Wednesday March 5 News Updates Lakewood

- Weather: 58° — Windy with rain developing this afternoon. Thunder possible. Winds 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain: 100%. Strong thunderstorms, including heavy rain and gusty winds, could cause power outages in New Jersey starting Wednesday afternoon, according to the latest forecast. A wind advisory will be in effect from noon to 6 p.m. for Atlantic, southeast Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, and Ocean counties.

-President Trump is expected to issue an executive order as soon as Thursday aimed at abolishing the Education Department, according to people briefed on the matter.

- NYPD has arrested  multiple pro Hamas students protesting  at Barnard College after there was a bomb threat.  There's reports NYPD appears to be releasing protesters without identifying them

-More traffic on Central ave- Nightly road closures on Central Avenue between Sunset Road and New Central Avenue for next few weeks due to construction work by NJ american water. Detour has caused sunset rd to get backed up towards James. Next Thursday, Purim night, the rd may be shut as well.

- Attorney General Andrew Bailey of Missouri:

I am demanding the DOJ investigated whether President Biden’s cognitive decline allowed unelected staff to push through radical policy without his knowing approval. If true, these executive orders, pardons, and all other actions are unconstitutional and legally void.

- The hostages gave  president Trump a plaque with the inscription in Hebrew: כל המציל נפש אחת כאילו הציל עולם ומלואו

- Trump issues statement to Hamas:

Shalom Hamas" means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!

- Trump: Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that it's gotten better, but I said, "That's not good enough." The call ended in a "somewhat" friendly manner! He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what's going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck Justin!

- Again Central Avenue construction is causing 40-minute backups, but township officials have not provided updates on what is being done or how long it will take. There are no officers directing traffic, and only one lane is open leading into Route 9. Crews have also closed and  narrowed Carranetta Road at the intersection with Central Avenue to a single lane for right turns.

U.S. Supreme Court: The court has ruled 5-4 that the Trump administration must send $2 billion for USAID contracts. Justices Roberts and Barrett joined the liberal justices.

Property Taxes: According to new data released by the state Department of Community Affairs, the average property tax bill in New Jersey for 2024 was $10,095, up $292, or 3%, compared to 2023 — a new high. The most expensive county was Essex, at $13,900. The cheapest was Cumberland, at $4,901. (Shlomo Schorr)

Giyus: The Attorney General instructs Defense Minister Katz that the government is not meeting its recruiting goals. The principle of equality must be enforced, and draft orders should be sent to the ultra-Orthodox. The law must be enforced.

Satmar Fleish: Despite Trump's 25% tax on imported meat from Canada, the "Satmar Fleish" meat shop in Williamsburg announces that they are not raising prices.

Ocean County: Rental costs in Ocean County rose from $2,748 in January 2024 to $2,909 in January 2025, a 5.85% increase. The second highest in the state

LSTA Transportation: Parents are facing sticker shock with increased busing costs for both courtesy and non-courtesy riders. For those outside the regular system (like in Jackson), they must pay an additional amount on top of the aid in lieu. Some parents were paying an additional $600–$700 per child, while others are now being told they’ll have to pay an extra $3,000 once LSTA takes ove transportation. Courtesy parents living within a mile of the school were allegedly told they will have to pay $1,000 per child instead of the $360 fee that all other courtesy parents pay.

The deadline to submit LSTA forms is March 6.

Ben Shapiro: "The Congressional Democrats are, by and large, just spoiled brat Columbia University tentifada attendees who somehow got elected to office. Their antics and attitude were identical. Truly an astonishing display of arrogance, incompetence, and puerile stupidity."

Ted Cruz: "Democrats wouldn't clap for the families of Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, the 13-year-old boy with brain cancer, or the kid of a fallen police officer. In all 13 State of the Unions I've attended, I have never seen such a disgraceful display from the Democrats."

- BDE: R' Mordche Zafir, 55, of Kiamesha Lake, New York, a member of the Vizhnitz community, was tragically killed early Wednesday morning in a devastating accident on Route 17 in Chester, New York. The crash occurred just before 2 a.m. near Exit 126 for Routes 17M and 94, leaving his 17-year-old son in critical condition and several others injured. The name for Tehillim is Kalman Yehoshua Ben Esther Malka Bracha. Authorities have yet to confirm reports that the accident may have been caused by a wrong-way driver. The driver of the other vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Levaya will take place today in Kiamesha, followed by another Levaya at the Vizhnitz BM in Monsey.

Early Voting in New Jersey: New Jersey has expanded early in-person voting for state primaries, starting with June’s gubernatorial and Assembly races. The bill, signed into law this week, extends the state's early voting period for primary elections from three to six days, starting one week before Election Day and continuing through the Sunday prior. Assemblyman Schnall was a sponsor on the bill.

MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow: They have been blasted as “sick and twisted” after they shamelessly politicized President Trump making 13-year-old cancer survivor Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel an honorary Secret Service agent. Maddow bizarrely accused Trump of being “disgusting” for spotlighting DJ’s heroic battle with cancer, a battle that initially had a grim prognosis.

Speaker Mike Johnson: “President Trump’s speech wasn’t a speech for the mainstream media, it was a speech for the American people.” He criticized the Democrats' behavior, calling it unserious and embarrassing, contrasting it with the "forward-looking" vision presented by Republicans.

Trump’s Remarks: “I look at the Democrats in front of me — I realize, there’s nothing I can say to make them happy, stand, or smile or applaud. I could find a cure to the most devastating disease, or announce the answers to the greatest economy in history, or stop crime at the lowest levels ever. And these people, sitting RIGHT HERE, will not clap, stand, or cheer for these achievements. They won’t, no matter what. Five times I’ve been up here.”

Lakewood School Board: The Lakewood school board is facing scrutiny for how it spends its money, especially in light of state loans it has been receiving since 2014. The question arises: why would a district, in need of funding, agree to a contract that compensates its attorney an amount that dwarfs the annual compensation of any other New Jersey school board attorney? The answer remains elusive, and it appears no one outside the inner circle of Lakewood Schools has the full answer.(APP)

- Purim morning kollel will take place at fountain Ballroom following a netz minyan with  a 2 hour learning seder matan schara $100