Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on television Feb. 23 that he had decided “to carry out a special military operation” in Ukraine, followed immediately by explosions that were reported across the country. Blasts were heard in Kyiv, the capital; in Kharkiv, the second largest city; and in Kramatorsk in the region of Donetsk, one of two eastern Ukrainian territories claimed by Russia-backed separatists since 2014. Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.” The New York Times
President Joe Biden in a written statement condemned the “unprovoked and unjustified attack,” and he promised that the U.S. and its allies would “hold Russia accountable.” The president said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. News12 New Jersey
The U.S. and its allies are poised to unveil further, sweeping sanctions against Russia after Moscow launched its military attack on Ukraine, hoping a fresh tranche of penalties will punish Russia and persuade it to ratchet down hostilities. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union will place “massive and targeted” sanctions on Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, aiming at its financial sector, freezing Russia assets and banning the export of technology to Russia. The Wall Street Journal
Two years to the day of the first COVID-19 case in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said he will hold his last in-person briefing next week. “As we move into our new normal and transition from a pandemic stance to an endemic one, there is no longer the need for us to gather at a set time every week,” said Murphy at his weekly press briefing Feb. 23. “It’s not saying we defeated this thing but that we can start responsibly living in its midst.” The announcement that March 4 will be the final weekly briefing comes on the same day that hospitalization related to COVID was under 1,000 for the first time in three months. North-JerseyNews.com
The New Jersey Department of Health released its guidance of when a school district should return to a face mask mandate after the policy is lifted on March 7. The health department recommends schools require masks in the instances that include periods of elevated community transmission, during an active outbreak, after returning from isolation or quarantine, when illness occurs in school and during test-to-stay. The Record
New Jersey’s Department of Health spent more than $90 million for a contract with a subsidiary of Navient Corp. to create a vaccine call center to answer resident questions and to help make vaccine appointments. The Health Department said overall, it fielded 3.7 million incoming calls, but not all callers spoke to a live agent. Live agents from the call center handled 990,186 of the incoming calls. The call center made 10 million outbound calls, including many that were automated, and it sent 5.3 million text messages to residents in the first seven months of the year. NJ.com
State lawmakers in Trenton will go to work under looser COVID-19 health protocols starting Feb. 25. A policy that required all people entering the State House to show proof of vaccination or a negative test has been dropped. After a meeting last week, the State Capitol Joint Management Commission announced the lifting of the vaccination requirement. A mask requirement remains in effect, something with which Republican lawmakers continue to disagree with. NJ Spotlight News
New Jersey is sending more than 100 troops from its National Guard to Washington, D.C., as officials prepare for potential trucker convoys and protests around President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address March 1. Both the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police requested help from New Jersey and other areas as the convoys head to the nation’s capital. The Pentagon approved up to 700 troops from the national guards in D.C., New Jersey, Vermont, and West Virginia, expected to deploy in the coming days. NJ.com
The Biden Administration on Feb. 24 outlined dozens of measures the federal government can take to strengthen freight transportation and infrastructure following almost two years of supply-chain turmoil that has frustrated American businesses and helped fuel inflation. The administration report identifies near-, medium- and long-term policies aimed at improving the flow of goods from ports to distribution facilities and delivery to homes. They range from investing in port infrastructure and roads to working more closely with local governments and private companies such as shipping and logistics firms, importers and exporters. The Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide more than $15.4 million to support an electric vehicle charging network within the Garden State. The funds, which could be used along I-287, I-80, and I-78 are part of a larger Biden Administration effort to provide nearly $5 billion over five years to help states in creating these charging stations across designated “Alternative Fuel Corridors,” particularly along the Interstate Highway System. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill…will help expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in towns and on highways across the nation, to make it easier for more families to transition to EVs,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer. North-JerseyNews.com
Brian Varela, a former aide to Gov. Chris Christie, has announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 8th district where Rep. Albio Sires is retiring. Varela, the owner of a North Bergen-based digital marketing and web development firm, worked in Christie’s communications and press shop during his first year as governor in 2010. The front-runner to succeed Sires is Robert J. Menendez, an attorney and Port Authority commissioner who has secured Democratic organization endorsements in Hudson and Union counties. New Jersey Globe
The Paterson City Council refused to sign off on a significant portion of Mayor Andre Sayegh’s plans for spending the city’s funding from the federal COVID-relief program. The council voted down an $18.1 million package that included $2 million for the proposed Great Falls Visitor Center, $1 million for violence intervention programs, $1 million for cameras to catch people illegally dumping garbage, and $500,000 for a community center. The council did give its approval to a revised $3.1 million proposal that earmarked $2 million for employees working in hazardous conditions during the pandemic, $500,000 for consultants to help the city process its American Rescue Plan grants, and $600,000 for private firms to manage the city’s road repairs and recreation spending. The Record
Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey is “within weeks” of having existing medical weed dispensaries sell recreational cannabis to adults 21 and older after missing a self-imposed Feb. 22 to open the state for legal marijuana sales. “If I had to predict, we are within weeks — I would hope in March — you would see implicit movement on the medical dispensaries, some of them being able to sell recreational,” Murphy said during an appearance on WBGO in Newark Feb. 23. “They’ve got to prove they’ve got the supply for their medical customers. I hope shortly thereafter, the standalone recreational marijuana operators.” NJ.com
While the new state legislative map wasn’t dramatically redrawn compared to congressional map’s last year, it represents significant changes in North Jersey that will see Assembly members switching districts and possible primary races of sitting State Senators. Garnering the most headlines were the changes in North Jersey that could possibly have incumbent State Sen. Brian Stack (D-33) square off State Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-32) in Hudson County’s 33rd Legislative District and State Sens. Richard Codey (D-27) and Nia Gill (D-34) would be vying to represent Essex County’s 27th district. North-JerseyNews.com
Newark will invest $2 million to support community-based organizations to combat hunger and food insecurity through Nourishing Newark Community Grants. The American Rescue Plan is the source of funds for this initial round of community grant funds, up to $350,000 to Newark organizations and coalitions. To be eligible for the grant, entities must have a physical establishment and/or programmatic focus to residents of Newark or a programming dedicated to combating food deserts, improving fresh/healthy food access and/or providing food assistance to households experiencing food insecurity due to COVID-19. ROI-NJ.com
Passaic County commissioners introduced a fourth consecutive budget with no net increase in taxes. The $464 million spending plan proposed for 2022 maintains a $348 million tax levy and investments in infrastructure and the Passaic County Park System. Set to be the subject of a public hearing on March 22, the budget is likely to preserve the average county tax bill as the state’s highest. While records show that the county coffers hold nearly $90 million in surplus, County Administrator Anthony DeNova said the COVID-19 outbreak has shown the value of capital reserves. The Record
Morristown officials unanimously opposed Morristown Airport’s application for grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. Although the airport is located in Hanover Township, it is operated as a municipal utility by Morristown making the council the sole sponsor for airport grant applications. The 10-year airport improvement project is phased into multi-year projects and will bring Runway 5-23 up to standards. Other improvements include replacing two corrugated metal culverts that were also installed in 1969 when the runway was extended. The funds will also replace an approach lighting system, also installed in 1969, and install access road and stormwater treatment devices. The Daily Record
The Franklin Borough Council will ask the Sussex County Board of Taxation to approve of a “multiyear reassessment” of property due to a recent spike in the price and number of homes sold. Tax Assessor Scott Holzhauer reported to the council that property values had sharply and quickly increased in the borough due to demand caused by the pandemic. As a result, it would be better if reassessments were conducted on an annual basis based on the previous year’s sales prices by an in-office comparison with other properties, rather than the in-person inspections. New Jersey Herald
The Jersey City Council is planning to vote at its Feb. 24 meeting to increase the fees for a variety of city functions, like issuing marriage licenses, parking permits and performing marriage ceremonies at City Hall. City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the updated fees “are relatively standard and simply fiscally responsible as these fees have remained unchanged for nearly 20 years.” Among the increases are Applying for a certified copy of a marriage or civil union license will cost $20 under the new ordinance, up from $15, and parking permits will cost $20 per year for the first vehicle and an additional $10 per vehicle after the first; the current system charges a flat fee of $15 per vehicle. The Jersey Journal
And finally….A Winter storm is ready to bring a mix of snow, sleet and rain to the North Jersey area overnight and into the morning. The Record
