Two neighboring New Jersey universities are scrubbing bathrooms and other facilities after suspected outbreaks of Norovirus sickened more than 140 students in the last two weeks. Despite flare-ups at Princeton and Rider universities, the intermittent appearance of the highly contagious bug — often called "stomach flu" — is usual for this time of year in nursing homes and cruise ships, doctors say. Rider University cleaned its residence halls and buildings on its campuses in both Lawrenceville and Princeton yesterday, after 44 students were sent to the hospital with the suspected virus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps. http://bit.ly/weokIA
They'll start showing up next month on farms across New Jersey. Thousands of seasonal workers will plant fields and trim trees, then tend and harvest crops during the spring and summer. Up to 180 work at Joe Marino's Sun Valley Orchards in Swedesboro, Gloucester County, and many - including migrant farm hands from Mexico - earn $7.25 an hour, the state and federal minimum wage. They would see their paychecks increase under a proposal by Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D., Essex) to boost the state minimum rate to $8.50 and to tie it to the consumer price index, which measures the cost of living. Oliver says the move would provide "livable wages for the lowest-income earners," while helping the economy by increasing consumer spending. About 40,000 New Jersey residents currently earn the $7.25 rate. http://bit.ly/yhxQOR
Nearly $17 million in federal funds will be allocated by the Army Corps of Engineers to continue deepening of the Delaware River shipping channel by five feet. U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews said Tuesday he has been advised by the Army Corps the money will be released as part of this year’s allocation to the agency. While the funds are not designated for any specific purpose, Andrews, D-Haddon Heights, said the “Army Corps’ plan is to spend it on the Delaware.” The money, if allocated, would go toward deepening the river channel from 40 to 45 feet in an area between Penns Grove and the Beckett Street Marine Terminal in Camden, said Ed Voight, chief of public and legislative affairs for the Corps’ Philadelphia regional office. http://bit.ly/x0Qggd
Merchantville Online
Where Community Begins...
