Tuesday Dec 21 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: Overcast. High near 45F. 

- 27 new covid cases in Lakewood totals 17994/328

- 36 cases in Jackson 9026/123

- 65 cases in Toms River 15197/362 

- This evening Long lines snaking out the doors at Urgent care centers in Lakewood with the Flu virus rampant.

- Phil Murphy: state officials will do “everything we can” to keep having in-person classes in schools across New Jersey after the upcoming winter break, even as COVID-19 cases are surging at record levels.Will implement the  “test and stay” program that will allow exposed students to take rapid COVID tests at school, if negative no need to quarantine.

- Israel to offer 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over the age of 60 and medical personnel

- Murphy: We currently have over 100 free and public COVID-19 testing sites throughout New Jersey. Stay safe this holiday season and get tested: 

- Missionaries attempt to distribute literature in lakewood by going into food establishments and shuls 

- Murphy says he is ready to sign the Reproductive Freedom Act, which will legalize full term abortions in NJ.

NYC just offered a new $100 incentive for all NYC residents who get boosters before Jan. 1, 2022.

- Khal Yaakov Akiva of Raintree surpassed their goal to raise funds for expansion so the children will have a seat to daven in shul. $491,772

- Lakewood is ranked  number 6 in top 10 safest midsize cities in the US

- Flu virus continues to rage in the community with many children coming down with it.

-LPD: The Toms River man charged in a double homicide in Lakewood on Sunday was friends with at least one of the victims and also carried out the killings with children around, according to a police complaint. (App)

- Several residents held protest signs against covid child vaccination at the CHEMED vaccine center on New Hampshire Ave 

- Some gevirim are exploring options to build affordable homes and rental units for youngeleit as prices soar and there is a shortage of available apts. Rumors swirling of possibly buying land from the college near yeshiva

- APP reports on the funding formula case. R' Aaron Lang a Lakewood Lawyer and school funding advocate is appealing a state education commissioner’s decision not to seek changes in how New Jersey funds its public schools. Which hurts Lakewood students and families.

- Trump said he has good friends in Lakewood at a recent fundraiser for Jeff Van Drew in Mar a lago. Lnn

- Over 750 residents signed a petition to stop the transfer station in Lakewood sign here help get it to 1000

- Both houses of the legislature in NJ approved a measure that would formally codify same gender Toeva marriage into the state statutes; currently, marriage equality is protected only by judicial order, meaning that it would be vulnerable if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v. Hodges. The Senate vote was 35-4, with State Sen Robert Singer (R-Lakewood) opposed. There is no religious exemption which means shuls and wedding halls can be sued if they discrimanate against a toeva wedding. It will have to go to court 

- Australia reports 4,565 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase on record

- Israel added the United States to its “no-fly” list, citing concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron. Israelis would need special permission to fly to the United States.

- Israel religious affairs minister Matan Kahana who was appointed to oversee Lag Baomer in Meron said that this year it will be entirely different and he is looking into possibly having a Mizrachi Rav light the hadlaka instead of the Boyaner rebbe who lights it every year since the Ruzhin chasidim bought the rights years ago.