I'm the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5, covering the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. I'm a lifelong New Jerseyan -- raised in Bergen, living in Hunterdon, Rutgers graduate. I'm co-author of the 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.' I am not the Iron Chef with a similar name though sometimes get tweets meant for him, especially around Thanksgiving. Believe me, you don't want my cooking tips.
Michael Symons
Would NJ be lowering standards in order to hire enough teachers?
Proposed rule changes are particularly focused on the supply of math and science teachers, a problem even before current more widespread challenges.
These NJ towns spend the least amount of their property tax bills on schools
Local property taxes pay for about half of what New Jersey schools spend. But in some places it's just under 10%.
What would you change at Newark Penn? NJ Transit wants to know
Through $191 million in the new state budget, work is underway on what could be $480 million in modernization and repairs to Newark Penn Station.
Murphy lets NJ keep the one ‘really cool’ thing to come out of the pandemic
Outdoor dining was initially expanded in 2020 to help the hospitality industry survive when indoor dining rooms were ordered closed.
Population boom: The fastest growing cities and towns in NJ
Census Bureau estimates for mid-2021 show the towns with the biggest growth were mostly in South Jersey, and particularly in Ocean County.
NYC congestion pricing advances, could start within 18 months
A Traffic Mobility Review Board, which will decide prices, hours and exemptions from the new tolls, has been appointed. Final hearings will be held in August.
NJ debt surges 22%, approaching $27,000 for each resident
Annual debt report finds New Jersey's long-term debts and obligations, including pensions and health benefits, reached $248.6 billion as of mid-2021.
See ya! NJ towns with the most residents fleeing
Census Bureau estimates for mid-2021 find many New Jersey municipalities lost population in the pandemic's first 15 months, especially by New York City.
It’s not all bad news: A look at job market in NJ after the pandemic
Government employment hasn't fully rebounded, so overall jobs remain lower than they were in February 2020 in New Jersey.
Nearly 4,700 NJ students’ federal student loans canceled
This month's cancellation of federal loans to students who attended Corinthian Colleges provides $48.8 million in help to New Jersey residents.