What an awful tragedy.

Sayreville councilmember Eunice Dwumfour — a Republican who won a surprise victory in the mostly Democratic town back in 2021 — was found shot to death Tuesday night in her SUV outside of her home.

We don’t know much about this, other than that, according to some reports, and the description of the scene, the killing appeared to have been targeted. But there isn’t even a hint of a motive yet.

Dwumfour was just 30, a devout Christian and mother.

Now the national media has descended on a Jersey story, which has inevitably led to unfounded speculation on social media. With such little information out there about a motive, we can’t dismiss any possibility. But there’s also no point to speculating about something we know so little about. So let’s just ignore that for now and hope the killer is caught soon.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 363

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QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: “Age is something that comes to all of us. It is not asserted that I have lost my mental acuity or I’m not physically fit, but simply that I’m too old. No one has charged that I’ve been remiss in my duties or responsibilities … I do feel deserted by my friends and my colleagues who have not responded.” — State Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex), 87, who’s facing a primary challenge from Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry that is reportedly baked on Thompson’s age. Thompson made the remarks on the Senate floor.

QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: “I can tell you I don’t think anybody on this side of the aisle has anything to do with it.” — Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) to Thompson. No Republicans spoke up for Thompson on the floor.

WHERE’S MURPHY? Nothing public.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jeff Giertz, Bert Lopez, Tayfun Selen, Uncle Bill. Saturday for Eric Brophy, Brian Shott, Nicole Ristagno. Sunday for Jim Carroll, Jason Carty, Joe Crifasi, Derek Roseman.

NOBODY AT THE HELMY — Murphy’s top aide won’t speak to senators while Port Authority nomination is pending, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: “George Helmy, among the most powerful people in New Jersey state government, is going to be working with one hand tied behind his back for the foreseeable future. Gov. Phil Murphy is nominating Helmy, his chief of staff, and deputy chief of staff Joe Kelley to the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey … Because the board posts require legislative confirmation, both Helmy and Kelley are planning to recuse themselves from talking with members of the state Senate, just as the Murphy prepares to unveil his state budget proposal this month. Typically, the governor’s chief of staff would be deeply involved in budget negotiations with lawmakers in both chambers. This extraordinary condition — which will last at least as long as the nominations are pending — could severely limit the governor’s ability to push his legislative agenda”

THE BIG SHIFT — Advocates say Murphy making a ‘total about face’ in approving charter school expansion requests, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is making a “total about-face” on charter schools, according to charter advocates, approving expansion requests for 11 schools to the delight of advocates who last year called the administration’s charter policies “bureaucratic,” “confusing” and based on “political ideology.” The state Department of Education on Wednesday issued approvals for 11 charter schools to expand their seats and grade levels. In total, the DOE approved an additional 2,299 seats, according to a statement from the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association. NJPCSA leaders say DOE approved some 78 percent of the 2,937 seats requested … Kyle Rosenkrans, executive director of the New Jersey Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes cooperation between Newark’s traditional and charter schools, said in an interview that Murphy has made a stark political shift in his treatment of charters.

LABOR —Long-stalled bill to aid temp workers finally passes, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: A bill to mandate better wages and protections for temporary workers in New Jersey took its final legislative step Thursday after repeatedly stalling in the state Senate for months. The upper house voted, 21-16, to pass the “Temp Workers Bill of Rights,” NJ A1474 (22R), which has taken a tortuous route through the Legislature since it was introduced a year ago … “This is an invisible workforce that has been left vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment. They have been cheated out of their wages, denied benefits, forced to work in unsafe conditions and charged unjustified fees by employers,” state Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union), the bill’s top sponsor, said in a statement

— “17 staffing agencies fighting temp worker bill not registered to operate, state says,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “More than a dozen temporary staffing agencies that are members of a lobbying group fighting legislation that would lead to more state regulation of the industry are not registered to operate in New Jersey, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The department confirmed at least 17 staffing agencies that the New Jersey Staffing Alliance lists as members do not currently hold active registrations with the state. Firms that operate without a license are subject to a $10,000 fine or suspension of their registration, the department said in a statement to the New Jersey Monitor. In recent months, the New Jersey Staffing Alliance has lobbied against a bill that would offer more job protections to temporary workers, a measure they claim would burden the staffing agencies with onerous regulations and put some of them out of business.”

RUMPF SHAKEN — “Rumpf, Gove draw top-tier opponents in Ocean GOP assembly race,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Eight candidates will seek the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the Ocean County-based 9th district, where longtime incumbents Brian Rumpf (R-Little Egg Harbor) and DiAnne Gove (R-Long Beach) are seeking re-election … Challenging Rumpf and Gove for party support are former Barnegat Mayor John Novak, Stafford Mayor Greg Myhre, Lacey Mayor Mark Dykoff, Lace Councilman Timothy McDonald, Berkeley Councilman James Byrnes, and Valerie Smith, the head of the Ocean Academy Charter School in Lakewood.”

—“DeFuccio won’t run for re-election after all” 

SUBURBANS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH GAS STOVES — “Phil Murphy’s footprints are all over this gas-guzzler gaffe,” by The Star-Ledger’s Paul Mulshine: “In a statement he put out two years ago when he introduced his Energy Master Plan, Murphy said, ‘Successfully implementing the strategies outlined in the Energy Master Plan will “help propel New Jersey to 100 percent clean energy by 2050.’ But if we’re heading into the future, why is the Murphy administration stuck in the past? When it comes to fossil fuels, the Suburban is a real fossil. It still has the same basic design as when it came out in 1934. It’s dangerous not just to people in smaller cars but also to its occupants, as Gov. Jon Corzine learned when the Suburban in which he was riding overturned at high speed. ‘If you’re having a climate emergency, how can you have big SUVs?’ Tittel asked.”

—McDonald: “Initial rulings on New Jersey gun law should worry gun control advocates” 

—Snowflack: “Understanding Bucco” 

—“The most influential N.J. man that you’ve never heard of: A Q&A with David Sciarra” 

—“Were you overpaid in NJ unemployment benefits? Here's what to do” 

—“Packaging Product Stewardship Act aims to reduce plastic waste in NJ” 

— “'This will kill me': No accountability a year after NJ man's Navy SEALs Hell Week death”

—“N.J. congressman [Gottheimer] who once slammed fellow Democrat Omar just supported her” 

—“N.J. Dems split on symbolic resolution denouncing socialism” 

—“Pascrell versus Gottheimer” 

DWUMFOUR — “Sayreville councilwoman’s neighbors heard at least 6 shots, saw SUV roll into parked cars,” by NJ Advance Media’s Keith Sargeant and Camille Furst: “Neighbors of slain Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour said they heard six shots ring out Wednesday night and saw her SUV roll down a hill in the townhouse development and stop after hitting multiple parked vehicles. Dwumfour appeared to have been targeted, according to several people … A … neighbor was in bed watching television when he heard gunshots. He got up, walked onto his balcony and saw the shooter run up a hill between two buildings, scale an approximately 10-foot brick retaining wall with a white fence on top of it and hop the fence before running in the direction of the Garden State Parkway … windshield of the SUV before it was towed away Wednesday night. Neighbors said the shooting appeared to be targeted as the shooter stopped, opened fire and then fled.”

—@OneJerseySchorr: “Speaking on @WNYC, New Jersey @GovMurphy said the shooting of Sayreville Borough Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour does not seem politically motivated. ‘It does not appear to be related to her position as an elected councilwoman in Sayreville. Again, please G-d, it doesn’t,’ he said.”

—“FBI working 'to find out more' about slaying of Sayreville councilwoman” 

—“Sayreville community in shock following fatal shooting of councilwoman” 

—“Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour's life 'embodied the American Dream'” 

INCOMPETENT TERRORISM — “Bloomfield synagogue defendant had map of government sites, investigators find,” by The Record’s Nicholas Katzban: “The Clifton man accused of attempting to set fire to a Bloomfield synagogue on Sunday was ordered to remain in federal custody Thursday, as Judge Edward S. Kiel and law enforcement officials described him as a potential risk to the public's safety. Nicholas Malindretos, 26, made his first appearance in court after his Wednesday arrest, when authorities used video surveillance of the botched arson to track the defendant's car to a home in Clifton, where Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Gribko said he had been living in a friend's basement … Among the most startling details presented in court was Gribko's allegation that law enforcement discovered a map showing a circle drawn around Malindretos' home city that identified multiple government, police and military sites, along with multiple accelerants”

VICARI HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED 42-YEAR TERM LIMITS — “Ocean County Commissioner Joe Vicari will not seek another term,” by Jersey Shore Online’s Bob Vosseller: “Vicari, who is serving as Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners this year, said in his letter to all Ocean County Department heads that after much soul searching, ‘I am announcing that I will not seek re-election to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. After more than 43 years of public service, I have decided to retire and devote more time to my family.’ ‘I am forever thankful to the people of Ocean County, who have seen fit to return me to office time and time again since 1981. Thanks to their enduring support, I will leave office as the longest serving Freeholder/Commissioner in the State of New Jersey,’ he added.”

PATERSON – “Paterson's scandal-plagued police department detained a man one year ago. He's still missing,” by WNYC’s Matt Katz: “One year ago, 41-year-old Felix DeJesus went missing after police in Paterson, New Jersey, apprehended him and then dropped him off at a park. After midnight on Feb. 3, 2022, DeJesus was accused of grabbing a woman inside a Paterson bodega. He appeared to be inebriated and body camera footage shows him being handcuffed and put in the back of a police car. But, according to officials, he was never officially arrested. Instead, officers drove him more than a mile away to a nearby park. He was left there, wearing just a T-shirt and sweatpants as temperatures dropped below freezing. He has still not been found, and his story has enraged a community where tensions with a troubled police department run high … DeJesus’ disappearance is just one issue facing a small city with a nagging violent crime problem and a police department beset by controversy and criminality. The police chief was recently fired for falling asleep in the mayor’s meetings and failing to address violent crime. And six officers were recently convicted — with five sentenced to prison — for illegally stopping, searching, beating and stealing from Paterson residents.”

SMALL ACTIONS — “Philly woman, 78, credits Atlantic City mayor with saving her life inside the Linc,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “‘Sooooo Sunday at The Eagles Game I did a thing’ the mayor wrote on Instagram. ‘… as everyone entered the stadium. It was really a dangerous situation that had everyone stuck … I [saw] an older lady and her husband in distress. Small, who played basketball at Stockton University but not football, did his best Jason Kelce blocking and said he told Segal-Bonavitacola and her husband to ‘hold on tight to me and don’t let go.’ ‘As we navigated through the crowd, I yelled to the top of the lungs to MOVE out the way I had an older lady with me,’Small wrote. ”It took us like 15 mins to break away but we made it and I made sure she was ok.’ Segal-Bonavitacola said in an interview Thursday that the mayor of the seaside gambling town was ‘my angel.’ … ‘I did just what he said, and he started to barrel through,’ she said. ‘I just held on for dear life. It was incredible. He was wonderful. I’ll remember him the rest of my life. I said, God must have sent you to me.’”

—“N.J. police chief pleads guilty to drunken driving, lawyer says” 

—“Paramus closes investigation into top official's auto repairs. Here's what happened”

—“Judge orders recount in Monmouth County after some 2022 votes were double-counted”

—“Newark moves to revoke tax break for rat-infested housing complex” 

—“Millville school board fighting liability claims in alleged sex abuse by ex-teacher” 

—“Teacher charged in Bayonne school incident grabbed colleague’s buttocks and breast: criminal complaint” 

NJ UNDER GOV. SPADEA — “North Bergen student felt 'no option' but to withdraw from Abu Dhabi fashion competition,” by The Record’s Sammy Gibbons: “CJ King felt prepared for anything that could go wrong at the Junk Kouture World Final, the world’s largest sustainable fashion competition for youth … stand taller than he does would fall apart. But the North Bergen High School student was “blindsided” by what actually went wrong — he couldn’t walk on the runway in that gown because of his gender. Moments before the competition began, King’s teacher Steven Defendini broke the news that local authorities would not allow a boy to wear women’s clothing on stage. United Arab Emirates law prohibits men from wearing women’s clothing, and people who do so could face imprisonment. Defendini and King, along with his classmate and co-designer Jazzlynn Vargas, decided to withdraw from the competition altogether.”

AMERICAN DEBT — “American Dream mall skips second payment on nj grant-backed debt,” by Bloomberg: “American Dream, the $5 billion mall and entertainment complex in New Jersey’s Meadowlands, failed to make a semi-annual interest payment due Wednesday on municipal bonds sold to help finance the venture. The more than 3 million-square-foot destination mall, which features an indoor ski slope, amusement park and water park, didn’t make the $8.8 million payment, according to a regulatory filing. American Dream first missed a payment on $290 million of muni debt backed by New Jersey economic development grants in August.”

—“A Haddonfield man who sent explicit photos to a 14-year-old pleaded guilty to trying to hire a hitman to kill him” 

—“NY, NJ linked to outbreak of ‘extensively’ drug-resistant bacteria in eye drops” 

—“Longtime N.J. wedding venue The Manor to permanently close after 66 years”