News Roundup & Open Thread for Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2009

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 07:50:00 AM EST

Thursday - full vote in NJ Senate for marriage equality

After a month in limbo, both houses in the NJ legislature cracked open new possibilities yesterday for a vote on marriage equality, with Senate President Dick Codey scheduling a full Senate vote for tomorrow, and Speaker Joe Roberts promising that if the bill clears the Senate, he will post it in the full Assembly "immediately" for Monday, without committee hearing, leaving just a day for Gov. Jon Corzine to fulfill his promise to sign equality in marriage into law.

Call to action: Can you be at the statehouse 10:30 through the vote? More info after the jump in this diary.

Hey, have you voted in Star Ledger's on line poll?

Why putting a Band-Aid on civil unions won't fly.

Yo! Before you spend gazillions on new security gadgets, turn the damned cameras on!

Duhhhhhh ...

Ridgefield Park's Rev. Miguel Rivera, president of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, stands alone

And right now, that's about right.

Outgoing & incoming governors

Corzine and Christie reach an agreement on lame-duck nominations.

Christie plucks another from the USA's office

Today's selection is Senior Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles McKenna, who is the new governor's choice as the new Director of NJ's Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

South Jersey shuffle

With Dana Redd's swearing in this week as Camden's new mayor, the ground shifts for everybody else, too with support lining up for Donald Norcross to move up to the Senate, instead of the Assembly seat he was elected to just weeks ago, and Camden city councilman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson to be the next Assemblyman.

Dana Redd sworn in - the public ceremony.

Frank Huttle takes office as Englewood mayor

Loretta Weinberg swore in the husband of her colleague Asw Valerie Huttle. Frank Huttle replaces the outgoing Michael Wildes.

Unfortunate acorns

They don't fall far from unfortunate trees.

I almost titled this, Politician A denies he's guilty of Charge B in today's daily fallout of political corruption

Former Ocean County Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt, Republican, pleads not guilty to charges of taking bribes from informant Solomon Dwek to secure approvals for a real estate project in Ocean Township.

Bergen County drama

Charlie Stile details the high-level diplomatic work behind getting the stars of the BCRO not to go at each other with pointy, pointy objects.

Every politician has a problem brother

Chris Christie has Todd, who may be both blessing and curse to his big brother, but is most certainly a risk.

Medals and benefit info for veterans

Vets of wars going back to WWII gathered in Cherry Hill to receive honors, and get information about veterans benefits they may not be aware of.

Edison: Ex-cop files suit against Ex-Mayor Jun Choi

A retired Edison police officer who pleaded guilty last year to lying to investigators looking into a company he moonlighted for as a security guard has filed a federal job discrimination lawsuit against former Mayor Jun Choi and supervisory police officers.

Rosi Efthim :: News Roundup & Open Thread for Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2009