Category Archives: New Jersey News

Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced that his office will not defend the state’s primary ballot design, calling it “unconstitutional.” This decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Rep. Andy Kim and two House candidates who are challenging the preferential treatment given to county-backed candidates on the ballots to strip that advantage from FirstContinue reading “Attorney General Matthew Platkin says New Jersey ballot design is ‘unconstitutional’”

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas used to make chemical products like antifreeze and plastic bottles, or to sterilize things like medical equipment but breathing EtO causes a higher risk of cancer. New Jersey is home to three commercial EtO sterilizers, with more than 716,000 residents living within five miles of theseContinue reading “Colorless cancer-causing chemical finally contained by common sense”

Authorities in New Jersey apprehended 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr., a suspect in Saturday’s fatal shooting of three family members in the Philadelphia area earlier that day. The arrest followed a chaotic manhunt that spanned multiple locations and involved the closure of public spaces and a shelter-in-place order in certain areas. The tragic events unfolded inContinue reading “Suspect arrested in Trenton after alleged killing spree in Philadelphia area”

by Nikita Biryukov, New Jersey Monitor A federal judge declined to dismiss some of the charges against Sen. Bob Menendez on Thursday, finding they do not violate constitutional doctrines on speech or debate and the separation of powers. Menendez, a Democrat, had asked the judge to dismiss charges he sought to install a U.S. attorneyContinue reading “Judge declines to dismiss Menendez charges over immunity claims”

In the lead-up to the federal District Court hearing on Monday, March 18th, 2024, NOW-NJ President Jill LaZare has made a fervent plea for the abolishment of the ‘County Line’ system of ballot rigging in New Jersey politics. LaZare’s statement comes as part of a broader push for increased democracy and transparency in the state’sContinue reading “NOW-NJ President Jill LaZare calls for end to ballot rigging in New Jersey”

by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor Applications for permits to carry a handgun in New Jersey skyrocketed after a U.S. Supreme Court decision upending the state’s strict firearm laws made it easier to secure those permits, according to a new database released by the Attorney General’s Office. In the 20 months after the court’s landmark decision knownContinue reading “Gun carry permits soared in New Jersey after Supreme Court upended firearm laws”

by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor A hotly debated bill to overhaul the state’s public records law was pulled from consideration Thursday after days of fiery complaints from concerned taxpayers, activists, labor unions, journalists, and good government advocates.  Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, chairwoman of the Assembly’s appropriations committee where the bill was set for a vote,Continue reading “Bill to gut public records law pulled from hearing as critics raise alarms”

The fight for better wages and working conditions has come to an end at New Jersey’s Medieval Times Dinner Theater in Lyndhurst. After two years of unsuccessful negotiations, the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), the union representing the castle’s workers, announced they would no longer pursue a contract. The AFL-CIO union represents performers atContinue reading “Medieval Times joust for fair pay ends in disappointment for New Jersey workers”

Urged on by Republican Mayor Christopher Vergano, Wayne voters delivered a crushing defeat to children with a 5076 to 3018 rejection of a referendum that would have funded school construction in the Passaic County community. Wayne held the special referendum election on March 12 for voters to decide whether to allow the township’s public schoolContinue reading “GOP Mayor leads Wayne to crushing defeat on school construction referendum”

U.S. Army Soldiers with Able Company, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, taught Cub Scouts how to properly fold the American Flag for a military funeral ceremony at Conlon Hall, in Bergenfield. During the lesson, the Scouts also learned about the meaning and importance of the flag at half-mast, and how toContinue reading “New Jersey Army National Guard shows Cub Scouts how to fold American Flag”

by Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor The activists, voting watchdogs, lawyers, state comptroller, and state public defender’s office hate it. Journalists, civil liberties advocates, the data-reporting firm LexisNexis, regular residents, and even a few politicians detest it too. But after more than seven hours of incendiary testimony, state lawmakers in two committees agreed to advanceContinue reading “Lawmakers approve controversial bill to limit public access to government records”

One civilian is dead and a police officer sustained multiple gunshot wounds during an incident that unfolded in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, on Friday, March 8, 2024. The drama began with a 911 call reporting a domestic incident at a residence on Orchard Avenue around 10 p.m. local time. Officers from the HamiltonContinue reading “Civilian dead, NJ police officer injured after domestic call turns into shootout”

In a move that has left fiscal conservatives scratching their heads and taxpayers wondering who truly has their interests at heart, Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has once again demonstrated his allegiance to the status quo of excessive government spending. On Wednesday, Kean joined forces with all but two Democrats to greenlight a staggering $460 billionContinue reading “Budget vote shows Kean remains addicted to excessive government spending”

A government watchdog recently exposed the City of East Orange, which quietly settled a lawsuit with Uber driver Duane Dooley for $42,500. The August 31, 2023, settlement stems from allegations that Dooley was arrested in retaliation for questioning a police officer about a double-parking ticket. According to court documents, the incident occurred on October 30,Continue reading “East Orange secretly paid $42,500 to double-parking driver Duane Dooley”

New Jersey progressive Democrat Lisa McCormick unleashed a blistering critique, accusing party leaders of spinelessness and opportunism in the face of mounting threats to abortion access. McCormick’s condemnation comes on the heels of controversial remarks by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, who dismissed concerns about an abortion-rights measure as “a wolf coming asContinue reading “McCormick blames ‘spineless’ party leaders for loss of abortion rights”

by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor A group of Senate lawmakers spent five hours Thursday scrutinizing the state’s bail structure seven years after it was overhauled to eliminate cash bail and revamp the criminal justice system. Their concerns mostly focused on what they say is a rise in recently released accused offenders committing new crimes.Continue reading “If it ain’t broke: Senate panel eyes changes to bail system”

A Union Township man was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal and transport across state lines luxury cars stolen from towns in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Malik Baker, 30, of Vauxhall, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to anContinue reading “Union County car theft conspirator sent to federal prison for 41 months”

Clark Municipal Court Judge Antonio Inacio is facing a flurry of ethics charges over various actions allegedly taken from the bench, including presiding over cases involving summonses issued by police officers and municipal employees who were his private legal clients and making inappropriate remarks to litigants. A complaint filed by the Advisory Committee on JudicialContinue reading “‘Who’s That Nice Lady With You?’ Judge Accused of Inappropriate Remarks”

by Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor Most of the New Jersey law enforcement officers who attended a controversial training conference in 2021 that state investigators say glorified violence have used force on people during arrests and other encounters, a New Jersey Monitor examination found. Seventy-two percent of the 240 officers who attended Street Cop’s six-day forum inContinue reading “Police who participated in Street Cop training often used excessive force”

Don’t expect Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Nicholas Scutari or Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin to stand up in defense of democracy by Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor New Jersey lawmakers are set to consider legislation Monday that critics warn would gut the state’s public records law, threatening transparency in a state notorious for corruption. The billContinue reading “Senator Paul Sarlo seeks to gut state’s public records law, end transparency”