Monday November 24 News Updates Lakewood

Weather: 51° Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds

- President Trump has signed an Executive Order formally directing Secretary Rubio to begin the process of designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization

- WH press secretary Karoline Leavitt responds to James Comey taking a victory lap that his indictment was dismissed over "procedural issues" "The DOJ will be appealing this in very short order." "Maybe James Comey should pump the brakes on his victory lap.

- Ponovezh Yeshiva has submitted a formal request to the Tel Aviv District Court seeking judicial approval of the recent arbitration ruling issued by retired judge Dovid Cheshin. The move sets in motion a 15-day window for Rav Shmuel Markowitz to respond, either consenting to the ruling or filing an objection. The lawyer representing said he plans to appeal.

- Rush hour traffic:

Cedarbridge New Hampshire and Ave of the states Traffic lights out police directing traffic.

 Cross Street and Faraday Avenue closed after truck  ripped down electrical wires and a utility pole.

- The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an estimated $654 million next drawing is tonight Monday 11pm

- A federal judge dismissed the indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the appointment of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in Virginia invalid. The cases were dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could potentially refile the charges based on the same allegations.

- Shatnez update from Vaad L'Mishmeres Shatnez Lakewood, NJ.: Many T.O. coats are being found with shatnez!

Dear Friends, Last month, we sent out a warning about a T.O. woolen coat that was found to contain shatnez. We have now confirmed with many shatnez experts that various T.O. coats have been found this season to contain shatnez. The shatnez was linen-blend scraps found in the woolen coats.

- NJ Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has appointed a panel of energy experts, including a former U.S. Energy Secretary, to help her move forward on a promise to tackle skyrocketing electric bills.

- Giyus: A senior Haredi official admits the new draft law is intentionally designed to preserve the current situation, drafting only about 3,000 Haredim per year—essentially the same as today. Although the law sets higher targets, it is widely understood that it won’t meet legal standards and is expected to be struck down. According to the official, Attias crafted the bill mainly to show rabbinic leaders that genuine efforts were made, in hopes of paving the way for Haredi parties to rejoin the government even if the law ultimately fails.(Yishai Cohen)

- Lakewood neighbors score second major victory as developer withdraws application from zoning board after strong opposition more 

Local Resident continues fight in the appellate division to overturn lakewood zoning board approval faanews 

- Living expenses continue to climb for Lakewood-area residents as insurance premiums have skyrocketed ahead of the new year. Car insurance rates are up, and tuition costs have increased as schools more aggressively pursue payments, leaving many families struggling to keep up. 

A recent thread on a public forum reflected growing frustration, with several commenters claiming that for an average family to live comfortably in Lakewood, an income of around $400,000 is now essentially required.

- LSTA has notified schools that there will be no public transportation on Thanksgiving Day in order to give their drivers the day off. Schools may arrange their own private busing if needed.However, according to the Board of Education (BOE) contract, bus companies are required to provide transportation on every day that school is in session, regardless of holidays

- Trump claims the U.S. is already generating "hundreds of billions of dollars" from tariffs imposed on other countries. However, he argues the full benefits haven't been realized yet because importers have temporarily avoided payments by "stocking up" on excess inventory. As these stockpiles deplete, he predicts tariff collections will "skyrocket" to record levels, exceeding historic highs and ushering in unprecedented wealth and security for America.

- Fox News reports on the U.S. advancing operations in Venezuela as they look to overthrow Nicolas Maduro. 

Fox News is reporting that the sweeping U.S. buildup in our own hemisphere shows this is about far more than Maduro. “It’s about getting Russia, China and Iran OUT of the western hemisphere.” “Should President Trump order strikes against the Maduro regime… about 30% of all deployed American warships, including Gerald R. Ford, now on station.” “There are over 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles in theater, aboard destroyers, and U.S. Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima.”

- Trump Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

- Colts Neck School board in Monmouth County unanimously approved a new “Parental Bill of Rights” policy in Colts Neck, allowing parents to be notified and receive information if their child changes pronouns or gender identity at school. Supporters argue it increases transparency, while LGBTQ+ advocates criticize it, saying it could put vulnerable students at risk.

- Colombian authorities detained members of a remnant Lev Tahor group and removed 17 minors from their custody this week, according to local reports. Officials say the families were attempting to re-establish the cult after its recent collapse, but law enforcement discovered the effort and intervened.  

- A letter from Rav Yisroel Yitzchock Kalmanowitz shlita addresses the current gezeiras giyus and the threatened quotas and sanctions. He sharply criticizes certain baalei batim and communal figures who, in his view, have diluted the holy mission of Klal Yisroel through compromises made in the name of “saving the yeshivos” and maintaining financial aid. Instead, he writes, these concessions only invite greater danger and spiritual destruction. Rav Kalmanowitz urges Klal Yisroel to respond with strengthened emunah, renewed dedication to Torah, and a firm stance against outside interference. He calls for distancing the Torah world both in Eretz Yisroel and the United States from financial frameworks that enable governments to impose gezeiros chinuch and threaten the future of the next generation.

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