Tuesday January 13 News Updates Lakewood

Weather:48° Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. 

A cold front will bring rain and a dusting of snow for parts of New Jersey on Wednesday, followed by dangerously cold wind chills in the teens to low 20s Thursday night and Friday.

- The US warned Gulf countries and told them to be prepared for an American strike on Iran. This was reported in the Wall Street Journal this afternoon. 

- The new H3N2 influenza strain is driving record hospitalization and infection rates nationwide. CDC data shows hospitalizations rose to 54 per 100,000 people by Jan. 3, up sharply from prior weeks. New Jersey is among the hardest-hit states, with over 9,000 reported cases and its first pediatric flu death, according to the state Health Department.

- At the hespedim in BMG for Rav Matisyahu Solomon zt”l, Lakewood roshei yeshiva spoke about his fierce fight against the dangers of technology and explicitly warned about AI, naming it as a serious and even greater challenge ahead for the community.

- Trump: "I'm going back to the White House now, we're going to look at the whole situation that's going on in Iran... really bad stuff… We'll get some accurate numbers as to what's happening with regard to the killing."

- Assemblyman Avi Schnall was sworn into his second term in the New Jersey Legislature and received expanded leadership roles. He was appointed Chairman of the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee, named to the Budget Committee and the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, and selected to serve as a Deputy Whip for the Assembly Democratic Majority.

- President Donald Trump said he would cut off federal funding to  sanctuary cities at the end of the month as part of his administration’s efforts to address fraud

- Trump spoke at the Detroit Economic Club, laying out his views on the U.S. economy, manufacturing revival, trade policy, and jobs, while also delivering strong remarks on the ongoing protests in Iran. 

- Two sources, including one from within Iran, told CBS News that the number of people killed in the regime’s massacre is at least 12,000, but it may be more than 20,000.

- Trump to make a press statement at 2PM

- Trump posts: Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

- Qatar has warned that any escalation between the U.S. and Iran would be “catastrophic” for regional security, urging restraint and a return to diplomatic dialogue.

 - The Israwli security cabinet will convene this evening to discuss Iran.

- Bill and Hillary Clinton refuse to testify in the House’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation per NYT

- Giyus: In a video message Rav Dov Landau shlita urged yeshiva bochurim not to join draft protests, reassuring them that gedolim are working on the issue. He called public demonstrations harmful and stressed that bochurim should stay calm and trust the efforts of the leadership of the ziknei hador. Just 3 months ago in October Rav Moshe Hillel HIrsch shlita threatened to block roads in protest over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim as draft evaders. He made these remarks at a demonstration in front of Prison 10.”

- A Kabolas Panim will take place this evening in Lakewood for the Admor M'Zhvill shlita from Eretz Yisroel  in the Ridge area @22 Yerek drive 8:30 pm with kabolas Kahal until 11:30 pm 

- BDE: Petirah of R; Eliezer Louis Glick A"H of the Yad Avrohom institute in NYC father of R' Shimon Glick Monsey  Levaya today 3:00 pm  at Riverside chapel  180  W 67th st with kevura in EY he was approx 100 year sold 

- Assemblyman Avi Schnall and Gary Schaer both voted YES to this bill  to limit plastic utensils in restaurants

The New Jersey Legislature passed a bill restricting single-use plastic utensils and condiment packets. If signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, full-service restaurants must use reusable utensils for dine-in and can give disposable cutlery for takeout only upon request. Fast-food and casual dining restaurants may provide disposables only if customers ask, and only in requested amounts. The bill passed 21–15 in the Senate and 43–24 in the Assembly. Bill S3195

- Assemblyman Avi Schnall voted YES on Bill A6310, part of a trio of pro-immigrant bills sent by New Jersey lawmakers to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk. The legislation would limit cooperation between state and local police and federal immigration authorities like ICE. Republicans opposed the measure, arguing that restricting police cooperation could allow criminals or undocumented immigrants with criminal records to avoid detection, potentially endangering communities. Assemblyman Sean Kean voted No.

- New Census data shows that in New Jersey in 2024, women of color accounted for a majority of births, with 60,467 births (about 51%), surpassing white women. Overall, 117,595 women ages 15–50 in the state gave birth, representing about 5.4% of women in that age group.

- Giyus: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara accused the government of defying a High Court order by failing to enforce military draft notices for tens of thousands of Haredi men. She warned that this refusal threatens Israeli democracy, arguing it undermines judicial review and weakens the authority of the courts.

- Iran International claims at least 12,000 people were killed by Iranian security forces during protests, calling it the largest massacre in modern Iranian history, with most deaths occurring on January 8–9. The figure is unverified; Iranian officials report about 2,000 deaths, and independent groups cite lower confirmed numbers, noting severe information blackouts.

- Emergency services are searching for a teenager who is thought to have been swept away by the Nachal Modi’im stream in modiin Illit during a heavy rainstorm name for tehillim is משה בן רייזל ורד

- A yeshiva bochur  was struck and seriously injured by a vehicle at 6th and Forest in Lakewood. He was hospitalized with serious head trauma according to reports.

- Tax dollars: Lakwood Industrial commission will purchase the  Wells Fargo bank building on 317 Main st  from the LDC for $1. It's a transfer from one township  entity to the other.  The LDC purchased the building last year for $2.5 million with taxpayer dollars. No word on what will be done with this property. The LIC meeting is tomorrow:

"Resolution of the Lakewood Industrial Commission authorizing the purchase of 317 Main Street (Wells Fargo Building) located at Block 89, Lot 14 for a sum of One Dollar 

($1.00) from the Lakewood Development Corporation. "