Rep. Tom Malinowski has not decided if he’ll seek re-election to a third term next year after the 7th Congressional District map was redrawn that is decidedly less friendly for Democrats for the seat he currently holds. “The NJ redistricting gods haven’t made it easy for us, but I’ve only ever won hard races, and my likely opponent has only ever lost them,” said Malinowski taking a swipe at the leading Republican candidate, Senate Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean, Jr. “I’m also incredibly moved by the messages of support we’re getting from so many folks in my current and new district. We will make our judgements with the people who got me here in mind.” New Jersey Globe
OPINION: Time to Impose Penalties on Anti-Vaxxers. As we start the New Year, the time has come for adjustments of how to deal with COVID with an eye to rewarding those who have done everything the right way—getting the vaccine and the booster shot, getting tested and wearing a mask. But the waves of this insidious virus will not stop unless we follow the historical roadmap from previous public health crises—getting vaccinated. Going forward, that should be the price to pay for admission to be part of our society. North-JerseyNews.com
Newark is imposing the strictest vaccine mandates in New Jersey, by requiring anyone 5-years-old or older to show proof of at least one vaccine dose before entering most businesses and indoor venues as well as an indoor mask mandate. New Jersey’s largest city is not the only making these requirements—New York City now mandats vaccination of all workers who interact with the public or perform in-person work. Businesses may not allow unvaccinated workers to enter the workplace. And Philadelphia requires vaccine proof for anyone entering a business that serves food or alcohol. The option to provide a negative COVID test goes away in January. NJ1015.com
The state of New Jersey has reportedly agreed to pay nearly $53 million to the families of 119 residents state-run veterans homes whose deaths were attributed to the coronavirus in the early days of the pandemic. The state will pay 60% of the settlement, or $31.7 million within 90 days of the receipt of all “closing papers” from all plaintiffs in the case. The amount each family will ultimately receive will depend upon the decisions reached in binding arbitration. The balance of the settlement will be paid on or before next July, or upon the reporting of the decisions regarding arbitration hearings. NJ.com
Morristown Mayor Timothy P. Dougherty signed an executive order mandating all businesses and venues to require employees and customers to wear face coverings. Customers will not need to wear a mask when eating or drinking inside a restaurant or establishment that serves food or beverages. NJ.com
RWJ Barnabas began limiting visitors to patients in its hospitals and other medical facilities across the state on Dec. 26. Visitors will not be allowed into any emergent care, inpatient acute care or behavioral health unit run by RWJ Barnabas. The exceptions include allowances for one significant other who can visit patients in maternity and labor units, a support person for patients with a cognitive disability leading to communication barriers or behavioral concerns, one parent for pediatric units, visitors to patients in hospice care and patients in need of a “decision maker.” The Record
New Jersey on Dec. 26 reported another seven confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 12,538 confirmed positive cases, bringing the state’s seven-day case average to a new pandemic record just as statewide coronavirus hospitalizations reached their highest number in nearly 10 months. The transmission rate, which indicates whether the pandemic is growing or shrinking, rose to 1.56 from 1.46 on Sunday. The statewide positivity rate for tests administered Wednesday, the most recent day available, was 20.08%. New Jersey Herald
Two Hudson County mayors recently tested positive for COVID. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla confirmed late last week that there tests came back positive. Both men said they are fully vaccinated and boosted. Hudson Reporter
Rep. Mikie Sherrill recently welcomed officials from the Army Corp of Engineers and the EPA to environmental clean-up sites with New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district looking to fund projects with monies from the recently passed federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Sherrill was joined by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and the Army Corps of Engineers in surveying high-risk flooding zones in Morristown, Verona, and Montclair as well as in Fairfield to discuss cleanup projects. “(The visits are) just one of the many examples of how this infrastructure law is bringing funding directly back to NJ-11 to address real needs facing New Jersey and our families, making our communities stronger for generations to come,” Sherrill said. North-JerseyNews.com
Gov. Phil Murphy joined a bevy of Democratic officials in endorsing Robert Menendez Jr. to succeed Rep. Albio Sires in Congress. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, who campaigned hard for Sen. Bob Menendez’s re-election, added his name to those supporting the senator’s son. “Having gotten to know Rob Menendez for many years, I have no doubt that he will rise to the occasion,” Booker said. “Serving in Congress requires a dedication to your community, compassion, and hard work. Rob embodies these, and I am thrilled to support him for Congress.” NJ.com
Daniella Mendez is the first openly transgender woman to win a seat on Dover’s Board of Education. Mendez’s election to the board coincides with the implementation of the new state-mandated law that requires New Jersey educators to include LGBTQ lessons and focus on people with disabilities in the curriculum. She plans to work with the Dover school board to implement the curriculum, add more classrooms in schools and include more diversity among teachers and staff. The Daily Record
Legislation extending for two years the requirement for health benefits plans to reimburse healthcare providers for telehealth and telemedicine services at the same rate as in-person services, with limited exceptions, was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Dec. 23. Additionally, the legislation charges the New Jersey Department of Health with conducting an in-depth study of the utilization of telehealth and telemedicine and its effects on patient outcomes, quality and satisfaction, and access to care, in order to inform future decisions on payment structure for these services. ROI-NJ.com
In an effort to curtail rising healthcare costs in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy has launched a new initiative that would limit how much healthcare spending can grow annually. The Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark Program will aim to keep New Jersey’s healthcare costs in check with inflation and wages. Starting Jan. 1. 2022, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and the Governor’s Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency will work with major insurance carriers to gather data on healthcare costs, including insurance payments and out-of-pocket costs, for everyone covered by Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. The six-year program describes 2022 as a “transition” year, in which information is collected and reviewed. North-JerseyNews.com
Retail sales in the United States jumped nearly 11% this season compared with the holiday period in 2019, the year before the pandemic upended the global economy, according to a report Mastercard published Dec. 26. The report showed an 8.5% increase in retail sales over the holiday season, defined as Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, compared with last year. Sales in stores were up 8.1% compared with last year, while e-commerce sales were up 11%. Compared with 2019, before the pandemic brought about an explosion of online ordering, e-commerce sales jumped over 61%. The New York Times
Many food manufacturers say they plan to raise prices in 2022 for a range of products from macaroni-and-cheese to snacks, the latest sign that consumers will continue to face higher costs at the supermarket. Produce, dairy and packaged food such as bread and juice are among many items set to become more pricey next year. Food prices are estimated to rise 5% in the first half of 2022, according to research firm IRI, though the level of increases will vary by grocers and regions. The Wall Street Journal
New Jersey State Police said firearms targets caused several loud explosions on Christmas Day that led to a mixture of fear and confusion among some Sussex County residents. Police responded to the area of County Road 560 near the border of Wantage and Sandyston around 4:30 p.m. Saturday for “the report of explosions.” Officers determined the source of the noises to be Tannerite, an explosive often used for target practice by shooting enthusiasts. New Jersey Herald
Data from Jersey City showed Via, the city’s rideshare service, is getting slightly slower. Mayor Steven Fulop posted on social media that the average wait time for a Via ride was up by 10% this quarter over the last quarter to an average 22.7 minutes. Meanwhile, the on-time rate fell to 65% this quarter, from 75% last quarter. Via said the longer delays were a result of increased demand for the service, as well as damage during Hurricane Ida. The Jersey Journal
And finally…Desmond M. Tutu, the cleric who used his pulpit and spirited oratory to help bring down apartheid in South Africa and then became the leading advocate of peaceful reconciliation under Black majority rule, died on Dec. 26 in Cape Town. The New York Times
