BERGEN COUNTY, NJ - Longtime Democratic State Senator Loretta Weinberg announced on Wednesday that she will retire at the end of her current term.

The Senate Majority Leader since 2012, Weinberg said it was the right time for her to leave.

"I feel overwhelmed...I feel emotional," Weinberg told Briana Vannozzi of "NJ Spotlight News." "But I don't feel conflicted ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - Hackensack Public Schools administrators held an online Zoom meeting for parents to explain class scheduling when the district reopens for hybrid learning on Monday, January 25.

The meeting was lead by Superintendent of Schools Robert Sanchez, who was joined by Early Childhood Development Center principal Stefanie Golam; Hackensack Middle School principal Dr. Anibal ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - Hackensack Public Schools announced that it will return to in-class learning on Monday, January 25, according to a letter from the Superintendent of Schools.

In a letter to parents issued Wednesday, January 6, Robert Sanchez, Superintendent of Schools, announced the district will open "for our families that have chosen the option to attend school in-person via ...

HACKENSACK, NJ -  The performing and visual arts were front and center at the December meeting of Hackensack Board of Education which featured performances by the Hackensack Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, a solo and award-winning artwork from elementary school students. 

The first performance was by the Hackensack Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, which hasn’t been able to ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - Members of the Hackensack Fire Department rolled up their sleeves on Monday morning to begin taking the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Several members of the Hackensack Fire Department received their initial covid vaccines at Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Center, on Monday, January 11.

"This is the next step in protecting those who protect the community," ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - Police and fire personnel throughout New Jersey can begin to get the COVID-19 vaccine as they have been re-classified into the 1A group as of Thursday.

According to the CDC, classification for category 1A healthcare workers include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, any other licensed or registered health professionals, staff in hospitals, long-term care ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - The Hackensack Fire Department responded to a call for a construction worker who fell from a rooftop Friday morning.

Rescue 1, Ladder 1 and Safety operated at 225 State Street police headquarters for a construction worker who fell off the top roof onto a lower roof, according to Captain Justin Derevyanik, Hackensack Fire Department, Public Information ...

PARAMUS, NJ - The borough hired 10 police officers at its final meeting of 2020.

The following officers were officially approved by a 4-3 vote at the Dec. 28 council meeting at a starting salary of $45,048. The following biographies were issued by Chief of Police Kenneth Ehrenberg.

Jamie Takahashi was born in New York City and is a long time resident of Paramus. Jamie graduated from ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - The recent installation of a poster project in business street windows looks to offer a visual message of hope and resiliency to the community.

Graphic designer and visual artist Poramit Thantapalit, a Hackensack resident, created a poster design illustrating the city's resurgence and renaissance.  The posters were installed along Main Street business' ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - Zonie LeSane was selected to fill a vacancy on the Hackensack Board of Education in a special meeting that ran over five hours on Monday night. 

LeSane was one of five candidates who gave five-minute presentations to the Board members. Other candidates were Marlene Somerville, Susan Baglieri, Jennifer Maury, and Demetrius Carroll.

LeSane has worked for Bergen County ...

NEW JERSEY — A new executive order will mean sweeping changes for the way teachers and students are evaluated for the 2020-2021 school year.

Gov. Phil Murphy, who has long said this isn’t a normal school year due to COVID-19, announced the changes during a Monday press conference on pandemic updates.

As part of the order, high school seniors won’t have to pass an exit ...

HACKENSACK, NJ -  The Hackensack Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday to fill a vacancy on the Board.

The Board will meet on Monday, January 11 at 5:30pm to interview candidates for the one vacancy. Login information can be found on the district's website. 

The vacancy opened in late November when then-Board member Frances Cogelja resigned ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - A school nurse in Hackensack is using crowdfunding to help provide thermometers for the students and families in her school.

Wendy Lamparelli is the School Nurse at Jackson Avenue Elementary School. She has a project on the crowdfunding website DonorsChoose called "Check! Check! What's Your Temp?," to provide 350 thermometers to the students at the ...

NEW JERSEY - According to information released by ShopRite's Wakfern Food Corporation on Monday, January 4, 39 ShopRite Pharmacies throughout the Garden State will be administering COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers. Participating ShopRite Pharmacies are distributing the vaccines in conjunction with a partnership with the state of New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Health and Human ...

Doctors, nurses, paramedics and others who go back on active duty can help protect frontline workers against COVID-19 and give vaccination efforts a shot in the arm.

 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.

As New Jersey ...

TRENTON, NJ - Governor Phil Murphy announced the latest COVID-19 figures from around the New Jersey during his Monday afternoon press conference, where he addressed why a small percentage of the state's vaccine allotment has been administered to the public.

There were 2,292 new cases reported, with 38 new deaths. Statewide, there are now 494,317 positive ...

HAMILTON, NJ -  Governor Phil Murphy signed the landmark New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020 into law on Thursday at Hamilton's Carella's Chocolate's and Gifts, a local family business for more than 80 years. The law provides economic support for small businesses, while propelling New Jersey’s economic recovery and growth for much of the next ...

TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey’s minimum hourly wage will go up by $1 to $12 per hour, for most employees, on January 1, 2021, per the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Increases are less if you are a small employer or operate a seasonal business, which makes $11.10, while employees who work on a farm for an hourly or piece-rate wage will see their minimum hourly wage ...

TRENTON, NJ  - Local seniors still have time to apply for the Senior Freeze Program. The deadline for Senior Freeze property tax relief program was recently extended to February 1, 2021.

The Program is a property tax reimbursement program for eligible seniors and disable residents. In order to receive a property tax reimbursement, seniors must be eligible.

For additional ...

NEW JERSEY — The threat of Trenton protests on Jan. 17 looms, following a massive insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. last week.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Colonel Pat Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said Monday that NJ authorities are prepared and on high alert.

“We need to bat 1,000 every day. To the governor's point [we] will be ...

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ - Come December 2022, it is likely that New Jersey will be having it first statewide championships in high school football after a vote Wednesday by member schools voted that amended the NJSIAA Constitution to remove a prohibition of naming state-wide champions in football.

Of the 336 votes that were cast, 318 were in favor of eliminating the prohibition, with 12 schools ...

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ - The New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association formally began the process of the setting up a football playoff system that will allow the state, for the first time, have statewide group champions.  

NJSIAA staff, in association with the New Jersey Football Coaches Association, have introduced a measure to change the NJSIAA Constitution to eliminate a provision ...

HACKENSACK, NJ - The NJIC Division 5 coaches were filled with praise for the Bergen Charter Yellow Jackets girls soccer team, as six of the 11 starters were named to the All Division team, and head coach Wilson Carangui was named Coach of the Year by his peers.

Midfielders Briza Ulloa, Gabrieka Saune and Kimberly Guaman were all named to the First Team.  Ulloa, a junior, was the ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The New York Giants have announced that Hackensack High School football coach Benjie Wimberly is the winner of the 2020 Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Year presented by Gatorade.  

In recognition of Wimberly's selection as Coach of the Year, a $4,000 check will be awarded to Hackensack's football program from The Giants Foundation and Gatorade. He ...

SOUTH RIVER, NJ -- A GoFundMe page set up for the family of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick has raised more that $545,000 as of Sunday evening, Jan. 10, 2021. To contribute to the page, click here. 

Officer Brian D. Sicknick tragically lost his life on January 7th, 2021 following injuries sustained during the events at the United States Capitol on Wednesday, January 6th.

HACKENSACK, NJ - It was a community effort to put smiles on children's faces this past holiday season.

The Chit Chat Diner, the Hackensack Regional Chamber of Commerce and Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union partnered once again on their Annual Holiday Toy Drive. Toy collection bins were located at Chit Chat Diner, the Chamber office, and all Greater Alliance branch ...