News Around New Jersey
By KRISTINA BEHR
March 10, 2022
EDISON NJ — If Gov. Phil Murphy gets his budget plan approved, $19.2 billion will go towards increasing K-12 school aid, expanding pre-K funding and school construction. Murphy visited James Monroe Elementary in Edison Thursday to talk about his plan to increase K-12 school aid by $650 million, ...
TRENTON, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy announced a $48.9 billion budget proposal for key issues like property taxes rebates, affordable housing, school funding and pensions. The spending plan includes a record proposed surplus of $4.2 billion, nearly twice the size of the surplus proposed in last year’s ...
TRENTON, NJ — “We’re in big trouble, really big trouble,” Sen. Bob Smith (D - District 17) said. Smith has devoted a majority of his time in the Senate not only to his constituents in the 17th Legislative District but also the environment. The release of the latest United Nations Climate ...
TRENTON, NJ — What’s in the box? It could result in a fine for online retailers. If passed, new legislation would prohibit retailers from shipping small items in oversized boxes, or risk a fine. Assemblyman John McKeon (D - District 27) introduced the bill last month, after ordering a small ...
TRENTON, NJ - There’s a new law for New Jersey drivers when it comes to sharing the road. The NJ Safe Passing Law (NJSPL) (A5570/S2208) went into effect on Tuesday. Like other road safety laws, the NJSPL provides clear rules of the road for all motorists. This law focuses about when—and ...
TRENTON, NJ - Governor Murphy signed an executive order on Wednesday extending the vaccine deadline for health care workers. The Governor signed Executive Order No. 290, which updates and clarifies timeframes for requiring covered workers at health care facilities and high-risk congregate ...
TRENTON, NJ - Parents, students, and New Jersey charter school faculty members recently gathered at a press conference in Trenton to air their frustration in response to recent expansion denials of top-performing charter schools. The press conference was held at the Achievers Early College Prep ...
TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey drivers may soon be able to pump their own gas. Legislation sponsored by Assembly members of both parties, Carol Murphy (D-7), Ned Thomson (R-30) and Annette Chaparro (D-33) was introduced Monday allowing for a hybrid fueling model in New Jersey. The “Motorist ...
TEANECK, NJ — Sen. Gordon Johnson says he had a great mentor before he took on the role in the 37th District. “I’ve had a 20-year apprenticeship with Loretta Weinberg," Johnson said. "I’ll be carrying on her priorities mixed with other priorities that I may have. It’s an honor to be able to do ...
NEW JERSEY — It's cycling for cause. As part of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, CycleNation is a yearly event to help raise awareness about heart disease and stroke. Brett Paddock, President and CEO of Titanium Industries and chair of Northern ...
TRENTON, NJ — As the mask mandate in New Jersey schools is set to expire March 7, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has released updated masking guidance for K-12 schools and child care centers. The guidance is meant to help clarify when masking might be necessary. The decision for ...
TRENTON, NJ — 35 years ago this month, before becoming one of most influential public affairs groups in New Jersey, Princeton Public Affairs Group (PPAG) had just two clients, Philip Morris and Essex County. Hundreds of clients later, it has been consistently named New Jersey’s number one ...
TRENTON, NJ — Nearly 187,000 New Jersey households will soon find out if their main water source is being delivered through a lead service line. Affected residents will receive a letter at some point this week. In addition, more than one million lines containing unknown materials are subject to ...
TRENTON, NJ — Senator Holly Schepisi (R - District 39) made history last March being elected as the first female senator from her district. “It was really cool because it also during women’s history month," Schepisi said. "For myself, nobody in my family had ever held office like this. But also ...
WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ — A daily summer chore almost killed Chris Rush. “We often ignore the symptoms, and often think it can’t happen to me,” Rush said. Rush had just arrived home from work and wanted to mow the lawn before heading to bed. He called it a race between the sun setting, and the ...
TRENTON, NJ — More help is on the way for New Jersey residents facing foreclosure. In all, $10 million from the Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) will be allocated to support New Jersey’s Foreclosure Prevention Act program, which is administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance ...
TRENTON, NJ — Legislators in Trenton have advanced 11 bills targeting hunger in the state. Spearheading the legislation is Speaker Craig Coughlin (D - District 19), Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D - District 6) and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D - Distict 27). “We’re in an ongoing fight ...
WILLINGBORO, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy and four Democratic senators announced their support for a package of bills aimed at making prescription drugs more affordable. “We have made strong strides over the past four years to put health care back within reach of many, but we must continue to find new ...
TRENTON, NJ — "The Coughlins are really, really lucky,” Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said. The third time is the charm for Speaker Craig Coughlin (D - District 19), who entered 2022 in his third term as New Jersey’s 171st General Assembly Speaker. Whether it’s luck, or simply his ability ...
LIVINGSTON, NJ — Dr. David Finkelstein, the director of physician advisor services at RWJ Barnabas Health, is used to giving his patients advice on their health. He just didn’t take his own. “I know, it was the dumbest thing I could have done. It was the dumbest thing I did all day. And I ...
TRENTON, NJ — A deadline to allow legal adult-use marijuana sales in New Jersey looks like it will be missed. February 22 is the self-imposed state deadline to open adult-use recreational marijuana sales. But cannabis industry insiders say, like other deadlines, it won't be met. “I think ...
TRENTON, NJ — Trenton MOVES is on its way to becoming the first large-scale transit system to operate by using self-driving shuttles. New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora announced a $5 million NJDOT local ...
TRENTON, NJ — Some much-needed assistance is here for those who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments over the past two years. The Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program (ERMA) will give up to $35,000 to eligible homeowners who have been unable to keep up with their mortgage ...
TRENTON, NJ — “This is a huge step back towards normalcy,” Gov. Phil Murphy said after announcing a mask mandate in schools and daycare settings will be lifted starting March 7. "I must thank the overwhelming majority of students, parents, administrators, educators, and support staffers who have ...
BELLEVILLE, NJ — Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of one in three women each year. Stacy Quinn was almost one of them. “I’m lucky to be here. I was a time bomb,” Quinn said. Quinn is a stroke survivor. But like so many other women, she ignored the signs of stroke, passing off an ...
TRENTON, NJ — Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R - District 13), Sen. Michael Testa (R - District 1), and Sen. Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R - District 24) joined together to voice their opposition to the use of emergency power by Gov. Murphy. The Senate Republicans are launching an initiative ...
CARLSTADT, NJ — It’s no secret New Jerseyans take their pizza seriously. Take one look at Gov. Murphy’s Twitter page, and you’ll see he is currently embroiled in a tongue-in-cheek social media battle with Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont over which state has the best slice. Ask anyone on the ...
NEW JERSEY — Organ donations in New Jersey reached a record high in 2021. NJ Sharing Network says 233 people gave the gift of life last year, which is an all-time high. It is a 5% increase over 2020, which was a record, at the time. The number of New Jerseyans signing up to register as an ...
TRENTON, NJ — At a ceremony on Friday, January 28, Monmouth County Administrator Teri O’Connor was sworn in at the Senate Chambers of the State House in Trenton. She's the first county administrator to become President of the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC). “I stand here as the first ...
PATERSON, NJ — In the wake of an uptick of shootings in the Tri-State area in the past few weeks, Gov. Murphy announced two new initiatives to stop gun violence. He joined Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck Thursday to announce a $7 million investment in gunshot detection technology and ...