Black journalists can’t breathe: Star-Ledger reporter

Tennyson Donyéa called out racism at the Star-Ledger and other NJ Advance Media publications with an artistic appeal for social justice that was both dramatic and touching. “Black journalists can’t breathe and it’s become my mental health hell,” said Donyéa. Donyéa is an award-winning journalist and writer. He covers Culture, Identity and Diversity-related issues forContinue reading “Black journalists can’t breathe: Star-Ledger reporter”

New Jersey brothers charged with killing a man found dead in Pennsylvania

Two teenaged New Jersey brothers were charged with killing a man whose dead body was found by Pennsylvania State Troopers just after midnight Thursday in Richland Township. Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said that 17-year-old Joshua and 19-year-old Anthony Gamble, of Somerset, New Jersey, will face homicide, conspiracy and related charges. Weintraub explained heContinue reading “New Jersey brothers charged with killing a man found dead in Pennsylvania”

Real information being used to push lies and spread fear about COVID vaccines

Sound scientific research has found the vaccines authorized for use against COVID-19 to be safe and effective but some anti-vaccine zealots are mischaracterizing government data to imply the inoculations are dangerous. The largest U.S. database for detecting events that might be vaccine side effects is being used by activists to spread disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. KnownContinue reading “Real information being used to push lies and spread fear about COVID vaccines”

Three gang members charged in connection with murder as part of a RICO conspiracy

One member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips appeared in court last week and a second one today was arraigned on charges that include attempted murder and murder as part of a RICO conspiracy, while a manhunt is underway for a third suspect who authorities say remains at large. Elijah Williams, aka “Lil Smith,” 21;Continue reading “Three gang members charged in connection with murder as part of a RICO conspiracy”

COVID-19 killed over 600,000 Americans

More than 15 months since the first confirmed death due to COVID-19 in the U.S., the coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 600,000 lives across the country. But that trend has slowed from thousands to hundreds per day in recent weeks, thanks largely to the ready availability of vaccines. Over the winter, the nation wasContinue reading “COVID-19 killed over 600,000 Americans”

Coronavirus lockdowns caused a global drop in ozone pollution

When lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic cut local nitrogen oxide emissions, the effect on ozone pollution was global and unexpectedly rapid. As the coronavirus pandemic slowed global commerce to a crawl in early 2020, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) – which create ozone, a danger to human health and to climate – decreased 15% globally,Continue reading “Coronavirus lockdowns caused a global drop in ozone pollution”

Tax revelations lead to calls for reforms — and investigation

by Robert Faturechi ProPublica’s investigation revealing that the top 25 wealthiest Americans have paid little, and sometimes nothing, in federal income taxes, has resulted in demands to rewrite the tax code and to investigate how the confidential data was released. Congressional Democrats called for legislation to force the rich to pay more. At a hearingContinue reading “Tax revelations lead to calls for reforms — and investigation”

NJ Poison Control Center warns about chlorine tablet shortage & unsafe products

Pool season is here, but with an unfortunate twist —high demand for chlorine in the midst of a nationwide shortage. A national chlorine shortage and price spike is looming due to high demand and reduced production capacity. Chlorine is a necessary but potentially dangerous chemical used to treat pool and hot tub water to preventContinue reading “NJ Poison Control Center warns about chlorine tablet shortage & unsafe products”

Reps. Cori Bush, Bonnie Watson Coleman to introduce drug decriminalization bill

Ahead of Thursday’s 50th Anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s declaration of the “war on drugs,” Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Drug Policy Reform Act (DPRA), a bill to end criminal penalties for drug possession at the federal level and to shift regulatory authority from the Justice Department to the DepartmentContinue reading “Reps. Cori Bush, Bonnie Watson Coleman to introduce drug decriminalization bill”

21 Republicans oppose recognizing police officers who repelled attempted coup d’état

Twenty-one Republicans in the House of Representatives voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the police officers who repelled the attempted coup d’état on Jan. 6, when a pro-Trump mob violently attacked the Capitol complex. The measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support from 406 lawmakers, but the opposing votes drew immediate criticism from accordContinue reading “21 Republicans oppose recognizing police officers who repelled attempted coup d’état”

Trump directed Justice Department to investigate false claims of voter fraud

Emails released by the House Oversight Committee appear to paint a clear picture of how former President Donald Trump and his allies attempted to pressure the U.S. Justice Department to investigate unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. “These documents show that President Trump tried to corrupt our nation’s chief law enforcement agencyContinue reading “Trump directed Justice Department to investigate false claims of voter fraud”

UN special rapporteur to Myanmar warns of ‘mass deaths’ from starvation, disease

The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar —the country once known as Burma —has warned of “mass deaths” from starvation and disease in the wake of fighting between rebel groups and junta forces in the east of the coup-stricken country. Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralyzed since the February putschContinue reading “UN special rapporteur to Myanmar warns of ‘mass deaths’ from starvation, disease”

Hunterdon County junior firefighter Daniel Edelstein died at age 26

Daniel Brandon Edelstein, age 26 years, of Whitehouse Station, NJ, died on Friday, June 11, 2021 at his home. Daniel was born in New Brunswick, NJ on June 29, 1994. He attended Hunterdon Central High School (2009-2013) where he was a member of the lacrosse and ice hockey teams. He received his undergraduate education fromContinue reading “Hunterdon County junior firefighter Daniel Edelstein died at age 26”

Accountability for unconstitutional discrimination, police brutality & racism

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.-10) reintroduced the Enhancing Oversight to End Discrimination in Policing Act to strengthen the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) and state governments’ ability to investigate police departments with a pattern or practice of unconstitutional and discriminatory behavior. During the Obama administration, DOJ used its authorityContinue reading “Accountability for unconstitutional discrimination, police brutality & racism”

Defending Americans’ right to vote

By Attorney General Merrick B. Garland I was sworn in as Attorney General exactly three months ago. In that time, I have had a chance to work directly with several of you on some of the most consequential matters in the Justice Department. I consulted with the division in connection with the opening of twoContinue reading “Defending Americans’ right to vote”

Despite the GOP, we must demand accountability for Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots

By U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. Republicans’ reprehensible blockade of a Jan. 6 commission is an escalation of the GOP’s growing war on democracy. House Democrats should not waste a moment to form a select congressional committee and expose the truth about that day. Our inability to act will not just paper over the worst attack everContinue reading “Despite the GOP, we must demand accountability for Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots”

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”