TRENTON – Should employers know if prospective employees served time in the slammer? One group – the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice – firmly says "no," holding a "Ban the Box N.J." rally on the steps of the Statehouse today. Interesting issue; seems an auto body shop should be told if a new mechanic did 3-5 years for a string of car thefts. But then again, the debt to society was paid.

TRENTON – In another quandary, two purveyors of legalized gambling in New Jersey participate today in a forum focused on compulsive gambling. The assumption is that New Jersey Lottery Executive Director Carole Hedinger and state Casino Control Commission Chairman Matthew Levinson will talk about all that is done to combat gambling addiction, even though their jobs, ultimately, are designed to nurture a healthy gambling industry.

ONLINE – Sure, social media campaigns are a great way for a politician to connect with the masses. But issues can arise when the masses actually connect back. Philly.com reports that supporters of Gov. Chris Christie have taken to Sen. Barbara Buono's Facebook page, writing dozens of negative posts about her chances of winning the governor's race. Buono's campaign had to scrub the page and change the account settings – thus ensuring the Facebook page works for the campaign, not Christie.

DOWN THE SHORE – Gov. Chris Christie says the federal government is expected to release updated flood maps in the next three to four weeks, reports the Asbury Park Press. Expect the maps to ignite some raw rage among some who will argue their homes are not prone to flooding, but now have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on pilings. Others will be relieved that they finally have some direction in rebuilding, as they've waited months to be told what they need to do.

NEWARK – If you didn't think the cost of living in the Brick City exceeded other, fancier parts of the state, you'd be wrong – at least partially. Newarkers pay an average of $2,800 a year to insure their cars - $700 a year more than the state average, the Record reports. The cheapest place to drive? Bucolic Hillsborough Township where deer, golf and Route 206 evidently keep costs down. What's interesting is that the average Hillsborough household income hovers around $105,000 a year while Newark's is about $35,000. Funny how that works.

CAMDEN - Could a new county-run police force mark the moment when Camden finally takes control of its streets? It all begins today, when the new department - with more officers - takes on full operation in the city. Gov. Chris Christie will be in the city for the big moment, as all hope hinges on if this county-run operation can fight crime better than a city police force drowning in rampant drugs, violence and crime.

SOUTH AMBOY – The Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, apparently in an effort to curb bird droppings has resulted in birds dropping...dead. CBS New York reports that the netting under some of the gazebos – intended to prevent birds from nesting and doing their business on lucky passers-by – is trapping birds, resulting in something of a macabre scene. Middlesex County is reportedly working on resolving the issue, but in the meantime, expect grossed-out picnickers to continue what's become a park tradition of losing their lunch.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1952 that TWA introduced "tourist class," featuring special $99 coast-to-coast deals. Consider it the beginning of the long descent into the bleak (and cramped) world of economy class, in which your dinner now comprises up to two bags of mini-pretzels.

DOWN THE SHORE – HUD's $1.83 billion in Superstorm Sandy block grants is certainly good news, but does it live up to Gov. Chris Christie and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan's promise of rebuilding in a way that anticipates another Sandy? The money, which will provide grants and loans to renters, businesses and homeowners effected by the storm, doesn't stipulate some of the original promises to build higher, elsewhere, or to build anything that reduces the impact of flooding. While there's still hope that federal assistance will be used to prevent the affects of another massive storm, we were hoping for more as this windfall made landfall.

ON CAMPUS – With tuition and fees continuing to skyrocket at all those public colleges designed to educate the masses at an affordable rate, it is a welcoming sign to see state taxpayers investing in sorely needed updates. There's $1.3 billion about to be spent on science buildings and labs, as part of 176 projects at 46 colleges. But before you start thanking the politicians for all this tremendous job creation and investment in the future, remember who is actually paying the bill.

ON THE ROADS – There's nothing like a gubernatorial election to spark some good ol' job creation. Gov. Chris Christie is standing with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to talk about a whopping $2.5 billion in economic activity and 5,000 construction jobs as overdue work begins later this year on the Goethals Bridge, the Bayonne Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing.

PATERSON – Did a second-grade teacher tell his students to go flush bottles of his own urine? The tenured teacher – who pissed away his gig at School 13 – says that didn't happen. And he is even appealing the decision to fire him, reports the Paterson Press. But the sticking point is those witnesses during a 12-day hearing, including two kids who carried the bottles and a custodian who saw it all. If the teacher is innocent, as he asserts, how could people make this stuff up?

FLORHAM PARK – The Tim Tebow era erupted with hype that hadn't been seen since Broadway Joe Namath adorned Number 12. The billboards outside the Lincoln Tunnel welcomed Tebow, jerseys bearing his number flew off the shelves and even sandwiches in Manhattan delis were renamed in his honor. The Tim Tebow era quietly ended yesterday when the popular, but pathetic, quarterback arrived at the team's facility and discovered he had been unceremoniously waived.

FLORENCE – File this one under "perhaps a good idea." The baseball coach at Florence High School is taking a leave of absence after being accused of allowing newbies to be bitten by other players. The Star-Ledger reports that the allegations of rampant chomping, part of a hazing ritual has resulted in the coach's voluntary leave, who called the situation "distracting." You know what's actually distracting, Coach? Being bitten by your teammates when you're trying to shag flies.

AT THE LANDFILLS - AshBritt, the hauler given a no-bid contract for Sandy clean-up, apparently needs a better GPS. The Record reported the clean-up firm claimed mileage for longer, and perhaps less direct, trips from temporary debris storage sites to an Ocean County landfill weigh station. The mileage rate goes up after a 16 mile trip. The Record found hundreds of instances when truckers claimed the higher rate even though the most direct route to the weigh station was less than 16 miles. The potential for unwarranted payouts, according to the newspaper, was $500,000. Do the AshBritt folks have Google maps? Or maybe an old Hagstrom in the glove compartment?

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1952 that advertisers discovered a whole new way to introduce American children to the glories of consumerism – running the very first TV ad aimed at kids. The product? Mr. Potato Head.

HIGHLANDS — Gov. Chris Christie, with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan in tow, will head to Highlands today to visit Superstorm Sandy-ravaged businesses. Expect a heavy emphasis on FEMA's $263 million given to New Jersey communities and nonprofit groups as towns look to have most boardwalks up and running by Memorial Day. But with 100-year storms seemingly happening every few years now, we can also expect Donovan to emphasize that we just can't rebuild as though Sandy never happened.

DOWN THE SHORE — Tourism revenue generated in 2013 will very likely show that Superstorm Sandy did, in fact, happen. The Record reports that last year's $19 billion shore tourism windfall will be hard to top this year, and that while boardwalks will be open, at least some of the 189,500 businesses affected by the storm will not. Somehow, we think that the state's love of the shore and its capacity to support the region will prove more beneficial than the $25 million the state has doled out to dispel any whiff of Sandy's impact.

STATEWIDE—We're a resilient bunch in the Garden State, so it's no surprise that a Quinnipiac Poll shows 75 percent said they'd continue to attend large sporting events, despite concerns over a terrorist attack. Fans might give Rutgers Men's Basketball, however, a somewhat more tepid ovation as Quinnipiac also found that two-thirds of those polled didn't like former Coach Mike Rice's $475,000 payout after his dismissal. The Quinnipiac takeaway? Jersey Pride all around.

NEW BRUNSWICK—Polls are good and all, but this weekend's record Rutgers Day turnout is theory in practice that folks will come out for a good time no matter what. The University says 83,000 people attended the event, which included Ag Field Day and the New Jersey Folk Festival. Now in its fifth year, Rutgers Day shows that the University can perform well when it tries hard to focus. Perception is everything for public institutions.

NEWARK—The Newark Teachers Village project, which will transform 11 blighted Central Ward blocks into mixed-use, affordable rental and workforce housing for city educators, has been honored by a statewide land-use policy non-profit organization for, well, good use of land. The non-profit, New Jersey Future, will formally recognize the Ron Beit-developed project at its annual Smart Growth Awards in June. Once this project receives its accolades, Beit will undoubtedly refocus on his $410 million Four Corners Millennium Project proposal at the corner of Market and Broad streets.

ATLANTIC CITY —There she is: Miss America is returning to Atlantic City this September and the Press of Atlantic City wants to know your favorite Pageant memories. Oh, where to begin? There was Miss Utah's Paraguayan harp performance in 1984. Then there was the time in 1959 when Miss Mississippi sang Puccini's "Un Bel Di." And, honestly, who can deny host Bert Parks' annual performance of the trademark theme song? But, if we can take some pageant liberties and venture outside the Miss America sphere for a moment, our favorite pageant performance remains Miss Carolina's bold take on student aptitude from Miss Teen USA 2007.

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY—The Marist College crew team made a shocking discovery last week when they happened upon a seven-foot-tall foam and fiberglass head. NPR reports that theories behind the origins of the head range from it being part of a Mardi Gras float that washed out to sea to it being part of a giant theater prop upstream. Whatever the origins, oh how we wish this had happened in New Jersey, because the Trentonian would have pegged it with an entirely inappropriate cutline.

This Day in History

The polls closed on this day in 1992 as Americans were tasked to weigh in on an issue of national significance: Young or Old Elvis? They voted to put Young Elvis Presley on the 29-cent stamp, of course, but 21 years later, we think Old Elvis (if 42 is old) deserves another shot.

IN THE BACKYARD – Just in time for spring, New Jersey's parents have something else to be hyped about. CBS reports that your darling children may or may not be out in the backyard getting stoned off those budding flowers. That's right, these funny flowers are part of the Datura plant family, offering an intense high that could last some 30 hours. Rutgers is on the case, warning that anyone who doesn't know the potency of these plants can really hurt themselves or be in la-la land a lot longer than planned.

TRENTON—With 9 percent unemployment in New Jersey, it's hard to imagine using money saved from a tax cut for anything other than stuffing the mattress, but Gov. Christie seems to think there are real benefits tied to the $775 taxpayers could save under his proposed tax cut. The boon to workin' class? According to the Governor, you can buy 129 Fat sandwiches from the Grease Trucks, and quaff 138 pints of Flying Fish. And after you're stuffed and drunk, you can bring 39 of your closest friends to Bon Jovi's upcoming tour. We're not sure when lard, booze and 80s AOR became a selling point for a tax cut, but...we kinda like it.

STATEWIDE—Speaking of drunk and stuffed, there will be no shortage of street meat this weekend as festival season officially gets underway. Saturday's Rutgers Day provides the University with an opportunity to take a well-deserved breather from scandal with some good family fun. Sunday's Communiversity in Princeton gives attendees a chance to dine on the finest truck falafel and do some whale watching—little green whales emblazoned on pink dockers, that is. But for those who can't decide which day to do what, don't worry: It's Shad Fest all weekend long in Lambertville. Getting that beach bod back for the summer will just have to wait.

TRENTON – At a time when Sandy victims are still living in motels or sleeping on the couches of some very patient friends and family, the state has awarded a $25 million contract to waste money on a hyped-up advertising campaign for the Jersey shore. It is about $16 million more than is usually spent on tourism, the Asbury Park Press reports. You can put as much gloss as you want on the shore; people know it was ravaged in a storm and may not be perfect for a couple more seasons. Put the extra cash where it is needed – in getting people back to their homes – not in hefty commissions on ad buys.

PATERSON – Brace yourself for a strong statement: Social media is destroying our youngest generation. There are countless stories reporting on the ills of Facebook, Instagram and the like. The latest comes from Paterson, where ABC News reports a pair of seventh graders made a YouTube video threatening to kill several classmates. They spent about 20 minutes telling the world about the 10-12 classmates they want stabbed and killed. One announces, "I have special killing thingies for different people." Expect future historians to look back on the social media era with the same shock we regard the Inquisition.

NEWARK – As he has seemed unscathed by those controversial trips to the Dominican Republic, Sen. Bob Menendez is likely doing everything possible to separate himself from Central America. Or, not. Today, he is in Newark to give the media a sneak peak of his planned trip to some Central American countries to talk about a regional security initiative.

JERSEY CITY – Less than a week after the Boston Marathon bombings, a Jersey City man thought it made perfect sense to take some explosives on a NJ Transit train heading into New York. The guy told the Daily News they were just fireworks, which he took out into the woods in Suffern to light up for fun. Jersey City cops don't seem to care, charging him with possession of destructive devices, creating a risk of widespread damage and a few counts of raging stupidity.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 2010 that the U.S. Senate investigated Goldman Sachs, finding out these financial whizzes made billions of dollars by betting on the collapse of the U.S real estate market. We remain disgusted yet wildly impressed.

DALLAS – Gov. Christie and his wife are in the world's largest failed nation-state, otherwise known as Texas, for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, otherwise known as the Bush Library. The Governor has every reason to attend, as W. did set the Governor up for his national trajectory when he nominated Christie to serve as U.S. Attorney. The Governor can't hide his real motivation, of course: He can't pass up an opportunity to be the smartest guy in the room.

PISCATAWAY— It's hard to imagine that after the very public fall out of Rutgers Athletics' top brass, including basketball coach Mike Rice, people would be clamoring for more, but that's exactly what's happening. A group of devoted fans have set forth on a noble effort to "Save Tim Pernetti," the school's former athletic director who resigned after his attempt to shield himself from Coach Rice's ball-slinging, gay-slur-hurling coaching methods fell short. The group, I Support Tim Pernetti, will hold a rally this Saturday at the annual Scarlet-White game. Expect fans to wonder when this sordid saga will just go away.

TOMS RIVER — People trying desperately to recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy can get some comfort as the local police department's special, anti-looting unit nabbed a perp looting more than $10,000 worth of metal items, The Asbury Park Press reports. The accused 22-year-old township man is being held on $30,000 bail, and no matter the outcome, he will likely be subject to a long sentence handed down by the jury of public opinion.

PATERSON— The city's Great Falls, arguably one of the state's most overlooked natural wonders, has gone mobile. The National Historic Park now has a mobile app that allows tourists to take a "Mill Mile Walking Tour," narrated by the likes of Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, author Junot Díaz, Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Bill Pascrell—all New Jersey natives. Here's to more attention drawn to this jewel of the Silk City.

PATERSON—Unfortunately, more attention drawn to the Silk City includes news of a wheelchair-bound teacher fired for urinating in the classroom. The second-grade teacher, using a technique common in the trucking industry, reportedly had students flush his wares in the boys room after he had relieved himself in a plastic bottle. We're all for disposing waste in the classroom but this is ridiculous ... and gross.

PRINCETON—If you're looking for a shred of proof that local media is alive and well, look no further than Princeton. A local wool clothing retailer received 'round-the-clock news coverage for replacing its old sheep mascot with a new, clean sheep mascot. Who knew taxidermy was such a hot lead?

TETERBORO — Because there are not enough places to shop in Bergen County, Walmart may anchor Teterboro Landing, a 55-acre retail and office project planned in Teteboro, according to Northjersey.com. A Costco is possible as well, even though the big box store already has a place two miles away, on River Street in Hackensack, where customers can buy three-gallon jars of soy sauce and flat-beds of toilet paper. The planned 585,000-square-foot project is at the former Honeywell International site. Keep your eye out for low-flying planes and don't expect to buy anything on Sunday.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Good to see the West German government get with the program on this day in 1985, making it illegal for residents to deny the Holocaust.

READINGTON – The biggest crisis to hit public education prompted a packed school board meeting last night. The issue: Should eighth-grade girls be allowed to wear strapless dresses to the big school dance? The middle school principal says "no way," noting it is a distraction for hormone-fueled boys on the brink of humping schoolyard trees. But parents questioned the logic, with one woman asking if she should cut her daughter's beautiful blonde locks because 13-year-old boys may be distracted. The answer? Why, yes. Yes, you should.

PISCATAWAY – When we are done debating the merits of teen eveningwear, let's discuss the massive suburban heroin network targeting your kids. Police busted two guys manufacturing heroin and then distributing it through friends and family across Central Jersey. Most of the heroin was found in homes in Piscataway and New Brunswick, along with cash, guns, bullets and – allegedly - strapless dresses.

NEWARK – Can we agree the honeymoon is officially over for Newark Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson? Last night, the schools advisory board slapped the latest savior of the public schools with a unanimous no-confidence vote, after rejecting her proposed budget cuts and then questioning why they aren't all buddies. Anderson joins the long and distinguished line of school superintendents who have been handed the thankless job of saving the Newark schools, only to be lambasted.

ONLINE – Two powerful mediums in America – Twitter and the Associated Press – made a mess of things on the stock market yesterday. The AP's Twitter feed was hacked, reporting to 1.9 million followers about two explosions at the White House, injuring the President, USA Today reports. Jittery investors immediately panicked – as they are known to do – prompting the S&P 500 to nosedive. As soon as it was reported as a hoax, the market bounced back – probably making some mogul a quick billion dollars or two.

STATEWIDE – Even with all this talk about alleged hookers in the Dominican Republic and special favors to out-of-state donors, Sen. Bob Menendez still has a nice support base in New Jersey. Quinnipiac University has yet another poll out this morning (Do these people sleep?) that shows voters approve of the senator by a margin of 44 percent to 32 percent. It's curious to know if the scandal helped boost name recognition for Menendez, promoting the bump in polls.

IN THE WOODS – For kids fallen victim to Superstorm Sandy, it has been a tough half-year of living in motels, or with friends and family. But the American Camp Association wants to make sure it isn't also a crappy summer, offering hundreds of kids the chance to frolic at day and sleep-away camps at no cost to their stressed-out parents.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1989 that Massachusetts declared it to be "New Kids on the Block Day." Apparently, another lip-syncing band - the Muppets - was unavailable.

IN THE AIR – The short-sightedness of the federal budget sequester is now apparent - just look up at the sky. No airplanes, right? That's likely because the FAA now has to furlough some 15,000 air traffic controllers two days every month. And with less controllers, you have less flights. And that means overbooked and chronically-delayed airplanes. So get used to waiting on the tarmac; and don't expect an extra pillow from the cranky flight attendant.

STATEWIDE – The price tag is a cool $70 billion for the state to finally fix dilapidated roads, highways, bridges and mass transit systems. The not-so-surprising facts are from a new report, "Facing Our Future," which blames the state for putting off a major transportation plan for more than a decade. The lion's share of the cost – some $40 billion – is to pay for all these antiquated water facilities – both for drinking water and wastewater. Many of our cities have the same sewers as they did at the turn-of-the-century. And no, we aren't talking about the 2000s.

NEW BRUNSWICK – Spring is all about new beginnings, and no one needs a new beginning more than the Rutgers basketball team. Life springs anew at 2:30 p.m. today when the Rutgers Board of Governors approves a multi-million dollar deal for the new head coach, Eddie Jordan. Then, all the pomp and circumstance takes place at 4:30 p.m. That's when Jordan gloriously returns to "the Barn" – the original home of the basketball team where Jordan brought the team to the Final Four in the 1970s – to officially be anointed savior of the program.

TRENTON – Most of these vacation clubs are scams – super cheery people promise you access to super cheap deals if you pony up "membership" fees. But you quickly realize any random Internet search offers the same pricing – without the fee. So, it is with no surprise that Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa will be announcing the indictment today of a South Jersey couple who he says stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from vacation club suckers, er, we mean, clients. The real news would have been if the couple actually didn't steal money from those gullible enough to join their vacation club.

LEONIA – The downtown had a surprise visitor yesterday – a NYC cab thrust onto the sidewalk, wedged between a market and a traffic pole. A guy from Texas is said to have carjacked a cabbie, punching him in the face and pulling him from the car, and then taking police on a wild ride that somehow ended up in Leonia, the New York Times reports. The guy's excuse? He is a super spy. The big difference, we figure, is that spies don't get caught. And there were no gorgeous women standing around in Leonia waiting to be ravaged, we believe.

JERSEY CITY – We were tempted to write about the latest campaign commercial from Jersey City mayoral candidate Steven Fulop, but we were afraid of getting a cease and desist order from Mayor Healy's campaign. Healy's campaign dashed off a letter demanding the Fulop campaign take the commercial off local airwaves, calling it libelous. So our lawyers don't want us to describe the commercial that features an FBI surveillance video secretly recorded by government informant Solomon Dwek during a meeting with Healy and his cronies at the Medical Center Luncheonette. During the meeting, in the ad we can't tell you about, Dwek tells Healy that he already gave $10,000 to Jack Shaw and will deliver another $10,000 now. The video then shows Dwek handing an envelope out of his car trunk to Shaw, a Hudson County political operative who committed suicide not long after being arrested in the largest corruption scandal in Jersey City history. Our lawyers also don't want us to provide a link to the commercial.

IN THE MEDIA

SECAUCUS – A social media editor from Secaucus who worked for the Los Angeles Times heads to federal court today, accused of handing the newspaper's passwords to hackers. The result? A headline on December 2010 altered to read: "Pressure builds in House to elect CHIPPY 1337," an apparent a hacker. The 26-year-old editor, who also was fired from Reuters, denies wrongdoing. But let's just agree his future in journalism is in question, especially as he tries to explain the glaring gaps in his resume.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1992 that McDonald's opens its first restaurant in China. It was part of a stealth effort to defeat communism with cholesterol.

DOWN THE SHORE – You can bet Gov. Chris Christie won't be invited this summer for a mimosa at any of the mega-mansions at the Jersey Shore. The Governor doesn't care about peoples' precious views of the ocean from their multi-tiered balconies; he is pushing forward with a dune system to safeguard towns from future storms. And as for the uber-wealthy who refuse to allow workers onto their glorious properties? No problem, says the Governor, we're going in anyway – no matter how many times you shout "phooey."

STATEWIDE – We are certainly a fickle bunch. Right after Superstorm Sandy – when much of the state was decimated – a decade-high 72 percent of New Jerseyans said this was a good or excellent place to live. Now, after all the rebuilding, a new Monmouth University poll out this morning reports an 11 percent drop from New Jerseyans posed that same question. Also, scores for hometown pride dropped to its lowest score in 30 years. Did we miss something here?

SOUTH ORANGE – The town is fast becoming a haven for Grammy Awarding winning singers who don't pay their taxes. First, news broke last month about the IRS hounding a bankrupt Dionne Warwick. Now it is Lauryn Hill's turn, as she is to be sentenced today for ignoring $1.8 million in federal taxes. Hill says she became a recluse – and decided to stiff Uncle Sam – to guarantee her family's safety. OK; but how does being a tax cheat protect your family, especially when you are in jail?

FLORHAM PARK – Jets fans - asked to have faith for yet one more season - are wondering what the team is thinking by casting off the best cornerback in the game, Darrelle Revis. Yeah, the Tampa Bay Bucs were willing to pony up $96 million over six years. But Revis was the guy the Jets could look to with pride. Don't worry Jets Nation; you will see Revis again on opening day, when he will help Mark Sanchez set the league record for first quarter interceptions.

NEWARK – Money talks when it comes to learning who is a serious candidate for the next mayor. Council President Anibal Ramos – widely expected to run - has an impressive jump on the competition, already showing more than $287,000 in the kitty. Meanwhile, an anticipated opponent, Councilman Ras Baraka, is reporting just $4,000 cash on hand. When all the rhetoric and sound bytes are over, bank accounts show the real support.

WOODBRIDGE – Lots of buzz around Kevin McCabe, positioned to be the next county Democratic chairman at the end of Peter Barnes' term. PolitickerNJ is reporting the former chair of the Woodbridge Democratic Organization has the inside line, after losing to Barnes in a 2011 election for the chairmanship.

BAYONNE – In the aftermath of the Boston bombings, cops are a bit stressed. So this would not seem the opportune time for two men to be setting off home-made explosives. Cops told the Jersey Journal that people were throwing bottles out of an apartment window on Saturday that were exploding. The bomb squad and a federal joint terrorism task force descended; expect numerous charges on these two ding-a-lings.

IN THE MEDIA

NEWARK – One of the last vestiges of "watchdog journalism" in New Jersey is The Star-Ledger's "PolitiFact" column, in which the newspaper's researchers slash and burn through the nonsense. And that is why we're still trying to figure out the point of Sunday's expose, in which the newspaper invested precious column inches reporting on the Governor's claim he was a Scooby-Doo fan at age 4. Apparently, that is a bold-faced lie. The Governor would have been seven years old when the first Scooby-Doo was aired, the newspaper discovered. And it only took 20 paragraphs to tell that story.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1970 that Earthlings decided something had to be done about the systematic decimation of their planet, launching the first-annual Earth Day.

MOUNT LAUREL - While most towns in New Jersey are buried under the weight of billboards - which seem to crop up at virtually every crosswalk - Mount Laurel is getting some national kudos for winning the war on unobstructed views. The town was able to fight in court to keep billboards off its length of the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295, correctly arguing they distract motorists and so darn unsightly. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports a national beautification group, Scenic America, is now awarding Mount Laurel for fighting the good fight. Perhaps we need a nice billboard to tout the accomplishment.

JERSEY CITY - As we steadily build into a frenzy for the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 in the Meadowlands, expect to hear a stream of mini-announcements to keep your heart pumping. For example, it was announced yesterday that two Jersey City hotels have been named to host the players - rather than those landmark hotels across the river. The Hyatt Regency and the Westin - both on the waterfront - have won this sweepstakes, ensuring plenty of hoopla and robust bookings in the weeks before the big game.

NEW BRUNSWICK - Good to see Rutgers has put the scarlet foot down on payouts to disgraced basketball coach Mike Rice. He was supposed to get more than $1 million, but the university was able to negotiate the payout down to $475,000. Now, the question is how to protect the university in these ongoing negotiations with Eddie Jordan, who seems to hold all the cards as Rutgers tries to rebuild its imploded basketball program.

PLAINFIELD - While ballot box stuffing is now apparently off-limits in New Jersey, six mayors come together this morning at a local Dairy Queen with a uniform message: Vote early and often. Each is decorating an ice cream cake; their creations will be posted online. People can pay to vote for the favorite cake; all proceeds go to NJ Sharing Network's efforts to promote organ and tissue donation awareness.

TRENTON - State Sen. Tony Bucco has apparently not seen the talking points issued from the Governor's re-election campaign. Otherwise, he may have tempered his remarks blasting the state's business climate. As the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, Bucco said New Jersey is overregulated and overtaxed, adding he would likely move his own business to Pennsylvania if he wasn't an elected official. While refreshingly candid, perhaps Bucco was not on message, as Gov. Chris Christie is touting he has cut red tape and offered plenty of tax incentives to the business community.

TRENTON - While many in New Jersey would find it impressive that the state's top party fundraising committees have collectively amassed $2.6 million in the kitty, it's nothing. State officials say this is the smallest cash reserve they have seen for any gubernatorial election since 2001. The reason? All these new pay to play laws, which create obstacles for big-time contractors to support their favorite elected officials. In addition, there's now all these so-called independent groups that don't have to disclose their finances. You can bet they are doing just fine.

TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie wades into the choppy waters of gun control today, scheduling a press conference to talk about tighter restrictions for guns and video games. Christie is keeping an open mind, it seems, saying he will support gun control if it is also tied with addressing mental health issues and all that violence in the media. Perhaps the Governor's words will kick start all the gun control measures now sitting in the state Legislature. Opponents complain the state already has the strictest gun control laws in the Union. We say: it's a good start.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1965 that caretakers of the Astrodome came up with a brilliant idea to prevent sun glare: Spend $20,000 to paint the outer roof of the stadium. It was a stroke of genius: Until the grass died.

ASBURY PARK - Fire safety takes a back seat this summer in Asbury Park, where the City Council is delaying requirements for a sprinkler system to be installed at the landmark Convention Hall. Apparently, the sprinkler system is very expensive and the developer just couldn't get to it, following Superstorm Sandy, The Asbury Park Press reports. City officials would be lambasted for closing the historic theater – the cornerstone of the boardwalk – this summer. So, hey, the developer just now needs to ensure plans for the sprinkler system are submitted by September 30 – after all the summer tourism cash has been counted.

NEW BRUNSWICK – Before taking over as president of Rutgers University, Robert Barchi had this nice, comfortable gig at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Today, he will likely reminisce about the good ol' days, as he is grilled in front of the Assembly Budget Committee. Expect him to cough up answers about these obscene payouts to three university officials fired during the basketball debacle. The state is about to hand Rutgers nearly $500 million in aid; taxpayers need assurances it won't be squandered on severance packages in the athletic department.

TRENTON – Democrats are uncontrollably salivating as they eagerly await the state's new unemployment data, to be released at 11 a.m. The data has been red meat for the anti-Christie faction – eager to prove the Governor is just smoke and mirrors appearing in a suit. The latest figures from February have the state's unemployment numbers at 9.3 percent. Meanwhile, the national rate is 7.7. percent. Our projection: Democrats blast Christie for whatever numbers are released. Christie, meanwhile, blasts the numbers for being inaccurate.

ATLANTIC CITY – While the $2.4 billion Revel clings to an image of wealth, glamour and glitz, the harsh reality is to play out today in a bankruptcy court in Camden. Lawyers will be talking about how 83 employees were laid off yesterday, NBC 40 reports, and about a "debtor-in-possession" deal that keeps the hulking mass from becoming, well, a decaying hulking mass. Through bankruptcy protection, the Revel hopes to eliminate around $1 billion in debt or so, trading it for equity. Gotta love the magic of bankruptcy lawyers.

NEWARK – Want your own little slice of heaven? Newark will be auctioning off unneeded city-owned structures and vacant lots today at Newark Symphony Hall. Investors can't get more on the ground floor than this.

BELMAR – A press conference is scheduled in Belmar today to learn the gory details about a New Jersey woman's $1 million discrimination lawsuit against CVS. NJ.com reports the woman, of Korean descent, saw the phrase "Ching Chong Lee" on her ticket when she was picking up her photos. That was not her correct name. Wrong? Absolutely; it's an obvious slur. Worth $1 million? Well, hey, that's for the jury to decide.

GLEN ROCK – Pornography is showing up on teens' cell phones these days, prompting ticked-off parents and school officials to attack an app known as "Snapchat." CBS reports the pics have spread like wildfire at the Glen Rock schools. Snapchat automatically deletes photos seconds after they are opened, but the photos can still be saved. Life was so much simpler when a high school sophomore could just hide Playboy behind the Atari. (Or so we have been told.)

HIGHLAND PARK—As if we needed another reminder that nothing draws a crowd better than free chicken and beer, it's somewhat surprising that the opening of a Korean barbecue chicken restaurant can draw the likes of state and local legislators, including a campaign stop from Barbara Buono. Heck, even Sen. Joe Vitale, from the neighboring LD 19 was in attendance. This begs the question: Is chicken and beer the silver bullet for struggling downtowns? The answer is clear.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

NEW YORK - A globe-trotting male exotic dancer – known on stage as the "Punisher" – is suing NBC for $2 million. He claims the "Dateline" news program destroyed his career by using his trademarked shirtless photograph in a segment about a scam artist, the NY Post reports. The dancer says he was in no way connected with the scam – for which he is now forever linked. Terrible to see the fine reputation of a male exotic dancer be besmirched by the media.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Everyone is talking about Jackie Robinson these days, with the movie "42" now in theaters. So, let's jump on that bandwagon, reporting that it was this day in 1946 that Jackie Robinson debuted as second baseman for the Montreal Royals.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Gov. Chris Christie continues a gentle slide from his all-time high popularity, with the latest poll showing he has fallen to a 59 percent approval rating, according to a Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll out this morning. He still remains the man to beat in the November election, but Democrats must be somewhat encouraged the poll shows one-third of voters think it's time for a new governor.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Christie's likely opponent, Sen. Barbara Buono, is sharpening her talking points for an upset victory. Her message: While New York has managed to regain all the jobs lost in the recession, Christie has only recouped about 40 percent of them. Property taxes, she charges, are up 20 percent since the Governor took office, while 430,000 people are still out of work. Why is New Jersey facing the worst unemployment crisis in three decades, while neighboring states recover? This message was brought to you by Barbara Buono.

TRENTON – Some Democrats are raising eyebrows at the Governor's decision to nominate the wife of his first Board of Public Utilities president to become an agency commissioner (at a cool $125,000 a year.) Dianne Solomon's qualifications, it appears, is that she was an official with the U.S. Tennis Association. Her relevant experience in energy policy and utility law is also obvious: she has used countless light switches over the years and has even been known to pay the electric bill. So, there.

PISCATAWAY – Here is the latest in the string of teacher/student trysts in New Jersey: Authorities are now claiming the soccer coach at Piscataway High School had sex with a student in February. The wrinkle in this one: She is 18, and a legal adult. But still: This guy has worked at the high school for 11 years. Why can't he just preserve all that glorious tenure and pick up women at the local Applebee's?

PRINCETON – The difference, at the moment, between the basketball programs at Princeton and Rutgers: Rutgers is desperately trying to woo coach Eddie Jordan from the Lakers to keep any more players from defecting. Meanwhile, in Princeton, basketball coach Mitch Henderson is quietly volunteering some time today to help publicize efforts to find 300,000 participants for a cancer study through the American Cancer Society. Eddie: hurry up.

JERSEY SHORE – You never know what you'll find during the spring beach clean-ups. And, this year, with Superstorm Sandy slamming our shores, the April 27 clean-up should be particularly interesting. To prepare, Clean Ocean Action just released its 27th-annual Beach Sweeps report for 2012, reporting that 351,781 objects were retrieved, including: 8,621 Tampon applicators, 1,303 shotgun shells, 29 car batteries, a set of vampire teeth, one fully-decorated Christmas tree and a live possum playing dead.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

NEW YORK – An exotic bird smuggler - busted four times for sneaking protected birds into the country – is heading to jail for six months, The Daily News reports. The judge had little patience for the smuggler, caught with nine singing finches from Guyana hidden up his sleeve at Kennedy Airport. Apparently, he intended to sell the birds for $5,000 a pop in Queens, where birds compete – no joke – in high-stakes singing contests. Seven of the finches died last fall in federal custody; their freeze-dried corpses filed away in an evidence room. The two survivors are headed to a zoo.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1937 that the world met Elmer Fudd, and learned of his never-ending quest to kill that widdle cowardwy wabbit.

STATEWIDE – The obvious need to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey has strong support of voters. A new poll shows that - heck, yes - let's raise the minimum wage a buck to $8.25 and allow for automatic annual adjustments to the Consumer Price Index. The issue, which goes before voters in November, has the comfortable support of 76 percent of registered voters, reports the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll out today. Finally some bright skies for what's been an embarrassing issue.

STATEWIDE – Did you know that today is Election Day in New Jersey? Probably not. But we have these little sleeper elections, with voters in 41 school districts headed to the polls to decide on budgets and school board candidates. Even Gov. Chris Christie has been informed, with someone putting on his calendar to vote this morning in Mendham Township. April school board elections used to be a bigger deal, as you may remember, but most districts switched the elections to November to coincide with the general election and encourage more voter turnout.

ELIZABETH – Sen. Ray Lesniak's commitment to fighting for pregnant pigs is paying off. One of his biggest supporters now for re-election is the Humane Society Legislative Fund, PolitickerNJ reports, a national organization lauding the urban lawmaker for his strong leadership on animal welfare issues. Lesniak is currently pushing for a state law that would ban cruel confinement of New Jersey's pregnant pig population.

MIDDLETOWN – Sure, a local man will be going to prison for about 10 years. But he can hold his head up high in the mess hall, known as the guy who cultivated the largest indoor marijuana crop ever discovered in New Jersey. He was nabbed in 2010 when a Monroe police officer smelled burning pot from a chimney, leading to a $10 million crop tucked in five rental homes. It all ended up being 3,370 plants, 130 pounds of marijuana and some $66,000 in cash. Not a bad small business, if the guy didn't decide to light up some product for all to smell.

TRENTON – A key to Christie's playbook has been all those town hall forums he's hosted – serving as delightful mini pep rallies for whatever cause, candidate or issue he is promoting. Trenton Mayor Tony Mack – indicted on corruption and proven feckless as leader of a struggling city – figures it couldn't hurt to follow the tried-and-true model. So, he's off tonight to headline two forums. Interesting to see if he gets the same heroes' welcome.

EATONTOWN – The state has done all it can to bankrupt the Birdsall Services Group – an engineering firm accused of illegally passing political contributions to local candidates, a violation of "pay to play" laws. The firm's reputation has been destroyed, its needs to come up with $3.6 million for fines and it has lost most of its clients. Yet some 300 innocent employees furloughed in this mess are being told to return to work this morning, as the company seeks bankruptcy protection and sees if it has a future. Meanwhile, the state notes, there's still all the criminal charges to deal with. Interesting question to ponder: who "wins" here?

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Life changed drastically on this day in 1947 for Peeping Toms and paparazzi, as the first zoom lens was successfully demonstrated in New York City.

STATEWIDE – It's tax deadline day, and the Better Business Bureau has some warnings to turn you into a frantic weeping mess. Apparently, there are all these scammers lurking in your bushes and watching you with binoculars, as you slap something together for Uncle Sam. Warning: emails and phone calls today from anyone who claims to be from the IRS is a scam. And, don't dare take your tax return on the road, as someone will smash in your car windows and run off with it. Also, be careful about engaging in conversation with anyone with a heavy foreign accent or poor grammar – the Better Business Bureau warns – because they obviously want to steal from you. There's also some more nonsense to report, but we think this is already ridiculous enough.

NEW BRUNSWICK – The silver lining, one would suggest, is the media is finally not hyper-focused on the Rutgers basketball scandal. Yet the news vans were back in New Brunswick this weekend to report an out-of-control party on Delafield Street – dubbed "Delafest" – with hordes of university students packed on roofs and awnings. Police descended as revelers were fighting, breaking bottles and setting furniture ablaze. Cops used pepper spray on some students as bottles were thrown at them. University officials are expected to talk about the bash today, likely finding a way to pin it on Mike Rice.

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie took to NJ 101.5 this morning to hype proposed tax cuts New Jerseyans – if we can afford them or not. The new grand scheme returns the state's earned income tax credit to 25 percent of the federal level from the current 20 percent, where it's been since Christie cut it from 25 percent in 2010. At the end of a four-year phase-in, households earning up to $400,000 would receive an income tax credit equivalent to 10 percent of their property tax bill. The credits would be capped at $10,000. Homeowners would get a $100 credit for the second half of 2013 – just in time for the election. How lovely, even though the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services says the state is looking at a $637 million shortfall by the end of next fiscal year.

TRENTON – The next time you question if New Jersey really needs a lieutenant governor, be rest assured it is a critical position in the Governor's cabinet. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno proves this position is a wise investment, yet again, as she travels to Mahwah this morning to "break ground" on a Dress Barn.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

AT THE GYM – A self-described Hugh Jackman fan has a one-way ticket the loony bin, after she ran past the front desk at the Gotham Gym in New York to profess her love for the actor and to announce they were getting married. She confronted him outside, yelling and crying, CBS reports. Then, it got really weird, when she pulled out an electric razor apparently filled with pubic hair and tossed it at Jackman before cops subdued her. "Here's a woman who obviously needs help," Jackman said, likely wondering why he just doesn't exercise at home.

AMSTERDAM – Another problem with self-consumed child celebrities is their stupidity creates international eye-rolling. Case in point is that Canadian kid named Justin Bieber, who visited the Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam, saying he hoped the Jewish teenager who died in a Nazi concentration camp "would have been a Belieber" - or fan of his - if history were different. Yeah. After all, that's what is important.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Tax Deadline Day was marked in 1992 with billionaire Leona Helmsly being sent to jail on tax evasion. Known as the "Queen of Mean," she was slapped with a four-year sentence, 750 hours of community service and a $7.1 million fine. For many, Helmsley became the object of loathing and disgust when she said, "only the little people pay taxes."

When she died in 1987, Helmsly left $12 million to her dog, Trouble. Let's assume he didn't pay taxes either.

PATERSON – The windows are getting a bit steamier at the Tick Tock Diner, where news reports this morning tell of how the diner manager sexually harassed waitresses over nearly a 10-year period. The Star-Ledger reports the manager – facing charges he tried to hire a hit man to kill his uncle – threatened the waitresses with their lives if they spilled the beans about his lewd behavior. The diner manager, now on $1 million bail, heads in front of a judge this morning in Paterson. Attorneys describe the family, rightfully, as "mortified."

WOODBRIDGE – When you market a product as "Food You Feel Good About Organic Apple Juice," it better be damn perfect, right? So, Wegmans Food Markets is facing a bit of a branding disaster this morning with the discovery its juice contains unacceptable levels of mold. Now, before crazed moms start torching stores, the company notes the juice won't cause anyone to get sick. But, uh, you still shouldn't drink it.

PISCATAWAY – Professional women's soccer comes back to New Jersey this Sunday, as a team called the Sky Blue FC plays the Western Flash at Rutgers. There are eight teams in the league – we root, of course, for the hometown Sky Blue FC. No doubt the players are paid among the lowest in professional sports – ranging from $6,000 to $30,000 for a five-month stint of 22 games. But, hey, they get to play soccer for a living.

ON THE HUDSON – Can there be "Fleet Week" without a fleet? That is the challenge of always-peppy tourism officials, now coping with the federal sequestration that is sucking up funds from all "community relations" budgets. Right now, the Department of Defense has put the whole party on hold, figuring it is likely not vital for the security of our country. Organizers are still hoping for a fleet week, to begin May 23, they just can't depend on all those ships and sailors showing up, The NY Times reports. Good luck with that spin.

NEWARK – As a former longtime mayor, Sharpe James knows where all the high crime spots are. Yet he still took a walk yesterday afternoon on Bergen Street, near Weequahic Park, where someone jumped him from behind, put him in a choke hold and ripped off his gold chain, CBS reports. It all happened so quick; James didn't even get a chance to say, "Hey, do you have any idea who I am???"

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

EAST MEADOW, NY – The spring weather brings out the crazy in golfers. And so media is reporting the first nut of the season, who attacked a pair of elderly golfers and shouted racial slurs at them. Let's just assume they were playing the course a bit too slow, prompting the enraged golfer to hit one of them with his club and then threatening to stab them both with the broken club. He then fled, but police found him at home – probably strangling his cat. You can meet the golfer today in Hempstead, where he will be appearing in front of a judge - likely without his seven iron.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1961 that General Douglas MacArthur turned down the opportunity to be baseball commissioner. When you serve as "Supreme Commander" of all Allied Forces in the southwest Pacific, it seems a career setback to babysit a sports league. Let someone else yell at Mickey Mantle for scoring women during the seventh inning stretch.

CLIFTON – There's nothing sunny-side-up this morning at the Tick-Tock Diner, where the 45-year-old diner manager has been arrested on charges of hiring an undercover cop to torture, rob and possibly kill his uncle and dispose of the evidence. The issue, of course, was money, with the cash-strapped nephew claiming he wasn't getting his fair share of the profits. Relieved we never asked for that second cup of coffee.

NEW BRUNSWICK - The Rutgers University Board of Governors now wants to hire a special adviser to get a better understanding of the entire basketball mess. With the university's athletic department already reeling – and any decent prospect now opting for a Montana junior college over Rutgers – now is the time to move quickly. Forget the investigations into what you already know. If you must blow money on a "special adviser," hire someone who can rebuild the athletic department before Rutgers becomes the perennial doormat of the Big 10.

ATLANTIC CITY – Congratulations to the bankrupt Revel casino, which actually saw its casino profits increase by nearly 9 percent in March, to $9.8 million. But that is the silver lining on a very dark cloud, as the 12 gambling houses saw a collective 10.5 percent drop in revenue last month, compared to a year ago, Fox News reports. Trump Plaza continued its free fall, down 31 percent since last March, to $6.8 million. It begs the question: is Trump even covering the cost to clean all that 1980s-era marble?

BROOKLYN – The man who put some class in the hapless Nets is moving on. Jay-Z realizes he can make more money as a player's agent than an owner. And that means he has to sell his 1 percent share in the Nets. Makes sense: Why be an owner of one sports franchise if you can help bankrupt many of them?

NEWARK – You know what inner-city students need to succeed? Yoga. Or at least that is the thinking of Tao Porchon-Lynch – considered the "World's oldest living yoga teacher." The 94-year-old teacher is coming to the Sussex Avenue Renews School on Tuesday to share her wisdom with children as part of a non-profit called the "Newark Yoga Movement." You heard it here first, folks.

STATEWIDE – Education ain't cheap – and that is certainly the case in New Jersey, where we spent an average of $18,047 per pupil in 2011-12, up 4 percent. The Record reports that expenditures vary widely – from nearly $26,000 a year in ritzy Alpine to the Classic Academy Charter of Clifton, at a bargain basement deal of $8,000. The next time a mayoral candidate makes the ridiculous claim he can lower your taxes, ask about the schools.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1992 that EuroDisney opened near Paris. Only one problem: every time they shot off fireworks, the French surrendered.