Category Archives: New Jersey News

As debates over ballot design in New Jersey continue to gain traction, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio released a joint statement to address the concerns raised by various stakeholders. The lawmakers hinted that that might resolve issues surrounding the unfair advantageContinue reading “Critic of cheating warns against Faustian bargain with legislative leaders”

Maria P. Cosentino, the proprietor of Garfield Counseling Center in New Jersey, entered a guilty plea today for her involvement in a health care fraud scheme, as announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. The scheme, comprising hundreds of false claims, has raised concerns regarding the integrity of the health care system and the financialContinue reading “New Jersey counseling center owner admits to health care fraud scheme”

Mayor Helmin J. Caba says he hired an unprecedented number of police officers, but the largest expansion of the city’s law enforcement payroll in history has not made residents any safer, according to State Police statistics and data contained in the ‘State of the City’ booklet, a slick election year presentation that would confound mostContinue reading “Caba’s Crime Con-Artistry”

The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department are currently investigating a fatal shooting incident that occurred late Sunday evening in Trenton during what appears to have been an attempted home invasion robbery. Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported that at approximately 10:25 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2024, Trenton patrolContinue reading “Trenton homeowner shot an intruder dead, no charges filed as few details shared by police”

The New Jersey Legislature has passed a bill that will incrementally increase the state’s per-gallon gas tax over the next five years, sending the legislation to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk for final approval. This move comes as part of efforts to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), which was set to expire June 30, andContinue reading “Governor expected to increase New Jersey’s per-gallon gas tax, digging deeper in debt”

Red Bank Green is reporting that the police chief in the Monmouth County community has been suspended after an investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office concluded that he engaged in “unethical” behavior and should be fired. The report by the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability (OPIA) asserted that: “Given the seriousness ofContinue reading “Attorney General’s probe gets Red Bank Police Chief Darren McConnell suspended”

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”