TRENTON, NJ - "Assata's Prayer" - a brief, impassioned clarion call to fight for freedom in the face of injustice - is being chanted at the beginning of more and more protest rallies in New Jersey and beyond.

"Assata's Prayer" was recently recited at, among other places, Juneteenth celebrations in St. Louis and Fresno, Calif., and at a protest in Providence, ...

CLARK, NJ – The Clark Fire and Police Departments responded to a crash on the Garden State Parkway at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening.   The incident occurred on the southbound side of the parkway just beyond the Clark exit at the site of the Westfield Avenue overpass. 

According to Captain Ryan Might of the Clark Fire Department, once at the scene, responders ...

CLARK, NJ – Imagine one school where all students in each class across a grade-level read the same book as part of a school-wide character education initiative.  Then envision the teachers collaborating to create a full unit of instruction that encourages those children to share their experiences with the book with each other.

Well there is no need to imagine it, because that is ...

CLARK, NJ – Kumpf Middle School celebrated their eighth graders heading off to high school with a virtual ceremony at the end of the school year.  School Principal Richard Delmonaco served as the emcee of a ceremony filled with commemoration, pride, and recognition.

Delmonaco started the ceremony speaking to students about the unknown landscape of the pandemic they found themselves ...

WAYNE, NJ – The FDA has published an advisory to the public not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA deCV in Mexico due to the potential presence of methanol. “Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects,” read the advisory.

An increased awareness for hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Gov. Phil Murphy announced at his daily COVID-19 press briefing on Thursday that he has extended New Jersey's public health emergency another 30 days due to the coronavirus, even though the spread of the disease has slowed significantly by many important measures. For instance, hospitalizations are down 94% from New Jersey's peak and 12% from June 17, and the ...

TRENTON, NJ -- At his daily COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the reopening schedule that continues tomorrow – with social distancing and face covering requirements in place – for the following businesses:

Casinos,
Outdoor amusement parks and water parks,
Museums and libraries,
Indoor recreation, and
Gyms/fitness centers (for individualized ...

TRENTON, NJ - Gov. Phil Murphy announced today he signed a three-month $7.6 billion budget extension prompted by the coronavirus pandemic that allows the State to continue spending through September.

Murphy said the three-month gap budget, which authorizes state spending through the extended 2020 state fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30, slashes $1.2 billion in previously authorized ...

CLARK, NJ – One Clark business turned up the heat in their kitchen to help the community when the pandemic was racing through New Jersey.  BurgerIM of Clark owner, Jalpesh Chokshi was moved to serve and support the community in the same way they had supported him during his first year in town. 

He started with providing meals to first responders accompanied by homemade thank ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Although he planned to loosen restrictions on indoor dining in New Jersey on Thursday, July 2, Gov. Phil Murphy announced at his daily COVID-19 press conference Monday that he will delay the reopening. He provided no timetable of when indoor dining -- even at reduced capacity -- would resume.

Murphy pointed to packed crowds at outdoor bars and restaurants -- with ...

ELIZABETH, NJ - Google honored Elizabeth native Marsha P. Johnson with her own doodle on its Tuesday homepage for the last day of Pride month.

“The milestones achieved in the LGBTQ rights and equality movement were made possible by trailblazers who first stood up for their rights - people like early transgender, gay rights and AIDS activist, Marsha P. Johnson,” said Freeholder ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Sometimes, it “takes a village.”

For six days, several Westfield families were keeping a watchful eye on a cat that appeared to be stuck in a tree. There were two unsuccessful attempts by the Westfield Fire Department to get her down, with the theory that the noise of the truck frightened her, and she retreated further.

An EMT came by and tried to lure her ...

Even though our doors are closed, we are open for curbside pickup! Our librarians are also still here to help with reference questions or book recommendations!  We will be here for curbside pickup from 9:30 am-4:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  We will stay open until 6:30 pm on Tuesdays. Hours are subject to change.  We are also here to  answer your ...

CLARK, NJ - Read books during the summer and get a chance to win prizes during the 2020 Imagine Your Story Summer Reading Challenge sponsored by the Clark Library.

According to library officials, the library will be hosting virtual summer reading events through August.   Participants are invited to log their reading using Beanstack for on the library website ...

CLARK, NJ - The Clark Public Library will be open for contact less curbside pick-up starting on Monday, June 22.  Patrons can reserve books, call upon arrival and a librarian will bring the books out to a table in front of the library.  Librarians can also make recommendations for books to read if needed.   

The library is also receiving returns through the drop box and ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Although he planned to loosen restrictions on indoor dining in New Jersey on Thursday, July 2, Gov. Phil Murphy announced at his daily COVID-19 press conference Monday that he will delay the reopening. He provided no timetable of when indoor dining -- even at reduced capacity -- would resume.

Murphy pointed to packed crowds at outdoor bars and restaurants -- with ...

WATCHUNG, NJ -- While anyone who had driven along Route 22 in the past few weeks could see the evidence of an imminent opening, the new Chick-fil-A opened on Thursday, June 24, at the intersection of Terrill Road, the longtime home of Sears -- just walking distance from chicken franchise rival Popeye's.

In accordance with social distancing measures, the restaurant is opened for ...

So, you filled your shopping cart and gardens with lots of new shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. Now what?  Keep your plants looking their best with minimal effort so you can enjoy them and your summer even more.

Watering is one task where I find even experienced gardeners struggle. Proper watering is key. Too much or not enough water can result in yellow, wilting and even ...

TRENTON, NJ — As the phased reopening of New Jersey continues amid the COVID-19 pandemic and warming weather, the Department of Environmental Protection reminds the public that controlling the mosquito population and risk for disease is more important than ever, Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said.

With public health in the spotlight as a result of the pandemic, residents doing ...

CLARK, NJ - Ballot Boxes are available at several locations around Union County.  Voters can drop their vote-by-mail ballots in them at any time.  According to Clark's Town Clerk, Edie Merkel  the boxes are monitored by camera around the clock. The ballot boxes are located at the following sites:

Cranford – Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut ...

Anyone who has ever planted mint knows it can grow like a weed.

If you’ve got oodles of the herb, from your garden or the market, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it. Here are a few of our favorites on hot summer days:

Stir chopped mint into softened cream cheese for a new bagel spread.

Toss it in your pitcher for mint water. You can combine it with fruit, such ...

New Jersey Date Night is a series on NJ Flavor by relationship writer Craig Rogers.

“Come out, come out wherever you are!” were Glinda’s famous words 81 years ago, and they’ve never been more applicable to New Jersey now. People have lots of reasons to come out in June; not only is it Pride Month but also we now can enjoy a date night in an actual restaurant, ...

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that indoor dining may resume on July 2, limited at first to 25% capacity. Until then, and even afterward, outdoor eating continues to be a big part of restaurant service.

Keeping this in mind, we asked restaurant owners and workers what they want the public to know after their first week re-opened for outdoor dining.

The biggest ...

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

On a warm afternoon at Seaside Heights, Nick Amoresano allowed himself a trip to the beach for the first time in about three months of pandemic-related confinement, but said he wasn’t ...