Murphy declares state of emergency over coronavirus concerns

Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Monday amid growing concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the state, which now has 11 people who have tested positive.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey rose to 11 on Monday. Officials also said 24 additional people in the Garden State are under investigation as potential infection cases by the state Department of Health.

“The State of New Jersey is committed to deploying every available resource, across all levels of government, to help respond to the spread of COVID-19 and keep our residents informed,” Gov. Phil Murphy… Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth University Polling Institute Cancels “Show Must Go On” Seminar

Monmouth University has cancelled an event scheduled for March 11 entitled Show Must Go On: Government Relations and Policymaking in Election Season.

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O’Scanlon: COVID-19 is cause for diligence, not panic

Senator notes that current pandemic is a historical reminder of the pre-vaccine world

Senator Declan O’Scanlon issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has reached two communities within his district, Little Silver and Hazlet:

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Fiore will not seek reelection in Middletown

Middletown Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore

Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore will not seek a 5th consecutive term on the Middletown Township Committee.

In a February 29 email to Middletown’s Republican leadership, Fiore said, “My recent expanded responsibilities at work (which include many nights of travel) coupled with my most important responsibilities as a husband and father, will make it impossible for me to continue to serve the Committee the only way I know how, at 110%.”

“The Township is in better shape than it was when I came into office 12 years ago,” Fiore said in a phone interview. “That’s what I’m most proud of.”

First elected in 2008 in the wake of Operation Bid Rig, the investigation by Chris Christie’s U.S. Attorney’s Office that resulted in the indictment and convictions of many Monmouth County elected officials including a Middletown Township Committee member, Fiore has been the driving force in reforming Middletown’s municipal government.

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Breaking: Monmouth County has two cases of coronavirus

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone told MMM there are two presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Monmouth County.

The two presumptive cases are:

• Female, 83, in Hazlet being treated at Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center
• Male, 27,  in Little Silver, being treated at Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center (recently attended the Biogen conference in Boston)

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Murphy discharged from hospital following surgery, resumes duties as governor

Gov. Phil Murphy was discharged from the hospital Saturday after he underwent hours-long surgery to remove a likely cancerous tumor from his kidney three days prior, his office said Sunday morning.

Murphy’s office announced in a statement the governor “resumed the duties” of the job Saturday evening.

The governor is expected to recuperate at his Middletown home over the next couple of weeks. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver served as acting governor while Murphy was in the hospital and state officials reacted to the rising number of people to test positive for the coronavirus. At least four people in the state… Read the rest of this entry »

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Look who’s giving Coronavirus advice! The lovebug of the anti-vaxxer movement | Editorial

Sen. Michael Testa, sounding grave and responsible in a recent news release, is now among the public officials warning us all to pay attention to the science on the Coronavirus. That’s good advice. Why not take it yourself, senator?

The science on childhood vaccines is equally clear, and he’s rejecting it. This man is the legislative darling of the folks who send their kids to school totally anti-vaccinated, because some holistic blogger said that a deadly viral outbreak is a beautiful and natural thing.Yet here he is, reminding the rest of us that we’ve got to trust the experts, and ignore the… Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Smith’s remarks to the NJ GOP Leadership Summit

Congressman Chris Smith is scheduled to address the attendees of the NJ GOP Leadership Summit in Atlantic City this afternoon.

The following are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

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Burlington GOP said it “thoroughly vetted” Gibbs

By Art Gallagher

Burlington County GOP Chairman Sean Earlen

Burlington County Republican Chairman Sean Earlen has some explaining to do.

According to a December 21, 2019 article in the Pine Barrens Tribune, the Burlington County Republican Screening Committee put Kate Gibbs, a former Burlington Freeholder, through a “thorough vetting process” prior to endorsing her for the CD-3 nomination to challenge freshman Congressman Andy Kim at the December 7, 2019 nominating convention.

Earlen is a former mayor of Lumberton, Gibb’s hometown.

A “thorough vetting process” is time consuming and expensive. It is one of the most important roles of Party leadership. Voters, donors and other leaders alike depend on Party leaders to put forth candidates with the records and character worthy of the offices they are seeking.

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Greg’s List: Things to Do in Monmouth County this Weekend, March 6-8, 2020

By Greg Kelly

Friday, March 6:

• ‘Gemini” at Monmouth U. (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live at Count Basie (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Men’s College Basketball: Monmouth U. vs. Siena (WLB) –MORE INFO
• “The Promotion” at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• “Footloose” by CBA Pegasus Production Co. (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• “Footloose” by R-FH Tower Players (Rumson) – MORE INFO
• “Same Time, Next Year” by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• “August Wilson’s Radio Golf” at Two River Theater (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at JSAC (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO

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