MORRIS COUNTY — Loyola University Maryland has announced the members of its spring 2020 Dean’s List. In order to qualify for the Dean’s List at Loyola, a student must achieve a minimum QPA of at least 3.500 for the term, provided that, in the term, they have successfully completed courses totaling a minimum of 15 credits.

Carli Tyson of Boonton

Alexandra Gregorek of Mountain Lakes

Isabella LoRusso of Florham Park

Victoria Bartolomeo of Florham Park

Brittany Hahn of Florham Park

Sofia Lentine of East Hanover

Neel Ghose of East Hanover

Katie Taylor of Madison

Caroline Moore of Madison

Catherine Crowley of Madison

Claire Schaenen of Madison

Erik Bodnar of Morris Plains

Established in 1852, Loyola University Maryland is a Catholic, Jesuit comprehensive university comprising Loyola College, home to the University’s arts and sciences programs; the Sellinger School of Business and Management; and the School of Education. Loyola enrolls 4,000 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students from across the country.

NEW JERSEY — Governor Phil Murphy advised individuals traveling to New Jersey from states or territories with significant community spread of COVID-19 to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of the last contact within the identified state or territory. In addition to the Virgin Islands, the updated advisory includes two additional states Hawaii and South Dakota – with Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio, and Rhode Island removed from the list, bringing the total to 33 states and territories. The travel advisory applies to any person arriving from a state or territory with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

As of Tuesday, August 11, there are currently 33 states and territories that meet the criteria stated above: Alabama; Arkansas; Arizona; California; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Iowa; Idaho; Indiana; Illinois; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Minnesota; Missouri; Mississippi; Montana; North Carolina; North Dakota; Nebraska; Nevada; Oklahoma; Puerto Rico; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Virginia; Virgin Islands; and Wisconsin.

“To protect the steady progress we’ve made on our road back, we need everyone who has traveled to one of these impacted states or territories to practice self-responsibility,” said Governor Murphy. “I strongly encourage all individuals arriving from a hotspot to proactively get a COVID-19 test and self-quarantine to reduce transmission across our state.”

Travelers and those residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodgings. Individuals should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care/treatment or to obtain food and other essential items.

It is expected that individuals will follow the public health advisory to self-quarantine. The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Deputy Chief Jonathan Delaney of the Dover Police Department announce the arrest of Michael A. Holdnak, 30, Dover.

Holdnak has been charged with Attempted Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a/2C:14-2c, a crime of the second degree; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a (1), a crime of the third degree.

It is alleged that between July 12 and July 28 this defendant engaged the 15-year-old male victim in sexual conversations via telephone and social media. It is alleged that on two occasions, the defendant engaged in these conversations while he was outside of the victim’s residence.  The defendant was charged by warrant-complaint on August 10 and is currently lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility in accordance with Criminal Justice Reform.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and the Dover Police Department, whose efforts contributed to the investigation and charges filed in this matter.

Anyone with information relating to these incidents is asked to call Detective Lydia Negron of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6213 or Det. Raziel Aragon of the Dover Police Department at (973) 366-2200 ext. 4203.

Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation.  Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MORRIS COUNTY — Rosemary Becchi, the Republican challenger in the 11th Congressional District in New Jersey, issued a letter challenging Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill to three debates to be held across the district, beginning in September and ending in mid-October.

“With record unemployment and an economy destroyed by the pandemic, too many people are staying awake at night worrying about how they are going to pay their bills and put food on the table.,” said Becchi. “This election might be the most important election of our lifetime and I believe the voters deserve to hear directly from the candidates on what they plan to do to responsibly reopen and get Jersey back to work.

In a letter sent directly to Representative Sherrill, Rosemary Becchi shared the urgency of live debates, citing “There are unprecedented challenges facing New Jersey right now and the next Congresswoman from Congressional District 11 will be required to make tough decisions.”

Becchi expanded on this point, “In this district, we have a history of elected officials standing before the voters, sharing their opinions, and challenging each other on the issues. Given the pandemic, it may be necessary to adjust the format and hold tv-only debates or even zoom debates. Now more than ever, I believe it is our duty to continue the important tradition to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.”

The debates should give both candidates the opportunity to share their platforms, expand on their stance on issues, and describe their vision for the future. They should cover a variety of topics, be spread out across the district, and provide an opportunity for voters to ask questions. The debates should be moderated by third parties without a political agenda or platform.  

Rosemary Becchi went on to explain that she has been talking to voters throughout the district who are tired of politics and just want to know where the candidates stand on the issues. They want elected officials who will put people ahead of politics. Becchi shared that she hopes the Congresswoman will respond quickly to her invitation to debate.