How We Calculated the True Tax Rates of the Wealthiest

by Jeff Ernsthausen, Paul Kiel and Jesse Eisinger For the article “Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax,” ProPublica delved deep into the taxes and strategies of the 25 wealthiest people in America. The story’s main finding was that these 25 people saw their worth rise a collective $401 billion fromContinue reading “How We Calculated the True Tax Rates of the Wealthiest”

Nicaragua detained Ortega challengers

The Nicaraguan government arrested President Daniel Ortega’s top challengers in the November elections in a sharp escalation of political repression and the move has triggered a strong response from the Biden administration. Geoff Thale, president of the Washington Office on Latin America, an advocacy group, said the arrests were a signal to the Biden administrationContinue reading “Nicaragua detained Ortega challengers”

Diana Neste of Whitehouse Station Named RoboCupJunior Champion

Diana Neste, a junior at Mount Saint Mary Academy, has been named a RoboCupJunior OnStage National Champion. She excelled as part of the Storming Robots team in Branchburg, NJ. She has been a member since the fourth grade. According to mathematics teacher Stephen Muratore, the RoboCupJunior OnStage invites teams to develop a creative stage performanceContinue reading “Diana Neste of Whitehouse Station Named RoboCupJunior Champion”

Justice advocates demand probe of Essex County voting snafu

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and 19 other advocates today sent a letter to Essex County Superintendent of Elections Patty Spango requesting an investigation into problems at multiple polling places in Newark for this week’s primary election and prior balloting. During the June 8 primary, multiple polling places in Newark did not haveContinue reading “Justice advocates demand probe of Essex County voting snafu”

Pascrell: ProPublica Report Reflects Broken Tax System

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, commented on a report by ProPublica describing how some of the richest Americans pay little taxes commensurate with their titanic fortunes. Simultaneously, the Congressman sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig asking if the information documentedContinue reading “Pascrell: ProPublica Report Reflects Broken Tax System”

VA seeks feedback from veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs continues this June to seek feedback from veterans and communities to help shape the future of VA health care policy. VA has been hosting public virtual listening sessions across the country since March to hear from veterans on their thoughts about how to improve the care they receive from VA.Continue reading “VA seeks feedback from veterans”

Six new trustees join Union County College Foundation

At the May board meeting of the Union County College Foundation, six community members were elected as new trustees to the board. The new members are: Rev. Dr. Selina D. Carter of Plainfield, Rev. Dr. Francis A. Hubbard of Berkeley Heights, Ken Orchard of Little Silver, Colleen Shea of Cranford, Steven St. Pierre Fernandez ofContinue reading “Six new trustees join Union County College Foundation”

Protections sought for wolves in wilderness areas

A coalition of wildlife advocates and hunters, represented by the non-profit environmental law firm Earthjustice, today asked the U.S. Forest Service to issue new protections for wolves in designated wilderness areas following Idaho and Montana’s enactment of a rash of aggressive anti-wolf laws. The petition, submitted to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and top Forest ServiceContinue reading “Protections sought for wolves in wilderness areas”

The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax

by Jesse Eisinger, Jeff Ernsthausen and Paul Kiel | ProPublica In 2007, Jeff Bezos, then a multibillionaire and now the world’s richest man, did not pay a penny in federal income taxes. He achieved the feat again in 2011. In 2018, Tesla founder Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, also paid no federalContinue reading “The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax”

Biden’s Budget Is Great for Everyday Americans

President Joe Biden released his $6 trillion budget request to Congress for fiscal year 2022 and the ensuing decade. The White House sent Congress a spending plan that would ramp up spending on infrastructure, education and combating climate change, arguing it makes good fiscal sense to invest now, when the cost of borrowing is cheap,Continue reading “Biden’s Budget Is Great for Everyday Americans”

On first international trip, Biden declares: ‘United States is back’

As President Joe Biden embarks on his first international trip this week, his brand of personal diplomacy will be tested and he spoke forcefully about restoring American alliances in Europe, describing them as a cornerstone of global security. Biden told US troops at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England—home to an American refueling wing—that he wasContinue reading “On first international trip, Biden declares: ‘United States is back’”

Active shooter at Texas military base

Authorities are reporting an active shooter at Joint Base San Antonio, located in Texas, which is the Department of Defense’s largest combined military station. According to the base’s Facebook page and a message posted on Twitter: "All base personnel implement LOCKDOWN procedures and immediately take cover." A second post said there were no immediate reportsContinue reading “Active shooter at Texas military base”

No end in sight to Assange’s Promethean plight

Several months after a British judge blocked his extradition to the U.S.–citing that conditions in America’s inhumane prison system would be detrimental to his health–WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange continues to be held in a maximum-security prison in the United Kingdom. The mistreatment of Assange over the past decade has been defined as “psychological torture” byContinue reading “No end in sight to Assange’s Promethean plight”

Supreme Court says Attorney General may publicize the names of disciplined cops

Every police department in New Jersey will be required to annually publish the names of officers who were fired, demoted, or suspended for more than five days,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, following the unanimous decision handed down Monday. The 60-page ruling ends the current controversy over contentious reform measures supported by Grewal and stateContinue reading “Supreme Court says Attorney General may publicize the names of disciplined cops”

One New Jersey high school student dead, another wounded in Maplewood shooting

A shooting on at Underhill Field, the athletic field at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, left one student dead and another wounded, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Police officers responding to a report of gunfire at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, found Moussa Fofana, 18, of Maplewood, and a 17-year-old boy whoseContinue reading “One New Jersey high school student dead, another wounded in Maplewood shooting”

Billionaires pay little or no income tax

Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing. A new ProPublica analysis of a trove of IRS documents revealed that the richest 25 Americans pay a tiny fraction of their wealth in taxes. But even if you use the mostContinue reading “Billionaires pay little or no income tax”

Protesters block jail to stop deportation

Fourteen people were arrested for allegedly blocking the entrance to the Bergen County Jail, as activist group members laid their bodies on the line in the demand for Marvin Jerezano Peña to be released. Peña is a father, son, and resident of Red Bank, at imminent risk for deportation after being targeted and entrapped byContinue reading “Protesters block jail to stop deportation”

Devine may charge Senator Joseph P. Cryan with violating the Ku Klux Klan Act

Democratic strategist James J. Devine is considering a lawsuit that would allege that Senator Joseph Cryan and his political operation violated the Ku Klux Klan Act. That 1871 law prohibits interference with any citizen who is lawfully entitled to vote, from giving support or advocacy in favor of any qualified candidate. Intended to protect CongressContinue reading “Devine may charge Senator Joseph P. Cryan with violating the Ku Klux Klan Act”

Governor endorses anti-abortion lawmaker

During a recent visit to Elizabeth, Gov. Phil Murphy endorsed the re-election of anti-abortion state Sen. Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who has publicly stated his desire to outlaw abortion except for cases of rape, incest or if a woman’s life is in danger. Cryan was awarded an unfairly advantageous position on the primary ballot by StateContinue reading “Governor endorses anti-abortion lawmaker”