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The Morning Briefing - January 15, 2015

TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie will get a do-over tonight to provide constituents with some actual information, following a “State of the State” address considered a little light in addressing critical state issues. Christie is slated to appear on the monthly "Ask the Governor" program at 7 p.m. on New Jersey 101.5 FM. Perhaps he can talk about the near-bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund, or the near-bankrupt casino industry or the near-bankrupt state pension fund or the near-bankrupt residents who can no longer afford property taxes. Or, maybe, he’ll just elaborate about the ills of drug addiction, before jetting off to Iowa tomorrow to woo some primary voters.

NUTLEY – The story of the day will certainly be the announcement that Seton Hall University and the parent company of Hackensack University Medical Center want to open their own private medical school in Nutley in a couple of years. There’s an ideal location: the sprawling former home of Roche, which closed two years ago. It is a massive campus: 2 million square feet on 116 acres. Of course, the deal comes with plenty of state incentives, with cash and low-interest loans from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Record reports. The new medical school joins a crowded field, with Rutgers and Rowan universities running a total of four medical schools.

EAST RUTHERFORD – Perhaps another great home for a medical school could be the Izod Center, as state officials say the outdated and ugly arena will mercifully close at the end of the month, NJ.com reports. It was an exciting when the “Brendan Byrne Arena” opened 34 years ago, but seemed immediately obsolete and a sterile place to watch sports. With the Nets, Devils and Seton Hall fleeing to modern arenas, it was just a matter of time before the 18,000-seat venue would shutter. After all, how many times can you host the circus?

NEWARK – Some fathers and sons watch the football game, or maybe go fishing. NJ.com reports a Passaic father and his two sons filed fake IRS forms as part of a $2.5 million scam to steal money from Uncle Sam.  Dad and the boys apparently got the Social Security numbers of people living in Puerto Rico, filing fake tax returns and opening up bank accounts where they can hide the money. More quality family time will soon be available if prison cells are adjoining.

ON THE RAILS – Kudos to the Port Authority for recognizing what everyone else already knows: one of the PATH system’s greatest assets is its overnight service. The Port Authority floated the idea to eliminate the graveyard shift of trains, prompting opposition from local, county, state and federal lawmakers, as well as commuters, students and late-night drunks. The Port Authority vows it won’t again float such a stupid idea without first getting some public input about what a stupid idea it is.

TRENTON – Is it wrong for Gov. Chris Christie to continue slashing contributions to the state pension fund? The AP reports that lawyers representing the governor and the labor unions are prepping arguments in their latest battle. The governor had promised to throw more money into the pension fund in exchange for workers contributing more while the retirement age was extended. But then the governor reneged, saying the state can’t afford to keep its side of the bargain. A judge allowed Christie to ignore the deal last year, but now we are in fiscal ’15 and it is time to pay the piper, union lawyers argue.

ATLANTIC CITY – Caesars Entertainment Corp. – owners of Caesars, Bally’s Harrah’s and the Atlantic City Country Club – has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection – trying to shed $18.4 billion in debt, the Wall Street Journal reports. Casino execs say all properties will continue to operate as normal, but that’s not exactly reassuring for those watching what is happening in Atlantic City.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

VALLEY, Ala. – A local middle school principal has devised the ideal way to help ensure school safety: arming each classroom with cans of food that students could chuck at intruders. In a letter to parents, the principal asked for extra 8-ounce cans of peas or corn that little Johnny could use as a weapon. “We realize at first this may seem odd; however, it is a practice that would catch an intruder off guard," she actually wrote in the letter, published by TV station WHNT in Huntsville.“The canned food item could stun the intruder or even knock him out until the police arrive. The canned food item will give the students a sense of empowerment to protect themselves and will make them feel secure in case an intruder enters their classroom.” School officials note the cans would be stockpiled in the classroom, so kids don’t have to walk around with peas and corn – unless, of course, they forget lunch.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was six years ago that “Sully” became a household name, as a US Airways plane struck a flock of Canada geese, lost engine power and ditched into the Hudson River – with no injuries. Sully Sullenberger, the captain, will forever been known for coordinating the “Miracle on the Hudson.”