Union County News
By LINDSEY KELLEHER
June 3, 2026
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County will spend $73.8 million to make county roads safer for motorists and pedestrians, and an additional $26.6 million to improve the streets in Elizabeth.The road improvements are part of Union County’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan and are being ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — A majority of the human and social services that county residents use regularly will be in one place once construction is complete on a new government complex.The $150.3 million complex is being constructed at 61-99 West Grand Street in Elizabeth on the property that housed utility ...
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) has announced the high school students who will compete in the USA Biolympiad (USABO) National Finals at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from June 21 to July 2, 2026. Among them will be Berkeley Heights resident Tara ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county Board of Commissioners adopted a $559 million budget during its April 30 meeting that increases the county-wide tax levy by 2 percent.The tax levy, which is the amount of money that’s raised in property taxes, increased more percentage-wise than it did in 2025 for the ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — Union County says it hit its goal for the 2025-2026 deer management program, which resulted in providing more than 11,000 meals for families in need with the venison that resulted.One hundred and eighty-five deer were killed during the 2025-2026 deer management program, according to ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The Union County Board of Commissioners is set to approve its $559 million budget later this month, which includes a 2 percent increase in the tax levy (the amount of money that’s raised in property taxes) from 2025.With the revenue and appropriations, the budget is ...
UNION, NJ – The 29th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off Saturday afternoon, bringing thousands of spectators and several road closures to the streets of Union.The parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Morris and Commerce Avenues. It will proceed easterly on Morris Ave, turning ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County department heads, the county manager, county counsel and members of the county’s Board of Commissioners are receiving 2 and 3 percent increases in their salaries for 2026.The raises are on par with the raises these public officials have received in previous years.Top ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The Union County Board of Commissioners has a new chairperson for 2026.Joseph C. Bodek was sworn in to fill the role during the Commissioners' annual reorganization meeting, which was held on New Year’s Day at the Union County Courthouse.“Union County has a strong foundation built ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Two commissioners won’t be returning to the Union County Board of Commissioners next year.Bette Jane Kowalski is retiring from the board and Sergio Granados plans to focus on other endeavors.Members of the Union County Board of Commissioners and members of the public said their ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Union County is doing more to assist individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing by expanding the use of technology that transmits sound directly into a person’s hearing aid from microphones.This technology, called hearing loop systems, was installed in the Union County Courthouse ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County has upgraded its drone program to keep up with modern-day technology.Improvements made included updating the equipment for using the drones, expanding capabilities for the drones, and continuing specialized training for the certified drone pilots, according to Union ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — SNAP benefits are back now that the government shutdown has ended, but the need for food among those struggling to support themselves and their families remains high.Union County officials and local food pantries are working to ensure that low-income families have enough food for ...
ROSELLE, NJ — Citing an increased demand for ice time that the current facility is not equipped to handle, the Union County Board of County Commissioners recently broke ground on a new indoor ice skating rink at Warinanco Park.According to county spokeswoman Kelly Martins, groundbreaking on the ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — Democrats Rebecca Williams (an incumbent), Joseph Signorello III and Stanley Neron won the election for three-year terms on the Union County Board of Commissioners, defeating Republicans Mark Nieves, Chris Bacey and Kirk Hemphill, according to unofficial results posted Tuesday ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — As the federal government shutdown continues, Union County will provide temporary financial assistance to households currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will be affected by the interruption of November benefits, the Union County ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The Union County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution during their Oct. 23 meeting to support the Immigrant Trust Act, a bill that was created to protect immigrants from being deported.“This resolution reaffirms our commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of all ...
CRANFORD, NJ — The Union County Improvement Authority is renovating the physical education center at the Union College of Union County campus in Cranford to give students and faculty more space for hosting games, sports-related classes and large events, such as spring and winter commencement ...
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ — Watchung Stable will soon offer horseback riding options for people with disabilities, as well as veterans and other people with post-traumatic stress disorder.The Union County Improvement Authority is upgrading the facility as part of a $5.5 million project. Upgrades will ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — In the aftermath of a deadly collision in Scotch Plains late last month that killed a 13-year-old boy on an e-bike, leaders all throughout the county are looking to advance new regulations and legislation.Nico Lombardi, 13, was struck and killed on September 24 in Scotch ...
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – At a press conference Wednesday morning on the steps of the Scotch Plains Municipal Building, NJ Senate President Nicholas Scutari announced a legislative initiative that aims to modernize New Jersey’s e-bike laws by updating licensing, classification, and safety requirements ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — On Tuesday, September 30, the Union County Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of a juvenile suspect in the investigation of a June stabbing at Plainfield's Cedarbrook Park. Officers from the Union County Police Department responded to Cedarbrook Park on June 20 after ...
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ — A man has been charged in connection with an illegal dumping incident at the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside. On Sept. 23, patrol officers from the Union County Police Department discovered illegal dumping activity in the Watchung Reservation, the county said in a press ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The Union County Board of Commissioners recently amended its bond ordinances for upgrading some county parks, a building at Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, Ash Brook Golf Course and Galloping Hill Golf Course.The upgrades planned include renovating the tennis courts at ...
TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey State Supreme Court ruled Friday that Cynthia Johnson will be the Democratic nominee for Roselle Borough Council, according to a report in the New Jersey Globe Friday. The decision ends months of legal battles following the June primary, in which Johnson lost to ...
ROSELLE, NJ — Cynthia Johnson, a borough councilwoman in Roselle, is now the Democratic nominee for the council at-large seat on the Roselle Borough Council after a ruling was made in response to a lawsuit she filed regarding the June 2025 primary election.Johnson ran against incumbent Denise ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Five people are suing Union County, alleging that they endured repeated sexual abuse by staff members while detained as minors at the now-closed Union County Juvenile Detention Center (UCJDC). The state Superior Court complaint asserts a pattern of grooming, coercion, threats and ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Two severe storms in July that caused intense flooding and wind damage have county residents asking who will pay for the damage, and what can be done to reduce weather-related damage in the future.Vehicles were stuck in high floodwater on U.S. Route 22 as well as on local roads when ...
HILLSIDE, NJ — Here comes the rain again.Hillside is under a flood watch from 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31, through Friday, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, as rain showers and more thunderstorms are possible.“Scattered to numerous instances of urban, poor drainage and ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The Union County Jail building will not be used as a detention center to detain undocumented immigrants or criminals, according to new language in the county’s request for bid proposal (RFP) application.Union County Manager Edward Oatman issued a statement Thursday about the future ...