PLAINFIELD, NJ — An Order to Show Cause was filed by the City of Plainfield in early August to sell two Albert Bierstadt paintings that were gifted by Dr. Jonathan Ackerman Coles to the city in 1919. The hearing, moved from August 28 and then to September 11, was heard by Union County Superior Court Judge Robert J. Mega on Tuesday. The judge rendered his decision, denying the order.

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Much to the surprise of some residents, a resolution to authorize the implementation of a deer management program that will reduce the town’s burgeoning deer population appeared on Plainfield's City Council agenda this month. A robocall Monday morning also informed residents that the council would vote on the issue, with one resident saying the spin of the call ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — City Council members and residents on Monday evening's Zoom call heard a presentation from officials that highlighted updates and changes coming to five intersections in Plainfield. Crash data at each of the intersections was provided in addition to what the changes at each site will entail.

Ray Sullivan, representing Union County's Division of Engineering, ...

NEW JERSEY — For many New Jersey school districts, this week will mark the first day of class.

While all have prepared — opting for in-person, remote or a hybrid of the two — new coronavirus cases are to be expected, state officials said Tuesday. 

“We have all the public health protocols and procedures in place to safeguard our children, our educators, staff and ...

NEW JERSEY -- Gov. Phil Murphy reported 360 new positive cases on Sunday, which pushed New Jersey's cumulative total to 194,058. He also reported four new confirmed COVID-19 deaths for a total of 14,206 lives lost.

New Cases: 360
Total Cases: 194,058
New Deaths: 4
Total Confirmed Deaths: 14,206 (Probable Deaths: 1,783)
Rate of Transmission ...

TRENTON, NJ — Marking the milestone of six months since the confirmation of the first coronavirus case in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy kicked off the holiday weekend by signing an Executive Order to allow for the resumption of indoor dining, albeit at 25 percent capacity. The order also allows for movie theaters and other indoor entertainment businesses to open, limited to 25 percent ...

FANWOOD, NJ -- A teenage boy, an incoming freshman at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, according to witnesses, was transported via helicopter from Fanwood for medical treatment after he was struck by a car at the intersection of Helen Street and LaGrande Ave. The incident occurred shortly before 10:30 Saturday morning.

According to residents of Helen Street who requested anonymity, ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Plainfield Police Director Lisa Burgess jointly announced the arrest of Pernell O. White of Plainfield on Friday. White is charged with being responsible for a shooting that left two people seriously injured late last month.

White, 33, is charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder and three related ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The City of Plainfield will release a pre-recorded message Friday morning to remember those lost 19 years ago on September 11 in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Members of the administration, council members, and officials from the police and fire departments, as well as the Plainfield Rescue Squad, joined together on Tuesday, September 8 to honor ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The Plainfield Public Library building is still closed due to COVID-19, but services are available to residents, albeit curbside. Whether you are a student heading back to school, or someone seeking a little escapism through books and movies during quarantine, you can obtain the resources you need, and the ones you may want.

This curbside service is available to ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Plainfield Public Schools will open the 2020-2021 school year Thursday with virtual ‘online’ instruction. Instead of physically being in a classroom, both teachers and students will sign on to their computers at home, and communicate throughout the entire learning day. Some students with special needs, however, will attend school in person.

The students will ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Gearing up for a new academic year is stressful for any new principal. This year in particular, the administrators are tasked with keeping students, faculty and parents safe in the middle of a global health crisis.

Joel Castillo, principal at St. Bartholomew Academy in Scotch Plains, is the former principal of Academy of Our Lady of Peace in New Providence. He also ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The start of school this year is like no other. Last year Plainfield students were greeted by members of the community with handshakes and high fives at school entrances. This year, due to COVID-19 and virtual classes, the tradition, now in its fifth year, will have a new twist.

Gentlemen Making Changes Inc. is inviting community stakeholders to join them at Dunkin' ...

UNION COUNTY, NJ — COVID-19 has shut down another event. The annual Four Centuries in a Weekend celebration in October, has been canceled, the County of Union announced Wednesday.

“The safety of staff, volunteers, and our residents is of the utmost importance and our highest priority,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board and the ...

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association), the governing body for high school sports in New Jersey, has announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with the NFL. The organization will host a two-day, virtual diversity, bias, and cultural competence workshop for football game officials. The two-day session’s goal is to increase awareness ...

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD -- Baseball marked an important milestone on Sept. 1, when the game celebrated the Pittsburgh Pirates team fielded by manager Danny Murtaugh 49 years ago; it was the first ever team of all Black players to start a Major League game. The lineup included Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell and Dock Ellis, one of the game's more ...

TRENTON, NJ — Marking the milestone of six months since the confirmation of the first coronavirus case in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy kicked off the holiday weekend by signing an Executive Order to allow for the resumption of indoor dining, albeit at 25 percent capacity. The order also allows for movie theaters and other indoor entertainment businesses to open, limited to 25 percent ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — An application has been submitted, according to the Alcoholic Beverage Control board, to transfer a Plenary Retail Distribution License for the premises at 1111 South Avenue in Plainfield. The action would transfer it from Prindu Enterprises, Inc.

According to the State of New Jersey's Alcoholic Beverage Control Handbook, only one Plenary Retail Distribution License ...

Treehouse Foods, Inc is voluntarily recalling certain Chewy Granola Bars due to mislabeling. The company stated that the recall was initiated because the outer carton stated the product was Chocolate Chip, however, some individually wrapped product inside the carter contained the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip variety.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the ...

NEW JERSEY — Less than two months from Election Day, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday said a new website will allow New Jersey residents to register to vote and track their mail-in ballot all while on the go or from the comfort of their home.

“This online form is safe and secure, and can be accessed anywhere — whether from a library computer or your smartphone,” Gov. Phil ...

Postage, drop boxes and PPE will add to the tab for an election to be held nearly entirely through the mail.

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.

November general election is going to cost millions more than usual, in large ...

JERSEY CITY, NJ - A dispute between the owner of Liberty Golf Course and Friends of Liberty State Park may have motivated the state to finally address the cleanup of contamination of the park. Although off the table, Liberty Golf Course had offered to help cleanup a portion of 234-acre contaminated area of the park in exchange for the purchase of 22 acres.

The conflict to prevent the sale, ...

Long-term slowdown in land development could be derailed by exodus to suburbs

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.

New data confirms that New Jersey has recently been using a lot less land for new development than it did 20 ...