independence to objectively decide the cases before him, the temperament to serve on the bench, and the moral compass to comply with professional ethics obligations. 'During his short time with the Justice Department, Mr. Bove earned the reputation of being the President's enforcer by pressuring the office in the Southern District of New York to drop its prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, hunting investigators and prosecutors assigned to investigate the January 6 insurrection, and working to gut Department of Justice's numerous divisions, including the historic Civil Rights Division and the Public Integrity Section,' Kim wrote. 'I believe that Mr. Bove sees his role more as the President's defense lawyer rather than an independent counsel at the Department of Justice working on toward just outcomes for the American people. In fact, just this week, a Department whistleblower stated that Mr. Bove ordered subordinates to ignore court orders as the Administration pursued its heartless removal policy of immigrants across the country. I hope this Committee and my colleagues outside its jurisdiction carefully follow developments related to this astonishing accusation because it alone should be enough to disqualify any nominee seeking a seat on any court, let alone a circuit court.' FREEDOM OF SPEECH — 'Norwegian tourist, 21, is barred from entering the US after ICE guards find meme showing JD Vance with a bald head on his phone,' by The Daily Mail's Olivia Allhusen: 'A Norwegian tourist claims he was harassed and refused entry to the US after immigration officers found a meme of JD Vance on his phone. Mads Mikkelsen, 21, arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11, excited about his holiday. But, his plans were thrown into disarray when he was reportedly pulled aside by border control and put in a cell. The tourist was then subjected to what he described to Norwegian outlet Nordlys as an 'abuse, of power and harassment.' 'They asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason,' he told the outlet. Mr. Mikkelsen, claimed the officers then threatened him with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison if he refused to give the password to his mobile phone. The guards reportedly found a meme on the device's camera roll showing US vice president JD Vance with a bald, egg-shaped head. Mikkelsen said after discovering the image the authorities sent him home to Norway the same day.' —'NJ's emergency medical services task force in funding crisis' —'Dem attorneys general vow to continue challenging Trump's 'outrageous overreach'' LOCAL EAST NEW JERSEY — Zohran Mamdani topples Andrew Cuomo in NYC mayoral race, by POLITICO's Jeff Coltin: — Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist lawmaker, is on pace to win the Democratic primary for New York City mayor — a seismic shift in what normally would have been a sleepy reelection for the incumbent, Eric Adams, and one that involved toppling Andrew Cuomo's political comeback. Cuomo conceded defeat late Tuesday night and said he called to congratulate Mamdani. 'Tonight was not our night' Cuomo said at the headquarters of the New York City carpenters union. 'I'm very proud of the campaign that we ran.' Mamdani won 43.5 percent of first-place votes to Cuomo's 36.3 percent, according to the New York City Board of Elections. But that outcome is not final. The board is expected to announce full results on July 1 in an election that utilized ranked-choice voting, which allows New Yorkers to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. JERSEY CITY — 'Child's death prompts rally for better traffic safety measures in N.J. city,' by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: 'Jersey City safety and parent groups plan to rally at city hall at 5 p.m. Wednesday to demand more safety improvements and traffic enforcement after a tragic accident claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy on June 13. The groups are pressing city officials for more enforcement and an increase in safety infrastructure to protect pedestrians. 'Jersey City has made a lot of progress on Vision Zero, but it is not enough, and we need faster action to prevent more tragedies now,' said Jimmy Lee, a founder of Safe Streets Jersey City. 'We need to double-down and accelerate on what's been working.'' YOUR EMINENCE DOMAIN — 'Church vs. State battle erupts over 'deeply troubling' parish property fight,' by NJ Advance Media's Ricahrd Cowen: 'A legal battle is brewing between Queen of Peace Church parish and the North Arlington Board of Education, which is threatening to use eminent domain to acquire the church's La Salle Center for prekindergarten classrooms. Negotiations between the parish, the board of education and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark over a long-term lease of the La Salle Center recently broke down in May. Now both sides are gearing up for a potential legal battle between church and state. North Arlington school superintendent Stephen M. Yurchak said the board of education 'has begun the preliminary legal steps required under New Jersey law to explore eminent domain proceedings' to acquire the property, located next door to Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church on Ridge Road.' DUCK THE POLICE COMIN' STRAIGHT FROM THE POND — 'Lacey Township police rescue 9 ducklings trapped in storm drain,' by The Press of Atlantic City's John O'Connor: 'Police rescued nine ducklings that fell into a storm drain Monday morning. Officers responded to an area near Lacey Mall for a report of several ducklings in distress and they discovered they were trapped, police said in a Facebook post. The ducklings were rescued and returned to their mother, who was waiting nearby, police said.' GROSS MEN — 'Attorneys debate separate Bergen trials for ex-councilman, son charged with child porn,' by The Record's Kaitlyn Kanzler: 'A former Tenafly councilman and his son appeared in court on June 16 to discuss potentially separating their cases on charges of possessing child pornography. The defense attorneys appeared before Superior Court Judge Nina Remson to file a severance motion, which would separate the trials of Jeffrey Grossman, the father, and Steven Grossman. The pair were arrested in October 2023 on child pornography possession charges. Jeffrey Grossman resigned from the Tenafly Borough Council and withdrew from the November election that year.' —'[Manville] sued over rezoning of former shopping center, Superfund site' —'Ex-treasurer stole $32,000 from [Absecon] school's PTO, cops say' —'It's nearly 100 degrees. Some N.J. schools are holding outdoor graduations anyway' —'6 men sue Atlantic County alleging sexual abuse at Harborfields juvenile facility' —'Newark Public Schools adopts AI literacy screener as part of state plan to boost reading skills' —'After three-vote loss, Roselle candidate seeks recount' —'Toms River considers plan for first Orthodox Jewish high school' R.I.P. — 'Former Middle Township Mayor Dan Lockwood dies at 57' EVERYTHING ELSE LITERALLY UNFAIR — 'Meadowlands State Fair won't return until 2027. Here's why,' by The Record's Lucas Frau: 'The Meadowlands State Fair will not come to MetLife Stadium this year or next summer, with the venue hosting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The fair announced on its website that the two-year hiatus comes at the request of MetLife Stadium to accommodate the numerous soccer games that will be played there over the next two summers. The rides and other activities will return to MetLife Stadium in 2027, the Meadowlands State Fair announcement said.' AN EVESHAME — 'Essential Pinelands waters under renewed development threat,' by Jeff Pillets for NJ Spotlight News: 'The headwaters of the Black Run Creek in Evesham Township are among the most pristine reaches of New Jersey's 938,000-acre Pinelands National Reserve. … For more than 1 million people in Burlington County and areas downstream, ecologists say, the Black Run is an essential component of clean drinking water. … Developers are now looking to bulldoze some 800 acres of privately owned land in the Black Run headwaters and build up to 270 new homes. Opponents of the plan, who've collected more than 5,000 signatures against it, say the threat to the Black Run headwaters is proof that long-awaited reforms to better protect Pinelands water can't come fast enough. … 'The good news is that new rules to limit this kind of intrusion are at hand,' [Pinelands Preservation Alliance Executive Director Jaclyn] Rhoads said, in an interview with NJ Spotlight News last week. 'The bad news is that it's taken way too long. Pressure on the aquifer from drought, from brush fires, from overdevelopment is only getting worse.' TESLA CRASH — 'Tesla sued over Model S crash that killed three in New Jersey,' by Reuters' Jonathan Stempel: 'Tesla was sued on Monday by the estates of three people killed last September when their 2024 Model S equipped with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features crashed on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. The wrongful death lawsuit filed in the federal court in Camden, New Jersey, attributed the deaths of David Dryerman, 54; his wife Michele, 54; and their daughter Brooke, 17, to the car's 'defective and unreasonably dangerous design.' … The complaint said the car's defective design caused it to stray from its lane of travel and fail to apply emergency braking, resulting in the crash. It also said Tesla failed to warn David Dryerman, who was driving, that his Model S was unsafe, citing Musk's statement in 2016 that Autopilot was 'probably better' than human drivers.' — 'In NJ, suicide rates double for middle-aged men. Why a 'friendship recession' is spreading' —'JCP&L reports more than 14,600 customers without electricity at Shore' —'High school seniors talk prom and that NJ rite of passage: going to the Shore' —'Jonas Brothers, Dana Bash, David Burke headline 2025 New Jersey Hall of Fame class'
