Author

Sophie Nieto-Munoz

Sophie Nieto-Munoz

Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, a New Jersey native and former Trenton statehouse reporter for NJ.com, shined a spotlight on the state’s crumbling unemployment system and won several awards for investigative reporting from the New Jersey Press Association. She was a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists for her report on PetSmart's grooming practices, which was also recognized by the New York Press Club. Sophie speaks Spanish and is proud to connect to the Latinx community through her reporting.

Measure would expand how teachers can use sick time

By: - March 24, 2023

Teachers say they can't care for sick parents or attend school conferences for their children because of an "outdated" law on sick days.

Lawmakers want to require salary information in job postings

By: - March 23, 2023

A bill would make New Jersey the sixth state in the nation to require salary transparency in job postings.

Lawmakers seek change after Ticketmaster fiascos

By: - March 22, 2023

Critics of three bills pushed by Assembly members say they are a gift to scalpers and would drive business away from New Jersey.

Election law watchdog to face hearing over allegations of homophobia, racism

By: - March 21, 2023

The head of New Jersey's election law watchdog is accused of sending a homophobic email to a staffer.

Lawmakers fast-track $103M in new funding for school districts reeling from state aid cuts

By: and - March 20, 2023

School districts battered by years of funding cuts would get a one-year $103 million boost in state aid under a new bill.

N.J. gun owners criticize ‘egregious delays’ in concealed carry permit process

By: - March 20, 2023

Nearly nine months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of gun owners, gun advocates say it's too hard to obtain a concealed carry permit in New Jersey.

Ahead of GOP hearing, N.J. stresses no link between offshore wind and whale deaths

By: - March 16, 2023

New Jersey Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, both Republicans, are holding a hearing into offshore wind industrialization Thursday in Wildwood.

Rutgers study calls for more investment in Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers

By: - March 14, 2023

Rutgers researchers interviewed 69 women who use services at Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers around the state for the report.

Killing of Paterson man spurs demand for more mental health aid during police calls

By: and - March 10, 2023

Two Paterson police officers shot and killed Najee Seabrooks on March 3 after they responded to a 911 call about a person in distress.

Lawmakers advance package of bills to protect domestic violence victims

By: - March 10, 2023

The Assembly advanced 11 bills Thursday aimed at helping domestic violence survivors.

N.J. attorney general cites 28 towns for excluding some LGBTQ people from marriage license forms

By: - March 9, 2023

Twenty-eight towns posted marriage license applications with no option for nonbinary people, requiring them to misgender themselves as either male or female under oath.

N.J. banned TikTok on state phones. Why is the state’s TikTok account still active?

By: - March 8, 2023

When Gov. Phil Murphy banned TikTok from state-issued phones, an official cited the “high risk of potential data loss or privacy issues."