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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.

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.

Walensky disagreed and put that recommendation back in, noting that such a move aligns with an FDA booster authorization decision earlier this week. 

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 Friday, there have been 1,040,126 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 25,147 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.

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JACKSON — It’s a whack-a-mole of controversial Halloween displays with a new display popping up as another is modified.

The first display on Toms River Road (Route 571) in Jackson featured several ghosts hung from trees including one that some thought resembled a KKK robe as a Confederate flag flew overhead.

A spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said it was working with Jackson police after the display was reported by NAACP Toms River chapter president Bahiyyah Abdullah.

After investigators spoke to the homeowner, he voluntarily removed the ghost. The homeowner told authorities that he has flown the Confederate flag at his home for years.

Abdullah on Thursday did not respond to our requests for comment about the removal of the ghost.

No fan of Democrats

Another display in Jackson has appeared that could also draw controversy.

A photo of the large display on Frank Applegate Road features the head of President Joe Biden sticking out of a bag that lies on an alter-like table with a body wrapped in a garbage bag. To one side of the table is a tombstone that reads “RIP Biden” and on the other side “RIP Harris.”

Several pro-Trump flags are in the yard including one that reads “Trump is my president, Jesus is my savior” and another that says “Trump 2024.”

There’s a row of tombstones in another photo with the names of New York U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Peolsi,  Biden, Harris, Rep. Jerold Nadler and the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon,” a vulgar reference taken to mean “f— Joe Biden.”

Pictures show skeletons in the yard and bloody “baby ghosts” hung from trees

There’s also a Volkswagon with blood on it with Biden’s head in the window with legs out the window

“Hate has no home in Jackson,” Mayor Mike Reina said of the displays, adding that police have not received complaints about either one as of Thursday afternoon.

Anti-Biden Halloween Display in Jackson, NJ

Controversal displays of the past

New Jersey is no stranger to controversial and questionable yard displays.

A figure of a man with a burlap bag over his head in a noose hanging on a Salem County porch got the attention of the county’s NAACP chapter during the 2017 Halloween season.

A Clifton dentist kep his “Babes of Christmas” lawn display with sexy mannequins despite media attention in 2019.

It was a “parody of the pressure of retail forcing us to shop 12 days of Christmas,” in an effort to “bring levity to all the pressure of the season,” Dr. Wayne Gangi told New Jersey 101.5.

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JACKSON — It’s a whack-a-mole of controversial Halloween displays with a new display popping up as another is modified.

The first display on Toms River Road (Route 571) in Jackson featured several ghosts hung from trees including one that some thought resembled a KKK robe as a Confederate flag flew overhead.

A spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said it was working with Jackson police after the display was reported by NAACP Toms River chapter president Bahiyyah Abdullah.

After investigators spoke to the homeowner, he voluntarily removed the ghost. The homeowner told authorities that he has flown the Confederate flag at his home for years.

Abdullah on Thursday did not respond to New Jersey 101.5’s requests for comment about the removal of the ghost.

No fan of Democrats

Another display in Jackson has appeared that could also draw controversy.

A photo of the large display on Frank Applegate Road features the head of President Joe Biden sticking out of a bag that lies on an alter-like table with a body wrapped in a garbage bag. To one side of the table is a tombstone that reads “RIP Biden” and on the other side “RIP Harris.”

Several pro-Trump flags are in the yard including one that reads “Trump is my president, Jesus is my savior” and another that says “Trump 2024.”

There’s a row of tombstones in another photo with the names of New York U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Peolsi,  Biden, Harris, Rep. Jerold Nadler and the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon,” a vulgar reference taken to mean “f— Joe Biden.”

Pictures show skeletons in the yard and bloody “baby ghosts” hung from trees

There’s also a Volkswagon with blood on it with Biden’s head in the window with legs out the window

“Hate has no home in Jackson,” Mayor Mike Reina said of the displays, adding that police have not received complaints about either one as of Thursday afternoon.

Anti-Biden Halloween Display in Jackson, NJ

Controversal displays of the past

New Jersey is no stranger to controversial and questionable yard displays.

A figure of a man with a burlap bag over his head in a noose hanging on a Salem County porch got the attention of the county’s NAACP chapter during the 2017 Halloween season.

A Clifton dentist kep his “Babes of Christmas” lawn display with sexy mannequins despite media attention in 2019.

It was a “parody of the pressure of retail forcing us to shop 12 days of Christmas,” in an effort to “bring levity to all the pressure of the season,” Dr. Wayne Gangi told New Jersey 101.5.

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

Haunted Hayrides and Attractions in New Jersey for 2021

13 Scary things about New Jersey

JACKSON — It’s a whack-a-mole of controversial Halloween displays with a new display popping up as another is modified.

The first display on Toms River Road (Route 571) in Jackson featured several ghosts hung from trees including one that some thought resembled a KKK robe as a Confederate flag flew overhead.

A spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said it was working with Jackson police after the display was reported by NAACP Toms River chapter president Bahiyyah Abdullah.

After investigators spoke to the homeowner, he voluntarily removed the ghost. The homeowner told authorities that he has flown the Confederate flag at his home for years.

Abdullah on Thursday did not respond to New Jersey 101.5’s requests for comment about the removal of the ghost.

No fan of Democrats

Another display in Jackson has appeared that could also draw controversy.

A photo of the large display on Frank Applegate Road features the head of President Joe Biden sticking out of a bag that lies on an alter-like table with a body wrapped in a garbage bag. To one side of the table is a tombstone that reads “RIP Biden” and on the other side “RIP Harris.”

Several pro-Trump flags are in the yard including one that reads “Trump is my president, Jesus is my savior” and another that says “Trump 2024.”

There’s a row of tombstones in another photo with the names of New York U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Peolsi,  Biden, Harris, Rep. Jerold Nadler and the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon,” a vulgar reference taken to mean “f— Joe Biden.”

Pictures show skeletons in the yard and bloody “baby ghosts” hung from trees

There’s also a Volkswagon with blood on it with Biden’s head in the window with legs out the window

“Hate has no home in Jackson,” Mayor Mike Reina said of the displays, adding that police have not received complaints about either one as of Thursday afternoon.

Anti-Biden Halloween Display in Jackson, NJ

Controversal displays of the past

New Jersey is no stranger to controversial and questionable yard displays.

A figure of a man with a burlap bag over his head in a noose hanging on a Salem County porch got the attention of the county’s NAACP chapter during the 2017 Halloween season.

A Clifton dentist kep his “Babes of Christmas” lawn display with sexy mannequins despite media attention in 2019.

It was a “parody of the pressure of retail forcing us to shop 12 days of Christmas,” in an effort to “bring levity to all the pressure of the season,” Dr. Wayne Gangi told New Jersey 101.5.

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

Haunted Hayrides and Attractions in New Jersey for 2021

13 Scary things about New Jersey

Three pediatric emergency room physicians with an average age of 55 filed an age discrimination suit on Oct. 28 against their former employer Hackensack Meridian Health.

Doctors Usha Avva, Nina Gold and Kathleen Reichard were the oldest full-time pediatricians employed in Hackensack University Medical Center’s emergency department when they were the terminated and escorted off property on Feb. 17, according to a complaint filed in Essex County Superior Court. The suit alleges that the three women were the only full-time physicians board certified in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at HUMC when they were fired. According to the complaint, they were told the terminations were due to business needs occasioned by decreased patient volumes during the pandemic. The complaint notes that younger pediatricians who had been recently hired and were not PEM board certified were retained.

The plaintiffs are represented by McMoran, O’Connor, Bramley & Burns PC of Iselin and Manasquan.

Dr. Joseph Underwood, chair of emergency medicine; Dr. David Walker, division chief of pediatric emergency services; Dr. Judy Aschner, former chair of pediatrics; Dr. Antonio Thomas, associate division chief of pediatric emergency services; and then-team member relations professional Marwah Durum are also listed as defendants.

From left to right: Dr. Usha Avva., Dr. Nina Gold, Dr. Kathleen Reichard. – MOSS MEDIA

In summer 2019, HUMC hired three new pediatric emergency medicine physicians under 40 years old, and in September 2020, the hospital hired two more ages 34 and 35. None of these doctors were board certified in PEM, according to the complaint. Five months later, those who were—Avva, Gold and Reichard, then ages 56, 55 and 53—were let go.

“This is brazen age discrimination by the largest hospital system in the state,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Bruce McMoran. “Our clients were frontline healthcare heroes, they gave decades of service to this hospital, but in the end they were escorted from the property by security, unable to say goodbye to their colleagues, and told they were terminated because of a reduction in force necessitated by ‘business needs.’ That is unbelievable considering the hospital had recently hired five younger PEM physicians and patient volume had already begun rising in the wake of the COVID-19 vaccine.”

According to the complaint, the defendants created spreadsheets purporting to objectively rate and rank the hospital’s PEM physicians in clinical and non-clinical categories. No consideration was given to PEM board certification, seniority, or years of experience.

“It is not believable that this exercise resulted in the three oldest physicians receiving the three lowest ratings. That is too much of a coincidence,” the complaint said. “Rather, the spreadsheets were a termination tool designed to support an ageist decision that the defendants had already made.”

Avva, who previously served as interim division chief of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department from November 2016 to November 2018, had worked at Hackensack Meridian for more than 19 years.

Gold had worked for HMH for more than 15 years, and Reichard had worked for HMH for more than two and half years.

“The treatment our clients received would have been devastating at any time, but for Hackensack Meridian to discard them like this after 2020, after they put their lives on the line treating children and adults alike, is unconscionable,” said Michael O’Connor, plaintiffs’ co-counsel.

“In May of 2020 HUMC received over $98 million in federal stimulus funds … in February of 2021, they fired our clients, the three oldest doctors in the department, due to ‘business needs.’ It’s more than insulting and disrespectful. It is blatant age discrimination and our clients won’t stand for it,” he continued.

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits age-based workplace discrimination for all applicants or employees 18 and older. NJLAD’s age discrimination laws were beefed up recently with amendments signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy on Oct. 5 that prohibit forced retirement and eliminate an employer’s right to refuse to hire or promote applicants above age 70. On the federal level, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits age discrimination against applicants or employees age 40 or older

A spokesperson for HMH declined to respond, citing  a company policy not to comment on pending litigation.

Like many of my friends and neighbors in town, we moved to Montclair for the benefit of our children, to learn, grow and become part of this very special community that is likely to welcome a diverse family like ours (I am a Boricua and my husband Jamaican).

Unfortunately, I have been forced into educational activism because the reality of the Montclair Public Schools has not lived up to their promise, especially when it comes to BIPOC children and families in our community.

As a member of the Montclair NAACP, Montclair PTA Council and other community organizations, I can attest firsthand to the inadequacies, imbalances and injustices that plague the Montclair Public Schools. Those who are not aggressive or do not have resources or connections are being left behind. Our voices are not being heard in the many organizations that form the backbone of the political machine of Montclair and Essex County that in reality run our town and its schools.

Today, we vote only for our mayor and councilpersons. That gives normal people only one chance every year to make their voice heard. But starting next week, we can move toward a system in which our voices would be heard every year, and specifically on the issues that matter most to the least heard among us.

Our current mayor was quoted this week refusing to apologize for his mastery of dark money in his day job as head of the state’s biggest educational union. His voice is certainly being heard. Now if only the rest of us could have ours heard more clearly. This is why I am voting emphatically “yes” for an elected Board of Education and encourage you to use your precious vote likewise.

SAVE MONTCLAIR LOCAL: We need your support, and we need it today. The journalism you value from Montclair Local, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, depends on the community’s support — we exist because the old model of selling ads alone just can’t fund journalism at the level we endeavor to provide. That’s why you’ve seen other local newsrooms cut back staff or shut down entirely. Montclair Local was created because we believe that’s unacceptable; the community’s at its best when triumphs are celebrated, when power is held to account, when diverse lived experiences are shared — when the community is well-informed.

Montclair is seeking to raise $230,000 from donors, members and grantors between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 to put us on firm footing for 2022, and continue supporting the hard work of our journalists into the new year and beyond. Visit MontclairLocal.news/donations to see how we’re doing and make your contribution.

Obdulia Miranda-Woodley
Montclair

Montclair Local’s Opinion section is an open forum for civil discussion in which we invite readers to discuss town matters, articles published in Montclair, or previously published letters. Views expressed and published in this section are solely those of the writers, and do not represent the views of Montclair Local.

Letters to the editor: To submit a letter to the editor, email letters@montclairlocal.news, or mail “Letters to the Editor,” 309 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ, 07042 (email is preferred). Submissions must include the name, address and phone number of the writer for verification. Only the writer’s name and town of residence will be published. Montclair Local does not publish anonymous opinion pieces.

Letters must be no more than 500 words in length, and must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be eligible for potential publication in that week’s Thursday print issue. Letters may be edited by Montclair Local for grammar and style. While our goal is to publish most letters we receive, Montclair Local reserves the right to decline publication of a letter for any reason, including but not limited to concerns about unproven or defamatory statements, inappropriate language, topic matter far afield of the particular interests of Montclair residents, or available space.

Town Square: Montclair Local also accepts longer-form opinion essays from residents aiming to generate discussion on topics specific to the community, under our “Town Square” banner. “Town Square” essays should be no more than 750 words in length, and topics should be submitted to letters@montclairlocal.news at least seven days prior to publication.

New Jersey has suspended the license of a doctor who practices at multiple locations across the state.

Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced Thursday that Francis Rienzo, of Sea Girt, entered into a consent order with the State Board of Medical Examiners that imposes a three-year license suspension, including one year of probation, and a financial penalty of more than $85,000.

The 60-year-old, who maintains a private practice in Sea Girt and handles patients at numerous treatment centers, admitted to having inappropriate sexual contact with a female patient he was treating for substance abuse, officials said. Rienzo allegedly also engaged in questionable prescribing practices involving the same female.

“We will not tolerate sexual misconduct by healthcare professionals towards their patients,” Bruck said. “Physicians who betray their patients’ trust and violate professional standards will be held accountable.”

Effective Dec. 17, Rienzo cannot have any contact with patients, practice as a physician, or prescribe drugs. The order gives time for the orderly transfer of patients to other doctors. During this period, Rienzo may not accept new patients.

According to officials, Rienzo is the medical director for several New Jersey treatment centers, including Comprehensive Treatment Center in Cliffwood, Endeavor House in North Kearny, Advanced Health and Education Addiction Treatment Center and Clearwater Behavioral Health in Eatontown, and Sunrise Detox in Cherry Hill, Stirling, and Toms River. Rienzo is also a physician at Jersey Shore Addiction Services and Hackensack Meridian Health, which have offices in Neptune.

Contact reporter Dino Flammia at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com.

New Jersey on Friday reported another 12 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 1,254 cases as the state’s seven-day case average fell to a 12-week low.

The state’s seven-day average for confirmed positive tests is fell to 1,142, the lowest number in since Aug. 6. The average is down 7% from a week ago and 34% from a month ago.

The statewide rate of transmission was 0.85 for the second straight day after ticking up slightly from 0.83 on Wednesday. The rate of transmission remains well below the key benchmark of 1 that suggests the spread of COVID-19 is slowing. Any transmission rate below 1 indicates that each infected person is passing the virus to less than one other person and the outbreak is no longer expanding.

There were 758 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases across 70 of New Jersey’s 71 hospitals as of Thursday night. One hospital did not report data.

There were 99 patients discharged in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday night. Of those hospitalized, 186 were in intensive care, with 95 of them on ventilators.

The statewide positivity rate for tests conducted Saturday, the most recent day available, was 5.19%.

The delta variant of the virus, which is more contagious than previous variants, now represents 100% of all cases circulating, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli has said.

New Jersey’s numbers have been steadily improving in recent weeks. But officials have warned that weather keeps getting colder and the holiday season is approaching. That will likely force more people to gather indoors and could cause another bump in the numbers.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter| Homepage

More than 6 million people who live, work or study in New Jersey — a state of about 9.2 million residents — have now been fully vaccinated. Gov. Phil Murphy has said more than 75% of those eligible in the state have been fully vaccinated.

More than 7 million people in the state have received at least one dose, and about 509,200 people have received third doses or boosters. That number is likely to go up after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced an expansion in the eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots.

In addition, the state is preparing for the expected approval of the Pfizer vaccine, possibly as early as next week, for kids between the ages of 5 and 11.

New Jersey has 760,000 children in that age group and the state has ordered 205,000 doses of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine, which is a lower dose than for those for 12 and over.

Murphy on Wednesday also updated the state’s breakthrough numbers. From Oct. 4 to 10, the state had 12,633 positive tests. Of those, 2,766 were from fully vaccinated people that led to 24 hospitalizations (out of 734 total) and one death (out of 124 total).

“These numbers represent a slim minority of the total, thank God, hospitalizations and deaths reported for the week,” Murphy said.

Twelve of New Jersey’s 21 counties are listed as having “high” rates of coronavirus transmission, while seven are listed with “substantial” transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is recommending that all people in the high and substantial transmission counties wear masks for indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status.

In Essex and Union counties, where moderate transmission has been reported, the recommendation is indoor masking for those who are not vaccinated.

Through the first several weeks of the school year, districts in New Jersey have reported at least 137 in-school outbreaks, for a total of 715 cases as of Tuesday. That’s an increase of 11 outbreaks from the previous week, though officials say the numbers have been within reason.

The state reported 30 new outbreaks the previous week. Every county except Burlington and Warren have reported at least one in-school outbreak. The total of 715 cases is cumulative and does not reflect active cases.

In-school outbreaks are defined as three or more cases that are determined through contact tracing to have been transmitted among staff or students while at school. They do not include total cases among staff and students.

New Jersey, an early epicenter of the pandemic, has now reported 27,961 total COVID-19 deaths since the start of the outbreak — 25,147 confirmed and 2,814 considered probable, according to the state dashboard.

The state has the third-most coronavirus deaths per capita in the U.S., behind Mississippi and Alabama.

New Jersey has reported 1,040,126 total confirmed cases out of the more than 15.8 million PCR tests conducted since it announced its first case March 4, 2020. The state has also reported 156,346 positive antigen or rapid tests, which are considered probable cases.

At least 8,639 of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, according to state data. There are active outbreaks at 147 facilities, resulting in 711 current cases among residents and 624 among staffers.

As of Friday, there have been more than 245.7 million positive COVID-19 cases reported across the world, according to Johns Hopkins University, with more than 4.98 million people having died due to the virus. The U.S. has reported the most cases (more than 45.8 million) and deaths (more than 743,500) of any nation.

There have been more than 6.9 billion vaccine doses administered globally.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @johnsb01.

So how’s your relationship? Is it what you want it to be?

We’re talking about your relationship with food. In this episode, therapist Rachelle Heinemann explores our complicated relationship with food and how we all could have a healthier one.

You don’t need to ‘look’ a certain way to struggle with an eating disorder. People of all shapes and sizes can struggle with their relationship with food. Sometimes our emotions become intertwined with eating, the first step is being able to separate the two.

A good starting point is food journaling to gather information about how you feel during your experiences with food. In addition, Heinemann’s podcast “Understanding Disordered Eating” provides information about overcoming disordered eating. Bettering our relationship with food isn’t a process that happens overnight. Over time, unlearning these behaviors becomes easier.

13 Scary things about New Jersey

The 10 Most Stolen Vehicles In New Jersey

Good Friday morning!

The state Senate and Assembly leadership contests are shaking out before members even know exactly what their caucuses will look like. Well, most of them are, anyway.

Senate Democrats on Thursday announced state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), currently the third-ranked member after Senate President Pro Tem, will be the new majority leader, replacing the retiring Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen). Our report about Ruiz’s elevation came shortly after David Wildstein reported that Steve Oroho had sewn up the votes to become minority leader.

The only unresolved contest is in the Assembly, where the deal to make Assemblymember Nancy Munoz (R-Union) the minority leader has been in some jeopardy as conservative groups and members grow uneasy with her record of moderation — especially on vaccines. Brian Bergen (R-Morris) is the only candidate formally still running against her, but he’s a freshman and that’s a tough sell to lead the caucus. If Munoz falls through, most I’ve talked to expect one of her erstwhile rivals — John DiMaio (R-Warren) or Ned Thomson (R-Monmouth) — to get the position.

What’s kind of funny about this is that nobody’s even paying lip service to the idea that control of either house will flip to Republican control. But I’m not one to complain about people being honest.

WHERE’S MURPHY? In Paterson for two early voting rallies at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We have zero — I have zero expectation that’s going to happen. At the moment, we just don’t need to.” — Gov. Murphy after being asked whether he’d institute a school Covid vaccine mandate

POLL OF THE DAY — Stockton: Murphy up 50-41 over Ciattarelli. More here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — State Sen. Robert Singer, Paterson Councilmember Abdel Aziz. Sunday for Assemblymember Ralph Caputo, Assemblymember Joann Downey, Woodbridge Democratic Chair Tish Coughlin, former Bergen freeholder John Driscoll, HCPO’s Jennifer Morrill, Stanley COS Rob Zuckerman

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

MURPHY HOPES TO FEEL THE 1977 BYRNE — Sanders rallies young voters to turn out for Murphy, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders made an appeal to young voters to turn out for Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday evening as Election Day draws near. “This is a wonderful turnout, and it tells me that Gov. Murphy is going to get reelected,” Sanders told an estimated 600-person crowd made up mostly of backpacking college students at Rutgers University. Only New Jersey and Virginia are holding gubernatorial elections this year. Sanders said that makes getting people to the polls a challenge. “The turnout will not be high, and that means it is absolutely imperative that every person in this room comes out to vote,” Sanders said. He praised New Jersey’s efforts to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, secure paid family leave, pursue environmental justice legislation, invest more money in higher education and expand access to voting, among other issues. Sanders made a special appeal to young people in the audience, emphasizing the long-term impact of the positions he and Murphy favor.

NEW JERSEY DINE — “Murphy foe Ciattarelli vows ‘We’re gonna beat them’ as he hits diners in N.J. gov race stretch run,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “Many in the packed New Jersey diner that seats more than 200 people laid down their forks and put their hashbrowns and eggs over easy on hold to cheer on Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli as he entered the joint Thursday morning … For Ciattarelli, it was just the start of his day hitting the road in the usually frantic final-week pitch for voters. The underdog former Assemblyman has been barnstorming the state in the lead-up to Tuesday’s election. After the diner, he attended an early voting party in Edison, then he stopped at another diner in Hackensack before capping the day off with a town hall in Fair Lawn … The enthusiasm of his audience there — some who were regulars and others who were clearly there to see Ciattarelli — would have others believe he’ll actually pull it off. ‘All the internal polls amongst likely voters show this as a dead heat,’ Ciattarelli said at his second public event on Thursday. ‘We can win.’”

THE ISSUES — “Black leaders say social justice issues not getting attention they deserve in N.J. governor’s race,’ by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio and Matt Arco: “Judging from the polls and the barrage of campaign ads, controlling the spread of the coronavirus and curbing the rise in the state’s notoriously high property taxes are the dominant issues in the campaign to elect New Jersey’s next governor. This doesn’t surprise Monika Williams Shealey, Rowan University’s senior vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. But it does frustrate her. Black leaders say they are disappointed the issues that concern them the most — from school segregation and the widening wage gap to health disparities and police accountability — have not gotten more attention in the campaign between incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. But these influential Black New Jerseyans said they are not deterred.”

—“NJ Election 2021: The powerful Asian American vote is far from a monolith,” by The Record’s Mary Chao: “Asian Americans mirrors much of America, divided by a generational ideology. The first generation of immigrants tends to lean conservative, with a penchant for self-reliance. The younger, second generation tends to be more progressive, growing up in a diverse America. ‘It’s our parents versus us,’ said Dan Park, 37, a Democratic councilman in Tenafly. ‘It’s two cultures.’ … Both the Murphy and the Ciattarelli camps are rolling out the red carpet to court Asian American voters. Ciattarelli’s campaign advertised in Korean language newspapers with photos of Korean American leaders. Murphy’s campaign staffs an Asian American Pacific Islander and faith groups team, dedicated to outreach. Both candidates are making the round in the North Jersey Asian communities. Murphy and Ciattarelli attended the Korean Festival in Ridgefield Park Oct. 9, speaking on stage.”

—“68,000 in NJ have already cast ballots in person. Here’s a look at who is voting early”

WET KEVIN COSTNER FOR GOVERNOR — “When the rains came,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “The number of fatalities marked the highest direct death toll of any state from a storm that had first made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana. And it may have been a harbinger, experts warn, as a changing climate serves to exacerbate storms like Ida. Indeed, just this week another big nor’easter hit the state with more than 5 inches of rain, again raising concerns for river and coastal flooding. Some towns were swamped with a full month’s worth of rain in just one day. The story of what happened in the suburban towns below South Mountain Reservation during Ida — and of the massive, widespread flooding across the state that led to deaths in nine of the 21 counties — raises troubling questions about how a highly developed place like New Jersey will weather the weather in years to come. In a part of the country already threatened by rising sea levels, and in the perpetual crosshairs of coastal storms that have caused billions of damage in recent years, Tropical Storm Ida showed just how vulnerable large swaths of New Jersey have become, a new and frightening reality in a densely packed state of more than 9 million people.”

—“After father’s drowning during Ida storms, N.J. approves grates on town’s flood-prone drainage pipes”

—“Ciattarelli would ratchet back pace of climate response”

NJ WOMEN BREATHE ANOTHER SIGH OF RELIEF — New Jersey Chamber of Commerce postpones ‘Walk to Washington’ until 2023, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce said Thursday that it is canceling its annual “Walk to Washington” again for 2022 because of the pandemic and will instead replace it with a two-day conference in Atlantic City. The “Walk to Washington” is an annual trip for New Jersey lobbyists and lawmakers who mingle aboard a chartered and crowded Amtrak train that travels from New Jersey to Washington. It was canceled last year due to the pandemic. The chamber said in a release that it intends to resume the event in 2023.

1-877-SHOT4KIDS — “NJ plans large rollout of COVID vaccine for children, but will the demand be there?” by Gannett’s Scott Fallon and Michael L. Diamond: “New Jersey is planning a robust rollout of COVID vaccines for 760,000 children aged 5 to 11 who would become eligible for the two-dose shot as early as next week when federal regulators are expected to give final approval, the state’s top health official said Wednesday. The state has pre-ordered 205,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine and has plans to set up school clinics and possibly reopen mega-sites, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. But will the demand be there? Even though New Jersey has one of the highest vaccination rates in the U.S., younger adolescents are not getting vaccinated as much as health officials had expected — or hoped.”

ARE YOU EATING BREAKFAST RIGHT NOW? — “Sphincters tighten as N.J. awaits next shoe to drop in Matt O’Donnell sting,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Morristown tax appeal attorney Matthew O’Donnell allegedly committed additional crimes after he entered into a plea agreement with the New Jersey attorney general’s office on July 30, 2018, and while he was the state’s cooperating witness in five small fish political corruption sting operations, court records show … While O’Donnell had initially agreed to seven-year state prison term, a revised plea agreement he signed on October 25, 2021, appears to have acknowledged more criminal acts beginning about five weeks after he signed his first plea — and eight months after he began cooperating with prosecutors. Despite that, it appears prosecutors offered O’Donnell a better deal that the one he got three years ago: three years in prison instead of seven. That could mean O’Donnell, caught continuing to violate laws while serving as the government’s key witness in the upcoming prosecutions of at least three former elected officials, might have stepped up his level cooperation — something that could lead to charges against additional current or former public officials or former candidates.”

—“NJ schools await state’s guidance on how to implement diversity, anti-bias law”

—NJEA, Norcross-linked super PAC spending big in two South Jersey legislative races

—“Commuters desperately want new customer advocate. Could NJ Transit have answers soon?”

—“Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton joins NJ leaders in gun violence discussion”

—“In Hoboken, Ciattarelli implores Republicans not to stay home: ‘This is a dead heat’ for likely voters”

—Steinberg: “Post-final Monmouth poll: The bell tolls for Jack Ciattarelli — and for the New Jersey GOP”

—“New Jersey has one of the best paid family leave programs in America. Why don’t more people use it? | Opinion”

WITH SALT, GOTTHEIMER VOWS TO PUSH IT REAL GOOD —“Biden’s proposal doesn’t address property tax breaks, but the final bill will, N.J. lawmakers say,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan D. Salant: “While the $1.75 trillion proposal outlined by President Joe Biden Thursday is silent on the $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes, N.J. lawmakers said they expect the final bill will address the issue that is a major concern of Garden State taxpayers. Two House Democrats told NJ Advance Media that the provision, known as SALT, is expected to be part of the legislation when it reaches the floor for final passage. ‘I believe, based on every single conversation that I’ve had with leadership, my Senate colleagues, and the White House, that SALT will be in the bill,’ Gottheimer said. ‘They know they don’t have the votes without it.’”

BIG PHARMA — Democrats’ drug pricing dreams crash into reality in social spending tumult, by POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein, Megan Wilson, Hailey Fuchs: “Democrats’ recent push to allow Medicare to negotiate the price of certain high-cost drugs represented the gravest threat to the industry’s profits in decades. In response, drug lobbyists spent millions on ads and flooded lawmakers with campaign cash — focusing in particular on centrist Democrats most likely to buck the party line, like Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.). Democrats’ narrow margins in each chamber meant the powerful pharmaceutical players only needed to peel off a few members to stop the reforms in its tracks.”

— “‘He lost everything.’ Muslims whose lives were upended by 9/11 detainment want justice”

RADIO SILENCED — “Judge will decide fate of Trenton radio-room shutdown,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avilucea: “Attorneys for the city of Trenton on Thursday filed suit against MPS Communications, asking a judge to halt the shutoff of the capital city’s emergency radio system. Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy will decide whether to temporarily block the impending shutdown of the emergency radio system. The hearing is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m., according to the office of Eric Bernstein, an attorney representing the city of Trenton. Bernstein wrote in a complaint, filed earlier Thursday in Mercer County Superior Court, that Trenton first responders faced ‘irreparable harm’ if the outage went forward.”

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING? — “School bus involved in crash in Lakewood again: Reports,” by Patch’s Karen Wall: “Another crash involving a school bus caused serious damage to the bus on Thursday evening, but reports say there were no serious injuries. Lakewood News Network tweeted photos of the damaged bus and a car, and said the bus had students on board at the time of the crash, which happened at Chestnut Street and Vermont Avenue.”

TWO WOMEN ON THE BOARD FOR THE FIRST TIME — “Ocean County commissioner race will result in a big change — no matter who wins,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Erik Larsen: “Gerry P. Little’s retirement from the Ocean County Board of Commissioners at the end of the year has resulted in a field of seven candidates competing for two seats on the five-member governing body this fall. While Republicans have not lost a countywide race in Ocean since 1989, Little’s departure will most certainly result in a subtle shift in the balance of power on the commission come 2022 … Little Egg Harbor Township Committeewoman Barbara ‘Bobbi’ Jo Crea is paired on the GOP ticket for commissioner with incumbent Gary Quinn, who is director of the board this year and is seeking a second, three-year term … Crea would join Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, the county’s second female commissioner on the dais, marking the first time that two women have served together on the board … Quinn, Haines and Crea — all who have found themselves as candidates for the board within the past five years — would represent a shift in the personality of the commission. While vowing to continue to govern as conservative Republicans, they have communicated their intentions to be open to fresh ideas and new approaches in administering the county, which until next year will have been dominated by the influence of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari and Jack Kelly — whose long tenures stretch back into the 20th century, and Little, who has served since 2003.”

IN TWENTY HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WERE NO FUN — “Columbus Day is back on the Rockaway Township school calendar,” by The Daily Record’s Jessie Gomez: “School board officials voted to reinstate Columbus Day on the school calendar after Italian-American activists protested its removal. Dozens of residents, activists and parents attended Wednesday night’s school board meeting to urge the board to replace Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Columbus Day. Columbus Day was returned to the calendar following a 5-2 vote. ‘As an American. I’m telling you, we have to preserve [Columbus Day]. We shouldn’t let the revisionists change our history because changing the history is a way to attack our country,’ said Andre’ DiMino, communications director for the Italian American One Voice Coalition at Wednesday’s meeting. A motion to discuss Columbus Day was not on the agenda, but board member Aaron Tomasini asked school officials to consider a vote to change the day. School officials Rachel Brookes and Tanya Sheilds voted against the action.”

A BRIDGET TOO FAR — Bridget Kelly not running from her Bridgegate past in race for Bergen County clerk, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Bridget Kelly has a complicated past. The Republican Party doesn’t seem to mind. After authoring the infamous “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” email which ensnared her in the Bridgegate scandal in 2013, Kelly is in the home stretch of a long-shot campaign for Bergen County clerk. And while political observers were taken aback when she announced her candidacy in January, Republicans in the state’s most populous county have largely looked past the lane closure scandal that has taken over her life in recent years. “Bergen County remembers Bridget Kelly before Bridgegate,” Kelly said in an interview. “And Bridget Kelly is back.” Kelly views her candidacy as an opportunity to reenter government life. A former top aide to then-Gov. Chris Christie and a longtime Trenton staffer, Kelly was convicted in the Bridgegate scandal, when access lanes to the George Washington Bridge were shut down in retaliation against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing Christie in his reelection bid.

—“Report: Trenton first responders ‘negatively impacted’ by 345 incidents with radio system”

—“Martin angry over Trenton Water Works double billing Hamiltonians”

—“‘Mayor Mohamed’ documentary examines Islamophobia, small-town politics”

—Video: “Politics driving more candidates to run for school boards”

—“Federal judge demands Cumberland jail communications, captain claims 5th Amendment rights”

—“Newark PD wouldn’t let me take weekends off for church, ex-cop says in lawsuit”

—“Glimmer Glass Bridge project rolls toward replacement as preservationists fight on”

—“Protest in Newark against police brutality focuses on Civilian Complaint Review Board issue”

—“Morris County Park Police to be folded into Sheriff’s Office following commissioner vote”

—“Hoboken ‘Monarch’ land swap to be finalized next week, culminating saga to save waterfront from condos”

—“In Weehawken, a familiar face returns as Robert Sosa is again sworn in as 3rd Ward councilman”

—“Advocates call for releases of migrants detained in Bergen County Jail”

—“How former N.J. governor Chris Christie is involved in Mets’ search for new president”

—“Has N.J. gone over to the dark side? Star Wars beats Star Trek in Rutgers-Eagleton poll”