Briefs
Bill would stop driver’s license suspensions over unpaid parking tickets
New Jersey drivers who haven’t paid parking ticket fines would no longer be at risk of having their driver’s licenses suspended under a recently reintroduced bill. The measure (A1376) would eliminate license suspension as a punishment for not paying more than five parking tickets or failing to show up in court over outstanding tickets. Instead, […]
GOP push to curtail Murphy’s powers appears to win some Dem support
New Jersey Republicans introduced another bill Monday that would curtail Gov. Phil Murphy’s emergency powers, but unlike earlier attempts, this bid appears poised to win some Democratic support. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), would automatically sunset state of emergency declarations issued by the governor 60 days after they come into effect unless […]
Judiciary committee advances former senators’ nominations
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nominations Thursday of two former state senators who left the chamber earlier this month. In a unanimous vote, the panel approved the nomination of former state Sen. Kip Bateman to the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield board of directors and former Sen. Dawn Addiego to be Burlington County’s superintendent […]
Legal weed sales stalled, as regulators say they await proof of municipal buy-in
When voters opted to legalize marijuana in New Jersey in November 2020, insiders expected the pot-loving public would be able to buy recreational weed right around now. But at the monthly meeting of the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission Thursday, the man overseeing the industry’s creation in New Jersey said the state is still far from commercial […]
N.J. wants Congress to forgive overpaid unemployment benefits
About 130,000 people are being asked by the state Department of Labor to pay back money they received from COVID-related unemployment aid, even if the claimants followed all the guidance under the ever-changing federal rules. But the state wants Congress to forgive these non-fraudulent overpayments, and estimates as many as 250,000 New Jersey workers could […]
One-time aide to ex-state senator admits arranging political operative’s murder
Sean Caddle — a political consultant and one-time aide to former state Sen. Raymond Lesniak —admitted hiring two men to kill a Hudson County man in May 2014, federal authorities announced Tuesday. Caddle, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, admitting he paid thousands to two men for killing […]
State to accept applications for up to $35,000 in mortgage aid next month
New Jersey homeowners can apply for up to $35,000 in mortgage and property tax assistance starting next month, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday. The announcement comes as the number of pending foreclosure cases statewide has reached nearly 9,000. “This can help protect thousands of homeowners from foreclosures and neighborhoods from being impacted,” Murphy said. To qualify […]
Bill would allow cash incentives to diversify police recruits
State officials have tried all sorts of things to make New Jersey’s mostly white, mostly male police departments better reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, from creating minority mentorship programs to mandating police forces take action to fix underrepresentation. Now, one state legislator wants to pay people to find the state more cops of […]
N.J. Labor Department has stopped $5.4B in fraud claims
The state Labor Department says it has stopped more than a half million potentially fraudulent unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic, an amount that would represent more than $5.4 billion in losses. Spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi credited ID.me — a company specializing in identity proofing that is used by more than 25 other states […]
Judiciary weighs shielding old eviction documents
The New Jersey Supreme Court is asking for written comment on a proposed rules change that would prevent the release of old eviction documents, a bid to avoid continually impacting once-troubled renters. The proposed rule would block the disclosure of documents in cases more than seven years old where a judgment for possession was issued. […]
Supreme Court panel pulls opinion that barred discipline for race-based jury challenges
A New Jersey Supreme Court advisory panel has withdrawn a 24-year-old opinion that allowed attorneys to challenge jurors on the basis of their race during jury selection. The Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics, an 18-member body appointed by the Supreme Court, found the 1998 opinion directly conflicts with provisions of the rules of professional conduct […]
After promising national search, Murphy wants to promote acting corrections commissioner
Gov. Phil Murphy nominated acting Corrections Commissioner Victoria Kuhn to permanently head the Department of Corrections Thursday. Kuhn, who was chief of staff to former Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks, has held the position an acting basis since Hicks resigned in June over severe inmate beatings at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, the state’s only women’s […]