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.
Families left to find new schools as charters are denied permission to expand
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - September 6, 2022
Charter school supporters say they are unfairly denied expansion by the Murphy administration.
N.J. Supreme Court nomination will finally move forward, 18 months later
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - September 2, 2022
A Bergen County Republican who had been blocking Gov. Phil Murphy's nominee to the high court has agreed to allow the nomination to proceed
Harm reduction advocates gather in Newark to bring awareness to drug overdoses
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 31, 2022
The digital installation is part of the nationwide campaign to support harm reduction.
New York and New Jersey head down opposite paths to tackle traffic congestion
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 31, 2022
In New York, officials are backing a plan to discourage more cars from entering Manhattan. In New Jersey, officials are behind the type of plan economists say encourages more cars.
New Jersey won’t tax student loan debt forgiven by Biden plan
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 25, 2022
The federal government and some states consider canceled debt taxable income, but New Jersey does not.
Residents of Newark track trucks to highlight air pollution
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 25, 2022
More than 3,000 garbage trucks, buses, car carriers, and tractor-trailers drove through five Newark intersections Wednesday.
Car insurance bills shine spotlight on lawmaker ethics
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 23, 2022
Bills sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari have been slammed by critics who say they will boost car insurance costs for motorists and enrich attorneys like himself.
New Jersey launches new student loan program
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 18, 2022
The loans will be available for up to 300 college students training for careers in information technology, health care, and more.
Case of embattled councilwoman shines spotlight on N.J.’s tough recall law
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 17, 2022
Any effort to recall Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise — or any New Jersey elected official — would require petitioners to climb a steep hurdle.
Governor Murphy drops testing mandate for unvaccinated teachers, state workers
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 15, 2022
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have pushed for Murphy to drop the vaccinate-or-test requirement.
More tenant protections for senior citizens, people with disabilities under new bill
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 15, 2022
Lawmakers want to extend the time senior citizens and people with disabilities have certain tenancy protections under state law.
N.J. is sparking up, bringing in millions in tax revenue from cannabis
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz - August 12, 2022
New Jersey raked in $4.6 million in tax revenue in the first 10 weeks since recreational cannabis sales launched. The tax revenue came from nearly $80 million customers spent on legal recreational marijuana between April 21 and June 30, the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission announced in a statement Friday. It includes more than $219,000 in […]