South Jersey church that held service will face ‘repercussions;' Shore businesses worry about what lies ahead

Significant DevelopmentsPennsylvania counties still under strict coronavirus restrictions — including hard-hit Philadelphia and its suburbs — will move to the “yellow” reopening phase by June 5.A South Jersey church held Sunday service in defiance of Gov. Phil Murphy’s order. Other pastors are threatening to sue.The Philadelphia Archdiocese plans to resume daily and Sunday Masses on June 6.Track the latest data on the spread of the coronavirus in the Philadelphia region here.Trump threatens to pull Republican convention out of North Carolina due to COVID-19 restrictions

// Timestamp 05/25 9:40am

President Trump is threatening to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina, claiming Gov. Roy Cooper is “unable to guarantee” the capacity due to coroanvirus restrictions.

Starting his Memorial Day on Twitter Monday, Trump demanded a guarantee the convention will be allowed to go on as planned, with Cooper becoming the latest Democratic governor targeted by the president.

I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020

...full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Plans are being....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020

...made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020

...to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020

It’s unclear where Republicans could move their convention that would allow 50,000 people to gather at once. It’s also unclear how such an event could be planned under such short notice.

On Friday, restaurants, barber shops and salons are among the business that will be allowed to reopen in North Carolina with limitations, but gatherings remain limited to 10 people. The convention is scheduled to begin August 24, and both Cooper and Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles have said all decisions will be guided by data and science.

"We can’t go into this with just, ‘Well, we agreed to something in 2018 and we’re going to continue to do it,’ Lyles said on MSNBC last week. “That is not the world today.”

— Rob Tornoe

Murphy: South Jersey church that held Sunday service will face ‘repercussions'

// Timestamp 05/25 8:45am

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said there will be “repercussions” after a South Jersey church held Sunday service in defiance to the state’s coronavirus closure orders.

Parishioners of the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin gathered yesterday for what its clergy said prior to the service would “meet or exceed” safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“There will be repercussions in any case where someone willful violates out executives orders,” Murphy said. “But putting the specifics of that aside, I want to get churches going as well”

Murphy said the response to defying the state’s executive orders typically involve summons, either from the Department of Health or the attorney general’s office. He cited Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, which was issued summons for several days before a judge forced the facility to close.

“It’s a fairly straightforward process,” Murphy said. “We got to make sure we’re all in this together and do it the right way.”

In New Jersey, churches are currently barred from holding in-person services indoors, but can hold outdoor services limited to 25 people. Dozens of pastors throughout the state have threatened to sue.

South Jersey church bucks coronavirus closure orders and holds Sunday service— Rob Tornoe

At the Jersey Shore, sparse crowds and worry for what’s ahead

// Timestamp 05/25 6:00am

It felt like fall at the Jersey Shore on Sunday, but the clouds and cool weather did more than chase away beach-goers during the traditional start of the summer season.

They underscored the sudden fragility of a Shore economy that’s been pounded by pandemic-driven store closings, hotel-room cancellations, and dining limits. On Sunday, as some hardy ocean-lovers set out towels on beaches, and others on benches snuggled inside down coats, the boom of Memorial Day weekend turned quiet.

“Our business is down 70% over last year,” said Bill Bumbernick, owner of the Surfing Pig marina, bar and restaurant in North Wildwood. “That’s partly due to the weather. But we’re very concerned. Our customers are great, they really get it. But 70% just doesn’t cut it.”

A Tough Shore outlook: The show did go on — sort of— Jeff Gammage, Erin Arvedlund, and Pranshu Verma,

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// Timestamp 05/25 5:00am

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