Hunger Free America report reports that “Hunger is Political Choice”

A new report by Hunger Free America (HFA) has found that the number of Americans without enough food over a seven-day period was an average of 40% higher in September and October of 2023 than in September and October of 2021. According to the report released by the nonprofit group, which is based on anContinue reading “Hunger Free America report reports that “Hunger is Political Choice””

Palestinian American college students were shot in Burlington, Vermont

Three Palestinian American college students were shot and seriously injured in a Burlington, Vermont, neighborhood on Saturday evening. The victims, identified as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, were all students at different universities in the United States. They were visiting Burlington for the Thanksgiving break. The shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. inContinue reading “Palestinian American college students were shot in Burlington, Vermont”

Biden’s foreign policy agenda suffers due to strained ties with key allies

President Joe Biden’s foreign policy initiatives are facing significant setbacks due to strained relationships with two key allies: New Jersey’s Democratic Senator Bob Menendez and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Menendez, a powerful figure in foreign policy circles, has been a crucial ally for Biden on various priorities, including aid to Ukraine and effortsContinue reading “Biden’s foreign policy agenda suffers due to strained ties with key allies”

New Jersey will prohibit gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2035

In a bold move aimed at tackling climate change and improving air quality, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced the filing of the Advanced Clean Cars II rule. LaTourette on November 21, 2023, said that the rule, set for adoption on December 18, commits New Jersey to a futureContinue reading “New Jersey will prohibit gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2035”

Top Democrats split with N.J. Senate president over extending business tax surcharge

by Nikita Biryukov, New Jersey Monitor Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday again rejected extending a 2.5% surtax on profitable businesses as a means of bridging stark funding gaps NJ Transit faces in the coming years. Murphy recommitted to his plan to let the surtax sunset at the end of the year during remarks at theContinue reading “Top Democrats split with N.J. Senate president over extending business tax surcharge”

Pentagon paralyzed as partisan political power play prevents progress

Pentagon scrambles to pay for Middle East troop buildup as inadequate funds hinder national security efforts In response to the unexpected terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, the Defense Department has mobilized additional resources, including an aircraft carrier strike group, air defenses, fighter jets, and hundreds of troops to the Middle East. The goalContinue reading “Pentagon paralyzed as partisan political power play prevents progress”

Most popular presidential candidate would finish dead last in voting

A recent Harvard CAPS-Harris poll shows that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has emerged with the greatest favorability rating among the top 2024 presidential candidates but he could finish dead last in the election. Despite this surprising twist, the survey reveals that in a hypothetical three-way race, including Kennedy, disgraced former President Donald Trump would comeContinue reading “Most popular presidential candidate would finish dead last in voting”

Tammy Murphy’s climate claims conflict with her family’s fossil fuel finances

First Lady Tammy Murphy’s claims about combating climate change ignore some hefty investments that she and her husband have made in fossil fuel companies, according to Lisa McCormick, an ardent critic of the millionaire governor who has called out the First Lady for hypoccrisy, corruption and deception. The Murphys have had to file financial disclosureContinue reading “Tammy Murphy’s climate claims conflict with her family’s fossil fuel finances”

SEC bars brokers from betting against the assets they sell to investors

In a move aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and protecting investors, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday adopted a rule barring traders in asset-backed securities (ABS) from betting against the same assets they sell to investors. The SEC’s action is mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,Continue reading “SEC bars brokers from betting against the assets they sell to investors”

More doubts rise over Tammy Murphy’s campaign claims on maternal mortality

A week after New Jersey’s poor grades from the 2023 March of Dimes Report Card cast doubts on First Lady Tammy Murphy’s claims about her contributions to infant mortality and maternal health, a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that overdose deaths in pregnant and postpartum women more than tripled during theContinue reading “More doubts rise over Tammy Murphy’s campaign claims on maternal mortality”

Monica Lewinsky calls for ban on presidential self-pardons

Monica Lewinsky has called for a series of constitutional amendments, including age limits for elected officials and a prohibition on presidential self-pardons. In her Vanity Fair column, Lewinsky proposed six new amendments that offer her vision for a more robust democracy, including no presidential self-pardons, compulsory background checks for presidential candidates, no suspensions of theContinue reading “Monica Lewinsky calls for ban on presidential self-pardons”

New Jersey tops the list of states with the highest foreclosure rates

While experts predict that the U.S. may escape a recession this year, the impact of the uncertain economy is taking a toll on property owners, particularly in the realm of foreclosures. Recent data from ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, reveals that New Jersey is leading the nation, where oneContinue reading “New Jersey tops the list of states with the highest foreclosure rates”

New Jersey candidate rises in politics by climbing on dead babies & mothers

First Lady Tammy Murphy claims to be a vocal advocate for maternal and infant health, but the “Nurture NJ” initiative for which she claims credit has failed to improve outcomes for New Jersey mothers and babies as much as the Governor’s wife says it did, according to a report that shows an alarmingly high pretermContinue reading “New Jersey candidate rises in politics by climbing on dead babies & mothers”

Rockefeller Foundation awarded $11 million to advance climate solutions

As the first part of its recently finalized 5-year climate strategy, The Rockefeller Foundation recently announced awards of more than $11 million to advance a range of climate solutions in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as communities across the United States. In collaboration with 25 organizations,Continue reading “Rockefeller Foundation awarded $11 million to advance climate solutions”

New Jersey lawmakers take another shot at same-day voter registration bill

by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor Lawmakers have revamped a bill that would allow for same-day voter registration in New Jersey, a goal of progressive activists that has previously met with resistance from state Senate leadership. Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, a prime sponsor of the bill, said New Jersey should join the 20 other states that already allowContinue reading “New Jersey lawmakers take another shot at same-day voter registration bill”

Israel and Hamas agree to temporary cease-fire, hostage release deal

by Ashley Murray, New Jersey Monitor Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for a short-term humanitarian ceasefire that will allow the release of some hostages and increase humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, U.S. officials said late Tuesday. President Joe Biden praised the agreement to release 50 of the approximately 240 hostages takenContinue reading “Israel and Hamas agree to temporary cease-fire, hostage release deal”

Author explores gratitude’s dark side — how being grateful might still rescue us

by Erik Gunn, New Jersey Monitor For the author of a book on gratitude Diana Butler Bass has what might be a surprising admission: Gratitude didn’t come naturally to her. Bass published “Grateful,” her 12th book, five years ago. But before writing it, “I would not have considered myself a naturally grateful person,” she says.Continue reading “Author explores gratitude’s dark side — how being grateful might still rescue us”

Alice’s Restaurant Massacree is an American Thanksgiving tradition

“Alice’s Restaurant,” Arlo Guthrie’s beloved musical ode to garbage, small-town policing, and military conscription, celebrates many anniversaries and has become a Thanksgiving anthem. The song – its full name is “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” – has its conception on Thanksgiving Day, 1965, when Guthrie, then 18, and friend Rick Robbins, 19, were clearing out the Stockbridge,Continue reading “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree is an American Thanksgiving tradition”

Putin expresses readiness for peace talks, blames Zelensky for fighting

In a notable shift in tone, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly expressed a willingness to engage in peace talks to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. During a virtual G20 meeting, Putin acknowledged the “tragedy” of the war and called for a resolution to the conflict. Both sides have lost thousands of soldiers on topContinue reading “Putin expresses readiness for peace talks, blames Zelensky for fighting”

Defense personnel enjoy Thanksgiving meals while on worldwide duty

Thanksgiving for our service men and women throughout the world may be grab-and-go style takeout or large group gatherings in dining facilities, the Pentagon is making sure that American warfighters everywhere are able to have a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings this holiday. The Defense Logistics Agency has helped ensure over 360,000 pounds ofContinue reading “Defense personnel enjoy Thanksgiving meals while on worldwide duty”