Breast Cancer Screenings Now at 40, Teacher Layoffs Coming, Low Income Families in NJ Face Potential Internet Crisis, NJ Property Tax Community Rankings, NJ Seniors & Internet Scams, Medical Marijuana Program Failing Patients

Women Should Start Getting Mammograms at 40
NJ Spotlight

The revised guidance is in response to a rising rate of breast cancer among women ages 40 to 49 and evidence that earlier screening can save 20% more lives.

“Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States for women. The other thing you need to know is that breast cancer in young women is skyrocketing and this has been happening for the last 10 years,” said Dr. Michele Blackwood, chief of breast surgery at RWJBarnabas Health. Read More

Student Enrollment Continues to Drop – How Should Districts Decide Which Teachers to Layoff
NJ Education Report

It is the inevitable cuts to staff that are most troubling: Fewer students, fewer teachers. We were spared the pain by the reprieve of a four-year infusion of Covid federal emergency funds but reality is hitting as districts struggle to balance 2024-2025 budgets. Over the last five years Jackson Public Schools has laid off 200 staff members. This year Asbury Park will lay off 27, South Orange-Maplewood will lay off 17, East Brunswick and Brick will lay off 50 each..

How do New Jersey school leaders choose which teachers to lay off? They don’t get to choose because NJ law requires that districts lay off teachers in order of seniority, the “last one in” is the “first one out,” or LIFO. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) says that using LIFO to determine lay-offs is inequitable because it “harms teacher diversity and teacher quality and, in turn, negatively impact student learning.” Read More

 

Low Income Families Face Cost Increase on Internet Access
Patch

Hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents could see their internet bills spike this month after a federal program that provided discounts to low-income households came to an end.

April was the last fully funded month of the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal initiative created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. The program provided a monthly discount on internet bills of up to $30 for eligible households and up to $75 for households on Native American tribal lands. Read More

 

NJ Property Taxes Lead the Nation – Where Does Your Town Stand?

northjersey.com

Internet Fraud Hits NJ Seniors Hard

njbiz.com

Here in the Garden State, there were 2,049 complaints filed by individuals over 60 – the 15th highest figure nationally, which cost victims $104.1 million – is eighth highest in the nation.

“Frauds and scams will continue to evolve, but many characteristics of these schemes remain the same even as new trends develop. I encourage the public to review previous IC3 Annual Reports and Public Service Announcements to further educate and protect yourself, as well as your family, friends, and community,” said Nordwell, thanking those who reported the complaints – and encouraging the public to report any kind of fraud or scam – even attempted – to the IC3 as soon as possible. Read More

Medical Marijuana Program Failing Patients

New Jersey Monitor

But on the medical side, patient numbers have steadily dropped since the legalization of recreational cannabis, leaving patients concerned the program is floundering while the state fails to do enough to maintain a robust program for people who depend on marijuana as medicine.

“It’s like they’re not even faking an effort anymore, like feigning interest in saving the program. It just seems like there’s so much more they can do, and I don’t understand why they stopped caring about the medical program,” said Michael Wiehl, a medical marijuana patient and local advocate. “They just did.” Read More

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