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On COVID’s two-year anniversary in N.J., mixed reviews for Murphy and team
To some, Gov. Phil Murphy is a power-grabby politician whose bungled pandemic response nearly cost him re-election and who heartlessly abandoned his post for vacations in Italy and Costa Rica as thousands of New Jerseyans lie sick with the coronavirus. To others, Murphy is a hero whose quick action in the pandemic’s early days, and […]
N.J. school segegration case in judge’s hands after hearing
A potentially historic case that could determine whether New Jersey’s schools are unconstitutionally segregated now lies in the hands of Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy, who declined to make a decision Thursday after hearing nearly three hours of arguments. Lawyers focused on a motion filed by plaintiffs requesting Lougy decide schools are unconstitutionally segregated, rather […]
N.J.’s school segregation lawsuit returns to court this week
A lawsuit hinging on a study that found New Jersey schools are some of the most segregated in the country will return to the courtroom this week, with plaintiffs hoping for a major shift in state policies regulating where children attend school. The lawsuit claims New Jersey’s requirement that public school students attend schools in […]
Crowds race to apply for immigrant worker fund before deadline
With hours left before applications for the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund closed, dozens of people lined a sidewalk on South Warren Street in Trenton, documents in hand. One by one, they made their way to a community organizer who helped them fill out an application for their last chance at some of the millions set aside […]
N.J.’s school mask mandate to stay in place until next week
Gov. Phil Murphy is not lifting his mask mandate for schools early, despite new guidance from the federal government that says students in places like New Jersey may not have to wear masks indoors. The Murphy administration said Monday it will keep March 7 as the end date for required masking in schools and child […]
Bill seeks to expand protections for employees who breastfeed
The Assembly is slated to vote on a bill Monday that would clarify protections for breastfeeding employees and ensure they’re accommodated under New Jersey’s anti-discrimination statute. The measure (A795) aims to further protections offered under a 2018 law signed by then-Gov. Chris Christie that requires New Jersey employers to allow women to breastfeed or express […]
Cannabis panel paves way for THC concentrate sales
No date has been set for the long-awaited launch of New Jersey’s recreational cannabis industry, but cannabis officials are already moving for dispensaries to sell a wider array of THC products. During the Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s meeting Thursday, officials unanimously voted to pass a waiver for medical marijuana providers to produce and sell cannabis concentrates. […]
Teachers ask legislators for solutions on short staffing
For two years, school officials have sounded the alarm over veteran teachers burning out because of short staffing, the impact on education when teachers have more than 20 students in one classroom, and the plummeting number of college graduates pursuing a career in education. On Tuesday, educators met again with lawmakers on the Committee for […]
Fears grow that Black businesses will be left out of recreational marijuana market
Jersey City plant shop owner Shayla Cabrera has eyed the cannabis industry for years, dreaming of growing and selling her own cannabis crop in a market where sales are expected to top one billion dollars the first year. As a Black woman, Cabrera has an edge in the highly competitive race to snag the limited number of […]
Rutgers to provide free tuition to undergrads from low-income families
Thousands of Rutgers University students will benefit from a new financial aid program slashing out-of-pocket costs of tuition and fees for families with incomes below $100,000. The program, dubbed Scarlet Guarantee, will be available to first- and second-year students on the school’s New Brunswick campus beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Rutgers officials expect 7,600 students […]
Scrutiny of Bridgewater mall fight leads to A.G. warning on racial profiling
In response to the outcry surrounding the actions of police officers who handcuffed a Black teen at the Bridgewater mall, acting Attorney General Matt Platkin reminded law enforcement in a letter Friday of a directive banning “racially influenced policy.” Platkin, who assumed the role of the state’s chief law enforcement officer on Monday, notes in the letter […]
N.J. to add money to immigrant workers fund
The state is adding more money to the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund after receiving more than 20,000 applications, an amount that may deplete what was initially a $40 million pot of money. With the application deadline still 11 days away, the state Department of Human Services said 20,500 applications have been submitted for the fund. […]