Gov. Phil Murphy admitted he was concerned about the spread of the coronavirus in packed outdoor venues with fans returning in full force to the MetLife and Rutgers University for football. State officials admitted the numbers of people in tight quarters is a concern even if it is outdoors. “If you are packed in, taking in a ball game or a concert, you are taking on some additional risk, even if you are outside as opposed to if you were sitting on your couch at home watching the game on television,” said Murphy at a press briefing Sept. 15. “If you are inside and walking around people whose vaccination status you don’t know while walking to your seat, put your mask on.” North-JerseyNews.com
At least six New Jersey schools have had outbreaks of COVID-19 among students, teachers and school staff since the start of the school year. The outbreaks—which are defined as cases where three or more unrelated people contracted the virus in a K-12 school setting—include two schools in Atlantic County and one each in Cumberland, Morris, Monmouth and Union counties. The state did not release the names of the schools, their school districts or any details about how the virus was transmitted. NJ.com
New Jersey higher education institutions have had high rates of compliance in enforcing a student COVID-19 vaccine mandate. At Rutgers University, 98% of its 71,000 students were vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 1. Of Montclair State University’s 18,800 students, 92.5% of them were vaccinated as of Sept 8, with 6.8% exempted for medical or religious reasons, while Princeton University had 98% of its students vaccinated according to the university’s online COVID-19 dashboard on Sept 15. The Record
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A majority of Americans back vaccine and masking mandates in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, according to a Monmouth Poll. Sixty three percent of poll respondents said that they supported instituting masking and social distancing guidelines, with 34% opposed, up from the polling outfit’s July poll which found only 52% of respondents supportive of such policies. An even greater proportion of respondents supported mask mandates in schools, with 66% in favor and only 32% opposed. New Jersey Globe
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found vaccines currently provide sufficient protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19 without additional doses. An outside panel of scientific advisers will review the FDA report on Sept. 17, along with a companion analysis from Pfizer and other information, as part of a discussion over who needs booster shots and when. The Biden Administration plan for a booster shot hinges on FDA clearance of the additional shots and input by the panel meeting, plus a separate committee of outside experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Wall Street Journal
New Jersey officials announced its $90 billion pension fund will divest from Ben & Jerry’s parent company Unilever due to a boycott of Israel. The issue arose after the ice cream maker’s founders declared it would not sell its products in Israel-occupied Palestinian territories. An independent consultant confirmed to the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Division of Investment that the actions ice cream company and its parent company, Unilever, “constituted a boycott of Israel or companies operating in Israeli-controlled territory.” In a Sept. 2 letter to Unilever CEO Alan Jope, the state gave Unilever 90 days to appeal the state’s preliminary finding. North-JerseyNews.com
Gov. Phil Murphy said there will be no black bear hunt this year a day after the New Jersey Fish and Game Council unanimously approved an emergency order to reestablish the hunt in the state, at least for October. “There will be no bear hunt this year. Period. I can say that definitively,” Murphy said. “(The state) is committed to nonlethal, humane but smart and safe means to control the population.” The emergency order can not go into effect without the governor’s approval and the approval of Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. New Jersey Herald
New Jersey’s cannabis regulators moved to streamline the licensing of new weed businesses and approved another marijuana grow site. The state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved the transfer of an existing medical marijuana license, a new marijuana grow site and a system to help it process applications for new cannabis businesses. NJ.com
Volunteers at the Jersey City’s Loew’s Theater are assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Ida to a roughly century-old organ. Rainfall from the powerful storm leaked through an attic in the Journal Square theater and into the theater’s historic organ, damaging its internal workings and rendering parts of it unplayable. The Jersey Journal
Although the imminent threat of Tropical Storm Ida has passed, another danger is on the rise: scams, fraud, and other forms of financial exploitation. That’s according to Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs, both of which warned Garden State residents against Hurricane Ida-related scams for rebuilding efforts. “We’re committed to holding those who violate our laws accountable, and are reminding everyone to be on the lookout for fraud and know how to avoid it,” said Bruck, who noted natural disasters like the tropical storms could create perfect opportunities for scammers and con artists to those vulnerable as they look for temporary housing or other immediate needs. North-JerseyNews.com
The Cresskill Board of Education reached a verbal rental agreement with St. Therese Church in Cresskill to occupy the space for 10 months after remnants of Hurricane Ida severely damaged the middle and high school. The building has 10 available classrooms and a gymnasium that will provide opportunities for daily in-person instruction as school officials look for more space within the borough to conduct classes. The Record
A school in Hopatcong has yet to open for in-person learning due to mold caused by Ida’s heavy rains. Tulsa Trail Elementary is instead going with remote learning, with the New Jersey Department of Education’s approval, as local school officials estimated it will take up to 10 days to address the mold problem. News12 New Jersey
The Newark School District started the year with 120 instructional positions unfilled. About 60% of the district’s 65 schools were short at least one teacher or other instructional staffer, such as a counselor or social worker, resulting in substitute teachers or crowded classrooms for students. NJ Spotlight News
Hoboken will begin distributing $1.8 million in grant funding to local small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the city’s Small Business Grant Program, 179 small businesses will be given grant funding with an average of $9,800. 115 will also receive a $1,500 vaccine bonus as 75% of their employees are fully vaccinated. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan. Hudson Reporter
The Wealth Disparity Task Force, which was announced on Juneteenth earlier this year, was formally created by executive order Sept. 14 by Gov. Phil Murphy. The task force, which will consist of working groups on the economy, housing, criminal justice, education and health, will prioritize efforts toward equity among all members of the New Jersey community by studying the causes of the inequality that has prevented the state from reaching its full potential in the past. The goal of the task force is to create comprehensive strategies and solutions to achieve a fairer distribution of wealth in New Jersey. ROI-NJ.com
Three ordinances were introduced recently to finance phase two of a 10-year project to improve the dilapidated infrastructure at the Morristown Municipal Airport. The $12 million for airport capital improvements will bring Runway 5-23 up to 2021 standards, including replacing an approach lighting system and install access road and stormwater treatment devices. The Daily Record
And finally….Oktoberfest celebration returns to Mountain Creek on Sept. 25 and 26. New Jersey Herald
