Monday December 1 News Updates Lakewood

Weather: 43°Sunny to partly cloudy

Tonight 29° overcast

Tomorrow 44° Rain likely. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.

- President Trump is set to make an announcement to the nation Tuesday at 2pm ET from the White House

- Powerball  jackpot $740 Million drawing tonight 11pm

- Zoning board votes to deny prospect Street application as many area residents spoke up in opposition.

- Zoning board voted to deny office building off New Hampshire Avenue as many residents spoke up in opposition.

- New Jersey Gas Tax Rate Will Increase by 4.2 Cents Effective January 1, 2026

The Department of the Treasury announced today that New Jersey’s gas tax rate will increase by 4.2 cents per gallon beginning on January 1, 2026 to support the State’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) program. New Jersey’s gas tax is increasing in 2026 because a new tate law (Chapter 7) requires the gas-tax-funded Transportation Trust Fund to bring in more money each year to pay for road and bridge projects.

Since fuel consumption has gone down, the current tax rate won’t raise enough money to meet the required funding level. To close the gap, the formula in the law automatically triggers a 4.2-cent-per-gallon increase starting January 1, 2026.

- New Jersey hospitals are reinstating face mask requirements in response to the spread of respiratory viruses throughout the state. Hackensack Meridian Health announced Monday that anyone visiting an admitted patient will be required to wear a face mask.

hospital system serves close to 2 million patients annually at its facilities.

RWJ Barnabas Health, which operates 14 hospitals throughout the state, also announced this week that it’s bringing back masking protocols. Starting Monday

- Ponovezh Both sides agreed to extend the deadline to challenge the arbitration ruling in the Ponovezh Yeshiva dispute. The Rav  Markovitz faction’s new legal team needed more time to review the decision, and Rabbi Kahaneman consented. 

- Karoline Leavitt confirms practically no "refugees" are entering the United States right now."With the exception of Afrikaners fleeing persecution from South Africa." 

- Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has picked Dale Caldwell, the Lt. Governor-elect, as New Jersey's new Secretary of State. Caldwell is the president of Centenary University, a small college in Warren County, and a Methodist minister

- Toms River Bas Ayin seuda at Neimark shul

- Bas Ayin seuda this evening at Neustadt hall 615 E. County line with the attendance of R' Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin

-Cyber monday deals check out the latest at Dansdeals 

- Giyus: Likud Coalition Official: Draft Law DOA  “Dead On Arrival"

After the first discussions, senior coalition members say the draft law has lost majority support. Opposition comes from eight Likud and Religious Zionist MKs, led by Meir Porush. Any concessions to Charedi parties would alienate others, leaving the law politically unviable. Officials advise Netanyahu to abandon the effort (Amit Segal)

- Message from Lakewood Police:

A pole was struck on Route 9 between 14th & 15th. The road is open but reduced to one lane each way. JCP&L estimates 6-8 hours to replace the pole. Please expect delays.

- Lakewood zoning board meeting today 7pm watch livestream Here see agenda Here

• Office building proposed on New Hampshire Ave.

• Homes/duplexes + retail planned for 1501 Prospect (needs use variance).

• Two-family house requested on E. County Line.

• 2 duplex lots on Laurel Ave (lot size short).

• 4 duplexes proposed in R-40 zone (R-10A standards).

• Apple St home needs setback/coverage variances.

• Harbour Ave home needs reduced frontage (13.5’).

- A&B Famous has temporarily stopped producing its Original Gefilte Fish due to a shortage of the specific fresh fish varieties required for its high-standard recipe. Seasonal harvesting limits have made those fish unavailable, and the company says it won’t resume production until it can again obtain the premium, never-frozen fish that give the product its signature quality

-Judges have just disqualified Alina Habba from serving as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. Former Trump personal lawyer Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as the US attrney for New Jersey, appeals court says.

-Tax Dollars Lakewood Development corporation meeting today on the agenda The Lakewood Development Corporation authorized a $1,000,000 funding request to the NJ UEZ Authority to support loans for local businesses, promoting expansion, improvements, and job growth.

- Water rates increase: The Lakewood Township MUA will hold a public hearing on December 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM to adopt the 2026 sewer rates. Starting January 1, 2026, residential, commercial, and industrial sewer rates will rise an additional 2%. The meeting, open for public comment, will take place at 390 New Hampshire Avenue. see notice Here 

- For those seeking Rhodes frozen dinner rolls at Walmart for Chanukah donuts, they are located on the end-cap of the freezer section.

- Yeshiva Chemdas Hatorah's legal battle to add 500 cars to Lakewood's James & Cross heads to trial. Faanews 

- Giyus: Likud MK Dan Illouz told Boaz Bismuth he cannot support the current Haredi draft-exemption bill, saying it fails to create real change and could even set back progress. He warned it may prolong non-conscription and called it unacceptable on a key security issue.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says his Religious Zionism party won’t back the current draft-law proposal unless it brings real, practical change. However, he notes the party will seek amendments and may support the bill later if it’s revised.

- A request was filed for more time to respond to Ponivez Yeshiva’s bid to approve the arbitration award, indicating a intention to contest the decision and pursue having the ruling annulled. Last night a fundraiser was held in Yerushalayim D City venue launching the והקמותי campaign to help the yeshiva continue under the leadership of Rav Shmuel Markowitz

-  The death toll from the Hong Kong fire has risen to 146, with victims found inside apartments and on rooftops where residents fled in desperation.