Author: ECCYC

NEW JERSEY — Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.

COVID vaccine latest in NJ

As of Saturday, 14,303,090 total doses have been administered and 6,312,098 individuals who live, work, or study in New Jersey were fully vaccinated.

Update: New COVID cases, deaths in NJ

• 4,198 new positive PCR tests
• 1,124,980 total positive PCR tests
• 928 new positive antigen tests
• 174,621 total positive antigen tests
• 25 new lab-confirmed deaths
• 25,738 total confirmed deaths
• 2,830 probable deaths

New US travel restrictions go into effect

Beginning Monday, Dec. 6, travelers heading to the U.S. will be required to show evidence of a negative COVID test within one day of boarding their flight instead of three days prior, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status. See what you need to know here.

Additionally, the TSA will extend the requirement to wear a mask on planes, trains, subways and other public transportation hubs including airports and bus terminals through the winter.

Scientists call omicron variant ‘most mutated’ version of virus

There’s one thing we keep hearing from the scientists who’ve gotten a close look at the omicron version of the virus: It’s really mutated. More mutations don’t necessarily make a virus more dangerous, but viruses evolve over time to increase their chance of survival, which can be bad for humans.

First omicron variant case confirmed in NJ, Murphy says

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said New Jersey’s first omicron case was confirmed on Friday, Dec. 3, in a fully vaccinated woman who visited New Jersey from Georgia.

Omicron COVID variant identified in California; 1st known US case

The first known case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified in California, the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29.

US panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill from Merck

The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.

How to pronounce the new COVID-19 variant

Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant of concern designated by the World Health Organization, gets its name from a letter in the Greek alphabet. But unlike the alpha or delta variants before it, omicron might not roll off the tongue so naturally to English speakers.

Rising concerns over omicron variant

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said he expects COVID cases to rise until at least the new year, and he’s asking people to remain vigilant over the holiday season as both New Jersey and New York closely monitor for the first cases of the omicron variant.

Omicron variant prompts new US travel ban on South Africa, other nations

The United States’ ban on non-citizen travel from South Africa and seven additional African nations began on Monday, Nov. 29, due to omicron, a new COVID-19 variant of concern, White House officials said.

5 things to know about omicron, the new COVID ‘variant of concern’

The announcement of a COVID-19 variant called omicron by scientists in South Africa, where it was first detected, has sent governments and financial markets around the world reeling. Click here to learn more about what experts know about the new “variant of concern.”

What is this new omicron COVID variant in South Africa?

South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.

CDC approves expanding COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults

The U.S. on Friday, Nov. 19, opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.

Pfizer agrees to let other companies make its COVID-19 pill

Pfizer said it would grant a license for the antiviral pill to the Geneva-based Medicines Patent Pool, which would let generic drug companies produce the pill for use in 95 countries, making up about 53% of the world’s population.

Getting a COVID vaccine before the holidays? Here are some key dates to know

Time is running out if you plan to be fully vaccinated against COVID by the holidays. Click here for the deadlines to be fully vaccinated before each holiday.

US lifts nearly 20-month international travel ban

More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 8, bans on travel from specific countries ended. The U.S. will allow in international travelers, but they must be vaccinated — with a few exceptions.

The U.S. also reopened the land borders with Canada and Mexico for vaccinated people. Most trips from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. are by land rather than air.

US gives final clearance to COVID vaccine for kids 5 to 11

U.S. health officials on Tuesday, Nov. 2 gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.

The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.

Vaccinated just as likely to spread delta variant within household as unvaccinated: study

People who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are able to spread the delta variant within their household just as easily as unvaccinated individuals, a new study published on Friday, Oct. 29, shows.

Child tax credit 2022: What we know so far

As inner-party conflict continues to shave off elements of President Joe Biden’s sweeping domestic policy package, there may be good news for parents. While it’s unclear what the ultimate bill will include, Democrats arrived at a framework Thursday, Oct. 28, that included a one-year extension of the expanded child tax credit.

Moderna says its low-dose COVID shot safe, effective for kids 6 to 11

Moderna said on Oct. 25 that a low dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds, as the manufacturer moves toward expanding shots to children.

FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids

Federal health regulators said late Friday, Oct. 22, that kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections in elementary school children and caused no unexpected safety issues, as the U.S. weighs beginning vaccinations in youngsters.

NJ among top vaccinated states in U.S.

New Jersey is among the top 10 states in the country with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates at 74%. Helping to lead the charge is Paterson, which has a 90% vaccination rate.

COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, teachers begins

Many state employees returned to in-person work on Monday, Oct. 18, the same day Gov. Phil Murphy’s requirement for them to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular virus testing went into effect. The vaccine or test mandate also applies to teachers in New Jersey.

IRS sending October installment of child tax credit after delay in September

Families across the country are starting to receive their October child tax credit. The IRS says the program’s fourth monthly payment is already hitting Americans’ bank accounts after a technical issue last month caused delays for some recipients. 

New COVID safety guidance for the holidays released by the CDC

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released updated COVID-19 safety guidance for the holiday season on Friday, Oct. 15, including getting vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors if you’re not vaccinated and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.

Rutgers team tries to understand ‘brain fog’ COVID connection

Dr. William Hu, the Chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is leading a team trying to figure out what brain fog is and how it’s connected to COVID-19.

FDA endorsement essentially calls for Johnson & Johnson to be 2-shot vaccine

An FDA panel unanimously recommended a Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine on Friday, Oct. 15.  The terms of the endorsement essentially call for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to be a two-dose shot, rather than the one-dose shot for which it’s been known since it first got emergency use authorization last spring.

The panel called for a second shot to be available to people 18 and older, at least two months after the first shot.

FDA panel recommends Moderna booster shot, but the process isn’t over

A panel of medical experts affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration endorsed a COVID vaccine booster from Moderna on Thursday, Oct. 14. The panel recommended a half dose as a booster.  

Need to be vaccinated by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas? Here are the deadlines

People who want to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas are running out of time. Two of the three vaccines available in the U.S. require two doses spread weeks apart and a waiting period once the shots have been administered.

Vice President Kamala Harris visits NJ day care, vaccination site

Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in New Jersey on Friday, Oct. 8, to discuss the state’s latest vaccination efforts. She visited a day care center to highlight child care provisions in the president’s spending proposal as well as a vaccination site at Essex Community College.

Children will feel impact of pandemic on mental health for years: UNICEF report

UNICEF released a critical report on Friday, Oct. 8, which found that children and young people could feel the impact of the pandemic on their mental health for many years to come.

COVID vaccine for kids: Doctor answers your questions

The Pfizer vaccine for kids could be on the market in about a month after the drug maker filed for FDA authorization Thursday, Oct. 7, for their shot for kids ages 5 to 11.

However, many parents still have questions about the children’s COVID vaccine. Dr. Sallie Permar, the head of pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, joined the PIX11 Morning News on Friday, Oct. 8, to share more information and answer some of the biggest questions.

Pfizer’s request to OK shots for kids a relief for parents

Parents tired of worrying about classroom outbreaks and sick of telling their elementary school-age children no to sleepovers and family gatherings felt a wave of relief Thursday, Oct. 7, when Pfizer asked the U.S. government to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11.

U.S. hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall

The United States reached its latest heartbreaking pandemic milestone Friday, Oct. 1, eclipsing 700,000 deaths from COVID-19 just as the surge from the delta variant is starting to slow down and give overwhelmed hospitals some relief.

NJ leaders take on ‘Mayors Vaccine Challenge’

Two New Jersey mayors are going head-to-head in an effort to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s all part of the ongoing vaccination campaign in the Garden State that has already propelled it as one of the nation’s leaders in the fight against COVID-19. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is squaring off with Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora in what the state is calling the “Mayors Vaccine Challenge.”

New Jersey surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases

As of Tuesday, Sept. 28, more than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in New Jersey since the pandemic reached the state in 2020.

Pfizer submits vaccine data on kids to FDA

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced they have submitted initial data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the Phase 2/3 trial of their COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11.

In the trial, which included 2,268 participants 5 to 11 years of age, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile and elicited robust neutralizing antibody responses using a two-dose regimen of 10 μg doses. 

NJ offers $500 ‘return to work bonus’ to unemployed residents

Unemployed New Jersey residents could earn a $500 bonus to return to the workforce as part of a new program announced by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, Sept. 27. The “Return and Earn” initiative will offer the one-time bonus to folks who secure a job through the program, including positions that require on-the-job training.

Is it safe to trick-or-treat this Halloween? CDC weighs in

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Face the Nation that kids can trick-or-treat safely this year, adding, “If you’re able to be outdoors, absolutely.”

CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, Sept. 23, endorsed booster shots for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendations from a panel of advisers, but then overnight added one more the panel had rejected.

The panel had voted against saying that people ages 18 to 64 can get a booster if they are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.

FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for 65 and older, high-risk Americans

The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger people with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high-risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

J&J booster shot 94% effective 2 months after 1st dose

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said new data shows a second dose — or a booster shot — of their one-shot COVID vaccine was found to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 when given two months after the initial dose.

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11

Pfizer said Monday, Sept. 20, its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.

Vaccine mandate for child care facilities

Gov. Phil Murphy said all child care workers and facility employees need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 or face regular weekly testing. As of Sept. 24, all employees, students and children in a facility’s care ages two and up will need to wear masks indoors, with limited exceptions.

Moderna vaccine is most effective against hospitalization from COVID-19: study

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared how effective each of the three COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalization from the virus. The CDC reported that effectiveness was higher for the Moderna vaccine (93%) than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (88%) and the J&J vaccine (71%).

New Jersey surpassed as state with highest rate of COVID deaths

Mississippi has surpassed New Jersey as the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., with roughly 1 of every 320 Mississippians having succumbed to the coronavirus.

COVID-19 is ‘getting better’ at becoming airborne virus

Recent COVID-19 variants are much more adept at airborne transmission than the original version of the coronavirus, according to a new study. University of Maryland researchers analyzed the Alpha variant first identified in the United Kingdom and discovered that carriers breathe out 43 to 100 times more infectious viral aerosols than those infected with the original strain.

U.S. panel backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters only for 65 and over, high-risk

An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to most Americans, but it endorsed the extra shots for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.

COVID outbreaks in NJ schools

As of Wednesday, Sept. 15, there were six outbreaks in New Jersey schools, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. An outbreak is defined as at least three cases that are epidemiologically connected and not from the same household.

The cases are a mix of students and staff, Persichilli said. More information will be released on the state Health Department website in the coming days.

EU removes US from safe travel list

The European Union recommended that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there.

COVID-19 variants significantly reduce protection of vaccines, prior infection: study

A new study confirms that vaccinations and even prior COVID-19 infection provide significantly less protection against newer variants. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University say in order to protect against the Alpha, Beta, and now Delta variants, these findings stress the importance of doubling down on both vaccinations and public health measures during the pandemic.

Mask debate moves from school boards to courtrooms

The rancorous debate over whether returning students should wear masks in the classroom has moved from school boards to courtrooms. In at least 14 states, lawsuits have been filed either for or against masks in schools. In some cases, normally rule-enforcing school administrators are finding themselves fighting state leaders in the name of keeping kids safe.

Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey’s statewide rent moratorium expires at the end of the year.

These foods are extra hard to find right now because of shortages, supply chain issues

Notice your grocery store shelves looking a little bare lately? You’re definitely not the only one. Supply chain issues have created shortages of highly specific ingredients.

‘It’s up to us’: Fauci says pandemic could possibly end by spring 2022

The nation’s top infectious disease expert believes the pandemic’s end is near as long as the U.S. follows the right protocols to contain COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s only open if the country’s 80 million to 90 million unvaccinated people are convinced to get the shot.

Comirnaty: What’s the story behind the new Pfizer vaccine name?

Comirnaty, who? It’s the same exact mRNA vaccine Pfizer has been producing through the emergency use authorization, but now it’s being marketed under a new name.

Is an earache a new COVID-19 symptom?

Doctors say they’re seeing a new COVID-19 symptom in some patients. According to experts, an earache has been reported more frequently by those testing positive for COVID. Earaches can cause pain, a feeling of blockage and sometimes muffled hearing.

NJ COVID hospitalizations top 1,000 for the first time since May: Gov. Murphy

For the first time since May, more than 1,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Jersey on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Gov. Phil Murphy said. There were 1,012 people hospitalized with COVID, 92 of whom were on ventilators, according to state Health Department data. The last time the state had more than 1,000 COVID hospitalizations was over three months ago on May 11, Murphy said.

Johnson & Johnson: Vaccine booster provides ‘rapid, robust’ response

Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday, Aug. 25, announced new data the company said supports the use of its COVID vaccine as a booster shot for people previously vaccinated with their single-shot vaccine.

J&J said the new data showed that a booster shot of their vaccine generated a “rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination.”

NJ to require teachers, state workers be fully vaccinated

All school personnel and state workers in New Jersey will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, Aug. 23.

Will COVID booster shot have the same side effects as the first two shots?

The Biden administration said Wednesday, Aug. 18, that COVID booster shots will soon be available, but how will the Sept. 20 rollout work, and what side effects should Americans expect?

Lambda and B.1.621: New COVID variants could be the worst yet, doctor warns

At least two new COVID-19 variants have hit the United States and they could be worse than the delta variant in their infectiousness and ability to stand up to vaccines, according to a top medical authority.

U.S. health officials call for booster shots for all to battle COVID-19

U.S. health officials recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. The announcement was made on Aug. 18.

August child tax credit payments issued: Here’s why yours might be delayed

The second installment of expanded child tax credits was issued on Aug. 13 to millions of eligible families, but some payments will likely be delayed due to a technical glitch, the U.S. Department of Treasury said.

Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards

The Senate’s top Democrat says federal law enforcement officials need to crack down on fake COVID-19 vaccination cards being sold online.

COVID claims more young victims as deaths climb yet again

The COVID-19 death toll has started soaring again as the delta variant tears through the nation’s unvaccinated population and fills up hospitals with patients, many of whom are younger than during earlier phases of the pandemic.

NJ county opens COVID booster shot appointments

Health care officials in a northern New Jersey county began offering COVID-19 booster shots to qualified residents on Aug. 14. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said appointments for a third shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine were open at vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark.

Concerts, outdoor events still risky as delta variant surges, experts say

Concerts and outdoor events are returning, and many are requiring proof of vaccination as part of new safety protocols designed to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. But while experts say being outdoors is less risky in general, they continue to recommend additional precautions for those visiting crowded outdoor venues.

Biden weighs stiffer vaccine rules as delta variant spreads rapidly across U.S.

When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new COVID infections soar, he’s testing a tougher approach.

Who doesn’t need the COVID-19 vaccine?

It has been eight months since the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers nationwide. Since then, the vaccine has become available to anyone over the age of 12. Experts explain the few instances in which a person would not qualify for, or should delay getting vaccinated.

Extra COVID shot OK’d for immunocompromised individuals

The FDA has approved an extra, third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems.

Fake COVID vaccine cards worry college officials

With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards.

What to do if you lose your COVID-19 vaccine card

Don’t worry if you’ve lost your COVID-19 vaccine card, there are several ways you can get it replaced. No matter where you got your shots, getting a replacement card is possible.

Will NJ reinstate a travel advisory?

Gov. Murphy said on Aug. 9, a new travel advisory is not off the table, but for now he encouraged mask wearing, which is mandatory in all airports and on flights, and other COVID safety protocols. “You gotta use your head,” he added.

Will NJ mandate masks indoors?

Despite CDC data showing New Jersey falls under its guidance to wear masks indoors, Gov. Murphy said he will not yet mandate face coverings but added, “we leave all options on the table.”

COVID transmission levels call for indoor masking under CDC guidelines

Indoor masking is advised in areas with COVID transmission rates considered “substantial” or “high” under recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 8, all of New Jersey falls under those categories.

How do you know if you have the delta variant of COVID-19?

So you’ve tested positive for COVID – but which COVID exactly? Is there a way to tell if you have the highly transmissible delta variant? There is a way to tell, but there’s not really a way for you to tell.

COVID breakthrough cases: Is one vaccine better than others?

COVID-19 breakthrough cases are rising, and now people want to know which vaccine offers the best protection from the coronavirus.

Are kids more vulnerable to the delta variant of COVID-19?

Hospitals around the United States, especially in the South, are starting to fill back up again as the delta variant tears though the country. With previous waves of infection, we’ve been most worried about the elderly being vulnerable. Now, it’s younger people – even children – starting to show up in hospital beds.

U.S. averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day as delta surges

The United States is now averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day, returning to a milestone last seen during the winter surge in yet another bleak reminder of how quickly the delta variant has spread through the country. The U.S. was averaging about 11,000 cases a day in late June. Now the number is 107,143.

NJ schools mask mandate: Teachers’ union backs, Republicans slam Murphy decision

New Jersey Republicans have largely trashed Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on Aug 6 that masks will be required in all schools in the upcoming academic year.

Gov. Murphy mandates masks in schools

In a reversal of plans, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Aug. 6 a mandate for masks in schools for the upcoming academic year.

NJ health care workers must be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19

Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Aug. 6 mandating that all workers in state and private health care facilities either be vaccinated for COVID-19 or tested for it twice a week.

50% of U.S. population is fully vaccinated, White House says

The United States reached a vaccination milestone on Aug. 6: 50% of the population, all ages, were fully vaccinated, the White House COVID-19 data director confirmed.

CDC says people who’ve had COVID should get shot or risk reinfection

Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected.

‘You have lost your minds’: Murphy lashes out at anti-vax protesters

Gov. Phil Murphy ran out of patience for protesters against the COVID-19 vaccine at a bill signing in Union City on Aug. 4.

Warning of more delta mutations, Fauci urges vaccinations

The White House COVID-19 response team said the delta variant continues to surge across the country. During a briefing on Aug. 5, Dr. Anthony Fauci called on Americans to take precautions to stop the virus from mutating. “The ultimate end game of all this is vaccination,” he said.

Moderna says vaccine 93% effective after 6 months

Moderna said its COVID vaccine has 93% efficacy six months after the second shot, according to a report released on Aug. 5.

Can I get ‘long COVID’ if I’m infected after getting vaccinated?

It’s unclear, but researchers are studying the chances of long-term symptoms developing in anyone who might get infected after vaccination.

What is the delta plus variant of COVID?

The latest surge in COVID-19 infections is fueled by the highly contagious delta variant first identified in India late last year. Now, a variation of that variant is beginning to generate headlines. Here’s what we know about the COVID sub-strain being called delta plus.

Vaccine mandate for state colleges?

Currently, some state colleges in New Jersey are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff and some have made it optional. Murphy said a universal mandate “is certainly an option,” but for now individual universities can make their own call.

More ‘pain and suffering’ ahead as COVID cases rise, Fauci says

Dr. Anthony Fauci warned on Aug. 1 that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.

Walmart requiring COVID vaccination, masks for many employees

In a memo, Walmart announced that associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. Walmart also required associates, including those fully vaccinated, to wear masks in its stores.

Iconic NJ restaurant The Fireplace closes after 65 years

A popular restaurant in New Jersey closed its doors after 65 years of service.

The Fireplace, like many other restaurants across the country, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily shuttered its doors before reopening in May, when they implemented drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup followed by indoor dining in October.

New delta variant research makes strong case for vaccination

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the delta variant is more dangerous and fast-spreading than first thought. The findings also made clear why efforts to get more people vaccinated are vital.

CDC data shows delta variant spreads as easily as chickenpox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information on July 30, saying the coronavirus delta variant can spread as easily as chickenpox.

Pfizer: COVID vaccine protective for at least 6 months

The effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released on July 28.

Disney World requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status

Beginning July 30, Disney World required all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a face covering while indoors as well as in Disney buses, the monorail and the Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.

NJ mask guidance

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli strongly recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks in indoor settings when there is increased risk.

CDC mask guidance: Vaccinated people should wear face coverings in public indoor settings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.

U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Fauci says

The United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said on July 25.

Doctors warn about slightly different symptoms with delta variant of COVID

As concern grows regarding the COVID-19 delta variant, health leaders are warning about somewhat different symptoms that come with it.

Most unvaccinated Americans unlikely to get COVID-19 shots, new AP poll finds

A new poll shows that most Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots. About 16% say they probably will get the vaccine.

Is asking about someone’s COVID vaccine status a HIPAA violation?

HIPAA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 during a time when medical records were being computerized. It was created to simplify the administration of health insurance and to prevent unauthorized access to peoples’ medical histories.

In fact, HIPAA doesn’t block anyone from asking another person about their health status, according to Alan Meisel, law professor and bioethics expert at the University of Pittsburgh.

Gov. Murphy holds off on reinstating mask mandate

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September. Murphy says he “is comfortable where we are” on mask mandates but is also closely monitoring developments.

Child tax credit checks: Will they become permanent?

The parents of an estimated 60 million American children began receiving child tax credit payments from the IRS in a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?

Biden grapples with ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’

President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.

Child tax credit: When to expect payments, how it may impact tax returns

Payments for the highly anticipated expanded child tax credits were being sent to families in the tri-state area, and the rest of the nation, for the first time in mid-July. While the additional money may be very helpful for some families across the economic spectrum, the overall tax credit situation is complicated.

Common cholesterol drugs may significantly reduce risk of death from COVID-19: study

Statins, a common medication for lowering cholesterol, may be saving lives among patients with COVID-19. A new study reveals hospitalized coronavirus patients who take statins are much less likely to die from the illness.

WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak

The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus.

Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says

A new study suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

What can I do if I didn’t get my child tax credit payment?

The official disbursement date for the first child tax credit payments from the Internal Revenue Service was July 15, but parents may not see the cash right away.

Delta now dominant COVID variant in New Jersey

The highly transmissible delta variant is now the dominant strain in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said on July 12. The governor urged New Jersey residents to get vaccinated against COVID if they haven’t already done so.

Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate

The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million in July as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.

99 percent of U.S. COVID deaths are unvaccinated people: Fauci

America’s top infectious disease expert says about 99.2% of recent COVID-19 deaths in the United States involved unvaccinated people. And Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it’s really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable.”

There’s more to the worker shortage than pandemic unemployment, experts say

The workforce shortage is a combination of several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift in the economy, and changes in the workforce demographics, experts say.

Free health insurance included in stimulus benefits for unemployment recipients

Along with $1,400 stimulus checks and monthly child tax credit payments, the American Rescue Plan has another important benefit available to people who qualified for unemployment assistance this year: free health care.

Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?

Yes, but not nearly as much as if you had both doses. Experts recommend getting fully vaccinated, especially with the emergence of worrisome coronavirus mutations such as the delta variant first identified in India.

Workers enjoy the upper hand as companies scramble to hire

With the economy growing rapidly as it reopens from the pandemic, many employers are increasingly desperate to hire. Yet evidence suggests that as a group, the unemployed aren’t feeling the same urgency to take jobs.

Vaccine freebies

New York, New Jersey and several companies nationwide are offering incentives for those who get vaccinated, including free food and drinks.

Latest official indicators

As of Saturday, there have been 1,124,980 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 25,738 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.

COVID-19 timeline: How novel coronavirus spread

Tips to protect yourself and others amid coronavirus outbreaks

First things first: An epidemiological event like a pandemic never should have become political but fanatical conservatism made it the case. I mean, the virus that is going to kill more than 800,000 Americans (as of this writing it stands at 793,000 and counting) doesn’t choose sides.

It killed Dick Farrel. It ended the life of Phil Valentine. It took down Marc Bernier. The latter called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax.” All three were right-wing radio talk hosts who railed against vaccines and government control. So many of these types have outright denied the pandemic and are the ones who made this about politics. The virus doesn’t give a damn about your politics.

Now before you get your conservative panties in a bunch and call me a libtard, save your breath. I am a registered Republican who never once voted for Phil Murphy. There are plenty of intelligent Republicans who can think straight. Then there are off-the-deep-end whack jobs who believe in QAnon and deep state and that 800,000 dead Americans means just a head cold and that vaccines are useless.

They have their cult leaders.

I heard one just today spreading more nonsense claiming vaccines are useless because the majority of COVID-19 deaths in Europe are now among vaccinated people.

Let’s clear that up.

The self-proclaimed spreaders of truth who are actually spreaders of bullsh## have done it again.

Social media posts are trying to claim vaccines don’t work because most deaths in Europe are among the vaccinated. It does NOT mean vaccines are useless.

From factcheck.org:

“Epidemiologists and biostatistics experts have been cautioning that as more and more of a population gets vaccinated, we’ll likely see more deaths from COVID-19 among the vaccinated. It’s simply math. The vaccines aren’t 100% effective — no vaccine is — so some deaths are expected. And if there are relatively few people still unvaccinated, the raw numbers of deaths are likely to show more deaths among the vaccinated.”

There was an article titled “Why most people who now die with Covid in England have had a vaccination” published in Guardian. In it, Anthony Masters, statistical ambassador for the Royal Statistical Society and David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge, write the following:

“Consider the hypothetical world where absolutely everyone had received a less than perfect vaccine. Although the death rate would be low, everyone who died would have been fully vaccinated.”

Get it now?

The self-proclaimed spreaders of truth who are actually spreaders of bullsh## have done it again. They have an agenda and a narrative and will twist facts so hard to delude you that contortionists would be envious.

No one ever claimed any Covid vaccine (or ANY vaccine ever for that matter) is 100% effective. So the more a population reaches full vaccination the more you’ll see the deaths that remain happen among the vaccinated. Just to be sure this really is a matter of math I checked Europe’s up-to-date numbers.

These vaccination rates are as of December 9, 2021. For reference it’s December 10 as I write this.

Ireland 93.8%

Belgium 87.5%

Denmark 95.8%

France 83.5%

Malta 92.4%

You get the point. I hope.

With vaccination rates this high combined with the fact that no vaccine is ever 100% effective it is simple math that eventually most deaths that occur will be among the vaccinated. Saying it’s proof vaccines are useless is just another lie stacked on Pervaricator Mountain.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

You can now listen to Deminski & Doyle — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite afternoon radio show any day of the week. Download the Deminski & Doyle show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now:

NJ’s most hated Christmas decorations

First things first: An epidemiological event like a pandemic never should have become political but fanatical conservatism made it the case. I mean, the virus that is going to kill more than 800,000 Americans (as of this writing it stands at 793,000 and counting) doesn’t choose sides.

It killed Dick Farrel. It ended the life of Phil Valentine. It took down Marc Bernier. The latter called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax.” All three were right-wing radio talk hosts who railed against vaccines and government control. So many of these types have outright denied the pandemic and are the ones who made this about politics. The virus doesn’t give a damn about your politics.

Now before you get your conservative panties in a bunch and call me a libtard, save your breath. I am a registered Republican who never once voted for Phil Murphy. There are plenty of intelligent Republicans who can think straight. Then there are off-the-deep-end whack jobs who believe in QAnon and deep state and that 800,000 dead Americans means just a head cold and that vaccines are useless.

They have their cult leaders.

I heard one just today spreading more nonsense claiming vaccines are useless because the majority of COVID-19 deaths in Europe are now among vaccinated people.

Let’s clear that up.

The self-proclaimed spreaders of truth who are actually spreaders of bullsh## have done it again.

Social media posts are trying to claim vaccines don’t work because most deaths in Europe are among the vaccinated. It does NOT mean vaccines are useless.

From factcheck.org:

“Epidemiologists and biostatistics experts have been cautioning that as more and more of a population gets vaccinated, we’ll likely see more deaths from COVID-19 among the vaccinated. It’s simply math. The vaccines aren’t 100% effective — no vaccine is — so some deaths are expected. And if there are relatively few people still unvaccinated, the raw numbers of deaths are likely to show more deaths among the vaccinated.”

There was an article titled “Why most people who now die with Covid in England have had a vaccination” published in Guardian. In it, Anthony Masters, statistical ambassador for the Royal Statistical Society and David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge, write the following:

“Consider the hypothetical world where absolutely everyone had received a less than perfect vaccine. Although the death rate would be low, everyone who died would have been fully vaccinated.”

Get it now?

The self-proclaimed spreaders of truth who are actually spreaders of bullsh## have done it again. They have an agenda and a narrative and will twist facts so hard to delude you that contortionists would be envious.

No one ever claimed any Covid vaccine (or ANY vaccine ever for that matter) is 100% effective. So the more a population reaches full vaccination the more you’ll see the deaths that remain happen among the vaccinated. Just to be sure this really is a matter of math I checked Europe’s up-to-date numbers.

These vaccination rates are as of December 9, 2021. For reference it’s December 10 as I write this.

Ireland 93.8%

Belgium 87.5%

Denmark 95.8%

France 83.5%

Malta 92.4%

You get the point. I hope.

With vaccination rates this high combined with the fact that no vaccine is ever 100% effective it is simple math that eventually most deaths that occur will be among the vaccinated. Saying it’s proof vaccines are useless is just another lie stacked on Pervaricator Mountain.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

You can now listen to Deminski & Doyle — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite afternoon radio show any day of the week. Download the Deminski & Doyle show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now:

NJ’s most hated Christmas decorations

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ — NJ Sharing Network recently honored lung transplant recipient Dawn Burke, of Keyport, and paid tribute to the memory of organ donor Jamila Irons-Johnson, daughter of Janice Campbell, of West Orange, as Burke and Campbell get set to participate in the 2022 Donate Life Rose Parade float during the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade that will take place in California and air nationally on New Year’s Day. 

Burke will ride on the float, and Campbell will attend the parade to see her daughter honored with a floragraph on the float. A floragraph is a portrait made from flowers. Burke and Campbell were recently joined by their families and loved ones during a Floragraph Finishing and Send-off Event at NJ Sharing Network. Campbell and her family put the finishing artistic touches on the floragraph that will now be sent to California for placement on the Donate Life Rose Parade float.

Campbell’s life changed forever on Jan. 24, 2013, when her daughter suffered a fatal aneurysm rupture. Irons-Johnson was a 35-year-old psychologist at the time who focused on supporting often abused or neglected children. The married mother of two worked at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, where she was the supervising psychologist for the Dorothy B. Hersh Child Protection Center. Upon Irons-Johnson’s death, Campbell and her daughter’s family made the decision to donate her organs. That night, Irons-Johnson saved the lives of six people with the donation of  two kidneys and her heart, liver and pancreas, as well as her lungs.

“My son-in-law said, ‘Mom, she would want that. She was a giving person,’” Campbell said. 

Since 2004, the Donate Life Rose Parade float has inspired people across the country and around the world to save and heal lives with the powerful message of organ, eye and tissue donation. The 2022 float, “Courage to Hope,” shares the courage shown by donor families, living donors and transplant recipients. It features numerous floragraphs, which replicate photographs but are made entirely of organic materials, honoring donors from around the country. 

According to United Network for Organ Sharing, one person in New Jersey dies every three days waiting for a transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of more than 75 people. To learn more and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

  NJ Sharing Network

SOMERVILLE — A child was killed in a house fire early Friday morning, according to police.

The two-story house on Eastern Avenue was fully engulfed in flames around 2:15 a.m., according to a report by ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Francis Roman told New Jersey 101.5  that one of the two children in the house died in the fire.

There were also two adults in the house. Roman said other members of the family were injured. He did not disclose the identity or gender of the child.

Video of the fire shows damage to the sides of the house and a roof over a porch completely burned out.

The home is near RWJ University Hospital Somerset.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

Favorite holiday movies from your childhood that will never get old

SOMERVILLE — An 8-year old girl trapped in her bedroom was killed in a house fire early Friday morning, according to police.

The two-story house on Eastern Avenue was fully engulfed in flames as the first firefighters arrived at the home on Eastern Avenue in Somerville around 2:10 a.m. according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. Three members of the family that lived in the two story home — a 31-year-old man, a 41-year-old woman and a 9-year-old girl — were already outside.

Robertson said heavy fire and smoke and extreme heat delayed firefighters from reaching the 8-year-old girl in her bedroom on the second floor in the rear of the house. Somerville firefighters along with the assistant Somerville Fire Chief pushed through the fire and were able to get the girl out but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The adults were treated for burns and cuts while the 9-year-old girl was taken to the Burn Center of St Barnabas in Livingston where she was in critical but stable condition as of Friday afternoon.

A GoFundMe page created to assist with funeral costs said the other members of the family were also taken to the burn unit.

An investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is ongoing, according to Robertson.

Video of the fire shows damage to the sides of the house and a roof over a porch completely burned out.

Family jumped to safety

The GoFundMe page identified the parents as Anthony and Rebecca Nash and the children as Julianna, 9 and Cecilia, 8. Anthony, Rebecca and Julianna jumped out a second story window, according to the GoFundMe page.

Over $32,000 had been donated to the page in four hours Friday afternoonn.

“The fire destroyed their home, car, clothes, and most of their possessions, leaving them with next to nothing. Anything you can give to help Rebecca and her family rebuild during this horrific time would be so appreciated and massively helpful as they start to recover,” read the page.

Robertson asked anyone with information about the fire to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100

Favorite holiday movies from your childhood that will never get old

An Essex County man was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually assaulting a child in Bergen County, authorities said.

Terrell Wilson, of Irvington, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and related charges, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.

Police contacted the county’s special victim’s unit on Sunday to report a child had been assaulted sexually in Hackensack, Musella said in a statement.

Detectives arrested Wilson on Wednesday in Irvington. In addition to sexual assault and endangering, Wilson is charged with two other related third-degree charges, Musella said.

Wilson was held in the Bergen County Jail pending a first-appearance court hearing, the prosecutor said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

!!!Happy ending alert!!! Thank you to these New Jersey officers who sprung into action using their training to save this six day old newborn from choking!

To be honest, I did not even know this could even happen, but this new mom was breast-feeding baby Diego and he began to choke! Of course once a baby starts eating solids as a parent you are hyper aware of choking hazards but it is something I never gave any thought to while breastfeeding my daughters. Can you even imagine the confusion and panic? Baby Diego’s color changed and mom frantically called 9-1-1.

Officers Kevin Ortiz, Matthew Dobrowolski and Sean Verbist raced to their home, and cleared the baby’s airway by flipping him over and and giving the baby 15 back blows.

Thankfully, his airway cleared and his color came back. I can only imagine the fear his parents felt during this time.

If you’ve ever been in a situation like this you are stunned in the moment, but once you get a chance to reflect on what happened your emotions flow. Mom and Dad wrote this letter to their officer heroes:

My family and I are eternally grateful for the assistance of Montclair police on the evening of October 14 when our 6-day old son was in distress. Officer Ortiz, and his fellow officers were at our home within minutes of our 911 call. Officer’s Ortiz immediately rushed in and began CPR on Diego. His quick efforts relieved Diego’s distress and our anxiety when we finally heard Diego’s loud cries. Officer Ortiz even followed up the next week with a teddy bear in hand to check in on Diego and our family. Thankfully, this was a one-time incident, Diego is now growing big and strong. Thank you, does not seem sufficient to express our gratitude for the assistance of officers Ortiz, Verbist, Dobrowolski and the emergency personnel that quickly arrived at our home on October 14, 2021. Our family is eternally grateful for the assistance of officer Ortiz, the Montclair police and fellow emergency personnel.

All of New Jersey is proud of these stellar officers and we are thankful for this very happy ending! You can read all the details from The Patch here. It will certainly be a Merry Christmas for this family!

The Top 10 Things Found in a Typical New Jersey Home

10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About New Jersey

Good Friday morning!

For the first time since 2012, the New Jersey Legislature held a vote on gay marriage. In this case, just the Assembly Judiciary Committee. But it appears the bill, which writes the 2013 Superior Court decision legalizing gay marriage into law, is headed for a quick passage in the lame duck.

The reason: With the right-leaning U.S. Supreme Court appearing poised to gut Roe v. Wade, advocates believe its 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage could be next. (There’s some reason for that).

What’s remarkable is that back when there was a real legislative effort to enact gay marriage in New Jersey a decade or so ago, there was a lot of opposition, by most Republicans and some Democrats. This time, the only dissenting voice was “ex-gay” Rev. Gregory Quinlan, a fringe figure. The bill was approved 4-0 with one Republican, Christopher DePhillips (R-Bergen), voting yes. Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Bergen) was logged into the meeting but was away from his desk for the vote, so I can’t say which way he would’ve voted.

Read more about it here.

WHERE’S MURPHY? Leaving for a DGA event in New Orleans and returning Saturday

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think your comments are three fries short of a Happy Meal.” — Assemblymember Raj Mukherji to “ex gay” Rev. Greory Quinlan, who said “No one is born gay. The science is zero” and alleged that the Legislature was “endorsing a religion” with the gay marriage bill.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Merdian Health’s Adam Beder, DeAngelo CoS Tyler Honschke, 1868’s Idida Rodriguez, Judiciary spox Maryann Spoto, Gibbons’ Christine Stearns. Saturday for Attorney Benjamin Brickner, Former Emerge NJ E.D. Truscha Quatrone, former Clark Superintendent Ken Knops. Sunday for Lyndhurst GOP Chair Gary Berner, Monroe Councilmember Cody Miller.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at [email protected]

A FEW MEN AT THE REO DINER — “Who decides how NJ’s federal pandemic-relief funding is spent?” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “Lawmakers’ speedy approval last week of nearly $700 million in spending outside the annual budget process has rekindled concerns about how some appropriations are making it to the finish line in Trenton and others aren’t. The new questions about what policies, if any, are in place to govern the spending of the billions in federal funds provided to New Jersey in response to the coronavirus pandemic comes as the state is still dealing with the health crisis, which has killed thousands of residents, upset the state economy and put a heavy strain on some key state agencies. Meanwhile, similar questions are being raised about the handling of more than $1 billion in an account lawmakers created earlier this year to fund major capital projects after New Jersey enjoyed an enormous tax-revenue windfall during the pandemic.”

A DAY AT THE THEATER — “Stage set for another showdown over COVID rules as Assembly plans Monday return to N.J. Statehouse,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “New Jersey’s state Assembly leadership plans to hold in-person committee hearings Monday after ordering a week of virtual meetings because a handful of Republican lawmakers refused to comply with new COVID-19 rules on entering the Statehouse, NJ Advance Media has learned. The decision to return to the Statehouse at the start of the week was made after a regular leadership meeting between Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, and top Democrats in the lower chamber Wednesday afternoon.”

GOD FORBID SOMEONE GETS A LOOK AT POLICE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS — “As fatal police encounters rise, reformers demand change,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DeFilippo: “[More than 500 people died] during encounters with New Jersey law enforcement officers in the past two decades. And even as calls for reform have grown louder, fatal police encounters have crept up in recent years in New Jersey, with at least 27 so far this year. Several bills have been introduced in the Legislature to hold police accountable for missteps they make on the job, bills activists say are critical to reducing fatalities and misconduct that results in injustice and feeds community distrust in police. But legislators have just five weeks left to vote on them before a new legislative session starts. Supporters rallied at the Statehouse in Trenton last week to demand action, but no police reform bills moved during voting sessions that day or since.”

Environmentalists want New Jersey ratepayer advocate to focus less on rates, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: The state Senate‘s top environmental leader and New Jersey’s major environmental groups want to force the state’s ratepayer watchdog to spend less time worrying about higher utility rates. State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), who chairs his chamber’s Environment and Energy Committee, has introduced legislation that would make the state’s Division of the Rate Counsel give more weight to the environmental benefits of utility companies’ proposals. That means environmentally friendly but costly projects and programs could face less scrutiny from the rate counsel’s office.

THE CAMDENNESS OF KING GEORGE III — “Camden is already building back better,” by George Norcross III for The Star-Ledger: “President Biden has rightfully declared that America must ‘build back better’ following the COVID-19 pandemic. Camden should serve as a beacon for the president’s ambitious plans. We have been building back better for a decade and our results show that smart investing from both the public and private sectors, along with strong local leadership, dedicated encouragement from faith leaders and vibrant community involvement, is an excellent recipe for success.”

— Bill to decriminalize spread of HIV and AIDS poised for passage

—“What will a second-term Murphy administration do to end school segregation? | Opinion”

—Senate committee advances bill to provide tax credits for small business

—“Durr: Today Sweeney, tomorrow Coughlin: InsiderNJ’s Interview with the blunt, outspoken LD3 senator-elect”

—“Bill aims to protect public transit workers from attacks”

—“Senator votes from vets home to protest NJ Statehouse COVID rules”

—Advocates push offshore wind transmission planning study

—“New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy offers blunt talk about production incentives”

RIZZO IMMEDIATELY ENDORSED BY SHERRILL — “Phil Rizzo seeks GOP nod for Congress to challenge Mikie Sherrill,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Phil Rizzo, a businessman and pastor who finished second in the Republican gubernatorial primary last June, will take on two-term Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) in New Jersey’s 11th district. ‘I’m running for Congress because empowering New Jersey didn’t end with the Governor’s race. Now it means standing up to the federal government and radical, out-of-touch Leftist politicians and unelected bureaucrats trying to tell New Jerseyans how to live our lives Rizzo said … Seven other Republicans are seeking support for the chance to take on Sherrill.”

THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT NEEDS TO CHILL BECAUSE GOTHTEIMER IS APPARENTLY ONE OF THEM — “Fredon Mayor John Flora jumps into Republican primary for 5th Congressional District seat,” by The New Jersey Herald Bruce A. Scruton: “Fredon Mayor John P. Flora on Thursday announced his entry into the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District … Flora, a former township school board member, joins Frank Pallotta as announced candidates for the June primary … ‘I am running because middle-class people like me and my neighbors are not being represented in Congress’ he said in a release announcing his candidacy. ‘Our values are not respected and slowly, but surely, the great nation that is America is slipping away from us.’ … Flora, the owner of a beverage company, said he is particularly concerned about ‘the progressive left’s attempts to shape school curriculums to fit their anti-American narrative.’”

—“96% of N.J. residents would get their full property tax break restored under this Senate plan”

—Sires: “What is Congress going to do about climate change?”

ESSEX COUNTY JAIL — “Violence and the death of one inmate at Newark’s jail reflects a national problem,” by WNYC’s Matt Katz: “Jayshawn Boyd, the man beaten at the jail in September, has a history of mental illness. According to his attorney, Brooke Barnett, he should not have been housed in a unit with those alleged to have committed murder. The last time Boyd, 22, was at the Essex County jail, Barnett said, he showed signs of mental illness, including delusions, and he was sent to a state psychiatric hospital for a prolonged stay. He returned to jail after turning himself in for missing a court date, which violated his probation. Yet at the Essex County jail, Boyd was designated as a low mental health priority, Barnett said. And an intake questionnaire wrongly indicated that he hadn’t previously undergone mental health treatment. Just 10 minutes after moving into his unit, Barnett said, Boyd was attacked. Video of the incident, which first surfaced on Facebook and was recorded by an unknown person, shows seven inmates punching and stomping on Boyd, mostly in the head, even after he lay motionless on the ground. One inmate hit him with a broomstick and objects were dropped on his head, including a bucket filled with cleaning fluid, a water cooler, and a microwave. During the 2-minute video, no jail officers can be seen coming to Boyd’s aid.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY — “Monmouth County has a new firm for lobbying, and it recently hired a top county official’s son,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Suzanne Cervenka: “Monmouth County government has doubled up on its transportation-consulting firepower — hiring a second lobbying firm that employs the son of a top county official — to help secure funding under the newly signed, $1.2 trillion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The county awarded a $118,000 contract on Nov. 22 to NorthStar Strategies of Trenton in addition to a $130,000 contract to its long-time lobbying firm for transportation projects. The contracts were awarded about two months after NorthStar hired Thomas ‘TJ’ Mann, the son of County Administrator Teri O’Connor, as director of government affairs. NorthStar announced Mann’s hire Sept. 16 on the company’s Facebook page. Mann worked for District 12 Assemblyman and former Monmouth County Freeholder Rob Clifton for 10 years before joining NorthStar. It’s not clear if Mann will be working on Monmouth County’s contract.”

THE DON’T GIVE PART OF A PUBLIC PARK TO BILLIONAIRES ACT OF 2021—“Liberty Park protection bill limps through Senate committee,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “The Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced the Liberty State Park Protection Act without recommendation today, using a rarely-seen maneuver to note their discomfort with the bill while nevertheless forwarding it to the Budget and Appropriations Committee … ‘It sounds to me like it’s not baked,’ Smith said of the bill. ‘It’s got some issues that I think Senator Stack and Senator Weinberg and Assemblyman Mukherji and all these officials from Hudson County have to work out.’ Because of the apparent issues with the bill, Smith proposed that the bill be released without recommendation, ‘so that all of the parties can get their act together, because clearly there are issues.’ Smith, State Sen. Kip Bateman (R-Branchburg), and State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) voted to advance the bill, State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa) voted no, and former Gov. Richard Codey (D-Roseland) abstained.”

—“Two years later, Jersey City and Hasidic community ready to move on from Dec. 10 mass shooting”

— “Politics as a favorite recurring metaphor for the Bayonne war”

—“Election Day was weeks ago, but some Bergen candidates are still sweating out results”

—“Ocean County Jail Warden Sandra J. Mueller to retire on Dec. 31 after controversial tenure”

—“Tolls for 5 Jersey Shore bridges to double under proposed 3-year hike”

—“Jackson synagogue for Orthodox Jews approved by zoning board, but safety issues remain”

—“Long Branch OKs cannabis sales, joining these Monmouth towns with legal marijuana sales”

—“Turkish foundation sues Wayne zoning board over denial of school dormitory”

—“‘We need help’: Newark teachers feel strain of staff shortages, survey finds”

—“Journal Squared’s third residential skyscraper underway in Jersey City”

STORM DRAINS — “Storm drains keep swallowing people during floods,” by ProPublica’s Topher Sanders: “On the night of Sept. 1, Dhanush Reddy and his fiancee, Kavya Mandli, were returning home from a North Jersey mall when the remains of Hurricane Ida turned their drive perilous … They felt their own car rattling, and they abandoned it in a nearby lot … They were both suddenly underwater, being pulled toward a large black vacuum that seemed to be guzzling anything and everything into its wide, open mouth. Mandli managed to grab part of a bridge railing, but Reddy clutched only her hand. She shouted for help as she tried to wrest her fiance from the vortex. But it was just too wet, too slippery. Reddy disappeared. Mandli was left holding his empty jacket … Reddy’s body was found the next day in a wooded area, blocks away from where he got pulled in. The engineer and construction project manager was dead at 31 … During the same storm, in the same state, three others died the same way. There’s no official count of how many Americans get pulled into storm drains, pipes or culverts during flood events, but ProPublica identified 35 such cases since 2015 using news accounts and court records. Twenty-one of those people died; nearly half of those lost were children … Despite records of horrific cases that span the country and stretch back decades — and the scientific consensus that climate change will only worsen flooding — federal, state and local government agencies have failed to take simple steps to prevent such tragedies from happening.”

SADDLED WITH EXPENSES — “He wanted to give away his 5-acre estate in Upper Saddle River. Why has he had no luck?” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “For Hillside Avenue resident Roger Wohrle, the offer seemed simple enough: Take my 5 acres, please. The retired interior garden designer, now 82, has been seeking an organization to take over his home upon his death, to be held in trust for some kind of public use. He’s spent 57 years tending the house, greenhouse and bamboo forest that would be included in the gift. But 17 months and several dozen offers later, Wohrle says he has not found anyone to take it, at least not under his conditions. ‘A woman wanted it for her daughter, but when I asked if her daughter could afford $120,000 a year for upkeep, she said no,’ Wohrle said. ‘I even had someone call me from prison offering to take the property if I was willing to leave it to him.’ The house is not for sale, Wohrle emphasizes. He couldn’t bear to move, he said. What he wants is an agreement from some charity or public organization — not a private individual — to assume charge of the property after his death and preserve the two-bedroom home and nearby greenhouse and indoor pool. Intact. In perpetuity.”

R.I.P. — “COVID claims the life of long time South Jersey NJ Transit bus driver”

—“Lee Enterprises Board of Directors unanimously rejects unsolicited proposal from Alden”

—“American Water names Interim boss after injury to top executive”

—“How New Jersey became the birthplace of the U.S. movie industry”