Miscellaneous
March 5, 2018 Partly cloudy with high temperatures in the mid-40s. MURPHY INAUGURATION COST MORE THAN $1 MILLION The committee that planned the inauguration of Gov. Phil Murphy spent $1.1 million on the swearing-in ceremony in Trenton and the inaugural festivities held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.com reports. The Democratic State Committee covered $940,000 of the cost and the remainder was paid with individual donations of no more than $500 each, according to a report filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission. When Gov. Chris Christie took office in 2010, more than half of the $1 million raised for his inaugural ball was donated to charities. CHRISTIE SAYS KUSHNER SHOULD RESIGN WHITE HOUSE POST Former Gov. Chris Christie says that Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, should resign from his job as a senior adviser, the New York Post writes. Kushner has been the subject of press scrutiny after his security clearance was downgraded and reports surfaced that his family’s business received loans from investors after they attended White House meetings. PATIENTS DYING AFTER PROCEDURES AT NJ SURGERY CENTERS New Jersey has 298 same-day surgical centers, which offer lower costs than hospitals, lower infection rates and greater convenience. But dozens of patients have died at the centers since the state began keeping safety records, Lindy Washburn writes in The Record. HUDSON COUNTY WITHDRAWS FROM IMMIGRATION DETENTION PROGRAM Officials announced last week that Hudson County is dropping out of a program that trained corrections officers to determine the immigration status of prisoners and flag those held on serious charges for possible deportation, The Record reports. Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Vainieri said the Trump administration’s vigorous enforcement of immigration laws was a factor in the decision. But County Executive Tom DeGise said bail reform in the state had significantly reduced crowding at the jail, eliminating the need to remove inmates. PSEG, EXELON PUT HOLD ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AT NUCLEAR PLANT Public Service Enterprise Group and Exelon are withholding money for capital projects at the Salem nuclear power plant until the Legislature approves a controversial measure that would have utility customers provide a $300 million-a-year subsidy for two South Jersey plants, NJ Spotlight writes. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, PSEG and Exelon said money for capital projects would be restored if legislation that “sufficiently values” nuclear energy is enacted in New Jersey.