The 10 Worst States for the Flu; NJ Number 9

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Apartment Guide

Flu season is ready to hit hard across the country and we’re just a couple months from its peak

While we think of flu season as part of life in cold-weather winter states, it hits the warm South just as hard, or harder

These are the 10 worst states for the flu in the U.S. and the flu-related cost-of-living expenses in each

Michael Hochman

For much of the U.S., it\’s the season for winter chill, slippery streets and snow days — which also means flu season. But even if, and maybe especially if, you live in a warm weather climate, you know flu season can hit you just as hard.

Flu season is no joke. Between October 2018 and February 2019, nearly

45 million Americans

came down with the virus. But from Maine to California, what are the historically worst states for the flu, and how is that a predictor of what might happen this year?

Determining the worst states for the flu

We took a look at flu season numbers over the past six years from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control during February — generally considered to be peak flu season — and assigned weighted scores for minimal, low, moderate and high flu outbreak weeks in every state and added up the numbers to determine the 10 worst states for the flu ahead of the 2019/2020 flu season.

Additionally, we analyzed two of the most important flu-related cost of living factors in each of the 10 worst states for the flu, the average cost of a visit to the doctor and the average price of a bottle of prescription Ibuprofen at a local pharmacy to get a bigger picture of where the flu hits hardest both your wallet and your immune system.

Here are the 10 worst states for the flu.

10.

New Mexico

Desert air, dry heat, lots of warm and sunny days. While that doesn\’t sound like a recipe for a flu outbreak, the comfortable and dry weather of New Mexico allows plenty of people to gather outside for concerts and games and gatherings where the flu virus, thriving in the gentle climate, can spread from face to face contact with a plethora of people.

Last flu season, New Mexico was one of the first states to be hardest hit, and it\’s possible for that to occur again. In fact, New Mexico has seen more “high\” peak flu level weeks since 2013 than all but five other states, and has rated “high\” for 17 of the past 18 peak flu season weeks — more than any other state.

In the desert Southwest, the cost of a visit to the doctor to check on your flu-related symptoms is higher than both the top 10 worst states\’ mean and median, at an average of $118.10. And if that doctor prescribes a few Ibuprofen to bring your symptoms under control, a bottle of the medicine will run an average of $8.37. And in individual population centers, prices only go up.

In the largest city of

Albuquerque

, a doctor visit averages just more than $106. But just north of ABQ, doctor visits in the large suburb of

Rio Rancho

jump up to an average of $138.

An entry-level one-bedroom apartment in New Mexico averages $847 a month.

New Jersey

From real life medical facilities like the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospitals to the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital from the television show “House,\” New Jersey has always had a reputation as a center for health services and medical care. But it\’s also the top state in the Mid-Atlantic for the flu, so it\’s a good thing there are a few doctors in the house.

While in past years, the flu had spread sporadically throughout the Garden State,

levels this season

seem to be affecting all regions of the state. So, whether you say “pork roll\” or “Taylor ham\” or you root for the Giants or the Eagles, it\’s likely that the flu has or will infiltrate your part of Jersey. A spike in flu symptom-related emergency room visits and admissions is proving the theory.

Considering how much population New Jersey has surrounding the metropolises of New York and Philadelphia, you\’d expect cost of living statistics like doctor visits to be through the roof. But across the state as a whole, the cost of an appointment with your doctor remains moderate at $98.26.

Likewise, the price of a bottle of Ibuprofen runs $8.74 on average. Looking deeper at some of Jersey\’s metro areas,

Middlesex

/Monmouth, not too far from several RWJ hospital campuses, has the lowest cost for a doctor\’s visit in the state at $93.75, while Bergen/

Passaic

, one of the wealthier regions of the state and closer to New York City, tops out at $102.47.

Rent prices in New Jersey vary greatly from the New York suburbs to the southern part of the state. A one-bedroom unit starts for an average of $1,828 a month.

Alabama

In the movies, flu-sufferers are often depicted as bed-ridden and covered in used tissues as snow falls outside and those of sound health are jauntily building snowmen and tobogganing and the like. But in the real world, most of the worst flu states in the country are in the southeast, far away from cold winters and whiteout conditions.

And this season seems to be no exception. “We are already at really high levels nationwide and especially in the South,\” says the Children\’s Medical Group\’s

Darren Scoggin

on this season so far.

The rule stays true down in Alabama. Last year, flu patients filled more than

90 percent

of hospital beds in seven of Alabama\’s eight public health districts. This year is starting out early and could be severe, as well. As of October,

every county

in north Alabama showed an uptick in flu-related illness, and cases are expanding down to the Gulf.

Fortunately, some of the lowest costs to see a doctor in Alabama are in the regions in the north end of the state. The average charge for a visit in

Florence

is just about $70 and comes in at about $75 in

Anniston

Meanwhile, down on the southern Gulf Coast, the most expensive metro area to see the doctor in Alabama is

Mobile

at about $120.50 on average. Statewide, the average cost to be seen by a doctor is $93 and a bottle of Ibuprofen to fight your symptoms will set you back $9.18. But if you happen to be in

Dothan

, you\’ll pay a lot more, as the average cost for Ibuprofen is the priciest of any city among the 10 worst flu states at $11.23.

You can find a one-bedroom apartment in Alabama for $870 a month on average.

Louisiana

Between 2013 and 2016, the flu danger level in Louisiana was rated at minimal, low or moderate 11 out of 12 weeks. But boy, times have changed. Since then, flu levels have jumped up to “high\” 15 of the last 16 peak flu season weeks. Down in the bayou, it may be a sign of a bad flu season.

This fall, Louisiana was already ranked with the

highest level

of flu cases in the U.S. and the season is barely underway. In fact, in mid-October, Louisiana was already in the red for number of people seeing a doctor with flu-like symptoms, while every other state was low or minimal for flu activity.

“We seem to be really at the forefront of the flu season this year,\” says Dr. Alex Billioux of the Louisiana Department of Health.

And if you need to go see the doctor to diagnose your fever and chills, you\’re going to pay up if you happen to be in

New Orleans

. At $144.17, a visit will cost you more than just about anywhere in the U.S. and the most of any city in the top 10 worst states. (And to add insult to injury, the cost of a bottle of Ibuprofen in the Crescent City is the second-most expensive of any city at a pricey $11.06.) Compare that to the southern Louisiana Acadiana town of

Houma

, where the cost of a doctor visit is well over half that of NOLA at just $65.75 on average.

An average one-bedroom apartment in Louisiana starts at around $970 a month.

Mississippi

With its heel jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico and a big, dirty, mighty eponymous river running aside the length of the state, Mississippi has historically been a state where viruses and diseases have traveled over long distances to infect a swath of the population. In fact, the historic flu pandemic of 1918 killed more than 50 million around the world at the end of World War I, and took the lives of 6,200 in Mississippi alone.

Last year, the peak of the flu season hit around the

end of February

, much later than in previous years in Mississippi. The year prior, peak struck around Christmas, a much more usual time for the state. That makes this season vulnerable for a late peak, early peak or any time in between.

Around the state, a doctor\’s visit to check on those flu symptoms will cost you nearly $90 on average. And if your doctor tells you to take two Ibuprofen and call him in the morning, $8.58 will snag you a bottle at the store.

The most expensive spot in the state to make that doctor\’s appointment is down on the Gulf Coast in

Gulfport

Biloxi

where it will run you an average of $99. But fear not, if you\’re self-medicating and happen to live in the state capital of

Jackson

, the average cost for Ibuprofen is just $6.86, one of the lowest in the nation and the cheapest of any city in the top 10 worst flu states.

One-bedroom rent in Mississippi is among some of the most affordable in our top 10 list. An average entry-level unit starts for just over $800.

Kansas

Ask any Kansan. When the wind rolls down the Rockies out west and across the plains country towards the Flint Hills, there\’s no stopping whatever is in the air. And dead in the center of the nation, Kansas experiences hot summer, cold winters and, you know, tornadoes and straightline winds throughout storm season. That wind and those conditions come flu season aren\’t ideal for keeping the flu virus from spreading. In fact, in 2018, Kansas was the

second-most “flu-ridden\” state

in the nation.

Since 2013, Kansas has experienced 20 “high\” condition flu season weeks, the fourth most of any state in the union. As well, the Wheat State has rated “high\” every single peak week since the start of the 2016 season, one of only three states that can make that unwanted claim. Statewide, a stop at the doctor\’s office will cost an average of $102.71, while picking up a bottle of Ibuprofen on the way home will knock you back $8.42.

The highest prices in Kansas for a doctor\’s visit are at the junction of I-135 and I-70 in

Salina

, at an average of $117.75. But way out in Western Kansas, you don\’t have to get out of Dodge to see the medicine man on the cheap, with an average of $86.88 in

Dodge City

for a doctor\’s visit.

Wichita

, the biggest city in the state, comes in around midway in pricing for the state. It will run an average of just more than $105 for a visit to the doctor in the Air Capital, with the price of medication running $8.23.

You can get into a one-bedroom apartment in Kansas for about $900 per month for an average entry-level unit.

Arkansas

Last flu season in 2018-2019, flu-related deaths in the state of Arkansas

were the highest

in nearly two decades and hit the state hard. And the state had an issue with false positives, sending infected people back to home and school thinking they were in the clear. Clinicians fought back by treating everyone that came in with symptoms regardless of their test during the worst flu season weeks.

\”A lot of clinicians don\’t even test in the middle of a heavy flu season because if they test positive, they\’re going to treat that patient for the flu, if they test negative, they\’re still going to treat that patient for the flu,\”

said Jennifer Dillaha

of the Arkansas Department of Health.

Across the state, the average cost of a doctor\’s visit ran $101 and Ibuprofen listed for just more than eight bucks. The

Little Rock

and

North Little Rock

areas were the most expensive in the state for doctor\’s visits at nearly $120, and

Hot Springs

had the most expensive medication, averaging $8.23.

Fayetteville

, and all its college students, had the lowest doctor\’s visit prices and the lowest cost for Ibuprofen, at $84.10 and $7.97 respectively.

Arkansas also has the lowest average rent prices for one-bedroom units at just over $750 a month.

Connecticut

Bitter cold, brutal winters and drifting snow. For centuries, the hard New England winter and red noses and sore throats are the stuff of turn-of-the-century novels. Flu outbreaks have been severe and deadly since the Mayflower days.

But there\’s only one New England state in the top 10, and it\’s probably not one of those one would first think. In Connecticut, the flu season has come in hard like the cold weather, with the first

flu-related deaths

in early November, one in Litchfield and one in Fairfield.

As an affluent state, one of the factors that makes the flu bad at times in Connecticut is the number of people that travel abroad and bring back the flu virus from places where the flu shot and other flu preventative measures are less common than in the U.S. Statewide, an average doctor visit runs over $124, unsurprisingly the highest figure among the 10 worst states, and $8.76 will get you an average bottle of Ibuprofen.

The

Stamford

area is among the highest in the nation for doctor visits, and the highest of any city among the top 10 states, with an average of $133.20, with a bottle of Ibuprofen retailing for an average of $8.57. Hartford County is where the

most cases

of the flu occurred last season, and the city of

Hartford

, despite being the lowest metro area price in the state, still averages $108.77 for a doctor\’s visit, and has a slightly higher price for Ibuprofen, at an even nine bucks.

New England living comes at a price. A one-bedroom apartment in Connecticut will start at an average of $1,520 a month.

Oklahoma

If you\’ve already sneaked a peek at the No. 1 state below, it\’s not hard to extrapolate why Oklahoma is No. 2 on this list. While Oklahoma is less urban and less spread out than its top ranked neighbor, it\’s still a warm flu season in the southern Plains, and people are outside spreading the virus whether it be in the crowd at an OU game or a crowd at the mall. Since 2013, 22 weeks of peak flu season have been rated as “high.\”

The flu season in OK is nothing to take lightly. Last season,

more than 60

Oklahomans died from the flu, with another 2,500 hospitalized in what was the

longest flu season

in a decade. Officials are saying that this season is going to be a severe one, as well, but the good news is a flu shot may be

more effective

this time around.

The price of an average doctor visit in Oklahoma is below midrange, at about $99. A dose of Ibuprofen averages $8.87. Costs around the state vary, with a high for a doctor visit of $125 in

Enid

and a low of $63 and change in

Ponca City

. In OK\’s capital and largest city,

Oklahoma City

, a doctor\’s visit runs just more than $100 on average and medication runs $9.61 per bottle.

Rent in Oklahoma is also second-most affordable of all states in the top 10. The average one-bedroom starts at an average of $759 a month.

Texas

While we tend to associate the flu with cold winter weather, it\’s warm weather Texas that takes the crown as ground zero for the worst state for flu sufferers. The CDC reported 23 widespread flu activity weeks in Texas out of the 30 peak flu season weeks tracked since 2013, with just one week rated as “low.\”

As the second most populated state in the Union, maybe it\’s not a surprise that Texas is the worst state for the flu in 2019/2020. A lot of people living in close proximity but also in a wide-open state, a lot of travel by car and plane, and warm temperatures that don\’t force people inside for the winter.

Texas is a diverse state, containing three of the biggest cities in the nation but also a lot of farm, ranch and open land, where the level of medical care can fluctuate pocket by pocket. Statewide, the cost for a trip to the doctor runs about $104 on average, and a bottle of Ibuprofen sells for $8.60.

Of all the large metro areas in Texas, it\’s the city of

Temple

, near Killeen\’s Fort Hood military base, that\’s the most expensive in the state for doctor visits at $189 on average, and

El Paso

, on the border, where Ibuprofen skyrockets to nearly $11. In the state\’s largest city of

Houston

, a visit to the doctor will cost $88.30 and a bottle of Ibuprofen sells for just more than $8.

Rent prices in Texas are slightly higher than some of the other southern states on this list, where an average entry-level one-bedroom apartment costs $1,115 a month.

Flu data in all 50 states

Still looking for data from your state or where your loved ones will need you to send them chicken soup? Here\’s the full list of flu severity data for all 50 states and D.C.

Rank

State

Weeks of High Flu Activity

Weeks of Moderate Flu Activity

Weeks of Low Flu Activity

Texas

Oklahoma

Connecticut

Arkansas

Kansas

Mississippi

Louisiana

Alabama

New Jersey

New Mexico

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

New York

Georgia

Arizona

Missouri

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Hawaii

Rhode Island

Kentucky

Indiana

Illinois

Wyoming

Colorado

Minnesota

California

Vermont

Maryland

Alaska

West Virginia

Utah

Nebraska

South Dakota

Massachusetts

Oregon

Nevada

Florida

Michigan

Wisconsin

North Dakota

Idaho

Iowa

New Hampshire

Ohio

Delaware

District of Columbia

Washington

Montana

Maine

Methodology

Flu data comes from the

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\’s weekly flu reports

for February since 2013. February weeks were selected because this month is generally considered peak flu season. We counted the number of weeks during this time period for high, moderate, low and minimal flu activity and weighted the totals. States with the highest overall score were determined to be the worst for flu.

Average prices for physician visits and Ibuprofen come from the

Council for Community and Economic Research

\’s Q3 2019 Cost of Living report.

The rent information included in this article is based on December 2019 entry-level multifamily rental property inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

When to Consult the Best ENT Specialist Doctor in Singapore For Ear Nose Throat Treatments?

(olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com)(January 13, 2020)–Our nose, throat, and ear are vital and delicate parts of our body! It helps us to breathe, smell, speak, swallow, and hearing, respectively. However, keeping in mind our fast-paced lifestyle, we often overlook minor and major problems that might occur to these body parts. Minor discomforts like a nose allergy or throat infection can get cured with regular antibiotics or home remedies. However, things become dangerous when there\’s any severe or critical issue. If you want to know about health and treat the condition, it is necessary to get in touch with an expert ENT specialist.

Reasons to visit an expert ENT doctor

The ear, nose, and throat are sensitive body organs! Hence, when you\’re having a nose irritation or ear pain, you need to know what\’s wrong with the body part. Average doctors might give you generic medicine to suppress the symptoms. It might provide you with temporary relief, but will make the ailment recur back. So, you need to tap into the root cause of the disease right at the start. For this, you need to count on the

top ENT specialist doctors in Singapore

Signs that you shouldn’t ignore

The ear, nose, and throat function in different ways! While mild bacterial infections, pains, and discomforts go away in a few days, serious issues persist! So, if you witness the following,

make sure to get in touch with an expert ENT specialist at the earliest

The ear

It is common for our ear to produce ear wax! Also, the ear has its internal cleaning mechanism as well. Also, the ear passages get mildly blocked because of cold winter air or during a flight. However, if you find that your ears are paining excruciatingly suddenly and persisting, you need to take that seriously. Also, sudden hearing impairment and ear mucus are causes of worry that you shouldn\’t ignore.

The throat

The throat is yet another vital body part! It helps us to speak and is the channel through which food passes down to the stomach. Minor throat infections leading to coughs and a husky voice are common. However, if your cough persists for months and it affects your swallowing capacity, you should consult an expert ENT. You should also get worried if your voice quality changes suddenly, and you witness other throat irritation, like an allergic reaction or burning sensation as well.

The Nose

You need to get extra careful about your nose! Our breathing gets affected if there\’s any discomfort with your nose. Hence, you shouldn\’t be taking sudden nose-bleeds and strange colored nose mucus lightly. Also, sometimes pollutants can get into the nasal tract and create irritations. You can witness a burning sensation and a running nose as a reaction to that. Only an expert ENT specialist can determine whether the condition is severe or not.

Most often than not, an expert ENT specialist asks people to observe their symptoms for a while. Along with medicines, they recommend medical tests to determine the condition of the ailment. It helps them to make the correct diagnoses and also treat the disease accurately, back to normalcy.

STUDY: New Jersey One of the States Hit the Hardest by Robo Calls

It’s not just in your head: the number of robocalls has increased sharply over the last couple of years. Robocall blocking company YouMail estimates that between 60 and 75 billion robocalls will have been placed in 2019, up from 47

billion last year and 30 billion the year before. What’s more, scams increasingly account for the majority of robocalls—45% of them in 2019, compared to just 17.6% in 2016.

To investigate this issue further,

Let’s Talk

culled robocall complaint and call frequency data from Federal Trade Commission and YouMail, and assigned each state in the U.S. a score. Based on this methodology, Maryland, Nevada, Colorado, Delaware and New Jersey have been hit the hardest by robocalls in 2019. The average Maryland resident receives a whopping

18 robocalls a month

Alaskans have suffered the least from robocalls this year—residents receive an average of 3.3 of them a month—followed by North Dakota, Indiana, Hawaii, Mississippi. Here’s a full list of the state robocall rankings.

As mentioned, scams account for the largest percentage of robocalls (45.7%), followed by alerts and reminders (22.7%), payment reminders (20.3%), and perpetually annoying telemarketing calls (11.3%). The percentage of telemarketing robocalls has hovered around 11-13% over the past three years.

Fortunately, there’s help on the way. A new federal law raises the penalty for a single robocall to a whopping $10,000—which should make spammers think twice. The major carriers have already rolled out a new robocall fighting measure called STIR/SHAKEN, which promises to help to ameliorate the problem as well.

METHODOLOGY

To come up with our state robocall rankings, we calculated each state’s ranking by giving them a weighted score based on two data points: the monthly number of robocalls per person in each state (weighted at 40%) according to YouMail, and the number of monthly robocall complaints per person made to the Federal Trade Commission in each state (weighted at 60%). The states were then ordered and ranked according to this score.

SOURCE: LET\’S TALK

Does Chairman Currie Understand What It Means To ‘Say Anything, Tell Any Lie’

Norcross wants it both ways on Economic Opportunity Act

COLLINGSWOOD – Claire Gustafson, Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s first congressional district, congratulated John Currie on getting re-elected Democrat state party chairman and asked if the Chairman understood what it really means to “say anything, tell any lie” to hold onto a seat in congress.

Currie’s “say anything, tell any lie”

comments

were directed at Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew in the second congressional district last week after the congressman added “Phil Murphy to the list of reasons” he left the Democrat party.

“While I do congratulate Chairman Currie on winning re-election as New Jersey’s Democratic Party Chairman, I think he might want to refrain from throwing stones from within the glass house of his own party,” Claire Gustafson said. “One need only look at reports of how Congressman Donald Norcross once

proudly proclaimed

he ‘led the charge on getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed into law’ and

more recently

has backpedaled and ‘is trying to downplay his role’ in getting the law that has benefitted his friends and family passed.”

“Rather than accusing a Republican Congressman of being the one to ‘say anything, tell any lie’ perhaps the Democrat chairman should be calling out Congressman Norcross for saying anything and telling any lie.” Gustafson added, “Obviously, Congressman Norcross, by his own words, ‘led the charge’ on getting a law passed before his campaign staff decided he was ‘just one of dozens of cosponsors.’”

Gustafson asked, “Was Congressman Norcross lying when he said he led the charge on getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed into law? Or is the congressman saying anything and telling any lie with his backpedaling and saying he was just one of dozens of cosponsors?

“Whatever the case, Donald Norcross doesn’t get to have it both ways on the Economic Opportunity Act and the scandals it has led to and Chairman Currie does not get to accuse any Republican of saying anything and telling any lie to hold onto a seat when a member of Congress from his own party is doing exactly that.”

YOUR GOVERNMENT: Recycling, Climate Funding, EV Charging Station Bills Go to Gov’s Desk

The following bills have passed both the Assembly and the Senate and are on their way to the Governor’s

desk.

A5681/5682 (Pinkin) / S3939/3944 (Smith):

Establishes Recycling Market Development Council. The Council would look at existing recycling markets and recommend ways to stimulate recycling and how to reduce contamination of collected recyclables. The bill passed the Assembly with a vote of

76-0-0

“We’re seeing a major drop in recycling in New Jersey. In the early 1990’s, we recycled over half of municipal and household waste. Now we are down to 37%. China’s decision to no longer import plastic waste has caused the recycling market to collapse. Some towns are no longer taking plastics. Recycling facilities are closing, or opening only once or twice a month. This bill says that New Jersey needs to develop new recycling markets. Rutgers has invented the first plastic lumber that uses recycled plastics, and more innovation needs to be encouraged. We need to focus on coming up with more markets for recycling, and establishing a Recycling Market Development Council is a step in the right direction,”

said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

A6014 (Vainieri Huttle):

Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000. The resource center would carry out interdisciplinary research activities to help New Jersey adapt and prepare for climate change. The bill passed the Assembly with a vote of

53-20-1

“Establishing a Climate Change Resource Center is a good step forward when it comes to being prepared and stronger than the next storm, but $500,000 is not enough money to get the job done. Rutgers is spending $4 million a year on a new football coach, but we can only spend $500,000 for climate change research. They need to get their priorities straight. This is a fumble when it comes to climate change. A recent study found that much of New Jersey, including inland counties, are more vulnerable to climate impacts now than before Sandy. We must start taking real actions to fight climate change now. We are in a climate crisis, and New Jersey is the only state on the east coast that does not have any kind of sea level rise climate adaptation plan,”

said Jeff Tittel.

“This Resource Center will help use the latest science to put climate and sea level rise in DEP rules and state legislation, but more money needs to go toward this center for it to be effective.”

A1030 (Johnson)/ S2421 (Smith/Bateman):

Concerns installation of electric vehicle charging stations in common interest communities. This bill would promote, encourage, and remove obstacles to the use of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by prohibiting common interest communities, such as condominiums and homeowners’ associations, from adopting or enforcing any rule that prohibits the installation or use of an EV charging station in a unit owner’s designated parking space. The bill passed the Assembly with a vote of

75-1-1

“This legislation is a critical step forward towards making EV infrastructure accessible for everyone. Residents should have RIGHT-To-CHARGE where people can petition their landlord or condo association for a private charging station or pay for a public charging station. We can also have the Economic Development Authority require any project with state funding to have charging stations,”

said Tittel.

GUEST OPINION: NJBIA Backs Fiscal Reform Bills, Urges Action on Path to Progress

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association today testified in favor of four fiscal reform bills designed to lower the cost of local governments as part of a wide-ranging plan to fix New Jersey\’s government finances.

Between them, the Senate and Assembly appropriations committees will consider legislation involving curriculum at K-8 school districts, sharing services between local governments, and examining state and local taxes and economic development policies. Individually, the bills are narrow in scope, but they are part of a broad, impactful plan to revamp New Jersey\’s finances called The Path to Progress, which NJBIA supports.

NJBIA Vice President for Government Affairs Chris Emigholz made that point while testifying in favor of these bills earlier today.

\”It is urgent for our state and for our taxpayers that the Legislature act on all five parts of the Path to Progress report: Pension and Benefit Reform; Leveraging Assets to Stabilize the Pension System; Education Reform at the Administrative Level; County and Municipal Government Reform and Shared Services; and State and Local Government Tax Structure,\” Emigholz said. \”Reforms in all five of these areas are needed to improve the fiscal health of our State, and our taxpayers deserve no less.

\”What makes the Path to Progress legislation so important is it recognizes a fundamental truth: New Jersey\’s finances will always be in disarray until we change how we raise and especially how we spend money,\” Emigholz said. \”It\’s not just a matter of fiscal discipline; New Jersey\’s financial problems are deeply systemic.\”

Two measures are scheduled for separate votes in both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee. They are:

· S-3756 (Ruiz, D-29; Sarlo, D-36)/A-6115 (Jasey, D-27), which would require K-8 school districts to coordinate their school calendars and curriculum with the high schools they send their graduates to. Emigholz called it \”a long overdue, commonsense measure\” that could save money by eliminating duplication.

· S-3770 (Sarlo, D-36; Oroho, R-24)/A-6118 (Greenwald, D-6), which would establish the \”New Jersey Economic and Fiscal Policy Review Commission\” to provide ongoing review of state and local tax structure and economic conditions.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee also is scheduled a vote on legislation to require counties to appoint a shared-services coordinator. That bill is S-3764 (Andrzejczak, D-1; Bucco, R-25).

\”New Jersey has been quietly encouraging them for decades, but this bill puts staff and money behind that encouragement to make them actually happen,\” Emigholz said.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider A-6116/S-3763 (DeAngelo, D-14); Addiego, D-8; Bateman, D-16; Sarlo, D-36), \”a simple but clever bill to change the name of \’joint meetings\’ to \’regional service agencies\’\” under the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act, Emigholz said. \”It would better capture their real meaning and hopefully encourage their use.\”

\”We are excited to hopefully see these Path to Progress bills pass this committee today, and NJBIA and our taxpayers urgently need more Path to Progress legislation to become law as soon as possible to make New Jersey more affordable for our residents and businesses,\” Emigholz said.

NJ Camp Fairs connect great kids with great camps

…FREE admission! –

Weekends starting January 18 – February 22, 2020

Throughout,New Jersey (PR MediaRelease)

For 2020, NJ Camp Fairs, along with the American Camp Association, will have an exciting lineup of 7 summer camp fairs for NJ families throughout Northern and Central New Jersey communities. This is a great time to seek out summer camps and programs for your child, whether it is a sleep away camp, traditional day camp, or specialty camp such as sports, adventure, travel, community service, academic, art, robotics, gymnastics, precollege, performing arts, foreign language, nature, and more. Will it be a full summer away in the woods, a month traveling, a 4- or a 2- week camp, a broad one or a specialized one focusing on learning a new skill? Many ACA accredited camps will be present.

Different camps will be at each fair. Meet face to face with a diverse set of high quality camps from various locations all under one roof. Kids ages PreK through High School go to camp! Older kids can seek summer jobs too. Don’t surf the internet; bring your kids and explore.

Sat, Jan 18 – Bergen County @ Bergen Town Center, Paramus, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sun, Jan 19 – Mercer County @ Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sat, Jan 25 – Essex County @ Livingston Mall, Livingston, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sun, Jan 26 – Union County @ The Grand Summit Hotel, Summit, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sat, Feb 8 – Bergen County @ The Village of Ridgewood, Ridgewood, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sun, Feb 9 – Essex County @ Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sat, Feb 22 – Middlesex County @ Menlo Park Mall, Edison, 12-3pm, FREE!

RSVP at www.njcampfairs.com and receive a free gift and free admission at the fair.

About

Contact

For over 36 years, the NJ Camp Fairs and the ACA has been connecting kids to great camps. Please RSVP @ www.njcampfairs.com to let us know you’re coming and you’ll receive a free gift at the fair. For more information, please go to www.njcampfairs.com and check out the camp directory. Email info@njcampfairs.com for questions.

Philadelphia-Area Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Distributing Oxycodone

A Philadelphia-area doctor was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine yesterday for the illegal distribution of

oxycodone.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Philadelphia Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Jonathan A. Wilson of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division and U.S. Marshal Eric S. Gartner of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.

Richard Ira Mintz, D.O., 69, of Dresher, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, who also ordered Mintz to serve three years of supervised release and 90 days of home confinement following release. Mintz pleaded guilty in March 2019 to eight counts of distributing controlled substances (oxycodone) outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

Mintz has surrendered his medical license and DEA Certificate of Registation.

The FBI, HHS-OIG, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and Philadelphia Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney Adam G. Yoffie of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Macko of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the parallel civil case, in which Mintz paid a $107,584 monetary penalty.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at

www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

Health Benefits of Taking a Hot Bath

olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com(January 12, 2020)—Whether we like it or not, stress and anxiety are here to stay. Although modern times cannot eradicate their ever-presence, there is a way to manage them.

Taking a hot bath is an easy way to achieve

relaxation. Ancient cultures believed in the healing powers of water, and you can replicate their ideas easily by having a hot bath.

Freestanding baths

are excellent options that make

your warm bath comfortable. So fill your tub with warm water, bubble bath, and essential oils, and you\’re set to go.

Relieves headache

Most headaches happen when nerves, blood vessels, and certain muscles swell, tighten, and experience an increase in press

ure from the surrounding nerves. Heat can soothe pressure points and relieve pain. Taking a warm bath is an excellent way to use the properties of heat for relief.

Therapeutic and calming

Soaking in a hot tub helps your body and mind rest. It enables you t

o quieten your thoughts and experience the moment. This moment can help you see a clearer picture of the things that are going well in your life, which is dimmed by the amount of stress your daily activities give you. Then gratitude takes the place of your

worries and finally, a moment of Zen. Repeat the process as often as needed.

Helps blood circulation

As you rest your tensed muscles and tensioned mind during a hot bath, your breathing changes. Your tendency to breathe deeper and slower during a relaxin

g activity like hot bathing has a positive effect on your blood flow.

Improves skin

Warm water opens up skin pores. Just before you end your hot bath, gently exfoliate your clean skin in small circular motions. Follow it up with cold water to seal your cle

ar pores. To prevent your skin from drying after a hot bath, it helps to moisturise after each bath.

Helps decrease blood pressure

Many people believe that a routine hot bath is effective in reducing blood pressure. For one, constant relaxation drives away

stress and the harmful effects it has on our health. Second, a study in 2016 revealed that passive heating releases levels of nitric oxide which dilates blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. Nitrix oxide, a molecule naturally produced by your body, is

essential in relaxing the inner muscles of blood vessels for improved blood circulation.

Prelude to a sound sleep

A warm bath increases your body temperature while relaxing tensed muscles along the way. Having an uninterrupted time during your bath is aki

n to meditating. It calms you, gives you peace of mind, relaxes your worries, and makes you feel safe. It replaces chaos with tranquillity, and before you know it, slumber is a matter of seconds away. Don\’t forget to hit the bed!

A warm bath has been a lon

g-standing practice for a good reason. It serves as an elixir that brings tranquillity to your present and alleviates your anxiety of the past and future. The pros of immersing yourself in hot water make it a good investment of your time; and bathtubs, a w

orthwhile investment of your money.

Operation on the Ropes: One of New Jersey’s Largest THC/Marijuana Edible Seizures

Illegal Products Manufactured in Manalapan, Monmouth Airport Facilities

FREEHOLD – A yearlong investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Unit targeting a large-scale marijuana and THC distribution network operating throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties as well as parts of New York resulted in charges being filed against 24 men and women. One California man remains at-large and is considered a fugitive from justice, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The investigation, dubbed

Operation On The Ropes

uncovered a scheme to secretly convert legitimate candies, including the popular Nerds Rope and Sour Patch candy brands, to an illegal THC-infused product. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance that creates most of marijuana’s “high.”

Operation On The Ropes

culminated with the execution of over a dozen search warrants in Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties resulting in the seizure of approximately 21,000 packages of candy infused with suspected THC, 1,100 lbs. of suspected marijuana, and over 6,000 flavored THC vape cartridges, all with an estimated street value of $1.9 million.

“The network operators used regular candy to further their scheme, buying hundreds of boxes of product from wholesalers before transporting it to a processing facility where they would unwrap the individual pieces of candy, lay it out on trays and then spraying the candy with a concentrated formula of THC distillate. Once the THC dried on the candy it was repackaged as an illegal marijuana edibles product for distribution across New Jersey,” explained Gramiccioni.

The illegal operation utilized a warehouse on Park Avenue in Manalapan Township and a hangar at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township as production and storage facilities. The approximate 21,000 pieces of candy were manufactured with unknown amounts of THC and totals over 100,000 individual doses. The THC products that were processed were then intermingled with THC products that the network operators illegally trafficked into New Jersey from a supplier in California. The THC products have an estimated street value of nearly $900,000.

“The packaging on this THC laced ‘candy’ is almost indistinguishable from regular drug store candy. Your kids may be getting high right before your eyes, if you are not paying close attention. This illegal operation makes juveniles and anyone who consumes these products susceptible to random levels of drug toxicity,” said Monmouth County Chief of Detectives John G. McCabe.

Also seized were machines and paraphernalia used to repackage and repurpose the legitimate candies as marijuana-related edible products. The investigation did not reveal use of the airport to transport any of the illegal drugs to other areas inside or outside of New Jersey.

– more –

Seized during the investigation were 1,200 THC-infused Sour Patch Watermelon candy packages labeled, “Stoner Patch” edibles; 6,250 “Baked Burgerz” edibles; 3,111 TCH-infused “Nerd Ropes,” individually repackaged in red, pink, yellow and blue wrappers. Also seized were 1,151 Tic Tac-type containers without labels; numerous boxes and trays of Nerd Ropes in various stages of the infusion process; and 6,542 THC vape cartridges in a variety of 16 different flavors.

“The operation used their own wrappers and labels to repackage the drug-infused candy. There were no sanitary measures taken, no safety apparatus, and there were certainly were no standards in place to ensure the product was not contaminated. Consumers of these products had no way of knowing exactly what they were ingesting,” said Middletown Township Police Chief Craig Weber, President of the Monmouth County Chiefs Association.

A total of $10,151,711 in assets, $1,483,859 in cash, and 21 high-end exotic vehicles, including cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes Benz, with an estimated total value of approximately $2,783,445, were also seized as part of the criminal investigation.

Numerous agencies assisted in this investigation. Prosecutor Gramiccioni commended all of the agencies whose combined cooperation and partnership complimented the successful completion of

Operation On The Ropes

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the Port of New York and Newark International Airport, U.S. Postal Inspection Service;

New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police – Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (ROIC), New Jersey Department of Treasury, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Office of the New York District Attorney – Richmond County, the Office of New York District Attorney’s Office – Rockland County, and the 123 Precinct of the New York City Police Department;

Aberdeen Police Department, Asbury Park Police Department, Belmar Police Department, Brick Township Police Department, Colts Neck Police Department, Eatontown Police Department, Elmwood Park Police Department, Freehold Borough Police Department, Freehold Township Police Department, Howell Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department, Keansburg Police Department, Keyport Police Department, Lodi Police Department, Long Branch Police Department, Manalapan Township Police Department, Marlboro Township Police Department, Middletown Township Police Department, Old Bridge Police Department, Neptune City Police Department, Neptune Township Police Department, Spring Valley (New York) Police Department, Tinton Falls Police Department, and Wall Township Police Department.

Arrested and charged in

Operation On The Ropes

Dylon J. Addvensky, 27, of Freehold Borough

, first degree Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network, second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Knowingly Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 Grams.

Eric L. Karlewicz, a/k/a Anthony Mazza 40, of Colts Neck

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.

– more –

Nicco C. Romanowski, 27, of Freehold Township

, second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.

Anthony Dalessandro, 30, of Los Angeles, California

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish with Intent to Distribute, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 Grams. D’Alessandro remains at-large and is considered a fugitive from justice.

Ariel Baez, 45, of Lodi, New Jersey

, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.

Mathew R. Caracappa, 24, of Freehold Township

, second degree Conspiracy, first degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Knowingly Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and/or Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 Grams.

Lawrence A. Cella, 28, of Jackson Township

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish.

Richard C. Chamas, 43, of Jackson Township

, is charged with a disorderly persons offense of Obstruction of the lawful arrest of Paul G. Hobbs, who is listed below.

Lee D’Avanzo, 52, of Staten Island, New York

, is charged with fourth degree Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana, fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.

Nicholas A. D’Ambrosio, 28, of Manalapan

, third degree Possession of Cocaine and a disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams.

Alfonse D’Ambrosio, 26, of Howell Township

, is charged with third degree possession of Anabolic Steroids, fourth degree Resisting Arrest, fourth degree Possession of Examestane without a Prescription,

Angelynn J. Fecso, of Colts Neck

Matthew V. Filosa, 28, of Freehold Borough

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and/or Hashish fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 grams.

Paul G. Hobbs, 27, of Jackson Township

Ryan D. Hult, 39, of Riverdale in Morris County, New Jersey

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 grams.

Jason M. Lambros, 21, of Point Pleasant Beach

, is charged with disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Joseph A. Mari, 28, of Voorhees Township in Camden County, New Jersey

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, second degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.

Gianna P. Mazzone, 23, of Egg Harbor Township

, is charged with third degree Possession of Cocaine and a disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Marijuana under 50 grams.

John T. Page, 25, of the Mickleton section of Greenwich Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.

Hannah R. Olstein, 25, Freehold Township

, is charged with fourth degree Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams and a disorderly persons offense of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Daniel J. Riley, 25, of Brick Township

, second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 grams

Kevin M. Shields, 31 of Jackson Township

, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.

Alexa L. Stimpfel, 27, of Freehold Borough

, is charged with fourth degree Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams.

Matthew C. Tracy, 27, of Jackson Township

, is charged with fourth degree Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana and Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.

There is an ongoing investigation into the financial activities of the criminal enterprise. Anyone with information about the activities of any of the defendants listed above or any of the following companies Empire Pain Center, Empire Power and Gas Holdings, Global Empire International Holdings, Supreme Lead Generations, Platinum Communication Services, Platinum Funding Associates, Jenza Properties, LLC, Dynasty Property Holdings are urged to contact Captain Maria Reverendo of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, at 1-800-533-7443.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.

Anyone convicted of a first degree crime faces a sentence of 10 to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison. Anyone convicted of a second degree crime faces a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison. If convicted of a third degree crime, each defendant faces three to five years in state prison. If convicted of a fourth degree crime, each defendant faces up to 18 months in state prison.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Paul Alexander and Emily Cartmell.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.