Rep. Josh Gottheimer is leading a bipartisan push to ban U.S. imports of Russian energy in response to the country’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The Ban Russian Energy Imports Act would affect Russian crude oil, petroleum, liquefied natural gas and coal. “I’m proud to join forces — both across the aisle and across chambers — to help lead this critical bipartisan bill to ban Russian oil and petroleum from being imported to the United States,” said Gottheimer. “We have the opportunity to cut off Putin’s largest revenue source, to support America’s own energy independence and security, and to work with our allies to stabilize the global energy market to help us mitigate rising energy costs for our hardworking families.” North-JerseyNews.com
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukraine on March 7 to expect a renewed bombardment of major cities, as Russian forces attempt to renew their assault after being stalled by stiff resistance and suffering unexpected heavy losses. Zelensky warned that Russian forces are planning to bomb Ukraine’s major defense industry production sites, which are mostly located in heavily populated cities. “It is murder, simply murder,” he said in a speech aired overnight. The New York Times
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden Administration is actively pursuing ways to address Ukraine’s request for combat jets and to replenish Poland’s arsenal should it hand over Soviet-era planes to its besieged neighbor. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 5 made an impassioned plea to Capitol Hill for assistance in obtaining more lethal military aid, especially Russian-made jet fighters that Ukrainian pilots can fly. “We are looking actively now at the question of airplanes that Poland may provide to Ukraine and looking at how we might be able to backfill should Poland choose to supply those planes,” said Secretary Blinken. The Wall Street Journal
Gov. Phil Murphy announced the Statewide Public Health Emergency would be lifted effective March 7, the same day as the school mask mandate ends. “Like today’s briefing, this action marks the end of this phase in our war against the coronavirus as we make the transition from pandemic to endemic,” Murphy said on March 4. “With all we have done to ensure the preparedness of our healthcare system and with the advent of both the vaccines and treatments, we are ready to move forward and to not live our lives in fear. We have asked so much of each and every New Jerseyan for the past two years. You have overwhelmingly delivered and then some.” North-JerseyNews.com
Many students and teachers across New Jersey will not have to wear a mask in class today for the first time in over two years. Gov. Phil Murphy has left it to the individual districts to decide whether to keep the mask mandate in effect, or not. Some districts in New Jersey counties with low risk of transmission will have children and teachers keep masks on for now, including the North Jersey school districts of Newark and Paterson. News12 New Jersey
As masks officially come off for teachers and children, a majority of New Jerseyans agree with lifting the childcare and school settings mask mandate, according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. Forty-six percent “strongly agree” with Governor Murphy’s decision to end the mandate, 22% “somewhat agree,” 12% “somewhat disagree,” and 18% “strongly disagree.” Concern over COVID-19 remains at an all-time low since last June: 14% are currently “very worried” they or someone in their household will get sick from the coronavirus, 28% are “somewhat worried,” 26% “not very worried,” and another 32% “not worried at all.” InsiderNJ
Federal regulators have backed off on an immediate threat to cut off the Woodland Behavioral Health and Nursing Center in Andover from all Medicaid and Medicare funding. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said Woodland remains in violation of a litany of nursing home requirements and has until Aug. 15 to make major changes or face the termination of all federal funding. The nursing home, in the meantime, will be denied payment for any new admissions under Medicare and Medicaid that will continue “until substantial compliance is achieved, or termination occurs,” according to officials. Additionally, CMS said the facility will be hit with financial penalties, which have yet to be imposed. NJ.com
A convoy of truckers and supporters hit New Jersey roadways March 5 as part of an ongoing nationwide effort by citizens fighting for freedoms they believe were taken away during the pandemic. The north route of the New Jersey convoy—the latest in a series of protests by those opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates—sang the national anthem and came together in prayer before it rolled out from a Paramus parking lot. NJ1015.com
The State Senate Labor Committee will weigh a bill March 7 that would use federal aid dollars to pay off loans taken to prop up New Jersey’s unemployment trust fund. The bill would allow the unemployment tax rate to rise in the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years but would prevent the third increase from taking effect in fiscal year 2024. New Jersey owes the U.S. Treasury nearly $582 million for federal unemployment insurance loan advances, including nearly $23 million drawn in the current month. That debt accumulates 1.59% interest annually. New Jersey Monitor
Four Bergen County school districts will hold referendums on March 8 that ask voters to weigh in on school expansions, upgrades and repairs. The biggest proposal comes from the Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional High School District, which is looking for $55 million to fund a major expansion of Becton High School. The Haworth school district is asking voters to approve $8.3 million in additions and renovations to its sole, K-8 school building, Midland Park voters will weigh in on a proposed $5.6 million to install synthetic turf fields and modify and upgrade existing fields to address drainage issues, and Allendale and Upper Saddle River voters will weigh in on an $8.8 million spending proposal for improvements, classroom renovations and a new multipurpose field house for Northern Highlands Regional High School. The Record
Gov. Phil Murphy came to North Jersey to give a preview of his budget address with the announcement of a new property tax relief program. Murphy in Fair Lawn on March 3 unveiled the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program, a new initiative that would distribute $900 million in property tax relief to nearly 1.8 million homeowners and renters across the state during Fiscal Year 2023. “This program will provide direct property tax relief to households regardless of whether they own or rent,” said Murphy. “Through the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program, we can provide real support for families and seniors, helping them stay in the homes and communities they love.” North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey ranks ninth in the nation in venture capital dollars invested per state, according to a study by PitchBook. Innovation-focused companies in New Jersey secured $5.5 billion in 219 venture capital deals in 2021, up from $1.7 billion thorough 154 deals in 2020. The increase is even greater compared with 2017, when the state had $818 million in 143 venture capital deals. New Jersey’s No. 9 ranking is three spots higher than where it stood in 2020, when it was No. 12. ROI-NJ.com
Morris County Republicans will have a runoff election to award the organization line for Congress in the 7th and 11th district after party officials could not choose a candidate at their convention March 4. Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. and 28-year-old businessman John Henry Isemann will face off for the Morris GOP endorsement to take on Rep. Tom Malinowski in the 7th. In the 11th, where six Republicans were vying for the chance to run against Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the runoff will pit Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen against former Kinnelon Council President Larry Casha. New Jersey Globe
Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo lost the Morris County Republican organization line, imperiling his chances to win re-election to a fifth term. Instead, the organization line went to nine-term Commissioner Doug Cabana, former Commissioner Christine Myers, and Mendham Township Committeewoman and former mayor Sarah Neibart. Cabana was first with 390 votes, followed by Myers (386) and Neibart (336). Mastrangelo finished fourth with 261 votes, and Pequannock Mayor Melissa Florance-Lynch received 233 votes. The Daily Record
Former Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres got turned away at City Hall March 4 when he attempted to hand in voter petitions for him to run in Paterson’s mayoral election. In rejecting the two-foot-high stack of papers bound in several rubber bands, Clerk Sonia Gordon followed the instructions of Paterson law director Aymen Aboushi, who had advised her not to accept Torres’ petitions on the grounds that his 2017 criminal conviction precluded him from running for mayor. The Record
Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco is asking the courts to dismiss a legal complaint against him alleging that he violated the city’s campaign finance laws. DeFusco argued the complaint is “a truly unprecedented effort by the [city] to silence its political opposition by seeking to enforce a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional ordinance.” The complaint, which began back in 2019, was issued by City Clerk James Farina, alleging that DeFusco had gone over the city’s limits during his 2017 mayoral campaign. Hudson Reporter
The Morris County Board of Elections approved a revised map proposing new election ward lines in Dover after commissioners in February tabled a previous submission. The commissioners tabled the vote after the public comment period, during which several residents and one alderman raised allegations the lines were drawn to eliminate known challengers from the wards of two incumbent aldermen. The commissioners also approved new ward maps for five other municipalities: Denville, Lincoln Park, Morristown, Rockaway Township and Roxbury. The Daily Record
Gas prices are rising at the fastest pace ever as the war between Ukraine and Russia intensifies. New Jersey’s state average for a gallon of gas was up to $4.09 Sunday, an 11-cent increase from a day before. On Monday, the average sits at $4.17. The national average jumped nearly 10 cents from Sunday, and now sits at $4.06. News12 New Jersey
As much as $150,000 a year in state and local funds is now available to visually rejuvenate Newton’s historic district. The program, administered by the state’s Department of Community Affairs, is for up to five years, with the town providing up to $25,000 from its budget each year, with a major component of public participation in determining what is needed. Projects could range from outdoor murals, to new planters along Spring Street and matching grants to storekeepers to upgrade the façade of their buildings. New Jersey Herald
OPINION: Restating Our Commitment in Year 3. In Washington and Trenton last week, President Joe Biden and Gov. Phil Murphy both pivoted away from governing through the lens of COVID-19. It is time for us to do that as well when it comes to covering North Jersey. We are proud of the coverage we have provided the last two years and appreciate the feedback—both supportive and not-so-supportive—as it helps us determine the issues we provide resources to. But the time has come to get back to our mission statement as we begin Year 3: an independent news organization focused on covering the political decisions by North Jersey lawmakers. North-JerseyNews.com
And finally…Rutgers Men’s Basketball team beat Penn State on Senior Day, clinching a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. NJ.com
