The Last we Hear of Masks?

Three weeks after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his position, house republicans are still looking for their successor.

Yesterday, Tom Emmer, congressman from Minnesota had dropped out of the race just hours after being nominated. This mess of a process will surely used by campaigning democrats with holes burning in their pockets to throw out ads asking “Is this who you want running the country?”

IN TODAYS NEWS:

• Mask Mandates: Why hospitals are getting rid of them

• Lawsuit against the police: How 46,000 orders are hurting citizens

• Tax hikes: why do residents support this increase in taxes?

• When the lane is ending and nobody is letting you merge 😢

MASKS NO MORE FOR HOSPITAL VISITORS😷

Just one month after the return of mask mandates in hospitals, New Jersey's largest hospital groups are easing mask mandates for visitors at most facilities as COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations continue to decline.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports low infection and hospitalization rates in most New Jersey counties, with only Atlantic and Cape May Counties showing exceptions.

Hackensack Meridian Health has lifted mask mandates at most of its facilities, with a few exceptions, including Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Old Bridge Medical Center, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford.

Masks are still required for all staff, patients, and guests at these exceptions.

RWJBarnabas Health has maintained mask requirements for everyone in its facilities, with a spokeswoman confirming the ongoing mask policy.

Both hospital groups encourage guests and visitors to maintain physical distance and practice good hand hygiene.

While the mask mandate for healthcare settings was one of the last mandates to be lifted in New Jersey, there has been no indication that state health officials are considering a return to a universal mask policy.

The decision to ease mask mandates reflects the declining COVID-19 hospitalization rates and is aligned with CDC data indicating low infection rates in most New Jersey counties.

There has been a 5% decrease in COVID cases since last week, and these decisions not only highlight a change in the medical environment, but a hope from people to leave COVID in the past.

When do you think well stop talking so often about COVID?

💲The tax hike New Jersey residents approve of

🛎 2 charged after being caught stealing a historic 200 pound firehouse bell

🍃 Wu-tang clan secures permits to open a dispensary in Newark

👱🏼‍♀️Madonnas “Bloodhounds of Broadway” building hits the market

🐜 The New Jersey bug of nightmares

STATE POLICE UNDER FIRE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender has filed a class-action civil rights lawsuit against the state police for significant delays in removing expunged criminal offenses from background checks.

According to the lawsuit, the state police have fallen up to two years behind in processing over 46,000 expungement orders.

This failure has resulted in the illegal disclosure of sealed criminal histories to potential employers, landlords, and others conducting background checks, causing individuals to lose job opportunities, housing, professional licenses, and other chances.

Delays have grown from about four months to almost two years since 2018, despite the state police receiving $15 million for modernizing their expungement processing systems in 2019.

The lawsuit's plaintiffs, who remain unnamed, have experienced significant consequences, such as being denied jobs and licenses due to these delays.

They seek to hold the state police accountable and request a judge to order more timely processing of expungement orders, which is essential for individuals seeking a second chance and reintegration into society.

The delay also affects human trafficking victims whose convictions were expunged under New Jersey's vacatur law. The lawsuit underscores the importance of expungement in removing barriers to employment, housing, and family stability, particularly for individuals of color.

Happy hump day New Jersey!

Keep pushing you only got one day left after tomorrow is done! The weekend is calling.

“Treat your weekend with care. You basically have to get through 5 Mondays to have another one.”

-Unknown

Hasta la vista, baby.

-The Daily Bagel😚