Weather: 94° Sunshine and clouds mixed. Expect widespread areas of smoke and haze, reducing visibility at times.

Thick smoke from wildfires that are burning out of control in Canada has caused New Jersey’s air quality to deteriorate to unhealthy levels. The Air Quality Index used by the Environmental Protection Agency showed readings as high as 162 in Ocean County, Readings of 151 to 200 are considered unhealthy for everyone, not just people with respiratory issues.

Tonight Shloshim event for Mordy Klughaupt Z"L at bais Faiga 7:45 pm 

- Trump: "U.S. spy agencies began learning about the compromise of voter registration files in 2020 when they discovered that tens of millions of voter data, think of that tens of millions of voters' data in 18 states have been bought, stolen, or hacked by China."

-Trump claims hundreds of thousands of "dead people" are on U.S. voter rolls.

- Trump accuses China of working through American contacts to influence U.S. business leaders against him during his first administration.

-Trump accuses China of illicitly acquiring 220 million U.S. voter files in what he calls the largest election-data breach in history, starting during the 2020 election.

- President Trump BLASTS the left-wing radical networks like ABC and NBC for refusing to air his speech tonight."In a rare move, NBC and ABC fake news have both said that they would not cover this speech." "They knew what it was about because they don't like the topic, know how corrupt our system is, and don't want to reveal it. But they and others in the media are part of a plot!"  "They want to continue this fraud for whatever reason. They want to keep it going. They want to protect the radical left."  "They can't have a great country. And that's true. You can't have a great country without free and fair elections."

- Keren Zichron Yehoshua launched for a Almana and 10 Yesomim Donate HERE

- Major Tax increase anounced at the committee meeting today ahead of the 2026 Budget. Lakewood Mayor says the increase is due to the back to back snowstorms and the cuts to municipal aid from the  state and cuts from FEMA to New Jersey.

- Lakewood mayor addresses concerns for Music in the 9 days at Fireworks show 

At Thursdays Township Committee meeting, Mayor Ray Coles announced that the fireworks show will go on as scheduled tonight. Addressing concerns about the event taking place during the Nine Days, the mayor said there will be a DJ at the amphitheater, but noted that attendees who prefer not to hear the music can stand in other areas where it will not be audible. Mayor Coles did not address concerns about the day's air quality. He also announced that he would not be attending the fireworks event, explaining that his wife recently underwent surgery

- A White House teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after a report alleges he profited from online bets on Kalshi because he had prior access to President Trump's speeches:

- Karoline Leavitt appears to confirm President Trump will be declassifying documents surrounding breaches in election security

- Giyus: President Isaac Herzog’s office reportedly asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to explore alternatives to arresting Haredi draft evaders, including possible economic sanctions. The proposal was aimed at reducing tensions, but the attorney general reportedly did not respond, and Herzog did not bring it before the government, believing it would not advance.

- A Total employment in New Jersey decreased by 300 jobs in June, however, the unemployment rate in the state decreased by 0.2% to 4.5%. The May estimate was revised downward by 800 jobs, resulting in a April-to-May net gain of 1,400 jobs, down from the preliminary estimate of 2,200 jobs gained.(Onejerseyschorr)

- Governor Mikie Sherrill: As smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to impact air quality in our region, I’ve directed NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to make select quantities of masks available to commuters and at rest areas along the Turnpike and Parkway. The Port Authority will also be distributing masks.

- Tonight Shloshim event for Mordy Klughaupt Z"L at bais Faiga 7:45 pm 

Shiva for Mrs. Rochel Lichtenstein A"H at 300 Carey St getting up Monday morning

- Rav Asher Arieli Shlita is sitting shiva on the passing of his sister Mrs. Miriam Stern A"H wife of Rav Dovid Asher Stern shlita, she was 62.

- Giyus: police esrimate 10,000 Sanzer Chassidim gathered outside a military prison to protest the arrests of two chasidim from their community who were detained over draft-related issues. They were joined by the Sanzer rebbe shlita.

- Giyus: Protests taking place today, Highway 4 in response to the arrests of yeshiva students 

- Lakewood Independence day Fireworks and drone show scheduled for tonight.The show will take place at Lake Carasaljo, viewable from both North and South Lake Drives. The drone show will begin at 8:45 pm; and lead into the fireworks show at approximately 9:00 pm.

- According to reports on Trump's national TV address to the nation set for today, Trump is going to release major bombshells regarding the CIA having then hiding critical foreign election interference information.

- While Lakewood girls' schools have yet to confirm their start dates for the upcoming school year, many of the boys' mesivtas and batei medrash are expected to begin the Elul zman on Thursday night, Rosh Chodesh Elul. Bochurim will return from camp just one day earlier before resuming the zman. This marks a change from previous years, when the Elul zman typically began only after Shabbos.

- NJ Investigates JCP&L Over Power OutagesThe NJ Board of Public Utilities opened investigations into JCP&L over reliability issues and its response to July storms that left thousands without power. Residents cited long outages and poor communication, while JCP&L said it deployed 5,700 workers and is making major system upgrades.

- Jackson 21 Townhouse Pool Schedule Sparks Debate Over Gender-Separate HoursA pool schedule at The Club at Jackson 21, a 465-home townhouse community, has sparked controversy after setting separate swimming hours for men and women during parts of the day. The policy, supported by many Orthodox Jewish residents for reasons of modesty, allows only limited co-ed swimming hours. Some non-Orthodox residents argue the rules are discriminatory, while supporters say the HOA is accommodating religious beliefs. The HOA has discussed possibly adding a second pool as a solution. The issue follows previous legal disputes over gender-separated pool schedules in Orthodox communities. APP reports 

- Mamdani proposes banning NYC landlords from requiring both proof of income & a credit check  while forcing landlords or brokers to pay any credit-check fees.

- New Jersey's law requiring owners and operators of electrical bicycles to obtain motorized bicycle licenses, registration, and insurance is scheduled to go into effect on July 19. But the law, which is considered the toughest in the nation, is causing a lot of confusion and the Motor Vehicle Commission has struggled to interpret the new law - with confusing and conflicting information on its website and manual for e-bike owners.(Onejerseyschorr)

- NJ Opens Investigations Into JCP&L After Reliability Failures and July Outages

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has opened two proceedings involving JCP&L, including an enforcement case over the company’s failure to meet reliability standards in 2022–2024 and a new review of its response to the July heat wave and severe storms that left thousands without power. Residents and officials complained about lengthy outages, poor communication, and slow restoration during dangerous heat. JCP&L said it deployed about 5,700 workers and is investing billions in system upgrades. The BPU is accepting public comments as it reviews the utility’s performance.

. Secretary of State Rubio: "Here in the United States, the share of left-wing terrorist attacks and plots has risen to levels not seen in decades. In Germany, far-left violence has jumped by more than 40 percent in just the last year alone."

- Ocean County Doctor, founder of the Jasper Spine Institute of Brick, along with his daughter & her 2-year-old girl died in a plane crash in upstate New York on Monday night

List of Kosher restaurant menus for the 9 days courtesy of great Kosher restaurants

https://www.greatkosherrestaurants.com/nine-days-menu-and-specials/

Agripas – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at Westgate Plaza 84 Hillside Blvd Lakewood, NJ 08701.

Bonsai – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 2186 Lakewood Rd, Toms River, NJ 08755.

Bridge Turkish Grill – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 315 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904, United States.

Burger Bar – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 2080 W County Line Rd Unit C5, Jackson Township, NJ 08527

Char Q – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 2 Augusta Blvd, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Flysh – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 32 Cross St Ste 105, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Fortune Cookie Chinese – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 48 Monmouth Rd, Oakhurst, NJ 07755-1654

Glatt Gourmet – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 1094 River Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Hamisada – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 5325 US-9, Howell Township, NJ 07731

Ishtabach – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 2164 U.S. 9, Toms River, NJ. View their Nine Days Menu here.

Kipshuto – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 37 S Clifton Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701, USA

Lipa’s Munch – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 1001 Madison Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Mike’s Chicken – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 700 Cedarbridge Ave Unit 7, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Nicki’s – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 115 2nd St, Lakewood, NJ 08701

PH Modern Grill – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 681 River Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Salt Steakhouse – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 15 Morris Ave, Long Branch, NJ 07740

The Loft Steakhouse – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 1600 NJ-70, Lakewood, NJ 08701.

Tomahawk Steakhouse – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 700 Cedarbridge Ave Unit 4, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Yapchik – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 1757 Madison Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Yussi’s Deli – Will be open during the Nine Days. Located at 234 2nd St, Lakewood, NJ 08701