NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork ) — New Jersey may be close to ordering new restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy warned he may be forced to take action, following a surge in cases and hospitalizations, CBS2’s Jessica Layton reported. The positivity rate has soared to over 7%. When it comes to new infections, the state hasn’t seen numbers like this in more than six months. In fact, University Hospital in Newark still has tents set up from screening in the early days of the pandemic. It says it is ready to use them again, if necessary. “Jessica, we have still at least five to 10 people being admitted a day with the disease,” Dr. Shereef Elnahal said. “We’re really on the cusp of getting to a bad place in our hospitals, which ends up being a risk to everybody.” Elnahal heads the hospital and said the number of beds needed for COVID-19 patients tripled in less than two weeks. In fact, Newark is considered one of New Jersey’s most concerning hot spots. The positivity rate is a whopping 12.3%. The city is in Essex County, which, along with Bergen and Passaic counties, each reported more than 200 new cases Thursday. “Do we want to be where we were in the spring? Do we want to have to see nonessential businesses close?” Elnahal said. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Tri-State Coronavirus Travel Advisory Quarantine List Resources, Hotlines, Unemployment & Covering Bills Remote Learning Tools For Parents Teaching At Home CBS2’s Dr. Max Answers Your Health Questions What To Do If Someone Isn’t Social Distancing Or Wearing A Mask? Expert: Parents Be Mindful Of Children’s Stress After Months Of Isolation Chopper 2 Over Empty NYC Streets, Landmarks Complete Coronavirus Coverage The Murphy administration has been sounding the alarm on the dramatic spike in the Garden State over the past several days. It’s a huge blow, considering not that long ago the state was priding itself on how it cracked the curve. The spike could lead to restrictions for already struggling businesses. “This virus has not taken a break and we cannot, either. Pandemic fatigue is a real threat to containing COVID-19,” New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. “How close are we to do something? Close, so bear with us. We will clearly be taking action. And I hope it will be action that balances all the various challenges and interests that we have,” Murphy said. Doctors have learned so much about treating people with COVID-19, so they say one bright spot is patients don’t seem to be getting as sick and their hospital stays have been shorter, on average three to four days versus a week or more back in the spring and summer. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK New York City’s New Quarantine Travel Rules Begin, New Jersey Adds States To Advisory List More Than 2,000 Inmates Released Early From New Jersey State Prisons In Effort To Prevent COVID Spread NYPD: At Least 50 People Arrested After Attempting To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protest In Midtown You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
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NYPD Says Outside Agitators Again Infiltrate Peaceful Protests, More Arrests Made Thursday Night In Manhattan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There were more arrests Thursday night at protests throughout the city. As CBS2’s Ali Bauman reported, there was a very heavy police presence throughout the night, and even though things began peacefully, it escalated quickly. As of this report, it was unclear what sparked the arrests, but police believe outside agitators are tactfully infiltrating peaceful demonstrations, with the intent of destruction. Protesters clashed with police by Houston Street in Lower Manhattan. Dozens of officers tried controlling the crowd of hundreds at a Black Lives Matter protest and took several people into custody. The NYPD later said there were at least 10 arrests. It marked the second straight night demonstrations turned ugly. MORE : NYPD: More Than 50 People Arrested After Trying To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protests In Midtown Nearly 60 people were arrested Wednesday night, including Jonathan Peck, who was charged with disorderly conduct. “Four officers, two kneeled on my ankle, two on top of my chest,” Peck said. PROTESTS AND POLICE REFORMS Writer David Simon, The Wire Creator, Discusses Policing In America With CBS2’s Maurice DuBois Timothy Cardinal Dolan Throws Support Behind NYPD, Calls For An End To ‘Attacks’ CBS2 Speaks With Members Of Cure Violence Group Man Up! Inc. NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams On What’s Next When It Comes To Race Documentary Filmmaker Marshall Curry Discusses Where The Conversation Goes From Here Schomburg Center Releases ‘Black Liberation Reading List’ Black Parents Describe Tough Conversations About Racism With Their Children Complete CBS2 Coverage Police believe outside agitators hijacked a peaceful demonstration with the intention of wreaking havoc, and they later recovered a Taser, hammer, knives and fireworks from the area. “We saw people with intent on disrupting peaceful protesters, intent of destruction. The small number of individuals had no regard for safety of the peaceful protesters,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said. Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said handfuls of agitators strategically infiltrate protests with tactics from around the globe. “What we’ve seen is written material that was prepared, including charts delineating different roles that were made by protesters as far away as Hong Kong,” Miller said. The NYPD released mugshots of five people arrested for violent crimes, including assaulting an officer. “They haphazardly ran into one of our bikers and took that as a sign to start making arrests and from there the situation only escalated,” Peck said of police actions. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK New York City’s New Quarantine Travel Rules Begin, New Jersey Adds States To Advisory List More Than 2,000 Inmates Released Early From New Jersey State Prisons In Effort To Prevent COVID Spread NYPD: At Least 50 People Arrested After Attempting To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protest In Midtown Video also shows cops forming a line and using their bikes to confine demonstrators, dragging at least one protester through the crowd. “They pretty much held back the crowd in a protective type nature,” Holmes said. “There were fires set ahead of the crowd. They didn’t realize that and maybe we could’ve communicated that a little bit better.” There weren’t any reports of looting Thursday or Wednesday. Police said they are prepared for and expect these protests to continue for the foreseeable future. You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
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NYPD Says Outside Agitators Again Infiltrate Peaceful Protests, More Arrests Made Thursday Night In Manhattan
Yonkers Launches New Program To Keep Children From Getting Lured Into Gang-Related Crime
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Gang-related crime is on the rise in Yonkers . But the city’s mayor and police commissioner have launched a new program to stop the violence and prevent children from getting involved, CBS2’s Hazel Sanchez reported Thursday. Kathy Deanda said she moved to Yonkers five years ago to escape a high-crime neighborhood in Harlem. But now she’s considering moving back. “I don’t want to see no more of my young people getting killed. Since I been living here … a lot of murders,” Deanda said. MORE : Good Samaritan, Police Officers Honored By City Of Yonkers For Taking Down Gunman During Late September Incident Just last week, a friend of Deanda’s was fatally shot outside a deli near her home on Ashburton Avenue. Police said shootings in Yonkers have increased 60% this year, with 57% of them gang related. Police said gang or group violence is up 30% this year to date, compared to the same time in 2019. “I think it is a combination of older gang members, unfortunately, recognizing the fact that they can exploit younger kids that are very impressionable, 15 and 16 years old to carry a gun,” Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said. “I think people just don’t care no more,” one resident added. “It really breaks my heart,” Deanda added. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK New York City’s New Quarantine Travel Rules Begin, New Jersey Adds States To Advisory List More Than 2,000 Inmates Released Early From New Jersey State Prisons In Effort To Prevent COVID Spread NYPD: At Least 50 People Arrested After Attempting To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protest In Midtown On Thursday afternoon, Mayor Mike Spano and Commissioner Mueller announced a new anti-group violence initiative to end the spike in gang-related activity. “Yonkers does not tolerate this type of crime,” Spano said. The plan includes increased police presence with uniformed foot patrols, K-9 support units, community affairs, and overt and covert surveillance. A mobile police command center will be posted in high-crime neighborhoods. The Yonkers Police Gang Unit is forming a task force with local and federal authorities. The YMCA and local school districts are also stepping up to prevent young, idle children from getting into trouble. “Certainly COVID-19 is impacting crimes all over,” Yonkers Schools Superintendent Edwin Quezada said. “It is our responsibility as the adults in the community to find positive outlets for them to channel their energy.” “They need something to look forward to. They don’t see no hope,” Deanda added. She’s hoping the new initiative will change that. You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
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Yonkers Launches New Program To Keep Children From Getting Lured Into Gang-Related Crime
New Jersey Lawmakers Propose Option Of Putting Symbol On Driver’s Licenses To Denote Autism
STEWARTSVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — There is a push in New Jersey to allow people living with autism or a communication disability to voluntarily add a special marking to their driver’s licenses. This could eliminate potentially dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops and other encounters with police officers, CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported Thursday. Will Milazzo is on the autistic spectrum . The 23-year-old is in college, plays hockey, and has a part-time data entry job. About a year ago he got his driver’s license. He has never been pulled over by police, but he’s confident he’d tell an officer about his autism. “I prefer to just inform them,” Milazzo said. MORE : See It: Teen With Autism Sinks 3 Pointer, Making His Basketball Dream Come True Some New Jersey lawmakers want to give Milazzo and others like him the option of putting a symbol at in the bottom of their driver’s licenses to indicate autism, a voluntary addition that could clear up potential communication problems during traffic stops. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK New York City’s New Quarantine Travel Rules Begin, New Jersey Adds States To Advisory List More Than 2,000 Inmates Released Early From New Jersey State Prisons In Effort To Prevent COVID Spread NYPD: At Least 50 People Arrested After Attempting To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protest In Midtown Milazzo’s mother, Kelly, said she’d never push her son to do it, but she likes the concept. “What if he got pulled over? Kelly Milazzo said. “His way of processing could be absolutely misinterpreted as aggressive or noncompliant and that could go bad very quickly.” “They may not be communicating. They may be communicating too much. They may have a heightened stress response,” said Dr. Suzanne Buchanan of Autism New Jersey. MORE : After 2 Years Of Waiting, N.J. Boy On Autism Spectrum Finally Gets His Service Dog Buchanan said a variation of this is working in a handful of other states, but for privacy reasons added it should never be mandatory. Having the driver’s license reflect autism is only part of it. The plan would also mandate police officers receive extra training, Carlin reported. “That’s going to improve every interaction, right? Unless chance of an altercation or interaction to go badly,” Kelly Milazzo said. Carlin asked Will Milazzo how he thinks officers should approach him or anyone with autism. “How about being loyal and polite to them?” he said. The next stop for the proposed legislation is the state Senate. You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
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New Jersey Lawmakers Propose Option Of Putting Symbol On Driver’s Licenses To Denote Autism
Brendan Sullivan Of Suffolk County Indicted, Accused Of Raping 2 Teens He Met On Snapchat
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Suffolk County man accused of raping two 13-year-old girls was indicted Thursday in connection with separate incidents involving two 13-year-old girls. Prosecutors say he met them on social media and groomed them for sexual encounters. As CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reports, some moms in Patchogue know all about the the arrest in a parking lot in their community. “Snapchat is a thing all the kids do now,” one said. “There’s predators, people coming online that aren’t necessarily who they say they are,” said another. Authorities say Brendan Sullivan, a 20-year-old Suffolk County boatyard worker, used social media to exchange nude photos with 13-year-old girls, and is accused of raping two of them. “This is a child predator, make no mistake about it,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini. Sini says after contacting his victims on Snapchat , Sullivan allegedly drove to the homes of the young girls and dropped off vaping cartridges in their mailboxes. In turn, they obeyed his commands for sex, prosecutors say. They say Sullivan defied a court order to stay away from the children, but while wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet is accused of continuing to contact and threaten them. Sullivan’s parents,, who live in Bohemia, declined comment. “He has no priors in the criminal justice system. And, again, these are allegations at this point. They are not convictions,” said Sullivan’s defense attorney Peter Mayer. Distict attorney liaisons are working with vulnerable middle school children who may feel isolated, counseling them on avoiding the traps of social media. “A lot of people on social media get this false perception of people being perfect,” said social media user Maddie Rose. “I definitely have Snapchat and use it. I can see how it would be a danger for the younger population,” said social media user Chloe Knudston. “This is a stark reminder to all the parents out there that if you can’t effectively monitor your child’s use of a particular social media platform, do not allow them to use it,” Sini said. Computer crimes investigators believe there are more young victims and are urging them to come forward. Brendan Sullivan is being held on $1 million bond. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK New York City’s New Quarantine Travel Rules Begin, New Jersey Adds States To Advisory List More Than 2,000 Inmates Released Early From New Jersey State Prisons In Effort To Prevent COVID Spread NYPD: At Least 50 People Arrested After Attempting To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protest In Midtown You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
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Brendan Sullivan Of Suffolk County Indicted, Accused Of Raping 2 Teens He Met On Snapchat