New Jersey governor's former chief of staff to replace Menendez, but only until November election
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has tapped his former chief of staff to serve temporarily as a U.S. senator to replace convicted Sen. Bob Menendez.
Bob Menendez to be replaced by New Jersey governor's former top aide, AP source says
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy will name his former chief of staff George Helmy to serve as interim senator when Bob Menendez resigns later this month after his conviction on federal bribery charges.
US Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey is resigning from office following his corruption conviction
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey says he is resigning from office Aug. 20 following his conviction for taking bribes for corrupt acts including acting as an agent of the Egyptian government.
Democrats consider expelling Menendez from the Senate after conviction in bribery trial
Sen. Bob Menendez has shown no sign he will voluntarily resign from the Senate following his conviction on bribery charges.
Money issues may sink proposed New Jersey branch of acclaimed Paris museum. Mayor blames politics
New Jersey officials say financial concerns spurred state lawmakers to rescind $24 million in funding for a planned outpost of Parisโ acclaimed Pompidou Center in Jersey City.
Biden makes appeals to donors as concerns persist over his presidential debate performance
President Joe Biden looked to recapture his mojo and reassured donors that heโs fully up to the challenge of beating Donald Trump.
New Jersey adopts public records overhaul but critics say it tightens access to documents
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation overhauling access to the stateโs public records, likely making it harder for the public and media to access some documents, according to critics.
US Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a Democrat from New Jersey, has died at 65 after a heart attack
Officials say U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey has died after a heart attack this month that left him hospitalized.
New Jersey is motivating telecommuters to appeal their New York tax bills. Connecticut may be next
New Jersey is incentivizing taxpayers who work from home for New York based employers to sue New York in court for taxing their wages.
Workers sue to overturn law that exempts Atlantic City casinos from indoor smoking ban
For three years, many Atlantic City casino workers have been trying to get their elected officials to ban smoking in the gambling halls, to no avail.
In New Jersey, some see old-school politics giving way to 'spring' amid corruption scandal
New Jersey has a well-earned reputation as a home to backroom political dealing, but some advocates see that as changing.
Report: New Jersey and US were not prepared for COVID-19 and state remains so for the next crisis
An independent report has found New Jersey and the nation were not prepared when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the state remains underprepared for the next emergency.
How a congressmanโs challenge to New Jerseyโs first lady is shaking up a key Senate race
In New Jersey, the Senate seat held by Democrat Bob Menendez has become competitive because he was indicted last year on federal corruption charges.
New Jersey already protects abortion rights. Now Democrats want to cover out-of-pocket costs, too
New Jersey's Democratic-led state government is considering legislation that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortion.
MetLife Stadium to remove 1,740 seats for 2026 World Cup, officials hoping to host final
MetLife Stadium officials plan to remove 1,740 seats to widen the field for World Cup matches as they hope to host the 2026 final.
Suburbs put the brakes on migrant bus arrivals after crackdowns in Chicago and New York
Some officials in suburbs and outlying cities near Chicago and New York are giving migrants arriving from the southern border a cold shoulder amid attempts to circumvent restrictions on dropping migrants in those two cities.
What about Bob? Some NJ Democrats want Menendez to move on so they can fight for his Senate seat
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has vowed he's not going anywhere amid a federal corruption case against him, but the party he once held considerable sway over is looking beyond him.
Orsted wants out of $300M forfeiture for scrapped New Jersey offshore wind farms
Offshore wind power company Orsted is trying to get out of a $300 million guarantee it agreed to pay New Jersey in the event it failed to build its first wind farm off the stateโs coast.
Orsted scraps 2 offshore wind power projects in New Jersey, citing supply chain issues
Danish energy developer Orsted is scrapping two large offshore wind power projects off the coast of New Jersey, adding uncertainty to a nascent industry the Biden administration is counting on to help transition away from the burning of planet-warming fossil fuels.
Orsted puts up $100M guarantee that it will build New Jersey's first offshore wind farm by 2025
The Danish wind energy company Orsted has put up a $100 million guarantee that it will build New Jerseyโs first offshore wind farm.
There's no sign of widespread COVID-19 mandates in the US. Republicans are warning of them anyway
Republicans are responding to a late summer spike in COVID-19 by raising familiar fears that government-issued lockdowns and mask mandates are on the horizon.
New Jersey failed veterans in state-run homes hit by dozens of COVID-19 deaths, federal report says
A scathing federal report has found New Jersey's two state-run veterans homes were unprepared to keep residents safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, violating their constitutional rights to reasonable care while in state custody.
Orsted delays 1st New Jersey wind farm until 2026; not ready to 'walk away' from project
Orsted, the global wind energy developer, says its first offshore wind farm in New Jersey will be delayed until 2026.
Mississippi GOP Gov. Tate Reeves will face Democrat Brandon Presley in the November election
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has defeated two primary challengers to clinch the Republican nomination for a second term.
Sheila Oliver, New Jersey's lieutenant governor and a prominent Black leader, dies at 71
Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who rose to become one of New Jerseyโs most prominent Black leaders and passionately advocated for revitalizing cities and against gun violence, died Tuesday after a sudden illness.
Clean energy push in New Jersey, elsewhere met with warnings the government is coming for your stove
New Jersey is pushing an ambitious agenda to move its 9 million residents away from natural gas and gasoline to heat their homes and power their cars, in favor of electricity to do the job of both.
New Jersey governor considers 5-year extension of internet gambling
A bill to extend internet gambling in New Jersey for another five years is in the hands of Gov. Phil Murphy following its approval by the state Legislature.
Tax break for offshore wind energy developer Orsted narrowly approved in New Jersey Legislature
A bill to let Danish offshore wind energy developer Orsted keep tax credits that it otherwise would have to return to New Jersey ratepayers was approved by the slimmest of margins in the state Legislature Friday afternoon.
NJ uses new law to bypass local OK for offshore wind project
New Jersey utility regulators have used a controversial law enabling them to bypass local authorities and grant approvals needed for an offshore wind project to proceed.
NJ groups fight power plants, wait for environmental law
Residents of largely minority areas in New Jersey are fighting three proposed gas-fired power plants as they wait for the stateโs environmental law _ signed with great fanfare nearly three years ago _ to take full effect.
Netflix plans $900M facility at former New Jersey Army base
Netflix says it plans to build a state-of-the-art production facility at a former Army base at the Jersey Shore that will cost more than $900 million, and create thousands of jobs.
Smoking ban talk nixed, but workers get loud outside casino
Irate that a session to discuss a proposed smoking ban during a casino industry conference was canceled, casino workers and patrons opposed to smoking in the gambling halls held a noisy protest outside the meeting Thursday in New Jersey.
Biden teams with East Coast governors to boost offshore wind
The White House is launching a partnership with 11 East Coast governors to boost the growing offshore wind industry, a key element of President Joe Bidenโs climate change plan.
Governors forming task force to address mass shootings
The National Governors Association says it's forming a working group of governors to come up with recommendations to stop mass shootings following the Texas school massacre.
US states seek to ease inflation burden with direct payments
Governors and state lawmakers throughout the U.S. are floating proposals to send checks to help residents cope with soaring inflation at a time when state budgets are bursting with cash.
In omicron outbreak, US governors lose appetite for mandates
Governors across the U.S. took sweeping action during earlier surges of the COVID-19 pandemic, but are taking a much different approach during the record-setting caseloads caused by the omicron variant.
Virginia preps for more bad weather amid storm of questions
With more bad weather looming, Virginia officials are seeking to reassure the public they are prepared as they reacted to harsh criticism of their response to a storm earlier this week that left hundreds of motorists stranded on Interstate 95.
Ciattarelli campaign denies fraud but says recount possible
New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelliโs campaign denies that there was fraud in this yearโs governorโs election but says the margin could shrink enough to warrant a recount.
EXPLAINER: Murphy wins after mail ballots extend lead
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was declared the winner in his reelection campaign after results from mail ballots and Democratic-leaning counties helped him extend his lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
Spending $2,300, GOP newcomer Ed Durr beats top NJ lawmaker
New Jerseyโs longtime state Senate president, Democrat Steve Sweeney lost reelection, falling to a Republican newcomer who spent little money and underscoring Democratic woes in the Biden era.
Murphy barely wins in NJ while Youngkin upsets in Virginia
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey narrowly won reelection in his reliably blue state while a Republican political newcomer delivered a stunning upset in the Virginia governorโs race.
Rattled Democrats reckon with bruising results in VA, NJ
Democrats are blending finger-pointing, optimism and a renewed push to unstick their stalled legislative agenda as they scramble for Election Day lessons from a jolting loss in Virginia and a closer than expected win in New Jersey.
Murphy ekes out win in NJ, GOP's Youngkin upsets in Virginia
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey narrowly won reelection in his reliably blue state while a Republican political newcomer delivered a stunning upset in the Virginia governorโs race, sending a warning to Democrats that their grip on power in Washington may be in peril.
NJ governor's race has Murphy, Ciattarelli in dead heat
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli were virtually deadlocked early Wednesday after a campaign centered on the incumbentโs progressive policies and handling of the pandemic.
Close races for governor unfolding in Virginia, New Jersey
Tight races for governor were unfolding in Virginia and New Jersey late Tuesday with the Democratic candidates narrowly trailing their Republican rivals in states that President Joe Biden easily captured a year ago.
![Biden directs federal aid to NY, NJ after deadly flooding](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/cJBQ5p4PbGaR1sTmp9Ii6zRsvpk=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KMZWZMYBSFGOPIQFD76ZV6LIIQ.jpg)
Biden directs federal aid to NY, NJ after deadly flooding
President Joe Biden has approved major disaster declarations greenlighting federal aid for people six New Jersey counties and five New York counties affected by devastating flooding last week from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
![Search resumes for 2 missing after car swept away in storm](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/oZzyCj0qv8zrfPHzfWWp_3risZE=/800x565/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YKYKQUQMVFBG3GSJIJQ6223W6Q.jpg)
Search resumes for 2 missing after car swept away in storm
As residents and businesses across New Jersey spent the holiday weekend trying to clean up damage from last weekโs storm, rescue workers resumed the search for two friends whose car was caught up in the floodwaters.
![After Ida's fury, infrastructure key in preventing misery](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/tMrLmDo5RVYFt9EIg1CYHL1TH6I=/800x455/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GZRB2XGATZFP7OPRNRBZ2ZF2XI.jpg)
After Ida's fury, infrastructure key in preventing misery
The destruction left by the remnants of Hurricane Ida have officials and experts agreeing that infrastructure including roads, sewers and housing in New York and New Jersey must be quickly improved.
![Ida live updates: NJ tornado reached EF-3 rating, NWS says](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/yU03lSG-yvd7pdmRAlrpq9Qdzl4=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/J7HIM55JDVAGPGBYQ5U3WLY454.jpg)
Ida live updates: NJ tornado reached EF-3 rating, NWS says
The National Weather Service says a tornado that ripped through Mullica Hill, New Jersey, is believed to have had an EF-3 rating, with winds of up to 150 miles per hour.
![As virus cases wane, governors weigh ending emergency orders](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/vtGs0NLElPm7lRuJ0-ZrCEwWD4E=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K64TU4SSSFBMDKUYP6Q2VQG5NQ.jpg)
As virus cases wane, governors weigh ending emergency orders
With COVID-19 cases declining and vaccinations increasing, governors across the U.S. are wrestling with decisions about when to declare an end to the emergency declarations they have issued and reissued throughout the pandemic.
![Embattled New Jersey corrections commissioner to resign](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/yhYTokigAFPt_KterKTKdJoEBzQ=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/O5XZ3SDLJRAYXGLWJ2JNUMCV5Q.jpg)
Embattled New Jersey corrections commissioner to resign
New Jerseyโs embattled corrections commissioner has announced his resignation, a day after Gov. Phil Murphy said the state would shutter its long-troubled and only womenโs prison.
![Nearly half of new US virus infections are in just 5 states](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/xaijU40lmexWIQK8ZkqQ6IrOXQI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2IIVL4QXDBD2VHCDSZW5PMWJJM.jpg)
Nearly half of new US virus infections are in just 5 states
Nearly half of new coronavirus infections nationwide are in just five states โ a situation that is putting pressure on the federal government to consider changing how it distributes vaccines by sending more doses to hot spots.
![Virus fight stalls in early hot spots New York, New Jersey](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/7UN5SyAwDZ5CdnZ3SLQ2GrzRthc=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KYMGRWTJZBCMVHUHN5T2HTMZVI.jpg)
Virus fight stalls in early hot spots New York, New Jersey
About 54,600 people in New York tested positive for the virus in the last week, a number that has begun to inch up recently. The situation in New York and New Jersey mirrors a national trend that has seen case numbers inch up in recent days. AdNeither New York nor New Jersey is experiencing anything like what they saw last spring, when hospitals โ and morgues โ were overflowing. New Jersey hospitals are reporting about 2,200 virus patients โ up by roughly 300 in the past couple of weeks. New York City's Public Advocate Jumaane Williams urged New York to pause reopening plans.
![The Latest: Big West hoops tournaments banning spectators](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/j9oce0iKpJDz7Ga8-M6m_HgVBbA=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XELYOOIE7RDR5DABNMAYTRUPVQ.jpg)
The Latest: Big West hoops tournaments banning spectators
(AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Big West Conference will hold its menโs and womenโs basketball tournaments without spectators, including family and guests of the teams. The Big Westโs board of directors decided to start the season without fans in attendance. AdPelicans officials say they are hoping to allow as many as 4,000 fans per game later this season. The Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers have been permitted to have a limited number of fans at games during the pandemic. AdThe governor said about 1,700 to 1,800 fans should be allowed to attend Devils games under the new rules.
![The Latest: Mexico receives shipment of Sputnik V vaccine](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/ntszZrUzG5KfNMi731FeIzDOgqw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/F7V3Q5ZY45GZTINWCNXMGRPN5E.jpg)
The Latest: Mexico receives shipment of Sputnik V vaccine
A medical worker prepares a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a local rural medical post in the village of Ikhala in Russias Karelia region, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)MEXICO CITY โ Mexico has received its first shipment of Russiaโs Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Mexico received its first shipment of vaccines from Pfizer in mid-December, but turned to Sputnik V in January when other expected vaccine shipments were delayed. The company reiterated that it will have capacity to provide 100 million vaccine doses to the U.S. by the end of June. ___WASHINGTON โ The White House now says it expects to catch up by mid-week on deliveries of coronavirus vaccine doses that were delayed by severe weather.
![The Latest: Massachusetts braces for snow's arrival, wind](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/ZmKYG5WKizJEtyA_akdfdnDcd5c=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XPMETIRJ3RDADAQPSGMUQEALJY.jpg)
The Latest: Massachusetts braces for snow's arrival, wind
The winter weather prompted school districts to cancel in-person learning on Monday, and many COVID-19 vaccination sites were closed and rescheduling appointments. As much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was predicted to fall in areas throughout the day Monday and overnight. 11:30 a.m.BOSTON โ The second phase of Massachusettsโ coronavirus vaccine rollout is being disrupted by a winter storm thatโs causing schedule changes and at least one vaccination location to shutdown. A winter storm warning remained in effect until Tuesday for much of the state. Most of the state remained under winter storm warnings or winter weather advisories that were expected to remain in effect through Tuesday morning.
!['A long two days': Major storm pummels Northeast with snow](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/GkVsq0PYK2SfKJIfaMJFYS6gYbw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PTCGBZQMQJDWRC6T4UKZA5IA6A.jpg)
'A long two days': Major storm pummels Northeast with snow
Although the heaviest parts of the storm had moved through the metropolitan area by Monday evening, lighter snow showers were expected to continue virtually all day Tuesday, forecaster James Tomasini said. โWeโre looking at a long two days here,โ New York Gov. Across the Northeast, many coronavirus vaccination sites closed Monday. AdHundreds of flights and many trains and were canceled, and aboveground New York City subway service stopped at 2 p.m. In recent days, a storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest, with some areas getting the most snow in several years.
![Census delay helps GOP in one statehouse, Dems in another](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/1U3ftYWpmdVS9381J3hU17ky114=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4PLZU2GN2JB6TPVPCKH4QY66DA.jpg)
Census delay helps GOP in one statehouse, Dems in another
In past decades, the Census Bureau has given Virginia and New Jersey priority in receiving their redistricting data so they can complete the process in time to run their elections. Thatโs too late to accommodate Virginia and New Jersey, so they will have little choice but to conduct elections this year under the existing boundaries. He said if legislative redistricting were rushed in time for the 2021 election, it would likely be with incomplete census data. AdThe House of Delegates lines that were created in 2011 were drawn by a Republican-controlled chamber to benefit the GOP. That in turn fueled a Democratic gain of six seats in the 2019 House elections, flipping the chamber to Democratic control.
![The Latest: South Korea enforces tough measures in prisons](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/-bQ7pSs1XowVF1N5tATuUmMKhzU=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/INBKL6IZKFC6VBJIS6AHVPXXWM.jpg)
The Latest: South Korea enforces tough measures in prisons
The others are the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, insurance commissioner and Kansas Supreme Court chief justice and four Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature. The legislative leaders and the stateโs Republican attorney general passed, for now, because not all health care workers and nursing home residents have received theirs. The governor also said Wednesday that โhundredsโ of other, non-elected state officials have been made eligible for early vaccines by their agencies. The others are the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, insurance commissioner and Kansas Supreme Court chief justice and four Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Most of those Republicans said they didnโt want to jump in line ahead of health care workers, nursing home residents or other vulnerable Kansans.
![The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/lreC26msqffuBvHv62xSLzow25Q=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/U4VK22GSHVDV7HX2KALJBC6IIY.jpg)
The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster
(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)BEIJING โ Authorities in Chinaโs northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new coronavirus cases were reported there in the last 24 hours. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Koca said the first shipment of three million doses of CoronaVac would be shipped to Turkey on Sunday and arrive Monday. He said Turkey could get 4.5 million doses until the end of March and would have the option buy up to 30 million doses. Indonesia has reported nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, the largest caseload in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to Indiaโs 10.1 million confirmed cases.
!['Unbelievable' snowfall blankets parts of the Northeast](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/N0EZX_bzbBcRPEKnUCyR2lhuOs4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IZTOZAZJMBH6ZCQKLCVFDH5VDI.jpg)
'Unbelievable' snowfall blankets parts of the Northeast
โIf you do not have to be on the roads, please don't travel,โ said New York Gov. Boston had more than 9 inches of snow early Thursday morning, breaking the previous record for the date of 6.4 inches in 2013. Parts of northern New England saw as much as 7 inches of snow per hour, said Margaret Curtis, meteorologist for the National Weather Service. A rate of 1 inch per hour is typically enough to make it hard for snowplow trucks to keep up. Snow totals topped 3 feet across a wide swath of New Hampshire, and Maine's southernmost county saw 1 to 2 feet.
!['If not one thing, it's another': Storm rolls into Northeast](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/vq85wmP7J8dByMykAOVRkDEOwoU=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JFJHOM2E7VFI5BWT52RSDBUEZI.jpg)
'If not one thing, it's another': Storm rolls into Northeast
A woman waits for a Long Island Rail Road train in the Queens borough of New York as snow falls at the start of an oncoming snow storm, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Snow was falling from northern Virginia to points north of New York City by late afternoon. โOur theme today ought to be, โIf itโs not one thing, itโs another,โโ New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said as he gave residents storm guidance that's new this year โ mask up if you help your neighbors shovel. In New York City, officials braced for the biggest storm in about three years.
![Gala ignites political dispute over COVID-19 restrictions](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/CJGxzzDjqzM5Jp0kt9Mi3xqK37w=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BSIECYRTRVGXNIHOY2ZRXHBNHU.jpg)
Gala ignites political dispute over COVID-19 restrictions
The New Jersey restaurant that hosted the political gala put on by the New York Republican Club was ordered temporarily closed Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, over potential violations of coronavirus guidelines. (Courtesy New York Republican Club via AP)A New Jersey restaurant that hosted a political gala put on by a New York Republican club was ordered temporarily closed Friday over potential violations of coronavirus guidelines. Phil Murphy, also a Democrat, has tightened restrictions on indoor gatherings recently in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases. New York Young Republican Club President Gavin Wax scoffed at the criticism online, saying the group had done nothing wrong. New York state reported 30,000.
![Governors ratchet up restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/lcDZJBTXYgXNh4SxC-l-uaGZJew=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BBTB25SJPVCUJKRFE7NJYHHPVA.jpg)
Governors ratchet up restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving
Phil Murphy said Monday as he restricted indoor gatherings to 10 people, down from 25. The move closes many nonessential indoor businesses and requires the wearing of masks outside homes, with limited exceptions. Philadelphia banned all indoor dining at restaurants and indoor gatherings of any size, public or private, of people from different households, starting this Friday. Fourteen men were charged earlier this fall in an alleged plot to kidnap the governor in anger over her COVID-19 restrictions. Still, several other GOP governors were taking incremental steps, or resisting even those โ continuing to emphasize โpersonal responsibilityโ rather than government edicts.
![Virus surge: Schools abandon classes, states retreat](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/5KDzCjSsySlholsLRF2--avMbtc=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JXQSX4GUSZBSJO2ZETKKVB6F5U.jpg)
Virus surge: Schools abandon classes, states retreat
โIt should frighten all of us,โ Dr. David Peterman, CEO of Idaho's Primary Health Medical Group, said of the virus numbers. Reflecting what has largely been a divide between red and blue states, Republican Gov. In other states, officials have tightened restrictions, though not as much as when the virus first hit in the spring. Utah's governor put in place a statewide mask mandate, while Indiana's governor extended his state's mask rule for another month. Michiganโs largest school district, Detroit, said it will suspend in-person classes next week for its roughly 50,000 students, joining other districts that have shifted to online-only classes.
![Virus pushes twin cities El Paso and Juarez to the brink](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/jxDbmo5ZDSBLddnlbbOzeXE4tcI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ONY7WCZ2RFHAPKCVTD75JP4PAU.jpg)
Virus pushes twin cities El Paso and Juarez to the brink
โYou canโt cut El Paso without cutting Juarez, and you canโt cut Juarez without cutting El Paso.โIn other developments Tuesday, Illinois Gov. Also, the University Medical Center of El Paso erected heated isolation tents to treat coronavirus patients. El Paso County recorded about 1,400 new cases Tuesday, just short of the previous day's record of 1,443. Other Mexican border cities have complained about people entering from U.S. cities that are suffering from virus outbreaks. Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the city and county health authority in El Paso, said the heavily Latino city's family-based culture has been a contributing factor in the spread.