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Undocumented Immigrants Block NJ Turnpike In Protest, Murphy Pledges COVID Financial Relief Undocumented Immigrants Block NJ Turnpike In Protest, Murphy Pledges COVID Financial Relief
Undocumented Immigrants Block NJ Turnpike In Protest, Murphy Pledges COVID Financial Relief Protesters demanding more financial aid for undocumented immigrants and other "excluded workers" impacted by COVID-19 blocked part of the New Jersey Turnpike Monday. The caravan of vehicles -- organized by a coalition called "Y Nosotros Que" -- stopped northbound turnpike traffic about 5:45 p.m. between Exits 12 and 13 in Middlesex County, New Jersey State Police said. When state troopers arrived, the protesters had left and traffic was moving, a State Police spokesman said. Last month, Murphy announced that $40 million would be distributed to undocumented immigrants and others unable to q…

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by Jon Craig
News
NJ Increases Limit On Indoor Dining, Gyms, Salons To 50 Percent NJ Increases Limit On Indoor Dining, Gyms, Salons To 50 Percent
NJ Increases Limit On Indoor Dining, Gyms, Salons To 50 Percent New Jersey businesses will soon be able to accommodate even more patrons inside. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that the limit on indoor gatherings will increase to 50 percent effective March 19. The order pertains to restaurants, fitness clubs and gyms, recreation and amusement facilities, barber shops, salons and other personal care businesses. The indoor capacity limit was set at 35 percent for the past five weeks. Indoor gatherings that are not religious services, funerals, weddings, political events, memorial services or performances will be capped at 25 individuals, up from 1…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Airline Bans Defiant NJ Gym Owner Over Maskless Trip From CPAC Home To Philly Airline Bans Defiant NJ Gym Owner Over Maskless Trip From CPAC Home To Philly
Airline Bans Defiant NJ Gym Owner Over Maskless Trip From CPAC Home To Philly A New Jersey gym owner who made headlines for refusing to close his facility at the onset of the pandemic is yet again causing more controversy. Ian Smith, 33 -- who owns Atilis Gym in Bellmawr -- is banned from American Airlines after refusing to wear a mask on a recent trip. Smith was flying in to Philadelphia after attending the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, and apparently refused to wear a mask on the flight, airline officials confirmed. Smith shared a screenshot of an email he received from the airline on Instagram. View this post o…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Phil Sent Me: Paterson PD Raids After-Hours Joints That Defied COVID Curfew Phil Sent Me: Paterson PD Raids After-Hours Joints That Defied COVID Curfew
Phil Sent Me: Paterson PD Raids After-Hours Joints That Defied COVID Curfew The doors were locked and the windows tinted or covered up while parties inside raged hours past the 10 p.m. COVID curfew. Paterson vice squad detectives raided three legitimate businesses-turned-speakeasies whose operators apparently thought no one was looking, authorities said Saturday. One of them wasn't even a bar, they said. Another, La Fuente Bar on Ellison Street, had its front security gates down and patrons ducking in through a back door after being cleared by the manager, city Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. Detectives knocked more than once, but the manager, 49-year…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
NJ Reports Single-Day Record For New COVID Cases, Figures Listed By County NJ Reports Single-Day Record For New COVID Cases, Figures Listed By County
NJ Reports Single-Day Record For New COVID Cases, Figures Listed By County New Jersey health officials on Thursday reported a single-day record of 6,314 new confirmed positive COVID-19 test results in the state – only the third time the number has exceeded 6,000 since the pandemic began. Hudson and Middlesex counties each topped 600 new confirmed positives. Bergen, Essex and Monmouth each exceeded 500. Passaic, Ocean and Camden counties each had 400 or more. Nine counties each had less than 200. The good news: Hospitalizations are beginning to drop again. The numbers reported Thursday increased the seven-day average for new confirmed positives in New Jersey to 4…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
New Year's Heave-Ho: Paterson Vice Squad Raids Restriction-Violating Bashes New Year's Heave-Ho: Paterson Vice Squad Raids Restriction-Violating Bashes
New Year's Heave-Ho: Paterson Vice Squad Raids Restriction-Violating Bashes An illegal New Year’s Eve gathering in Paterson might not have drawn much attention if wasn’t held on the top floor of a downtown warehouse. Same goes for a popular hookah lounge the city Vice Squad raided for COVID violations three times in the past two months. This time, authorities said, detectives advised the operators of Besan Café on East Railway that they had to be closed by 10 p.m. under an ongoing order issued by Gov. Phil Murphy’s to stem the spread of the coronavirus. When squad members showed up at 10:43 p.m., they found 15 patrons smoking hookahs, so they issued a vio…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
These 10 New Jersey School Districts Will Expand Pre-K With New $10M Grant These 10 New Jersey School Districts Will Expand Pre-K With New $10M Grant
These 10 New Jersey School Districts Will Expand Pre-K With New $10M Grant Ten New Jersey districts will be allowed to expand their Pre-K offerings in early 2021, thanks to a a new $10 million grant. Gov. Phil Murphy announced the award during Monday's COVID-19 briefing, noting the state was granted the funds following a competitive application process. "Every dollar we invest in early education is repaid many times over throughout a child’s life," the governor said. "Pre-K is an all-around win-win." School districts that were eligible to receive the award included those that had previously received partial state funding to address pockets of poverty or are based…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Nurse Celebrates Birthday By Becoming First NJ Healthcare Worker To Get COVID-19 Vaccine Nurse Celebrates Birthday By Becoming First NJ Healthcare Worker To Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Nurse Celebrates Birthday By Becoming First NJ Healthcare Worker To Get Covid-19 Vaccine University Hospital nurse Maritza Beniquez beamed and clapped her hands, as she became the first healthcare worker in New Jersey to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday morning. Her 56th birthday.  "This is the best birthday present ever!" the frontline nurse said with state officials by her side. "I couldn't wait for this moment to hit New Jersey. I couldn't wait for this moment to hit the U.S... to have this vaccine." University Hospital was one of six in the state to receive the Pfizer vaccine Monday, and an additional 53 hospitals in New Jersey were expected theirs later this…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Liquor Licenses Of 10 New Jersey Bars Suspended Over 'Knucklehead Behavior' Liquor Licenses Of 10 New Jersey Bars Suspended Over 'Knucklehead Behavior'
Liquor Licenses Of 10 New Jersey Bars Suspended Over 'Knucklehead Behavior' Ten New Jersey bars could have their liquor licenses suspended for violations of the state's public health executive orders, officials said. The violations were reportedly found during a campaign by the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to make sure establishments are following Gov. Phil Murphy's most recent order, which closes indoor food and beverage services between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The order also bans bar-side seating, and maintains the enforcement of mask-waring and social distancing. "It gives us no pleasure to file these charges, but our job is to protect both pu…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
CEO Of Englewood Firm Accused Of Event With 200 Guests, Drugs, Booze, COVID Violations Resigns CEO Of Englewood Firm Accused Of Event With 200 Guests, Drugs, Booze, COVID Violations Resigns
CEO Of Englewood Firm Accused Of Event With 200 Guests, Drugs, Booze, COVID Violations Resigns UPDATE: The chief operating officer of a civically-involved Englewood entertainment company announced Monday that his CEO has resigned in the wake of a raid of an after-hours party where police said they discovered crimes and COVID violations. Rasheed Goins, the chief operating officer of Feenx Entertainment, said he will be "taking over day to day operations going forward" following the resignation of Selom Gbate. Police said they found 200 or so partiers – few wearing masks or social distancing – along with drugs, alcohol and disabled fire alarms during a Nov. 29 pre-dawn raid of a space …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Murphy On Statewide Lockdown: Don't Believe The Rumors Murphy On Statewide Lockdown: Don't Believe The Rumors
Murphy On Statewide Lockdown: Don't Believe The Rumors Rumors of a New Jersey-wide lockdown are just that, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday: Rumors. "Just because we say all options are on the table doesn't mean we're about to exercise any of those options," the governor said during Monday's COVID-19 briefing. "We have made it clear over past weeks we're not in same situation we found ourselves in during the spring." As of Sunday night, New Jersey reported 2,961 COVID-19 patients in the hospitals, with 332 on ventilators. Our overarching aim: to ensure the stability of our health care system.We took the steps we did in the spring because the …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
8 Newark Businesses Cited For Violating COVID-19 Orders In 2 Days 8 Newark Businesses Cited For Violating COVID-19 Orders In 2 Days
8 Newark Businesses Cited For Violating Covid-19 Orders In 2 Days Eight Newark businesses were ticketed in the last two days for violating Gov. Phil Murphy's COVID-19 orders, local officials said. Even further, Mayor Ras J. Baraka urged Newark residents to follow a 10-day lockdown that began Nov. 25, after 41 percent of East Ward residents and 21 percent of residents citywide tested positive. The 21 percent citywide rate is more than twice the rate of the statewide rate. The eight businesses were cited for failing to follow the orders issued Nov. 16, decreasing indoor and outdoor gathering limits, Baraka said. “Because the number of residents who have t…

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by Cecilia Levine