The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be on break for the Labor Day weekend Friday through Monday, and will be back on Tuesday. The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 951,803 cases and 24,151 confirmed fatalities (and 140,163 probable cases and 2,731 probable fatalities) as of Tuesday (an increase of 1,642 confirmed cases, 610 probable cases, and 19 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.11. There have been 11,511,492 COVID-19 vaccinations administered (with 5,584,996 people fully vaccinated). Governor Murphy directed flags to half-staff today in honor of the late Nicholas Felice, former Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. The Murphy Administration expanded distribution of the anti-overdose drug naloxone and launched the NJ Overdose Data Dashboard. Acting AG Bruck announced the indictments of two bus company owners for providing false information to school districts. Rep. Gottheimer sent a letter to NY Governor Hochul voicing opposition to NY’s proposed congestion pricing tax. Kean University forged an education partnership with the NY Jets. Commuters throughout New Jersey are slowly starting to return to work outside the home, and NJ TRANSIT wants to reassure its customers that during the pandemic it has consistently been making strides in the way riders can safely, comfortably, and efficiently transition back to mass transit. (sponsored content) ICYMI: Murphy says school mask mandate isn’t a ‘polite suggestion’; school, state employees will be required to get vaccinated; Afghan refugees will be coming to New Jersey; Passaic Surrogate Toledo criminally charged; Booker addressed the Afghan crisis; demonstrators protested outside Gottheimer’s office

NJDSC Chairman Jones is bringing in House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to a breakfast event honoring CD10 Rep. Payne, who’s gearing up for a primary battle next year with progressive Imani Oakley. NJDEP Commissioner LaTourette has COVID-19, according to Politico NJ. The Murphy Administration fired back at allegations made by former NJDOH official Neuwirth in new court documents, according to Politico NJ. NJ101.5 radio host Bill Spadea launched the non-profit ‘The Common Cause Club’, according to SaveJersey. ICYMI: NJCA released endorsements; Ciattarelli reasserts line of attack over the Murphy Administration’s ‘serial mistreatment of women‘; Murphy throws elbow at Ciattarelli; Machinists endorsed Murphy; NOW-NJ made endorsements; Guardian was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans.

The state’s Redistricting Commission will hold its first organizational meeting today, as the high-stakes process of redrawing the congressional districts begins. Several Democratic Senators have begun pushing Governor Murphy to utilize federal funds to offset the coming UI payroll tax increase. Assemblywoman Jasey called on county colleges to implement COVID-19 vaccine or testing mandates. The NJ Conservation Foundation announced new leadership. Food and Water Watch applauded Woodbridge and North Brunswick for adopting bold clean energy plans. Reformers are eying the state Supreme Court in a push for shorter prison terms for juvenile offenders, according to NJ Monitor. Download and read Insider NJ’s 2021 Insider 100: Policymakers publication. ICYMI: Murphy took action on legislation; Murphy announced McWhite CRC Diversity officer; Murphy announced Giblin as deputy chief counsel

Insider NJ Compliance Corner: Political Law Update for Banks, Utilities, Insurance Companies and Regulated Industries The Corporation for New Jersey Local Media will launch an annual Byrne-Kean dinner to benefit non-profit journalism. Steve Adubato and Dr. Ben Dworkin discusses citizenship, voting, and policy issues facing New Jersey (video). 50 years after President Kennedy appealed to self-sacrifice, the politicization of facemasks and other measures has impacts on both national and state politics. New Jersey’s blue state status doesn’t inhibit segregation in schools. The Christie-Murphy commonality in facing extraordinary external, devastating threats.

In Chatham Township, a key issue in the contested committee race revolves around the Nazis and Elie Wiesel.   In Phillipsburg, Council President McVey resigned following ethics charges that he misused the 911 system, according to Lehigh Valley Live; the GOP has already tapped Peter Marino to replace McVey on the November ballot. Local Democrats applauded the resignation announcement as the ‘right thing to do’, but called for further resignations. In Jersey City, Councilman Solomon released his Safe Streets plan. In Farmingdale, a grand jury declined to indict an officer in a fatal police encounter. In Trenton, the city and TerraCycle announced the transfer of two vacant lots for redevelopment. In Bayonne, Councilwoman Nadrowski called on Hudson County to drop eminent domain proceedings relating to Bayonne Medical Center, according to Hudson County View. In Bound Brook, the town may remove the fire company from the fire department, according to MyCentralJersey. In Denville, the town was named the best family-friendly suburb in the nation, according to the Daily Record. In Emerson, work at a development begins as lawsuits continue, according to the Bergen Record. In Middletown, schools have a delayed opening after mold was found, according to the Asbury Park Press. In Seaside Heights, the town received $1M from the state to tear down old buildings, according to the Asbury Park Press. In Wayne, an arbiter says the town can mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees and police, according to NorthJersey.com. In West Caldwell, the local Democratic candidate were endorsed by Rep. Sherrill.

Insider NJ reporter Fred Snowflack writes ‘Ciattarelli Banking on One-Issue Voters‘ Insider NJ columnist Alan Joel Steinberg writes ‘The America that Sirhan Wrought‘ Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘Who Lost Afghanistan? Did We Ever Really Have it? Three NJ Reps Knew the Answer a Decade Ago‘ Insider NJ reporter Christine Sloan writes ‘Sherrill Eager to Flag Cases of Vulnerable Afghan Women Leaders‘ and ‘The Long-Persecuted Hazara People Need Special Status‘ and ‘The World Must Rally to the Cause of Afghan Women‘ AROUND THE WEB: Murphy says census numbers not yet ‘official’ Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight The 2020 census redistricting data New Jersey received earlier this month gives the two bipartisan commissions charged with redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries clear missions: to reshape districts around population growth that occurred over the last decade, which was almost exclusively in urban areas and their surrounding suburbs. Chris Christie set to return to same stage where he was once begged to run for president Matt Arco, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Nearly a decade after a woman tearfully begged former Gov. Chris Christie to run for president after a speech he gave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Christie is set to return. Murphy teases possible vaccine mandate for N.J. school kids Matt Rooney, Save Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared that vaccine mandates were “on the table” for students during Tuesday’s presser, Save Jerseyans, a step beyond the current mask mandate. Princeton University releases report on the handling of human remains from the 1985 MOVE bombing Krystal Knapp, Planet Princeton Princeton University officials have released a 56-page report on the handling of human remains from the 1985 MOVE bombing. Davis comes out in support of Cunningham’s catalytic converter bill after rash of Bayonne thefts John Heinis, Hudson County View Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has come out in support of state Senator Sandra Cunningham’s (D-31) bill to limit the sale of catalytic converters after a rash of thefts in the Peninsula City. Under the British system, President Biden would be toast | Mulshine Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger As a loyal American it pains me to admit it, but the British press does a better job of covering our politics than we do. Murphy’s mask mandate for schools draws some parental opposition Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight Most of New Jersey’s schools are reopening for full in-person instruction next week. But Gov. Phil Murphy’s order that children should wear face masks on their return to school is a source of some conflict. Most parents support the idea of kids being masked in school. But opposition has been voiced in some school districts. Residents urged to destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses, as 5 more NJ counties quarantined William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record Five more New Jersey counties were added to the state Department of Agriculture quarantine zone for the spotted lanternfly on Monday. Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Essex and Union were added to a list of eight previously quarantined counties: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, Somerset and Warren. Want proof that Medicare is broken? Nearly 20% of American seniors have no teeth. | Moran Tom Moran, Star-Ledger When Franklin Roosevelt signed the law establishing Social Security in 1935, it denied benefits to farmworkers and domestic servants, where Black workers were concentrated, along with seamen, doctors, lawyers, ministers, and anyone who worked in the non-profit sector. From Ground Zero to Guantanamo, Iraq and Malaysia: The search for legacy of 9/11 | Kelly Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com That morning, I stood in silence on a dock in Jersey City and watched the brown smoke blot the golden sun and smear the cloudless blue sky. Across the choppy, gray Hudson, the twin towers of the World Trade Center had just fallen. A massive beam, shaped like a trident spear, had plunged into the concrete façade of a nearby building. News helicopters streaked overhead. Ferries dodged each other as they rushed to bring survivors to safety. Many refusing the vaccine in NJ are not antivaxxers (Opinion) Dennis Malloy, NJ1015 It’s become a pejorative to call someone an “antivaxxer.” It’s meant to demean and indicate that the person is too stupid or delusional to believe in the science of vaccines. You’ll find that most people refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccines are fully vaccinated against deadly diseases and vaccinate their children with the required vaccines. For hospitality sector crushed by hiring crisis, there’s big sigh of relief — and a little hope Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com When Dana Lancellotti got word that Gov. Phil Murphy was going to announce the state would not continue the $300 supplemental unemployment bonus, she admitted she breathed a small size of relief. As head of the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association, she said the extra benefit has played a part — perhaps just a small part — in the industry’s struggle to find much-needed workers as it tries to rebound. Congratulations: The 2021 NJBIZ Forty Under 40 NJBIZ Staff If 50 is the new 40, then the honorees for the NJBIZ Forty Under 40 Awards are really just getting started, and what a way to kick things off. Chosen by an independent panel of judges following an open nomination process, the individuals recognized on this year’s list contribute to their own industries – spanning health care, finance, sports, law, education and more – as leaders and founders, partners, executives and above all trailblazers. And, their achievements and continuing efforts are also felt throughout the Garden State community at large.