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Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Garden State – CBS New York – CBS New York

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Vice President Kamala Harris spent much of Friday in New Jersey.

Her visit included a stop at a vaccination center.

READ MORE: FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro Answers To Federal Judge After 9 Firefighters Suspended For Allegedly Sharing Racist Messages

As CBS2’s Cory James reports, Harris stepped off the plane in the Garden State, greeting Gov. Phil Murphy and first lady Tammy Murphy on the tarmac.

Her first stop during her visit was Montclair State University, stopping by Ben Samuels Children’s Center on the campus to meet with teachers and students.

One bright-eyed little boy had just learned the number eight and used his new skill to connect with the vice president.

“Are you 8 years old?” he asked.

“I’m a little bit more than 8 years old. Just a little,” Harris replied.

READ MORE: Queens Man Comes Down From Tree After Spending Almost 3 Days Avoiding Police

After a game of bingo, the vice president led a roundtable conversation with parents and elected officials on the importance of federal investment in child care.

Harris commended Murphy for being a national leader who put $100 million from the American Rescue Plan to make quality education possible for all children.

“In New Jersey the average family spends 15% of their income on child care,” Harris said.  “No one should pay any more than 5-7% on child care, especially when you look at other obligations like putting food on the table and paying rent.”

“The pandemic clobbered us, clobbered families and working moms. So we intensified our efforts and put a lot more money into affordability on one hand for families and helping our centers reopen,” Murphy said. “And we’re going to continue on that journey.”

And the journey for them continued in Essex County, with both the governor and vice president visiting a vaccination center at Essex County College as people got their shots.

MORE NEWS: Servant’s Heart Ministry Workmanship Program Offers Free Classes For Adults Interested In Construction Jobs

Across the street, protesters demanded a path to citizenship in the Biden spending bill.

Cops: Teens Arrested for Airsoft Gun Drive-by Shootings in Lower – wpgtalkradio.com

Cops in Cape May County say several teenagers have been arrested after they allegedly shot two people with an airsoft gun while they were driving.

Lower Township Police say the first incident happened on the evening of September 22nd when a juvenile reported she had been shot by an airsoft gun from a passing vehicle near Bayshore Road and Greenwood Avenue. Cops searched the area but were not able to find those responsible.

About a week later, on September 29th, police received a similar call, this time from an adult woman. She also told officers she had been hit with a BB-style gun on Bayshore Road near the Villas Fire Department.

By using surveillance camera footage, detectives were able to identify the vehicle that was involved. They say they executed a search warrant in Woodbine and an automatic airsoft gun was recovered.

Officials say several juveniles and 18-year-old Elijah Jackson of Cape May were responsible. Jackson was charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, conspiracy, unlawful possession of an imitation firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon, and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime. He was released on a summons.

Charges for the other teens that were involved are forthcoming.

Lower Township Police encourage anyone who believes they may have been hit with a similar projectile to report the incident by calling (609) 886-2711.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The 25 Most Dangerous Cities in New Jersey

NJ arrests 31 accused child predators in “Operation 24/7”

A roundup of 31 men have been accused of sexually exploiting children online, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced on July 14 while detailing “Operation 24/7.”

The suspects “possessed and or distributed videos and images of child sexual abuse, including in many cases videos of young children being raped by adults,” Grewal said.

Chat apps and gaming platforms remain favorite hunting grounds for child predators and even as the pandemic winds down, many children have continued to spend more time online.

State Police received 39% more tips in just the first 6 months of 2021 than they received in the entire year in 2019. The following are suspects charged in “Operation 24/7.”

VP Kamala Harris makes strong pitch for vaccinations, helping parents pay for day care in N.J. visit – NJ.com

As Congress begins drafting the next federal spending plan, Vice President Kamala Harris came to New Jersey on Friday and made a strong pitch to make sure new funding for child care was in the legislation.

Harris visited the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University in Little Falls, her first stop on a day-long trip to the Garden State.

“Our nation is strongest when everyone is able to participate,” Harris said during a roundtable discussion at the facility with Gov. Phil Murphy; U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist; and five educators. “This is fundamentally what the issue is about when it comes to working parents.”

President Joe Biden included the funding in what is now a $3.5 trillion spending bill, though that amount likely will shrink as the legislation moves through the House and Senate. Biden also proposed including steps to fight climate change and expand health care coverage in the legislation, known as the Build Better Act.

That’s also the vehicle for Congress to address the Republican tax law’s $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes.

Harris noted that two million women in the U.S. left the workforce during the coronavirus pandemic.

“A working person cannot go to work if they have no one to take care of their kids,” the vice president said.

Sherrill, a mother of four children, said she knows first hand about the difficulty of child care.

“Women losing ground is America’s middle class losing ground,” the congresswoman said. “This is an economic issue.”

Murphy said the child care provisions in the Biden spending bill “would be a game changer for New Jersey” as he endorsed both that bill and the infrastructure bill.

”The pandemic clobbered us,” the Democratic governor said. “It clobbered families. It especially clobbered working moms.”

Before the roundtable discussion, Harris, Murphy, and Sherrill walked through the classroom at the center and spoke to the children, who are between 3 and 5 years old.

One kid asked Harris: “Are you older than 8 years old?”

“I’m a bit more than 8 years old,” the vice president said.

Harris told the kids: “I’m working with the governor on the future of New Jersey.”

Murphy responded: “You’ve come to Ground Zero.”

Harris’ visit comes as Murphy runs for re-election Nov. 2.

She praised Murphy as a “true leader” and told Sherrill, “I’ve known of your work in the halls of the United States Congress.”

About 30 unauthorized immigrants and students assembled across the street from the child care center, calling on Harris to support a path to citizenship in the spending bill through reconciliation.

“As an essential health care worker during the pandemic, I put my life at risk every day to help keep a health clinic open,” said Mariana Velasquez, a member of Make the Road NJ, who organized the protest. “But I fear being separated from my children. New Jersey is my home.”

After the Montclair appearance, Harris stopped by Essex County College in Newark to tour its COVID-19 vaccination site.

“There will be an end to this,” she said of the pandemic at the appearance. “We really feel we are starting to get in front of this.”

Walking in the area where shots were given, Harris delivered a pitch for more people to get vaccinated.

“It will save your life,” she said. “It’s free. It’s safe. And it’s about you and everybody around you.”

Harris said “it breaks my heart” to hear tales of people dying in intensive care units because they won’t get the vaccine.

The White House has been pushing the need for all Americans to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including imposing mandates on federal workers and other groups.

More than 5.91 million people who live, work or study in New Jersey — a state of about 9.2 million residents — have been fully vaccinated as Friday. Murphy said more that makes up more than 75% of eligible people in the state, one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation.

New Jersey, an early epicenter of the pandemic, has reported 27,570 total COVID-19 deaths in slightly more than 19 months. That’s the second-most coronavirus deaths per capita in the U.S.

Kamala Harris in New Jersey 1

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in New Jersey on Friday.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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Somerset County teacher sexually assaulted 17-year-old, cops say – New Jersey 101.5 FM

Two staffers at the same school in Somerset County have been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old student.

Matthew Rennie, a teacher and coach at a private educational institution in Franklin Township, sexually assaulted the victim between July 2021 and September 2021 in Montgomery and East Amwell, according to officials. The 30-year-old Ringoes resident was arrested on Oct. 6 without incident.

During the investigation, officers learned that a female teacher/coach at the same school was aware of the sexual relationships. Ranait Griff was arrested without incident and is charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Rennie is charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Anyone with information related to the alleged incidents are asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Montgomery Township Police Department at 908-359-3222.

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

NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts

Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.

In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.

The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.

Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

25 True Crime Locations: What Do They Look Like Today?

Below, find out where 25 of the most infamous crimes in history took place — and what the locations are used for today. (If they’ve been left standing.)

Kamala Harris Visits New Jersey To Push For Child Care, Vaccines – Patch.com

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Vice President Kamala Harris came to New Jersey on Friday with two things on her mind: child care and coronavirus vaccines.

Just days after endorsing fellow Democratic Party member Gov. Phil Murphy in his bid for re-election, Harris arrived in Essex County to speak about President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion federal spending plan, including its child care provisions. She also visited a local COVID-19 vaccine center to support the administration’s six-point pandemic recovery plan.

This is a developing story; check back for updates. Sign up for Patch email newsletters here.

Harris’ trip to New Jersey kicked off with a flight from Washington D.C. to Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday morning.

Her first public appearance of the day took place at the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University. During a roundtable discussion, Harris highlighted the Biden Administration’s proposed spending plan, the Build Better Act, which Congressional Democrats are hoping to pass through the reconciliation process to avoid a Republican filibuster.

The plan includes rolling out “universal preschool” for all 3- and 4-year-old children, as well as reducing the cost of child care for low- and middle-income families.

“Our nation is strongest when everyone is able to participate,” Harris said. “This is fundamentally what the issue is about when it comes to working parents.”

“In New Jersey, the average family spends 15 percent of their income on childcare,” Harris continued. “One of the issues that the President and I have been working on with the support of Congress is to say, ‘No one should spend more than 5 to 7 percent of their income on childcare,’ especially when you look at the other obligations that families have, such as putting food on the table and paying rent.”

“Nearly half of New Jersey lives in childcare deserts,” Harris said. “And we are seeing across the country these numbers.”

Sherrill said that as a working mother with four kids, child care is an issue that hits home on a personal level.

“We know the pandemic drove more than a million parents out of the workforce and strained a childcare system that was already unaffordable and unavailable to too many families,” Sherrill said. “We have an opportunity to make those key investments, and I appreciate that Vice President Harris and the White House share this critical priority.”

The struggle to make ends meet is getting worse for families and child care providers alike, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury:

“Currently, the average family with at least one child under age 5 would need to devote about 13 percent of family income to pay for child care, a number that is unaffordable for most families. Less than 20 percent of children eligible for one of the largest federal assistance programs for low-income families, the Child Care and Development Fund, actually receives funding. Notwithstanding the high costs borne by parents, margins for child care providers are low and many struggle to make ends meet. They survive by keeping costs low. Labor, the main input, is overwhelmingly provided by women, many of whom are nonwhite, who earn low wages leading to high turnover. Many child care workers are paid so little that they rely on public services for their own economic needs.”

Here’s what the Biden Administration plans to do about it, treasury officials said:

“The president proposes to increase funding in the sector by offering universal preschool to all 3- and 4-year-old children and providing access to high-quality child care for low- and middle-income children. His child care plan will cut spending in half for most American families so that families do not have to spend more than 7 percent of their income on child care for young children by creating subsidized care and extending the expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. These steps would directly address the revenue shortfalls created by the market failures we identify: liquidity constraints and the positive externalities associated with child care.”

TOURING A VACCINE SITE

On Friday afternoon, Harris continued her North Jersey tour with a visit to a COVID-19 vaccine center in Newark.

Located at Essex County College, the county-run site was one of the first operational vaccine centers in the state when it launched at the pandemic’s onset.

Essex County has been among the hardest-hit areas of New Jersey when it comes to COVID-19. Newark, the state’s most-populated city, has seen 40,539 cumulative cases and 1,054 deaths linked to the disease as of Thursday, according to data from county health officials. Read More: Essex County COVID Update (Case Totals, How To Get Vaccine)

The Biden-Harris Administration’s six-point “COVID-19 Action Plan,” which was released in September, includes:

  • Vaccinating the unvaccinated
  • Further protecting the vaccinated
  • Keeping schools safely open
  • Increasing testing and requiring masking
  • Protecting our economic recovery
  • Improving care for those with COVID-19

Rep. Payne, who accompanied Harris to the vaccination site in Newark, said it was an honor to welcome the vice president to the district.

“Essex County has suffered terribly during this global pandemic,” Payne said. “But I have been proud of how the county has been quick to get this vaccine site operational and provide vaccines for thousands of residents.”

The congressman noted that he recently received a booster shot, as he is over 65 and has a pre-existing medical condition.

“I received the vaccine and a booster shot to prevent COVID-19 infections for me and my family,” Payne said. “I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, so they can keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”

ENDORSEMENTS, GREETINGS AND IMMIGRATION

The vice president concluded her visit to New Jersey on Friday evening, departing back to Washington D.C. via a Newark flight.

Harris’ visit to the Garden State came just days after she and Biden endorsed Gov. Murphy’s 2021 gubernatorial bid.

The vice president touted Murphy’s accomplishments during his first term, including raising the minimum wage, and investing in public schools and clean energy jobs.

“He is the partner [that] President Joe Biden and I need in Trenton,” Harris said.

Murphy greeted the vice president in New Jersey, joining Harris on her tour throughout Essex County. Harris was also met by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents the state’s 11th Congressional District, and Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who represents the 10th District.

Many people greeted the news of Harris’ arrival in New Jersey with excitement.

Others were less thrilled to hear about the vice president’s visit, with several people referencing the controversial treatment of Haitian refugees at the Texas border and asking why Harris wasn’t spending her time there, instead.

Meanwhile, a coalition of advocacy groups used Harris’ New Jersey visit to call for a “pathway to citizenship” for millions of undocumented immigrants through the reconciliation package.

“As an essential health care worker during the pandemic, I put my life at risk every day to help keep a health clinic open,” said Mariana Velasquez, a member of Make the Road New Jersey.

“But still, I fear being separated from my children,” Velasquez said. “I call on Vice President Kamala Harris to commit to using her independent authority to ensure essential workers like me who are undocumented, and millions of other undocumented immigrants in New Jersey have a pathway to citizenship through reconciliation.”

Several immigration advocacy groups released a joint statement about their demands on Friday:

“VP Harris’ visit to New Jersey — one of the most immigrant populous states in the nation — comes after the unelected Senate Parliamentarian has issued opinions again and again to exclude citizenship from the budget reconciliation package. As negotiations continue, immigrants point to Vice President Harris’ ability to change the lives of millions by ruling in favor of including citizenship, in her role as presiding officer of the Senate.”

“A pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers and essential workers could impact at least nine million individuals, including more than 300,000 New Jerseyans,” the groups said, also calling for Harris to stop deportations to Haiti and suspend Title 42.

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

VP Kamala Harris visits N.J., makes strong pitch for plan to help parents pay for child care – NJ.com

As Congress begins drafting the next federal spending plan, Vice President Kamala Harris came to New Jersey on Friday and made a strong pitch to make sure new funding for child care was in the legislation.

Harris visited the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University in Little Falls, her first stop on a day-long trip to the Garden State.

“Our nation is strongest when everyone is able to participate,” Harris said during a roundtable discussion at the facility with Gov. Phil Murphy; U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist; and five educators. “This is fundamentally what the issue is about when it comes to working parents.”

President Joe Biden included the funding in what is now a $3.5 trillion spending bill, though that amount likely will shrink as the legislation moves through the House and Senate. Biden also proposed including steps to fight climate change and expand health care coverage in the legislation, known as the Build Better Act.

That’s also the vehicle for Congress to address the Republican tax law’s $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes.

Harris noted that two million women in the U.S. left the workforce during the coronavirus pandemic.

“A working person cannot go to work if they have no one to take care of their kids,” the vice president said.

Sherrill, a mother of four children, said she knows first hand about the difficulty of child care.

“Women losing ground is America’s middle class losing ground,” the congresswoman said. “This is an economic issue.”

Murphy said the child care provisions in the Biden spending bill “would be a game changer for New Jersey” as he endorsed both that bill and the infrastructure bill.

”The pandemic clobbered us,” the Democratic governor said. “It clobbered families. It especially clobbered working moms.”

Before the roundtable discussion, Harris, Murphy, and Sherrill walked through the classroom at the center and spoke to the children, who are between 3 and 5 years old.

One kid asked Harris: “Are you older than 8 years old?”

“I’m a bit more than 8 years old,” the vice president said.

Harris told the kids: “I’m working with the governor on the future of New Jersey.”

Murphy responded: “You’ve come to Ground Zero.”

Harris’ visit comes as Murphy runs for re-election Nov. 2.

She praised Murphy as a “true leader” and told Sherrill, “I’ve known of your work in the halls of the United States Congress.”

About 30 unauthorized immigrants and students assembled across the street from the child care center, calling on Harris to support a path to citizenship in the spending bill through reconciliation.

“As an essential health care worker during the pandemic, I put my life at risk every day to help keep a health clinic open,” said Mariana Velasquez, a member of Make the Road NJ, who organized the protest. “But I fear being separated from my children. New Jersey is my home.”

After the Montclair appearance, Harris is scheduled to head to Essex County College in Newark to tour its vaccination site.

The White House has been pushing the need for all Americans to be vaccinated against the COVID-19, including imposing mandates on federal workers and other groups.

More than 5.91 million people who live, work or study in New Jersey — a state of about 9.2 million residents — have been fully vaccinated as Friday. Murphy said more that makes up more than 75% of eligible people in the state, one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation.

New Jersey, an early epicenter of the pandemic, has reported 27,570 total COVID-19 deaths in slightly more than 19 months. That’s the second-most coronavirus deaths per capita in the U.S.

This story will be updated.

Kamala Harris in New Jersey 1

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in New Jersey on Friday.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: House interrupts recess for debt ceiling vote – The Hill

To view past editions of The Hill’s 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw 

To receive The Hill’s 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

–> A midday take on what’s happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*

*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha–breaks down crying hysterically. 

LATEST WITH THE DEBT CEILING

*practices deep radio voice* — We interrupt this recess for a quick vote:

The House, which is scheduled to be out of session until Oct. 19, will now briefly return on Tuesday for a vote to increase the debt ceiling. https://bit.ly/3AqauOe

Why this couldn’t wait: Treasury Secretary Janet YellenJanet Louise YellenSchumer frustrates GOP, Manchin with fiery debt ceiling speech Ireland joining international agreement on global minimum tax Graham opposes short-term debt hike MORE said the U.S. government will default on its loans on Oct. 18. The House wasn’t expected to return until after that. 

The bill: The House will vote on the Senate-passed bill to increase the debt limit through Dec. 3. https://bit.ly/3AiX5rv 

^ The small caveat: Technically, the new debt limit is limited to $480 billion dollars, not Dec. 3 specifically. But it’s estimated that the new limit will hit on Dec. 3. 

It’s a good question: With proxy voting, I wonder how many House members will make the trip back to Washington, D.C., for this one vote.

11 REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO HELPED ADVANCE THE DEBT EXTENSION:

Including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump urges GOP senators to vote against McConnell debt deal Senate approves short-term debt ceiling increase On The Money — Presented by NRHC — Senate slowly walks back from debt disaster MORE (R-Ky.) and Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiSenate approves short-term debt ceiling increase Here are the 11 GOP senators who helped advance the debt extension Key debt-limit vote sparks major fight among Senate Republicans MORE (R-Alaska). The full list: https://bit.ly/3akc3ml

OK, EVERYONE, JUST RELAX. NO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE *WHISPERS* FILIBUSTER:

Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, “Republicans are hoping that a short-term debt extension takes some of the Democratic pressure off Sens. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinSchumer frustrates GOP, Manchin with fiery debt ceiling speech Senate approves short-term debt ceiling increase Overnight Energy & Environment — Biden set to restore national monuments rolled back by Trump MORE(D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaHouse Democrats urge leaders to keep housing in reconciliation bill Biden, Manchin huddle on reconciliation Markey: Senate must pass reconciliation package before global climate summit MORE (D-Ariz.) to reform the filibuster.” https://bit.ly/3ahfcn7

Happy Friday! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com — and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook. 

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill’s 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

NEWS THIS MORNING

Ouch, September was pretty weak:

The U.S. economy added a very disappointing 194,000 jobs in September amid the delta surge. https://bit.ly/3AuxV9u 

What economists had expected: Roughly 500,000 jobs added in September

A little better news: The unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.8 percent.

^ But there are some better numbers under the hood:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3Bo7hA8

I.e.: It’s pretty bad, but not as bad as the topline number indicates.

IN THE GOP

Start your engines! Or your Xanax, either way:

Via The Hill’s Amie Parnes, “Democrats are worried about another White House bid by former President Trump, something that is appearing increasingly likely on the eve of an Iowa rally by the leading potential GOP candidate.” https://bit.ly/3AmzOVt 

Do Democrats think he will be easy or hard to run against?: “While some are confident a new Trump candidacy would bring out a wave of Democratic voters to defeat him, others are worried he could return to power. And that’s enough to bring shudders to most in the party.”

HAPPENING TOMORROW — TRUMP IS HOLDING A RALLY IN IOWA:

And one does not just simply “hold a rally in Iowa.”  

Rally details from The Des Moines Register: https://bit.ly/2WSgeTi

Livestream — it starts at 8 p.m. EDT: https://bit.ly/3Apif72

‘NEW TRUMP REVELATIONS BOLSTER CRITICS WHILE FANS SHRUG:

Via The Hill’s Niall Stanage, “New information is emerging about former President TrumpDonald Trump Trump urges GOP senators to vote against McConnell debt deal On The Money — Presented by NRHC — Senate slowly walks back from debt disaster Administration confirms it will restore national monuments to pre-Trump boundaries MORE’s attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 election — including in a Senate report released Thursday.” https://bit.ly/3ahIphC 

What we learned from the Senate report: “The accretion of new details makes it starker than ever that Trump’s wishes, had they been followed, would have hurled the United States into a constitutional crisis.” 

Does this matter?: “Yet none of this seems to matter at all to the GOP grassroots, or to most of the party’s elected officials, who overwhelmingly give Trump their support.” 

Read Stanage’s full column on what these revelations mean: https://bit.ly/3ahIphC

LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS

Fingers crossed!:

“Anticipation is building that younger children will soon be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a major milestone on the path out of the pandemic.” https://bit.ly/3BsJteo 

When it could be approved: “A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel will meet Oct. 26 to vote on granting the authorization” of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11.  

^ Followed by: “A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel meeting will occur soon after, and official clearance could come as early as that same day.”

CASE NUMBERS:

Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 44,166,808 

U.S. death toll: 710,319

Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y

VACCINATION NUMBERS:

Total number of vaccinations administered in the U.S.: 400 million shots have been given. 

Seven-day average of doses administered: An average of 953,230 doses 

For context: The U.S. population is roughly 331 million. 

Breakdown of the numbers: https://bloom.bg/3iVTPLH

OTHER NEWS THIS MORNING

What even is Food Network without Bobby Flay??:

Via Variety’s Cynthia Littleton, “Superstar chef Bobby Flay and Food Network are poised to part ways after a 27-year run that has made the restaurateur and businessman one of the country’s most recognizable culinary figures.” https://bit.ly/3llEYwz 

Why??: It appears to be financial. Flay’s contract is up at the end of the year and the two sides couldn’t agree on a number. 

Flay has been a part of Food Network from the start: Flay has been on Food Network since 1994, within the first year of the cable station’s start.

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Truly a work of art:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3AnY5up 

Hahahhaha:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/2YpdKMF 

This review is incredible:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/2YATLuW

Read her full review — those colors are deceiving! https://bit.ly/3iLq0hI

You can allegedly buy these at Walgreen’s. But please don’t. https://bit.ly/3mGAqAG

Oh my god:

Hyperlink https://bit.ly/2YvRNvg 

Seriously, you may see yourself out.

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are out. President BidenJoe BidenArkansas lawmakers advance bill prohibiting businesses from demanding workers’ vaccine status Senate approves short-term debt ceiling increase On The Money — Presented by NRHC — Senate slowly walks back from debt disaster MORE is in Washington, D.C. Vice President Harris is in New Jersey for the day. 

9:30 a.m. EDT: President Biden received the President’s Daily Brief. 

9:35 a.m. EDT: Vice President Harris left for Newark, N.J.

10 a.m. EDT: President Biden signed the “HAVANA Act of 2021” and the “K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021.” 

11:45 a.m. EDT: Vice President Harris participated in a roundtable on federal investments in childcare. 

2:30 p.m. EDT: President Biden receives his weekly economic briefing. 

2:40 p.m. EDT: Vice President Harris tours vaccination sites at Essex County College.

4:35 p.m. EDT: Vice President Harris returns to Washington, D.C. 

6:15 p.m. EDT: President Biden leaves for Wilmington, Del. 

Oct. 18: The Senate meets next. https://bit.ly/3uPL7nY

WHAT TO WATCH:

11:30 a.m. EDT: President Biden delivered remarks on the September jobs report. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3ais5NB 

1:45 p.m. EDT: President Biden delivers remarks on protections for national monuments. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3uRA4e9 

2:30 p.m. EDT: White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden intends to sign short-term bill raising debt ceiling Trump advising 4 former aides to ignore subpoenas from Jan. 6 panel: report White House calls debt ceiling compromise ‘positive step forward’ MORE holds a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3ak04oR

IN LIGHTER NEWS:

Today is National Fluffernutter Day.

If you’re having a slow afternoon — or a busy one and want a brief distraction:

Here’s a pretty funny (bad) joke I saw on Twitter this morning: https://bit.ly/3AompMA

And to get your weekend off on the right foot, here’s a koala enjoying a nutritious snack: 

Watch: https://bit.ly/3lmi2O0

Here are New Jersey’s Most Wanted & Dangerous Criminals – wobm.com

The worst, most heinous crimes committed by people get them put onto multiple Most Wanted lists as local, state and even federal law enforcement stress the urgency and importance of apprehending these individuals.

There are wanted criminals here in Ocean and Monmouth Counties but also throughout New Jersey over the last close to 50-years with men and women who’ve committed such horrible acts and then ended up escaping from prison or fleeing the area entirely.

New Jersey State Police, the FBI and local law enforcement need your help finding these alleged and indicted Most Wanted criminals.

Here are New Jersey’s Most Wanted Criminals

Have You Seen Them? Ocean County’s Most Wanted

Have You Seen Them? Monmouth County’s Most Wanted

Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Garden State – CBS New York

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting New Jersey Friday, with child care and vaccinations on the agenda.

Harris arrived this morning at Newark Liberty International Airport. Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy were there to greet her.

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Harris paid a visit to the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University and interacted with the children. She’s participating in a roundtable discussion at the university on federal investment in child care, which is part of the administration’s economic agenda.

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The vice president will then tour a vaccination site this afternoon at Essex County College before heading back to Washington.

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Maplewood teacher pulled hijab off second grader’s head, Olympic fencer alleges – NorthJersey.com

The South Orange-Maplewood School District is investigating a claim that a teacher at Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood removed the hijab of a second grade student, the district said in a statement.

The statement came after an Instagram post from Ibtihaj Muhammad, an Olympic bronze medalist in fencing and the first Muslim American Olympian to compete for the U.S. in a hijab. In the post, Muhammad, a Maplewood native, said the teacher “forcibly removed” the hijab in class.

“The young student resisted, by trying to hold onto her hijab, but the teacher pulled the hijab off, exposing her hair to the class,” Muhmmad said in the post.

Muhammad called the incident abuse and urged people to call the district and denounce the incident.

“By protecting Muslim girls who wear hijab, we are protecting the rights of all of us to have a choice in the way we dress,” she said.

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The post has over 36,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.

In its statement, the school district said it was investigating the matter after receiving a flood of social media posts.

“Today, we were made aware of an allegation of discrimination and immediately began an investigation,” the statement read. “The district takes matters of discrimination extremely seriously.”

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The New Jersey chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) called for the firing of the teacher in a press release Friday.

“Anything less [than a firing] is an insult to the students and parents of Maplewood, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said in a statement. “Forcefully stripping off the religious head scarf of a Muslim girl is not only exceptionally disrespectful behavior, but also a humiliating and traumatic experience.” 

The school district’s statement said that the teacher involved would be granted due process, and said that social media was not a “reliable forum” for due process.

“We remain committed to diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our schools including providing anti-bias and anti-racism training for all educators in the district on a regular basis,” the statement said.

Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted late Friday afternoon: “Deeply disturbed by these accusations. Our diversity is our greatest strength and every child should feel safe and welcome in school, regardless of their race, religion, or culture. We fully support [the school district’s] investigation into the matter.”

Liam Quinn is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.

Email: quinnl@northjersey.com

Twitter: @Liam_D_Quinn