Business groups have faulted Gov. Phil Murphy’s phased-in business reopening plan and say the new One Jersey Pledge, announced Thursday, should be the trigger for reopening ASAP.

One community now plans to defy the governor’s order on indoor dining. The Asbury Park City Council voted to allow it starting Monday.

The state says 94% of all residents who filed for unemployment benefits have now been paid on their claims. A new call center is due to open next week to try to resolve the outstanding claims. In the latest week, another 23,000 New Jersey residents filed for unemployment benefits. Since the pandemic began, more than 1 million New Jerseyans have filed.

Thousands of new clean energy jobs could be created under the state’s proposed energy efficiency program, which was approved by the Board of Public Utilities Wednesday. It includes a commitment to create jobs in low to moderate income communities.