Category Archives: New Jersey News

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”

Gaetano Lapegna, a 65-year-old resident of Franklin, New Jersey, has admitted to distributing videos and images depicting child sexual abuse, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger’s office on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Lapegna pleaded guilty on March 5, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal courtContinue reading “Sussex County man admits to distributing child pornography”

Two brothers from Miami, Florida, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute 49 kilograms of cocaine. Nelson Santos Munoz, 30, and his brother, Amauris Santos Munoz, 31, appeared before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court on March 5,Continue reading “Cops caught a couple of cocaine conspirators, called them to court”

by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor A state law intended to stop teachers with histories of sexual misconduct or child abuse from finding jobs in other school districts has systemic flaws and is easily manipulated by both child predators and schools avoiding accountability, state investigators say in a new report. In one instance, school officials investigatedContinue reading “N.J. schools ‘pass the trash’ by hiring bad teachers, says SCI report”

Ready to Spring forward for time change 2024? Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 10, 2024, and will last until Nov. 3, 2024, when we switch back to standard time. The time change means an “extra hour of light” in the evening but that also means slightly darker mornings.Continue reading “McCormick: Time switch is a reminder to check alarm batteries & BS detector”

A Democratic activist who is pleased that New Jersey will finally make good on its long-underfunded education aid formula says that state leaders need to be schooled on fiscal responsibility, accountability, and justice. As Governor Phil Murphy continues to champion legislation supporting charter schools in New Jersey, Lisa McCormick, an advocate for public education, voicedContinue reading “Lisa McCormick ‘schools’ Gov. Murphy on charter funding, leadership choices”

As a congressman scores the fifth straight convention win for his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat, two minority contenders find themselves marginalized by the political establishment. Raising concerns about inclusivity and representation in the state’s electoral process, Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of The Worker Institute at Cornell University, and Larry Hamm, a community organizerContinue reading “Minority contenders for U.S. Senate marginalized by political establishment”

Congressman Andy Kim is in a competition that includes two women also running for the Senate but the National Organization for Women (NOW) is endorsing his candidacy. The endorsement, coming from the largest grassroots feminist organization in the United States, recognized Kim’s commitment to championing women’s rights and advancing gender equality. With hundreds of chaptersContinue reading “National Organization for Women endorses Andy Kim for US Senate”

by Lt. Col. Agneta Murnan The New Jersey National Guard hosted the State Partnership Program directors of the six U.S. states whose respective National Guards are partnered with the Adriatic charter nations: Albania (New Jersey), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Maryland), Croatia (Minnesota), Montenegro (Maine), and North Macedonia (Vermont) at the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park,Continue reading “New Jersey National Guard hosted six states in Partnership Program”

by Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin has given microstamping — a ballistics identification technology meant to help cops nab people who use guns in crimes — his seal of approval. Platkin issued a report Wednesday declaring firearm microstamping “viable,” a year and a half after state lawmakers passed a law thatContinue reading “Attorney General: Microstamping will aid investigations of gun crimes”

Jeffrey S. Kahn, a 55-year-old Republican living in Ridgewood, New Jersey, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering related to an elaborate scheme that allegedly defrauded multiple victims seeking funding for their commercial projects. The indictment comes after Kahn was previously charged with wire fraud in November 2021. According to U.S.Continue reading “Bergen County Republican indicted for multimillion-dollar fraud scheme”

In a distinguished military ceremony held at the Lawrenceville Armory in Lawrenceville, Major General Lisa J. Hou, D.O., was honored for her exemplary service and promoted to the rank of Major General. The event marked a significant milestone in the illustrious career of New Jersey’s Commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs andContinue reading “NJ’s military commander, Dr. Lisa J. Hou, was promoted to major general”

Lisa McCormick, a prominent anti-establishment Democrat known for her advocacy on progressive issues, has criticized New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy for what she calls a disingenuous support for a “Medicare for all” system. “First Lady Tammy Murphy must think that Medicare for all supporters are stupid if she believes we are going to fallContinue reading “Progressive Democrat calls Tammy Murphy’s Medicare for all support ‘disingenuous’”

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Thursday, February 22, 2024, that a Ramsey-based doctor and his medical practice have agreed to pay nearly $700,000 to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. Dr. Arun Sehgal and his practice, Preventive & Diagnostic Medical Center P.A., have reached a settlement totaling $693,490 plus interest toContinue reading “$700,000 settlement is a “slap-on-the-wrist sweetheart deal” says consumer advocate”