The rate at which COVID-19 spreads from one person to another in New Jersey rose above 1.0. “This means an increasing rate of spread statewide,” Gov. Phil Murphy said at his press briefing July 6. “This is an early warning sign that, quite frankly, we need to do more.” The rise will delay any plans for state officials had for another wave of reopenings. North-JerseyNews.com
Rep. Bill Pascrell is expected to make a full recovery following a bypass surgery to remove blockages found in the congressman’s arteries. Doctors at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson discovered the blockages in the course of routine testing, and Pascrell underwent surgery to remove the blockages on July 5. North-JerseyNews.com
Senate and Assembly Democrats introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to delay legislative redistricting until after the 2021 general election, if the U.S. Census doesn’t certify the state’s new population numbers by February 15, 2021. The proposal would require the Legislative Apportionment Commission to certify the new map after the November 2021 general election, but before December 31, 2021. New Jersey Globe
Most fall semester courses at Rutgers University will be offered remotely, and on-campus housing will be extremely limited. A limited number of courses in disciplines that benefit from access to campus facilities—such as select courses in the arts, laboratory or field work, and clinical instruction—will be on campus with appropriate health-related precautions. On-campus housing will be extremely limited because of the need for social distancing. The Daily Record
Princeton University announced undergraduates will be able to return to campus for one semester during the 2020-21 academic year though most instruction will remain online due to ongoing coronavirus concerns. The housing plan will have freshman and juniors in the fall and sophomores and seniors in the spring living on campus. The plan will require social distancing in classrooms and public spaces and prohibit large in-person gatherings. All undergraduates will have the option to complete the entire year remotely. NJ.com
More than 147,000 New Jersey businesses received $17.2 billion in loans from a federal program aimed at helping businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak. Full-service restaurants accounted for the industry with the most loans, followed by doctors’, lawyers’ and dentists’ offices. News12 New Jersey
Gov. Phil Murphy is reducing the number of COVID-19 briefings. The governor announced he would begin holding only three virus briefings per week, on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. New Jersey Globe
New Jersey residents seeking rental relief can apply for the state’s $100 million rental assistance program. The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide up to six months of emergency rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have been affected by coronavirus. NJ.com
Hoboken unveiled a $117.8 million budget with a 9.8% municipal tax increase. Hoboken taxpayers will see their property taxes increase only 1.4% because county taxes for the city are set to drop. The Jersey Journal
Hasbrouck Heights’ chief of police has filed a lawsuit alleging civil rights violations naming the borough and the mayor as defendants. Police Chief Michael Colaneri is suing the borough and Mayor John DeLorenzo, Colaneri’s nephew and a former police captain, claiming borough officials are retaliating against him for supporting a different candidate for mayor in 2015. The Record
And finally…It’s primary election day in New Jersey and polls are open until 8 pm. PoliticoNJ
