Social Justice
New law creates $45M electric school bus program
State officials say electrifying New Jersey's school buses — a big source of pollution — will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Plenty of ideas on how N.J. should spend $1B in leftover federal aid
Gov. Phil Murphy's office is hosting online meetings so residents can suggest ways the state can spend unallocated federal aid.
Civil rights advocates demand oversight of automated decision-making systems
Governments rely on automated systems to decide things like health care eligibility and pretrial detention. Civil libertarians are concerned.
Rents in New Jersey remain unaffordable despite pandemic aid, report finds
New Jersey remains among the least affordable states in the nation for renters, with a minimum-wage worker having to work 96 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment, according to a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Temporary housing aid put in place during the pandemic — emergency rental assistance and eviction moratoriums […]
Congressmen call for Amazon probe after worker’s death
Congressmen Donald Norcross and Frank Pallone want OSHA to investigate whether Amazon is hiding worker injuries from federal watchdogs.
Warren Buffett firm settles $20 million redlining case out of Camden, Philly area
Trident Mortgage systemically underserved and avoided services in majority-minority neighborhoods, federal officials announced Wednesday
Cannabis commission slow to implement workplace rules, the sale of edibles
The state's cannabis commission is dragging its feet on some important decisions, business leaders and cannabis advocates say.
4,000 tenants to receive state rental assistance out of 86,000 applicants
A state official said more than 86,000 people applied for the state's housing voucher program.
N.J.’s lag in public record disputes ‘undermines transparency,’ watchdog says
N.J.'s Government Records Council takes almost two years to decide public records disputes. That's far too long, the state comptroller says.
Lawmakers want to bar discrimination against tenants’ immigration status
A new bill would make immigration status a protected class when renting a home.
Lawmakers take aim at lawsuits that quash public participation
New Jersey is one of 18 states that doesn't have an anti-SLAPP law that would thwart lawsuits intended to intimidate or silence critics.
New Jersey is 19th deadliest state for pedestrians, new report says
Last year 220 pedestrians were killed on New Jersey roadways, along with 23 cyclists, 373 drivers, and 84 passengers, according to New Jersey State Police data.