Weather: 82° chance of some strong thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Chance of rain 60%

Severe thunderstorms, high winds, flooding rains expected to slam state today. Flood watch issued for fhe area until 8pm

-  LPD Traffic Alert: Joe Parker Rd will be closed from Lanes Mill RD to Long Beach Rd for planned construction. Plan alternate route if possible.

- The Public Health Committee approved the proposed H+H–Maimonides merger despite strong opposition. However, the merger is not final, and the fight to stop it continues

- President Donald Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," effective immediately.

- More than 40 Orthodox synagogues, or shuls, are serving Toms River's growing Orthodox Jewish population, per APP

- Eagle Ridge application to be heard at the Lakewood planing board next week. The former golf course property of 60 acres  has been approved for 512 residential homes the Parke application is for a subdivision to create 129 lots

 SD 2667 The Parke at Lakewood, LLC 688, 752 Cross Street & 2 Augusta Blvd Block 524; 524.23, Lots 1, 2.03, 77.02; 1 Preliminary and Final Major Subdivision to create 129 lots.

- With school uniform season here and the long lines at stores, there are two new stores to check out! Fraylich Uniforms has opened another location off Locust Street, and Pretty Pleats is now open at the Junee’s location on Route 9 South.

- NJ Gov Sherrill: Today, I’m signing legislation requiring data centers to report their energy and water use to the Board of Public Utilities every six months. Here in New Jersey, we're not going to let these developers operate in the shadows

- USPS confirms their new requirements for mail-in voting is officially in effect and applies immediately to the November 2026 election, after an activist judge DISSOLVED her block on Trump's order

- After visiting Lakewood, Crown Heights, and New Square in recent days, youtuber  Tyler Oliveira is now in Boro Park, knocking on doors and attempting to speak with residents. Askanim are urging residents not to engage with him in any way and to simply ignore him BP24

Shiva for Rebbetzin Frieda Fried A"H is at 425 Monticello Ln Lakewood In Enclave Shachris 8am, Mincha 7pm, Maariv 9pm getting up Tuesday 

- Assemblyman Avi Schnall sponsors a bill that requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school and for the State to pay the amount above the average student cost.

After LSTA raises price of courtesy busing to $700 per child the Lakewood BOE says they will no longer provide free courtesy transportation to non mandated public school kids due to funding cuts from Lakewood township.

-PR: A  Large Turnout at Lakewood Property Tax Relief Filing Event Over 130 additional Lakewood area residents are now on the path to receive property tax relief for 2026, following their successful filing at the special ANCHOR event held Sunday at the Westwood office complex, near the Lakewood-Toms River border. The ANCHOR and related Senior Freeze and Stay NJ programs offer benefits up to $700 for renters; up to $1,500 for homeowners age 64 and under; and can run as high as $6,500 for senior homeowners. This event was hosted by the C.A.R.E.S. organization; and co-sponsored by Lakewood Township, and other business and non-profit partners. 

- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation orders journalists not to refer to the 9/11 attacks as “terrorist attacks

- An Ocean County man was killed Wednesday evening in a three-vehicle crash on I-195.State troopers responded to the crash around 9:01 p.m. on eastbound I-195 in Jackson Township, officials said Thursday. William Wright, 73, of Brick, was driving a Ford SUV eastbound when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a second Ford SUV and then collided with a Toyota SUV. Both Ford vehicles overturned near milepost 23.6 during the collision. Wright died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Video: Sefardi Selichos hosted at the Belz Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim with the Tzohar virus organization