NorthJersey.comView Comments the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey takes a look at how, with only vague guidance from the state, various sectors of the community are planning to reopen as the coronavirus pandemic wanes.Harry Hurley, a popular Atlantic City talk show host and former casino executive, pressed Gov. Phil Murphy last month to commit to reopening casinos within a few weeks.Murphy refused."I don’t want to marry myself,”. “I hope it's that. It's something we are taking extremely seriously. I'll leave it at that."The answer wasn't unusual — Murphy has...…NorthJersey.comView Comments the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey takes a look at how, with only vague guidance from the state, various sectors of the community are planning to reopen as the coronavirus pandemic wanes.Harry Hurley, a popular Atlantic City talk show host and former casino executive, pressed Gov. Phil Murphy last month to commit to reopening casinos within a few weeks.Murphy refused."I don’t want to marry myself,”. “I hope it's that. It's something we are taking extremely seriously. I'll leave it at that."The answer wasn't unusual — Murphy has...WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsGov. Phil Murphy was deep into his daily recitation of the grim facts of the COVID-19 catastrophe when a fake Homeland Security bulletin flashed across his smartphone. An alarmed friend had sent it to him. But Murphy quickly concluded that it probably was written by an enemy of the United States."This is complete B.S., right?" Murphy said during the recent briefing, after reading a grammatically garbled flyer warning that the National Guard will soon mobilize to prevent looting and rioting amid a pending "national quarantine.""We...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsGov. Phil Murphy was deep into his daily recitation of the grim facts of the COVID-19 catastrophe when a fake Homeland Security bulletin flashed across his smartphone. An alarmed friend had sent it to him. But Murphy quickly concluded that it probably was written by an enemy of the United States."This is complete B.S., right?" Murphy said during the recent briefing, after reading a grammatically garbled flyer warning that the National Guard will soon mobilize to prevent looting and rioting amid a pending "national quarantine.""We...WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsOn a Monday in late March 2000, I walked into the ultra-serious, ultra-hardworking Statehouse bureau of The Record as a new hire. I was greeted by a round of  applause, led by the chief, Herb Jackson.I smiled, but my heart sank. The realization hit me like an avalanche: I was no longer at The Trenton Times, a well-regarded but much smaller regional daily, whose main concern was the feisty street tabloid, The Trentonian.Now the competition was The New York Times, The Star-Ledger, and the New York broadcast media. I may have moved 20 feet down...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsOn a Monday in late March 2000, I walked into the ultra-serious, ultra-hardworking Statehouse bureau of The Record as a new hire. I was greeted by a round of  applause, led by the chief, Herb Jackson.I smiled, but my heart sank. The realization hit me like an avalanche: I was no longer at The Trenton Times, a well-regarded but much smaller regional daily, whose main concern was the feisty street tabloid, The Trentonian.Now the competition was The New York Times, The Star-Ledger, and the New York broadcast media. I may have moved 20 feet down...WW…