Lab testing over the weekend confirmed that four more children have been infected by adenovirus at the Wanaque Center, a pediatric long-term care facility in Passaic County. The state Health Department confirmed Monday that the viral outbreak has killed ten young patients. So far 33 patients have been infected, as well as one adult who works there. The first case of the virus was reported Sept. 26, and the most recent was on Friday, Nov. 9th. (NJ Advance Media)
STATE WILL PAY $350 AN HOUR FOR MURPHY HIRING PROBE
According to a signed agreement shared by the office of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on Monday, the state has agreed to pay a law firm up to $350 an hour to support an investigation into Gov. Phil Murphy administration’s hiring practices. The investigation stems from sexual assault allegations first revealed in a Wall Street Journal article in October. Katie Brennan, now the chief of staff at the state’s housing mortgage agency, said that she was sexually assaulted by Al Alvarez, the former chief of staff of the state Schools Development Authority. Brennan said the assault happened in April 2017, when she was working with Alvarez on Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign. (Associated Press)
BOOKER: VETS DESERVE MORE TIME TO FINISH COLLEGEAt Rutgers on Monday, Sen. Cory Booker said he will introduce legislation that will allow veterans more time to finish college. Under the GI Bill, veterans currently have 36 months of in-class time to complete their degrees. Booker’s proposed bill would extend assistance for an additional 15 months for qualified veterans. It also includes measures to make it possible for more veterans to transfer their education benefits to a dependent. He said that he hopes there is enough bipartisan support to pass the bill this year. (News12 New Jersey)
STATE SEN. BATEMAN SUPPORTS ANTI-HAZING BILL IN NJState Sen. Kip Bateman will meet with the parents of Timothy Piazza as soon as next week to talk about a bill (S3150) that would criminalize hazing. Called the “Timothy J. Piazza Law,” the bill is named for a 19-year-old New Jersey native who died in 2017 after a night of drinking and hazing at a Penn State University fraternity. Under the proposed bill, hazing that results in bodily injury would be a third-degree crime, with potential jail time. Last month, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed similar legislation. (NJ Advance Media)
POLICE INVESTIGATE SWASTIKAS, THIRD TIME THIS YEARA detective sergeant with the Hillsdale Police Department is working with two “class III” special law enforcement officers to determine who has been etching swastikas at Pascack Valley High School in Bergen County. Three incidents have occurred this year, and the most recent was reported last week. The swastikas were found mostly in boys’ bathrooms and locker rooms and were either scratched into the wall or written in pencil. (North Jersey Record)