PLAINFIELD, NJ — The Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Program was recently announced by Gov. Phil Murphy, who said businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19 in 64 municipalities, including Plainfield, will be eligible to participate. In all, $6 million will be distributed, with as much as $10,000 given to a business for rental payments. Since the announcement, updates have ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — David and Cheryl Buckman's Zoning Board of Adjustments application, 2019-27-1127 Watchung Avenue, was on Wednesday's agenda. Board Attorney Peter Vignuolo said the application had been properly noticed and was "ready to go."

But earlier today, Vignuolo said he received an email from Mr. Buckman, who indicated that as a result of Tuesday's Tropical ...

As Congress wrangles over possible extension, many jobless people face a fresh struggle to pay rent, buy food

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.

Shaquaza Williams made ends meet with a lot of help from $600 a week in ...

TRENTON, NJ – The state’s new advertising campaign to raise awareness for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing is targeting, among others, the 30-and-under population because of the “risky behaviors” they have exhibited.

Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said the “For Each Other, For Us All” campaign is debuting this week in advertising across TV, radio, ...

Racial, economic disparities are driving calls for health care to be made more equitable

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.

NJ Spotlight and NJTV News hosted a virtual roundtable last week focused on the impact of ...

CAMDEN, NJ — With New Jersey’s rate of transmission (Rt) nearly doubling in a month - from 0.87 in early July to 1.48 today — Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that he will again tighten caps on indoor gatherings.

“We believe that some of this increase is attributable to the number of indoor house parties and other events which we have been seeing across the ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Tropical Storm Isaias wreaked some havoc as it made its way through Plainfield Tuesday, with downed trees and live wires, and power outages being reported. The whirs of some generators can now be heard.

Areas to avoid include Leland Avenue heading towards Cushing Lane. Firefighters were on scene and flames were spotted on the ground. East Seventh Street had been closed ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — According to a Breaking News Network alert, there are live wires down with a grass fire near 1261 East 7th Street in Plainfield.

A neighbor on Ring.com confirmed the BNN alert.

Avoid the area, if possible.

PLAINFIELD, NJ — According to a Breaking News Network alert, a stabbing took place on the 200 block of East 3rd Street in Plainfield on Saturday evening.

Both police and fire divisions were on scene. Police Director Lisa Burgess told TAPinto Plainfield "This matter is under investigation.  There is no confirmation that this was a stabbing."

Less than a month ago there ...

NEW JERSEY - July 27th is National New Jersey Day. Today we're going to find out what's unique about the Garden State, and maybe settle some serious issues.

New Jersey was the third state to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America, the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. New Jersey's central location amidst the thirteen colonies during the colonial era made it ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Artwork by Lisa Cyckowski of Fanwood was set up at The Coffee Box in Plainfield right before COVID-19 caused businesses to shut down.  Despite the closure, the colorful pieces continued to adorn the walls. Recently, the artist, who is a regular patron of the business, suggested to the owner some outside displays "to give a little color to the town," and he ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Plainfield Public Library has been unable to open to the public. However, library representatives want to ensure residents that they are able to capitalize on available resources.

According to Library Director Mary Ellen Rogan, curbside delivery for Plainfield patrons will begin on Monday, July 13. Here's how you can reserve library ...

Parents split on online instruction as prospects for fall opening shaky

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 Jersey’s seismic shift last spring to remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A change.org petition has been created by Plainfield faculty, students and parents to restore Dion Roach as Plainfield High School Principal. The reappointment of Roach at the July 28 Board of Education's business meeting failed.

Board members Richard Wyatt, Cameron Cox, and Willie Pat Hembree abstained from voting on Roach's reappointment; John Campbell and ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Plainfield residents may find themselves having to choose which virtual meeting to attend on Tuesday night. There are three that overlap: a George Floyd Police Reform Commission public hearing, the Historic Preservation Commission's monthly meeting, and a Board of Education business meeting.

George Floyd Police Reform Commission

The first of two public hearings, ...

ELIZABETH, NJ — Two young salsa dancers from Elizabeth have made it to the live quarter-final round of America’s Got Talent.

Twelve-year-old Simon Ruiz and ten-year-old Maria Lopez have been dancing together for three years. They met at the Quimbara Dance Studio in Elizabeth and instantly became friends and dance partners.

Simon and Maria have competed at dance ...

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced the members of the 2020 Hall of Fame class including Eric LeGrand (football), Essence Carson (women's basketball), Jonelle Filigno-Hopkins (women's soccer), Alexis Gunzelman (women's gymnastics) and James Ford (men's lacrosse).

"We are honored to induct another ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- If you thought you saw a familiar local face in Gatorade TV ads during the Red Sox-Yankees game on ESPN last night, you were right. Former Union Catholic track star and 2016 Olympic hurdler Sydney McLaughlin is featured in a current series of Gatorade ads entitled, "Ready to Play Anything," that celebrate the return of sports.

In the last few months, ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Two more Plainfield residents have succumbed to COVID-19, according to a press release issued Monday by the mayor's office. The number of lives lost stands at 112, and there have been a total of 2,313 coronavirus cases reported in town.

Tuesday, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp issued a statement calling on parents to keep their children from returning to high risk contact ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — The parent company for Lord & Taylor has filed for bankruptcy protection — the latest indicator of financial distress for the owner of an expansive department store on North Avenue.

The online fashion brand Le Tote — which purchased the chain of Lord & Taylor stores in 2019 — filed for bankruptcy in federal court Sunday, indicating that it has ...

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – April Scelsa’s story mirrors those of thousands of small business owners whose nail salons, coffee houses and nutrition supplement boutiques wouldn’t have been able to re-open in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic without a little help.

Scelsa used money she got from the New Jersey Economic Development Agency (NJEDA) to purchase masks, gloves, ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — For the past 30 days, James Leitner has been running 30 miles each day in Tamaques Park. On Thursday, he ran his last mile of his latest endurance fundraising effort after surpassing his $30,000 goal to fund a clean water system for the St. Elizabeth’s All-Girls School in Uganda.

The Scotch Plains resident and 27-year-old founder of MissionCleanWater ran a ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Volunteers from local organizations, and individuals who just want to lend a helping hand, completed 12 weeks of packaging both shelf stable foods, and fresh fruits and vegetables, for Plainfield families in need on Saturday.

The food insecurity project initially began with the Plainfield YMCA, a branch of the Greater Somerset County YMCA, the Rotary Club of the ...

NEWARK, NJ - US District Judge Esther Salas released a video message two weeks after her son was killed and husband was shot multiple times during an attack at their North Brusnwick home. While barely holding back tears, she described the days before her son was killed and the moment when she heard the gunshots. 

Her message is that Federal judges need better protection. Their home ...

TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Supreme Court will hear arguments on Aug. 5th from declared GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and his legal team against Governor Phil Murphy's plan to borrow $9.9 billion to balance the state budget,

Ciattarelli, a Hillsborough resident and former state assemblyman and Somerset County freeholder, insists what Murphy is attempting is not only ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Plainfield voters chose Steve Hockaday and Charles McRae, according to the official results for the July 7 Primary Election, for the At-Large and Third Ward seats, respectively, and their names will appear on November's General Election ballot. Following is a breakdown of the results for Plainfield and Union County Freeholder races.

A total of 6,665 votes were cast ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Plainfield Board of Education in the November 3 General Election, according to the Union County Clerk’s Office.

The deadline for candidates to file with the Union County Board of Elections was Monday. Board member Dr. Avonia Richardson-Miller, whose term will expire at the end of the year, is not seeking ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority released the following service advisory Tuesday.

ALL ZONES: Due to Tropical Storm Isaias and the forecast of impending severe weather, PMUA closed today at 12:30 p.m.

Business will resume Wednesday, August 5, weather and road conditions permitting. Paper recycling collection will go on as normally scheduled, in ...

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The City of Plainfield will hold a property auction later in the year at City Hall Library, according to a notice from the Office of Communications. The bid package identifies properties that are non-conforming with respect to the bulk requirements of their respective zoning.

The majority of the properties are vacant land starting at $5,000; a two-family house and a ...

NEW JERSEY — Jewish homes across New Jersey, have been opening their mailboxes each week for generations, and receiving news of interest in the Jewish world around them in the New Jersey Jewish News: from the hyper local — such as start times for holiday services at different synagogues and who is memorialized in the obituaries — to local, national, Israeli, and around the world ...

NEWARK, N.J. — As an embattled travel and transportation industry confronts steep revenue fallout due to COVID-19, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is approaching a major construction milestone.

The $2.7 billion state-of-the-art Terminal One project at Newark Liberty International Airport will reach 60% completion this fall and open to travelers in late 2021, according to ...