New Jersey Makes COVID-Era Cocktails-To-Go Law Permanent for Restaurants and Bars
New Jersey has permanently legalized COVID-era cocktails-to-go rules, allowing qualifying restaurants and bars to continue takeout and alcohol delivery.…
New Jersey Supreme Court to Rule on COVID Hazard Pay Dispute for School Workers
Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey Supreme Court is scheduled to issue a decision Wednesday in a closely watched labor dispute that could affect public employee contracts statewide. The case, East Orange…
New Jersey’s Ten Most Ridiculous COVID-19 Lockdown Rules: A Look Back
Trenton, NJ – Six years after New Jersey’s COVID-19 emergency orders transformed daily life, many residents still point to some of Gov. Phil Murphy’s pandemic restrictions as examples of government overreach, inconsistent…
Federal Judge Rules Ringwood School District Denied Special Education Student During COVID
A federal judge sided with a Ringwood parent, finding that claims over missed special education services during the COVID-19 pandemic should move forward under the IDEA. A federal judge has ruled in…
New Jersey Cop Was Fired for Going to Park During COVID-19 Lockdown, Report Shows
A Lawrence Township police officer was terminated after investigators concluded he misrepresented his whereabouts, violated pandemic restrictions, and altered his patrol vehicle camera position to conceal his activities. A former Lawrence Township…
NJ Transit Fares Set to Rise 3% on July 1 as Agency Blames COVID-19 Pandemic for Financial Woes
The latest fare hike is part of an automatic annual increase approved by the NJ Transit Board as the agency continues to address budget pressures and lower-than-expected ridership recovery. NJ Transit riders…
Treasury Audit Flags $61.3 Million in Questioned Pennsylvania COVID Relief Spending
Harrisburg, PA – A federal watchdog review found more than $61 million in Pennsylvania coronavirus relief spending lacked sufficient documentation or included potentially ineligible costs, raising concerns over how the state managed…
Bucks County Resolved Treasury Audit After Replacing $111K in Questioned COVID Relief Costs
Doylestown, Pa. — Bucks County avoided repaying federal COVID-19 relief funds after Treasury auditors accepted replacement expenses tied to public health and safety payroll costs, resolving more than $111,000 in questioned pandemic…
Lancaster County Cleared After Treasury Review Questioned $38.7 Million in COVID Relief Spending
Lancaster, PA — Lancaster County resolved all questioned COVID-19 relief spending flagged by federal auditors after providing additional records that satisfied Treasury investigators reviewing the county’s pandemic-era expenditures. A final determination letter…
Treasury Audit Questioned $1.1 Billion in New Jersey COVID Relief Spending, Flags ‘High’ Risk
Trenton, NJ — Federal auditors questioned more than $1.1 billion in New Jersey’s use of pandemic relief funds after finding unsupported expenses, possible duplicate payments, missing documentation, and potentially ineligible charges tied…
Bergen County Returned $57K in COVID Relief Funds After Treasury Audit Found Missing Records
Hackensack, N.J. — Bergen County returned $57,000 in federal COVID-19 relief money after a U.S. Treasury Department review found the county could not properly document how extra-duty payments to employees were calculated…
Senior Advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci Indicted in Alleged Federal COVID-19 Pandemic Coverup
Greenbelt, MD – A former senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is now facing federal charges after prosecutors say he concealed government records tied to COVID-19 research…
Somerset County Veterans Office Reclaims $6.6M in Benefits, Hosts First Statewide Summit Since COVID
Somerville, NJ — Somerset County’s Veterans Services office helped veterans recover $6.6 million in benefits last year while hosting its first statewide training summit since the pandemic to address new federal policy…
Florida Woman Sentenced in Newark for $465K COVID Relief Fraud Scheme Using Fake PPP Loans
NEWARK, N.J. — A Florida woman who fraudulently obtained more than $465,000 in pandemic relief funds through falsified loan applications will serve 18 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.…
Newark school funding scandal grows as state leaders ask for federal investigation into $287 million COVID relief spending
State legislators cite oversight failures and unmet student support goals. Trenton, N.J. – Three New Jersey lawmakers are calling for a federal investigation into how Newark Public Schools spent nearly $287 million…
Brooklyn man accused of stealing $386K in COVID relief funds to gamble at casinos
Prosecutors say a Brooklyn resident fraudulently obtained hundreds of thousands in pandemic relief loans and spent much of it on gambling and personal expenses. Brooklyn, NY – A Fort Greene man was…
Florida man arrested after shovel attack inside Chinese restaurant, claims he was “stopping new COVID strain”
Witnesses say the suspect smashed the kitchen and injured the owner in an outburst fueled by delusion. Orlando, FL – Deputies in Orange County arrested a man accused of attacking a restaurant…
New Jersey extends Murphy COVID-19 health care emergency waivers for nurses
TRENTON, NJ – Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 13, granting a temporary 45-day extension of New Jersey’s ongoing State of Emergency to give health care professionals more time to comply…
Bronx officer arraigned in COVID relief money scheme
NYPD officer accused of pocketing 40250 in COVID loans for fake business BRONX, N.Y. — A New York City police officer assigned to the 41st Precinct is accused of fraudulently obtaining $40,250…
D.C. non-prifit founder sentenced to nearly three years for stealing COVID relief funds and ordered to repay $956,000
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The founder of Casa Ruby, a once-prominent nonprofit serving the LGBTQ+ community in the District, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for diverting hundreds of…