Author

Editor Terrence T. McDonald is a native New Jerseyan who has worked for newspapers in the Garden State for more than 15 years. He has covered everything from Trenton politics to the smallest of municipal squabbles, exposing public corruption and general malfeasance at every level of government. Terrence won 23 New Jersey Press Association awards and two Tim O’Brien Awards for Investigative Journalism using the Open Public Records Act from the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. One politician forced to resign in disgrace because of Terrence’s reporting called him a "political poison pen journalist.”
‘Back to school’ sales tax holiday is not a serious plan to attack inflation
By: Terrence T. McDonald - June 27, 2022
Democrats' plan to attack inflation — a 10-day sales tax holiday on select items — would not help families struggling with higher prices.
Emails show ugly, anti-press side of mayor and wannabe N.J. governor
By: Terrence T. McDonald - June 3, 2022
Let’s talk about politicians who hate the press. We hear a lot about officials “taking a page from Trump’s playbook” when they attack the media, but they’ve been doing this forever. From Thomas Jefferson instructing state attorneys general to prosecute unfriendly newspaper editors to Joe Biden calling a Fox News reporter a stupid SOB, politicians […]
Lawsuit targeting disputed ballot design as unconstitutional can proceed, judge says
By: Terrence T. McDonald - May 31, 2022
A federal lawsuit targeting the county line — the ballot system used in most New Jersey counties that gives a boost to party-backed candidates facing primary challenges — as unconstitutional may proceed, a judge ruled Tuesday. The order by Judge Zahid Quraishi was hailed by progressives who have long argued the ballot design in question gives […]
Scare tactics about N.J. sex education standards don’t reflect what’s in them | Opinion
By: Terrence T. McDonald - April 18, 2022
When I was nearing the end of eighth grade, I was assigned a book to read over the summer before my first day of high school. It was called “Becoming a Man: Basic Information, Guidance, and Attitudes on Sex for Boys” and, I assure you, it was graphic. There was an entire chapter on masturbation. […]
In praise of CJ Griffin, who fights to shine a spotlight on N.J. government | Opinion
By: Terrence T. McDonald - March 18, 2022
New Jerseyans have a reason to celebrate this Sunshine Week: We have CJ Griffin. Sunshine Week is when First Amendment and press freedom organizations nationwide call attention to the importance of freedom of information laws. And here in the Garden State, those of us who fight for access to public records are blessed to have […]
Murphy’s focus should be on N.J., not the national stage | Opinion
By: Terrence T. McDonald - February 11, 2022
Phil Murphy, do not pull a Chris Christie. Allies of Murphy, our Democratic governor who started his second term just 24 days ago, are behind a new PAC and a nonprofit aimed at boosting his national profile, Matt Arco reported Monday. This has all the hallmarks of a politician eyeing a promotion, either to president or […]
Mask mandate in schools will continue ‘for foreseeable future,’ Murphy says
By: Terrence T. McDonald - January 10, 2022
Mask mandates for students, teachers, and other school staff will continue “for the foreseeable future,” Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, saying the order is necessary to keep New Jersey’s schools open amid a rise in positive coronavirus cases. Murphy’s latest directive comes as lawmakers are mulling whether to extend a series of executive orders, administration […]
N.J. Democrats’ coronation of Menendez Jr. is gross
By: Terrence T. McDonald - December 24, 2021
The race to make sure Robert Menendez Jr. glides into the House of Representatives as Rep. Albio Sires’ successor is New Jersey politics at its worst. It’s been just four days since Sires announced he will retire at the end of his current term, and Menendez — the son of Sen. Bob Menendez, obvs — […]
Legislature should stop blocking expansion of public records access
By: Terrence T. McDonald - November 18, 2021
The Legislature is killing what could be its last chance in years to expand access to public records in New Jersey. Republican opposition plus Democratic silence helped scuttle the advancement Monday of S-380, a bill backed by Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D) that would revise the Open Public Records Act in a few meaningful ways. One […]
Democrats, stop counting on Trump to win elections for you
By: Terrence T. McDonald - November 5, 2021
Democrats may need an intervention to end their Donald Trump addiction, if Tuesday’s election results didn’t already send that message. Take Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign. From his campaign flyers — every one I received had Trump as its main image — to the “Stop the Trump Team” signs that lined Route 3 in the days […]
Lawsuit alleges N.J. vaccine mandate violates constitutional rights
By: Terrence T. McDonald - October 18, 2021
A group of New Jersey public workers allege in a new federal lawsuit that Gov. Phil Murphy’s mandate that they and other public employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing violates their constitutional rights. The seven-count complaint, filed the same day as the deadline for state and school workers to be vaccinated, […]
‘Torres for mayor’ campaign in Paterson is shameless even by N.J. standards
By: Terrence T. McDonald - September 22, 2021
“Why not?” That’s what Joey Torres told Joe Malinconico for a Monday story about Torres testing the waters for a mayoral run in Paterson, a story that posted almost exactly four years after Torres pleaded guilty to corruption charges and resigned in disgrace as the city’s mayor. I love messy drama, so part of me […]