In The News
Citing pension woes, S&P just cut N.J's credit outlook to negative
TRENTON — Standard and Poor's Ratings Services lowered its outlook for New Jersey from stable to negative Tuesday over concerns with the state's declining pension funding levels and growing retirement liabilities.
School funding concerns dominate South Jersey budget hearing
Gov. Chris Christie's proposed state budget for the upcoming 2017 fiscal year may call for every public school district to get a small boost in aid, but for many districts the increase is still far short of the millions more they should be receiving under the state's eight-year-old school funding formula law.
N.J. receives federal disaster declaration for January winter storm
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for 17 New Jersey counties, making them eligible for federal aid to reimburse counties and towns for the cleanup of January's winter storm.
Gov. Chris Christie had requested federal help following the Jan. 22-24 storm, which brought up to 30 inches of snow, plus high winds and flooding, and left around 270,000 homes without power. High tides caused coastal flooding in the southern part of the state, contributing to beach erosion and damaging dunes.
The state said the damage cost was around $82.6 million.
Singleton bill could require Christie to reimburse taxpayers for security at political events
One of Burlington County's state lawmakers has penned legislation that could compel Gov. Chris Christie to reimburse the state for some of the costs of his travel and New Jersey State Police security.
Casino expansion amendment approved for November ballot
New Jersey voters will be called upon to decide this fall whether to expand casino gambling beyond Atlantic City into North Jersey.
Bill to Give NJ Taxpayers Credit for Certain Child and Dependent Care Expenses Clears First Legislative Hurdle
Assembly Democratic sponsored legislation that would allow gross income tax credit for certain child and dependent care expenses was approved by an Assembly panel on Monday. The bill is part of efforts by Assembly Democrats to lift people out of poverty and rebuild New Jersey’s middle-class.
NJ lawmakers advance paid sick leave, gender equity bills
New Jersey lawmakers advanced legislation Monday that would mandate all workers receive paid sick time, and two bills aimed at ensuring women receive equal pay on the job.
State, Burlington County mourns death of New Jersey State Police trooper, Cinnaminson resident
Sean Cullen always dreamed of becoming a New Jersey State Police trooper.
As a championship wrestler in high school and college, and while working as a police officer in Sea Isle City, Mount Holly and Westampton, friends and former colleagues said he was always focused on his ultimate goal of donning the sky blue trooper's uniform.
Jobs coming to Willingboro
A growing industrial company is relocating its world headquarters from Lumberton to a vacated building in Willingboro and has plans to eventually add up to 300 jobs.
Radwell International, which repairs and sells new and used manufacturing machinery, announced Tuesday it has begun moving into an empty 311,000-square-foot building at 1 Millenium Drive.
Lawmakers push for stronger lead testing rules for N.J. kids
Saying New Jersey needs to keep pace with the latest scientific evidence, two senators have introduced a bill requiring the state to adopt the federal government's tougher recommendations for intervening when a child tests positive for lead poisoning.
With much of its housing inventory built before lead-based pain was outlawed in 1978, New Jersey's children has been hard hit by lead, especially in cities. Under the state law that mandates testing for children under the age of 6, elevated lead levels have been detected in 220,000 children since 2000, including about 3,000 in 2015.