Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-40) decried the governor’s administration over their updated rules for K-12 schools that excludes unvaccinated students from sports or extracurricular activities in areas where COVID-19 activity is very high. “Taking away school sports and extracurricular activities from children who are COVID negative and have already sacrificed so much these past two years is harmful, irresponsible and completely misguided,” DePhillips said, who added on a Facebook post that “we cannot allow one group of young kids to participate in extracurricular activities and sideline another based on vaccination status….Our children’s mental health is paramount.” North-JerseyNews.com
All 21 of New Jersey’s counties are now red on the state’s COVID activity map, meaning there is “very high” virus spread statewide as the country deals with the largest surge in cases since the start of the pandemic. The map, called the COVID-19 Activity Level Report, switched from orange (”high) to red (”very high) last week for 11 counties. The new data, for the week ending Jan. 1, turned the remaining 10 counties red on this week’s map. The last time the majority of New Jersey counties were red on the map was in April 2020, during the statewide shutdowns at the start of the pandemic. NJ.com
The New Jersey National Guard is being sent into some of the state’s nursing homes and long-term care facilities to help respond to a soaring number of COVID-19 outbreaks amidst growing staffing shortages. Gov. Phil Murphy said the move will send members of the Guard to facilities experiencing staffing problems, protecting the health and safety of long-term-care residents “while the omicron variant surges throughout the nation.” Approximately 150 soldiers and airmen will be involved in the deployment, beginning on Monday, Jan. 10, at more than a dozen long-term care facilities around the state to help in a variety of tasks, including assisting residents in dressing and daily hygiene, feeding, testing and screening of staff, residents and visitors, and administrative support. News12 New Jersey
State Senate and Assembly committees Jan. 6 endorsed a 45-day extension of emergency powers exercised by Gov. Phil Murphy since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020. Murphy this week requested a 90-day extension for some administrative orders, directives and waivers because otherwise, under a law he signed last June ending the public health emergency, they will expire next Jan. 12. Democratic legislative leaders ultimately agreed to a scaled-back extension that, if approved Monday by the full Legislature and signed by Murphy, will mean the rules expire Feb. 25. The extension was approved by the Senate health and Assembly appropriations committees in party-line votes, with Democrats for it and Republicans opposed. NJ1015.com
New Jersey Institute of Technology became the latest college Jan. 6 to announce a booster requirement for all students, faculty and staff. All who are eligible for the additional immunization will need to show proof of a booster shot by Jan. 31, school officials said. At least seven colleges in the state have now mandated boosters, including Princeton University, Rutgers University, Drew University, Stevens Institute of Technology, St. Peter’s University and Felician University. NJ.com
Hudson County enacted a policy this week that will require unvaccinated employees who test positive for COVID-19 to use accrued time or go on unpaid leave until they recover. The employees, who will have to be tested twice weekly, will be responsible for any cost of the COVID-19 tests that is not covered by their health insurance provider. Currently, out of 3,000 county employees, 892 employees have not been vaccinated. The Jersey Journal
In his speech one year after the U.S. Capitol Riots, President Joe Biden in an impassioned speech went aggressively at former President Donald Trump and the need to confront Trumpism. “He values power over principle,” President Biden said of Trump whom he never mentioned by name. “Because he sees his own interests as more important than his country’s interest, and America’s interest. And because his bruised ego matters more to him than our democracy or our constitution” while accusing his predecessor of holding “a dagger at the throat of America, at American democracy.” The New York Times
Robert Menendez Jr. formally announced his candidacy on Jan. 6 to replace retiring Rep. Albio Sires in New Jersey’s heavily Democratic 8th District. The 36-year-old Menendez Jr., the son of Sen. Bob Menendez, said he is running as “this is a generation defining moment. How we move forward in a time of insurrection, global pandemic, and economic uncertainty will define the America we leave for our children to inherit and will take all of us working together to succeed. With our future, and our children’s future, at stake, we can no longer sit on the sidelines. That is why I am running for Congress and asking you to join with me in this fight.” PoliticoNJ
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson has asked the Bergen County Prosecutor to investigate a September 2021 incident where a protester allegedly screamed “Jew” at Rep. Josh Gottheimer as a possible hate crime. “To deny hate speech is to give bigots and racists power — whether against people of color or members of any faith,” said Johnson (D-37). “By denying the hate speech against Congressman Gottheimer ever occurred, despite the courageous confirmation by a member of President Biden’s cabinet, the (Working Families Party) leadership and their allies truly empower haters.” Officials for the Working Families Party said they investigated the allegation and denied it occurred. New Jersey Globe
Rep. Josh Gottheimer is urging school superintendents in the 5th Congressional District to make sure they use available federal meal program funds to combat hunger among North Jersey school children. “We cannot let a single child go hungry. It’s impossible for a child to succeed in school if he or she is hungry,” Gottheimer said. “As a strong proponent of clawing back federal funds to our communities, I believe that school districts must take advantage of these programs to help feed our children.” North-JerseyNews.com
More low-income seniors in New Jersey are eligible for discounted pharmaceutical drugs after the state increased its income threshold in two of its long-standing subsidy programs. The change means in part that individuals 65 and older who make less than $38,769 a year could buy generic drugs for $5 and name-brand drugs for $7. The discounts are available through two programs: The Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled and the Senior Gold Prescription Discount program. New Jersey Herald
Senate and Assembly committees approved a bill codifying New Jersey’s abortion protections into state law in a vote along party lines Jan. 6, but the bill lacks some provisions of the Reproductive Freedom Act championed by abortion rights advocates and Gov. Phil Murphy. The new bill would provide women with the right to choose whether to carry a pregnancy to term and bar other governments in the state from imposing limits on abortions. The Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act— as the newer bill is called—would eliminate the earlier bill’s mandate that insurance carriers provide coverage for abortions. But it would allow the Department of Banking and Insurance to require health plans provide abortion coverage if a study finds a requirement is necessary. New Jersey Monitor
State Senate President Steve Sweeney will appoint Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) to the board of directors of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Weinberg, who announced a year ago she wouldn’t seek re-election after three decades in Trenton, will resign from the Legislature on Jan. 7 to accept the new position. The Daily Record
A bill that would allow early and mail-in votes to be canvassed by county election boards prior to Election Day advanced through the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. The bill was drafted largely in response to last year’s general election, when slow vote counting in some counties caused election results in several races to remain undetermined for days or weeks after Election Day. New Jersey Globe
Four months after 1,000 students at Cresskill Middle/High School were displaced due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida, it remains uncertain when they’ll return to in-person learning on a full-time basis. While district officials are doing whatever they can to get students back into the classroom, they are facing numerous challenges, including the high cost of repairs, frustrated families and a significant amount of red tape. As the a parents group Get Cresskill Kids Back to School noted “We have 1,000 children (6th to 12th graders) who haven’t been in full day in-person learning for over 640 days. This is unacceptable and unbelievable.” North-JerseyNews.com
Cresskill and Franklin Lakes will hold special elections on Jan. 25 asking the public to vote on millions of dollars of improvements to their schools. Cresskill residents will be asked to approve $21.66 million to repair or replace to four boilers, univents and water pumps damaged by Tropical Storm Ida. Meanwhile, voters in Franklin Lakes are being asked to approve $20.9 million in repairs in four schools with a prioritized list of urgent projects including HVAC system upgrades, boiler replacements, window replacements and roof replacements. The Record
A report delving into the conflict between Englewood Cliffs Councilman Tim Koutroubas and acting Borough Administrator Carrol McMorrow concluded that Koutroubas behaved in a way that could “be reasonably seen” as harassment. The investigation was commissioned in May, around the time that Koutroubas sent mass emails to residents encouraging them to attend a May 18 council meeting. The emails—sent three times over the course of a few hours — were critical of both Mayor Mario Kranjac and McMorrow that the two wielded power at the expense of residents and highlighted McMorrow’s role in the local Republican party and the multiple lawsuits she had filed against the borough. The Record
The Hoboken City Council elected Councilman Michael Russo as council president and Councilwoman Emily Jabbour as Council vice president at their reorganization meeting on Jan. 5. The council appointed their new leadership in the first meeting of the year, which was held virtually instead of a hybrid format due to COVID-19 concerns in the city. Russo and Jabbour will succeed Council members Ruben Ramos and Jen Giattino respectively. Hudson Reporter
And finally…As the Giants and Jets finish their season Sunday, one local fan has filed a lawsuit asking them to leave New Jersey. NJ.com
