Author

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.
Murphy adviser drops bid to seek Assembly seat also sought by his wife
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 24, 2023
Brendan Gill's decision not to seek a 27th District Assembly seat came amid criticism that he had tried to push his wife out of the race.
Sen. Bernie Sanders throws support behind striking New Jersey nurses
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 22, 2023
The nurses’ demands include higher pay, improved nurse-to-patient ratios, retirement medical benefits, and a cap on insurance costs.
Paterson loses bid to toss lawsuit filed by Black Lives Matter protestors
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 22, 2023
The protestors accuse the state's third largest city of wrongfully arresting them during a 2019 anti-police rally.
LGBTQ community celebrates court’s halt of parental notification policies
By: Dana DiFilippo and Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 21, 2023
A judge has forbidden three New Jersey school districts from implementing parental notification policies the state says are discriminatory.
N.J. has spent $478K on probe of alleged discrimination at State Police, records show
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 21, 2023
It’s not clear yet what prompted the probe, though the New Jersey State Police has been targeted in numerous lawsuits by troopers who allege racial discrimination.
East Orange tenants sue over ‘deplorable’ conditions at apartment building
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 18, 2023
In the last two years alone, landlords of The Castle were cited 123 times for failure to keep dwellings in clean and sanctuary condition.
N.J. lottery players can soon buy Mega Millions, Pick 6 through state website
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 17, 2023
The change has angered retailers and some lawmakers, who argue it will harm local businesses and violates state law.
New law halts state aid cuts at some regional school districts
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 17, 2023
The new law exempts some regional school districts from state aid cuts that Freehold Regional school officials blamed for their slashed transportation budget.
N.J. judicial staff barred from taking cannabis jobs
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 16, 2023
New Jersey Courts employees were already barred from working for some industries, like casinos and businesses that service alcohol.
Use of remote translators in criminal trials should be rare, state Supreme Court rules
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 15, 2023
Judges will now have a group of factors to weigh when deciding when to require in-person translators for criminal trials.
New Jersey faces tough questioning from judge overseeing challenge to immigrant detention ban
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 14, 2023
Immigrant justice advocates worry the decision expected this month will be just the first step in an extended legal battle.
Mourners pay their last respects to Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 10, 2023
Thursday marked the first of three days of memorials for Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who was the state's first Black woman Assembly speaker.