Today's Page 1 puzzle: Who is gay?

Everyone but The Record has noticed the Port Authority's refusal to expand the PATH rail system despite increased ridership and the region's paralyzing traffic congestion.

Today's puzzle appears on Page 1 of The Record as readers struggle to figure out whether the large photo of two women athletes embracing is related to the story on astronaut Sally Ride's 27-year-long lesbian relationship.

The A-1 story on Ride and two other public figures acknowledging they are homosexual has former employees wondering when some newsroom staffers are going to come out, especially when they write about such issues as same-sex marriage.

Readers have to guess what sport the women in the photo played to kick off the Olympics. This is called interactive print journalism.

Word missing

The word "soccer" wouldn't fit on A-1, because Editor Marty Gottlieb and Production Editor Liz Houlton ordered news copy editors to make sure to say one of the players is a New Jersey native, as if that localized the story.

If you think the A-1 photo has lesbian overtones, you can just hear the snickers on the sports copy desk over the S-6 photo, which shows one player with her face seemingly pressed against a second player's breasts.

Tax cuts for the wealthy

Another A-1 story on more business tax cuts for the so-called job creators doesn't explain why the state's economy continues to limp along with an unemployment rate higher than the nation's.

Far be it for editors of The Record to put Governor Christie on the spot and ask why he continues to cut taxes for the wealthy (A-1 and A-5).

Obese president?

The A-5 story reports Christie hasn't ruled out a run for the presidency in 2016, though if he keeps on eating the way he does, he won't be alive then.

Also on A-5, a rosy story about Christie and real estate mogul Jon F. Hanson doesn't mention Hanson is Chairman Malcolm A. "Mac" Borg's close friend nor that they co-own a business jet. 

Path to congestion

On A-3, The Record carefully avoids bringing up the question of why the Port Authority has no plans to expand the PATH train system, even after Christie killed the Hudson River rail tunnels.  

Head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes' Local section carries some good news about red-light cameras for a change after negative columns from Road Warrior John Cichowski, who reprinted complaining e-mails from rabid red-light runners.

Red-light cameras in 21 towns -- including Wayne, Englewood Cliffs and Palisades Park -- have been re-certified (L-1).

In view of all the maniacs on the road, residents of Hackensack, Teaneck and other towns can't wait for installation of red-light cameras, which cut down on accidents and save lives as well as providing towns with much-needed revenue.

Another lawsuit

The big Hackensack news today is another lawsuit, this one filed by Vice Principal Patricia Lozano against a school board member who alleged Lozano had ties to the Zisa family, onetime rulers of the city, known in some quarters as Zisaville (L-3).

The Record's Local section has had more stories about deposition, motions and other minutiae surrounding the many civil suits against former Police Chief Ken Zisa than law journals.

More cronyism

Christie has given another high-paying job to a former assistant U.S. attorney who worked for him when the governor was U.S. attorney (L-7).

Has The Record ever counted how many former assistant U.S. attorneys have gotten jobs in his administration and at the profligate Port Authority of New York and New Jersey?