Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R-26) warns that Russia can expand the battlefield in its invasion of Ukraine, including targeting government and businesses in New Jersey. Barranco referenced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier this year stated cyber threats from Russia are a real concern. “Our state and region are at a high risk with a newly-aggressive Russia led by Dictator Putin,” Barranco said in a recent press statement. “I’m calling for needed safeguards and hardening of our utilities, personal and private data centers, as well as our financial data operations. We are, of course, the home of Jersey City which is now known as ‘West Wall Street’.” North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey “stands ready and able” to accept refugees from Ukraine as hundreds of thousands of the country’s residents flee during Russia’s military invasion of the country, Gov. Phil Murphy wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden on March 2. “We are a state built on the contributions of those who came here in search of safe harbor after leaving desperate situations, and we will extend a warm and sincere welcome to Ukrainians displaced by this senseless invasion,” Murphy wrote. NJ.com
Gov. Phil Murphy has directed all state agencies to temporarily suspend their relationships with businesses and financial institutions backed by the Russian government in response to the former Soviet country’s unprovoked and destructive siege on Ukraine. The executive order, signed March 2, requires state departments, boards and commissions to temporarily revoke any contracts, permits or licenses currently issued to companies controlled by Russia or Belarus, the latter of which has supported the Kremlin’s campaign, as well as their corporate investors. The Daily Record
The U.S. Justice Department announced the creation of a task force to go after billionaire oligarchs who have aided President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine, part of an effort by the Biden Administration to seize and freeze the assets of those who have violated sanctions. The task force will marshal the resources of various federal agencies to enforce the sweeping economic measures that the United States has imposed as Russia continues its unprovoked assault on Ukraine. The New York Times
Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order March 2 extending the COVID-19 booster shots deadline for hospital workers and those working in high-risk congregate settings, including correctional workers. The deadline for healthcare workers to get a COVID booster shot was moved to April 11 after the prior deadline passed this week with tens of thousands still without the shot. And the order extends the booster deadline for prison workers, group home employees and others who work in high risk congregate care settings to May 11. “This executive order ensures that our COVID-19 vaccination requirements for covered workers in medical and high-risk congregate settings are able to properly keep themselves and those whom they care for safe,” said Murphy. North-JerseyNews.com
Vaccination rates among state corrections workers jumped nearly eight percentage points since a vaccine mandate for prisons and other congregate settings went into effect last month. As of March 2, roughly 51% of Department of Corrections staff had received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, up from 43% on Feb. 16, when workers were required to have completed their first dose or face consequences that could include termination. A department spokeswoman said no disciplinary action has been taken over vaccine compliance. New Jersey Monitor
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said county government will change its focus from the pandemic to addressing new issues facing county residents—including rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, product shortages and price gouging. “After two years, I am here to tell you that we are no longer going to make every decision through the lenses of COVID,” Tedesco said in his remarks. “Instead, as we enter endemic status, we are moving Bergen County forward and getting back to prioritize what we paused when the pandemic hit.” New projects cited during the State of the County include the installation of broadband internet across all 70 municipalities and a new effort to solve bottlenecks on Route 17. The Record
Princeton University and Rowan University on March 2 separately announced they would end campus mask mandates in most settings as COVID-19 cases dropped across the region. Princeton, which reported 94% of the campus received a booster shot along with a 98% vaccination rate, will lift its indoor mask mandate in most areas beginning March 14 and cut back on its COVID-19 testing requirement for fully vaccinated individuals. Masks at Rowan University will be optional as of March 7 in most settings but required at some locations, including health care clinical settings, and for those exposed to someone with COVID-19. NJ1015.com
Roy’s Hall in Blairstown will no longer require masks or proof of COVID-19 vaccination as of this weekend as COVID cases continue to decrease. The Warren County theater and live music venue said starting March 5, shows will be sold to full capacity with no requirements regarding vaccines, face coverings or social distancing. While the mandates are being lifted, the venue’s COVID policy still “strongly” recommends wearing a mask regardless of vaccination status. The policy states that the venue “maintains a culture of non-judgment and no assumptions” toward those who wear face coverings. New Jersey Herald
Moody’s Investor Service upgraded New Jersey’s credit rating one notch to A2, the state’s first upgrade in 17 years. Moody’s partly attributed the rating upgrade to the completion of the debt reduction program and increased pension contributions, “which are consistent with improving governance and fiscal management.” The announcement comes after all four rating agencies upgraded New Jersey’s credit outlook from “negative” to “positive” in the wake of a $46.4 billion state budget signed last June. ROI-NJ.com
The Jan. 6 House Select Committee said in a court filing March 2 that then-President Donald Trump and some of his allies might have committed crimes by seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential election. The panel suggested it had evidence that Trump potentially engaged in conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstructed an official proceeding and committed fraud—serious federal charges that could eventually be referred to the Justice Department for consideration. The Wall Street Journal
North Jersey lawmakers expressed their support for President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union Address. “As America emerges from the pandemic, while confronting a new national security crisis in Europe, we must bring home manufacturing supply chains and become less dependent on foreign supplies of energy. As the president said, it’s time to ‘make it in America’—to lower costs for American consumers, to reduce our vulnerability to global upheaval, and to regain the strength our nation needs to lead the world,” said Rep. Tom Malinowski. North-JerseyNews.com
Close to 1 million drivers who have accounts with the New Jersey E-ZPass consortium will get a new transponder in the mail this year to replace old tags that are nearing the end of their useful life. Last November, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority started the process by approving an $8.4 million contract supplement with Conduent State & Local Solutions, Inc. to supply 920,000 E-ZPass transponders to replace those that will soon reach the end of their useful life. The new transponders will look similar to the old ones and will provide battery life for more than a decade. NJ.com
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is proposing changes to the city’s cannabis dispensary rules, in light of the local cannabis review board approving its first retail cannabis application. The amendments include limiting the number of dispensaries (medical and marijuana) in the city to a maximum of six, and a maximum of three per ward; require notice for residents within 200 feet for a proposed dispensary for a cannabis board meeting; and prohibiting dispensaries from being located 750 feet of any school or early childhood learning facility. Hudson Reporter
The Bergenfield Borough Council voted to allow a company to grow and manufacture cannabis in a vacant storefront on Washington Avenue. The 4-1 vote came after some residents voiced concerns that such a business along the borough’s main thoroughfare would encourage drug use and damage Bergenfield’s reputation. But officials said they felt an obligation to explore the possibility given the potential tax revenue at stake. The Record
And finally…Ron Harper Jr. saved Rutgers’ NCAA Tournament hopes with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat Indiana last night. NJ.com
