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The Morning Briefing - January 4, 2016

TRENTON - It's only the fourth day of the year and New Jersey's lowest paid workers already know they are in for a crappy year. The state's hourly minimum wage will remain at a pitiful $8.38, although our cost of living is the nation's third highest, the Asbury Park Press reports. A 2013 change to the state constitution tied minimum wage increases to inflation rates. But that rate dipped by .28 percent. Workers in 14 other states will see modest raises, maybe enough for a few more mac-n-cheese dinners. Meanwhile, New Jersey workers would need to work two hours just to pay the GWB toll to seek work in NY. 

IN THE GARDEN - State Democrats and Republicans don't agree on much, except butterflies. The Assembly unanimously decided the black swallowtail should be our official state butterfly, the Record reports. The Senate voted 28-0 last year to do the same. Known among lepidopterists (translation: butterfly nerds) as "Papilio polyxenes," this butterfly spends its short lifecycle flitting the Garden State's 21 counties from northernmost Montague to southernmost Cape May. The only remaining hurdle is for Gov. Chris Christie to flutter back home and sign the pending legislation.

SAYREVILLE - Route 9's landmark Peterpank Diner has gone dark. When the Panko family opened the Peterpank in 1957, Bob Meyner was our stay-at-home governor, and a belly-busting breakfast cost 85 cents. Over the past 58 years, the Peterpank grew from six booths and 12 counter stools into a 24-hour, 240-seat diner with a loyal cadre of patrons hungry for its signature servings of Eggs Benedict and homemade Streusel French toast. The Home News Tribune says the diner closed Dec. 30; the land sold for redevelopment. Makes perfect sense: Why have treasured local landmarks when we can have more condos?

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL - While on holiday break, we missed the irony of Chris Christie blasting Sen. Marco Rubio for not showing up to work. Luckily, Christie was at it again on Fox News Sunday. Christie spent all or part of 261 days last year away from New Jersey, prompting Chris Wallace to ask, "Who are you to criticize?" Christie's answer: "I'm on the job every day, Chris. That's the difference between being a governor and being a senator; I'm on the job every day. Sen. Rubio just hasn't shown up to vote." And another gem: "Whenever you're looking for a new job, your current employer gets a little miffed. I get that, but I was very honest with the people of New Jersey ... I told them there was a possibility I would run for president. And so, I told them the truth and if they're a little miffed about it now... it's understandable, but I'm working hard to become the next president of the United States." Okay, but didn't we elect him to work hard as governor? 

ATLANTIC CITY - As city officials desperately look for cash, you can bet the infamous lifeguard pensions will become a thing of the past. The Press of AC says the pensions have been targeted for "shared sacrifice," perhaps putting to end this amazing perk that dates back to the wheeling dealing era of Nucky Johnson. Lifeguards just need to spend 20 summers on the stand, slathered in suntan lotion and babes, to be eligible for a 50 percent pension when they "retire." Retired guards are now earning up to $61,000 a year.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

QUINCY, Mass. - Expect the marketing department at Tufts Health Plan to have an early-morning emergency meeting, after the company made national news for sending automated phone calls to nearly 10,000 senior citizens in the wee hours of the morning. Tufts Health Plan accidentally sent the robocall between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. one day last week, with a friendly reminder for seniors to get their flu shots. The Patriot Ledger reports the calls were supposed to go out from 3-5 p.m., but, uh, someone apparently confused "a.m." with "p.m."

IN THE MEDIA

PHILADELPHIA - Sometimes we miss the colorful characters - guys like the late Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, the city's former police commissioner, who took some heat in 1980 for demolishing the camera equipment of KYW, who noticed uniformed Philly cops raking leaves on his lawn. The new station's "I-Team" then rented a van and staked out Rizzo's home. This video shows what happened when Rizzo noticed the van. See it here.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1999 that American politics was body slammed and then smacked with a folding chair, as Jesse "The Body" Ventura - a professional wrestler - was sworn in as the governor of Minnesota.

WORD OF THE DAY

Doryphore (DOR-ee-phor) - noun

Definition: An annoying person who always draws attention to the minor errors made by others.

Example: Those damn lepidopterists (remember: butterfly nerds) are such a bunch of doryphores, always mocking those cool caterpillar-lovers.