Friday night’s Mega Millions lottery jackpot is expected to worth in excess a half billion dollars..that’s right, billion with a “b”. There were no winners in Tuesday night’s drawing, which means the next jackpot will be worth an estimated $515 million. This would be the 18th largest lottery jackpot in United States history.
3.9 million people in New Jersey are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus. New figures released by the State show over 8 million doses of the virus have been administered. New Jersey continues with the requirement that masks must be worn indoors.
Masks are no longer required for high school athletes who play outdoor sports. The NJSIAA sent a memo to schools today that the outdoor mask mandate is over effective immediately. Spectators and coaches no longer need to wear masks either.
There were only 570 cases of coronavirus reported in New Jersey over the past 24 hours. State officials report 24 deaths. On Wednesday, the State is prepared to relax many requirements, including no limits on outdoor gatherings.
A large forest fire in the Bass River State Forest that charred over 600 acres is now largely contained. Fire officials say homes are no longer threatened by the fire that started out Sunday morning east of the Garden State Parkway. All roads in the area have been reopened.
State Senator Michael Testa is blasting Governor Phil Murphy for continuing the requirement for indoor masks despite the CDC’s guidelines indicating vaccinated people don’t have to wear them inside. Testa says the Governor has “doubled down” on the anti-science mask mandate and cites other neighboring states that no longer require them indoors.
Remote learning will be a thing of the past this spring. Governor Murphy today ordered all schools to be in session, in class, when the new school year begins in the fall. Murphy says his executive order that permitted remote instruction will expire at the end of the current school year.
New Jersey will not be following the CDC guidance and still requires masks on inside. Governor Phil Murphy held his update on the coronavirus in New Jersey today, and announced that masks are still required indoors. The reason? Murphy says the majority of New Jersey residents remain unvaccinated.
About 70 acres of wooded area in the Bass River State Forest are burning due to a large forest fire. The fire is located in southern Ocean County near Stage Road in Little Egg Harbor Township. Various burnout operations are underway to help prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
The next Mega Millions jackpot will be worth $468 million. There were no winners in Friday night’s drawing, and the next drawing for the multi-state lottery will take place Tuesday night. This will be the ninth largest prize in Mega Millions history.