OPINION: Democracy in Danger. The Supreme Court is just the latest pillar in U.S. society to be viewed harshly through a partisan spectrum, part of a more disturbing trend in the U.S. that threatens our way of life. This is not a Blue or Red State problem, a Democrat or Republican problem, a Liberal or Conservative problem. This is an American problem caused by the extremes of society. From a political point of view, attacks that serve no purpose are rewarded more often than those who cross party lines to pass legislation that benefits the country. The institutions in our country are not above reproach; the great advantage about our democracy is the ability to challenge and change our society’s pillars to make them better. But how we are currently doing it is damaging, not just domestically but worldwide. It is something we all need to work on and speak out against to make our country better. North-JerseyNews.com
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue at least one opinion on May 23 as it closes out one of its most contentious sessions in recent years. The court has 35 cases from this term on which it still has yet to issue opinions on, including those focused on abortion, gun rights, the separation of church and state, immigration, environmental rule-making, and election and business law. The court usually concludes issuing its decisions from the term by early July. The Wall Street Journal
The House select committee investigating the events around the failed insurrection attempt has named the politician Rep. Mikie Sherrill said led a reconnaissance tour the day before Jan. 6, 2021. The letter from the bipartisan select committee to Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) seeks his voluntary cooperation in regards to his actions inside the U.S. Capitol Jan. 5. “Based on our review of evidence in the Select Committee’s possession, we believe you have information regarding a tour you led through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021,” the letter states May 19. “The foregoing information raises questions to which the Select Committee must seek answers.” Sherrill in a press statement said “Sadly, nothing in the January 6th Committee’s letter surprises me.” North-JerseyNews.com
Everyone age 5 and older in New Jersey who have completed their primary series is now eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot. The announcement on May 19 from the New Jersey Department Of Health comes after the recommendation from the federal Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) to expand the Pfizer COVID-19 booster to 5- through 11-year-olds. The new cohort is eligible for a booster dose five months after completing their primary series. Additionally, CDC strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first. North-JerseyNews.com
Three doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine offer strong protection for children younger than 5, the company announced May 23. Pfizer plans to give the data to U.S. regulators later this week in a step toward letting the littlest kids get the shots. The 18 million tots under 5 are the only group in the U.S. not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. News12 New Jersey
The Philadelphia school system has reinstated a mask mandate starting May 23. William R. Hite Jr., the superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, announced that “all school district students and staff will be required to wear their masks during the school and work day and while riding on school buses and vans” until further notice. The superintendent emphasized that the district was remaining flexible to adjust to new threats from COVID-19 when he wrote “as we’ve learned since the pandemic began, the coronavirus continues to evolve and so too will our response to it.” The New York Times
New Jersey on May 22 reported no new COVID-19 deaths and 3,163 new confirmed cases as 10 counties remain at “high” risk for coronavirus transmission. There were 793 patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases at the state’s 69 of 71 hospitals. Of those hospitalized, 108 were in intensive care and 39 were on ventilators. New Jersey’s statewide transmission rate was 1.25 with the positivity rate at 12.3% for tests conducted on May 18. NJ.com
A former top health official who helped lead the state’s initial COVID-19 response has asked a judge to force the Murphy Administration to say who ordered a “secret criminal investigation” that led to his firing. Nearly two years after Christopher Neuwirth filed a whistleblower lawsuit, his attorneys want the health commissioner, the attorney general and Gov. Phil Murphy’s chief of staff to explain who they claim was behind a “retaliatory” investigation. State officials have “made clear they will not answer the questions…Enough is enough and the court’s intervention is now needed,” Chris Eibeler, an attorney for Neuwirth, said in a motion filed May 19 in Superior Court in Mercer County. The Record
Three months after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, judges handed down the first guilty verdict for a Russian soldier tried for war crimes. Russian Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, was convicted of shooting a 62-year-old civilian, in the northern region of Sumy in the first days of the war, guilty of violating the laws and customs of war and of committing premeditated murder. Shishimarin, who had pleaded guilty at the start of the trial last week, was sentenced to life in prison by Ukrainian judges. The New York Times
President Joe Biden said the U.S. would respond militarily to defend Taiwan if China tries to take it by force. “Yes. That’s the commitment we made,” Biden stated in answering if the U.S. would get involved militarily in response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan after declining to send American troops to Ukraine to fight Russia’s invasion. The President stressed that the U.S. remains committed to the bedrock “One China policy,” which recognizes the present rulers as the only legitimate government and acknowledges—but doesn’t endorse—Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is a part of the nation. But the president said that policy doesn’t give China the right to forcefully take over the island. The Wall Street Journal
A military plane carrying enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived May 22 in Indianapolis, the first of several flights expected from Europe aimed at relieving a shortage that has sent parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children. President Joe Biden authorized the use of Air Force planes for the effort, dubbed “Operation Fly Formula,” because no commercial flights were available. News12 New Jersey
Inflation, abortion, gun control and other national topics were discussed at the 8th Congressional District primary debate, among three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for an open seat in Congress in the November election. Rob Menendez, the son of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, David Ocampo Grajales, a health-care start-up worker, and Ane Roseborough-Eberhard, a public school teacher, are all running in the primary to succeed retiring Rep. Albio Sires, and attended the debate to talk about the issues at hand. Hudson Reporter
New Jersey would require all police officers across the state to be licensed under proposed legislation put forward by Gov. Phil Murphy and Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on May 18. The new requirements would enable the Police Training Commission (PTC) to issue such licenses, and all police officers across the state would be required to hold a valid and active license to be employed in that capacity. More than 40 other states already employ such a program. “These licenses should be held with honor as they show that these officers have been through rigorous training and have upheld what it means to be a law enforcement officer to the highest professional standards,” said Murphy. North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said a shortage of judges is leading to a massive backlog in the state’s legal system. Some court cases are taking three to five years to close, including divorces and personal injury cases and even some criminal cases are held up, putting a person’s civil liberty at stake. Rabner explained that 17% of the trial court bench is vacant and it’s only expected to get worse as several judges will retire soon. NJ Spotlight News
A Jersey Shore lawmaker is calling on the Murphy administration to take action in the wake of a viral pop-up party that resulted in arrests and a curfew in Long Branch. Police on the scene used tactical gear and resorted to a flash-bang and smoke to help disperse an unruly crowd that resulted in at least 15 arrests this past weekend. “Our shore towns are at constant risk of spontaneous surges of young partiers that flood the streets, intimidate residents and visitors, disrupt businesses and overwhelm local law enforcement,” State Sen. Bob Singer (R-30) said May 22 in a written statement. “The task force will help bring the organizers to justice and end the fear created by this chaos.” NJ1015.com
Passaic will open a second police substation in the 1st Ward. The substation will be on Passaic Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets, an area with a higher crime rate. The temporary substation will be in operation around the clock and have video surveillance augmenting a similar video monitoring system a few blocks away at Sixth and Passaic streets. The Record
Public safety authorities in Hoboken will host a series of informal public meetings with residents to increase awareness of public safety initiatives and education campaigns. The Hoboken Community and Public Safety (CAPS) forums will be held every other month and include short presentations from each public safety division on current public safety trends in Hoboken and safety tips. The public safety divisions include the Office of Emergency Management, Hoboken Police Department, Hoboken Fire Department and Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corp. The Jersey Journal
A defamation lawsuit filed by former Sussex County Republican State Committeeman Bill Hayden against Sussex County Democratic leaders was dismissed last month after Hayden missed a court filing deadline. Hayden, a candidate for Sussex County Commissioner in the upcoming June 7 Republican primary, alleged that that Democrats accused him of being the face of a domestic terror organization, a White supremacist, and a member of the Oath Keepers, the Sons of Liberty and the Proud Boys. Superior Court Judge William J. McGovern issued a warning in another Hayden lawsuit —this one filed against Rep. Josh Gottheimer—will be similarly dismissed for lack of prosecution in July. New Jersey Globe
A company that fired an employee after she criticized the Black Lives Matter movement online did not break the law, an appellate panel ruled May 20. Heather McVey sued the AtlantiCare and Geisinger health systems, alleging the First Amendment did not allow them to fire her because of her Facebook posts. But the appellate judges decision rejects her argument, saying federal law stipulates only governments—and not private actors—can be held liable for breaches of constitutional rights. The court cited a 1998 state Supreme Court decision involving a public employee and employer that held racist remarks are not protected by the First Amendment or the New Jersey Constitution. New Jersey Monitor
New Jersey’s black bear population appears to be increasing, based on the number of reported serious encounters with humans. But as the state has had no official bear management plan for the last two years, the Division of Fish and Wildlife doesn’t know for sure. The last count was done in 2020 and coincided with the last statewide bear hunt. At that time there were about 3,158 bears in North Jersey, specifically in the areas previously designated as bear hunting zones north of Route 80 and west of Route 287. Records show that reported serious encounters with bears since the count have gone up nearly ninefold. New Jersey Herald
And finally…American Pickers is coming to the Garden State this August. The Record
