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Trenton NJ, New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michele Siekerka issued the following statement in response to today’s State of the State address by Gov. Phil Murphy.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michele Siekerka issued the following statement in response to today’s State of the State address by Gov. Phil Murphy.

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Trenton NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS), today announced a substantial reduction in traffic-related fatalities in 2023. According to preliminary data as of January 8, 2024, fatal crashes in the state decreased by 9.4%, dropping from 646 in 2022 to 585 in 2023. This positive trend has resulted in an overall 10.4% reduction in fatalities from 2023 to 2022, declining from 689 in 2022 to 617 in 2023, and a 11.5% decrease from the 2021 traffic fatality total of 697.

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9 in anticipation of severe storms causing hazardous weather conditions including heavy rain, high winds, and flash flooding. Executive Order No. 350 declares a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing resources to be deployed throughout the state during the duration of the storm.
Continue reading NJ Governor Murphy Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Storm

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Trenton NJ, the bill, slated for review by the state Senate Budget Committee on Thursday afternoon, proposes salary increases for judges, legislative staff, and lawmakers. Under the legislation, pay rates for members of the Legislature would rise from $49,000 to $75,000 annually, effective in 2026. Additionally, salaries could be adjusted annually by no more than 2%, based on the Consumer Price Index, starting in the 2028 legislative year.
Continue reading New Bill Would Give NJ Legislature Massive Pay Raise
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Trenton NJ, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the “State of Lung Cancer” report reveals that it is detected at high levels in about 10% of homes in New Jersey. During January for National Radon Action Month, the American Lung Association in New Jersey is urging everyone to help save lives by testing their home for radon and mitigating if high levels are detected.

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Continue reading NJ State Police Reminds Everyone to Celebrate the New Year Responsibly

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Trenton NJ, Governor Murphy and Lab or Commissioner Asaro-Angelo have been taking victory laps on New Jersey’s January 1st minimum wage raise :
Continue reading Unintended Consequences of Minimum Wage Increases

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West Trenton NJ, Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced that Detective Sergeant Michael Savnik, of the Fugitive Unit, Special Investigations Section, Investigations Branch, is the recipient of the 2023 Trooper of the Year Award for spearheading 16 NJ Strategic Apprehension Fugitive Enforcement (NJ SAFE) operations, which resulted in the arrest of 119 violent recidivist offenders and fugitives during a one-year period.
Continue reading NJ State Police Announces 2023 Trooper of the Year Award Recipient

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Moorstown NJ, with less than six months before the primary election to determine the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey, a new extensive poll shows that Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) remains the strongest candidate in the race with Democratic primary voters.

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Trenton NJ, New Jersey recorded the most significant rise in the nation’s unemployment rate, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.
Continue reading New Jersey Sees Highest increase in Unemployment Rate in the U.S.

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Ridgewood NJ, NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index decreased 0.1 point in November to 90.6, which marks the 23rd consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98. Twenty-two percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, unchanged from October but 10 points lower than this time last year.

photos courtesy of the New Jersey State Police
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West Point NY, on Monday morning Colonel Patrick Callahan and members of the New Jersey State Police command staff traveled to West Point to lay a wreath at the grave of H. Norman Schwarzkopf, a West Point graduate, our founder, and first Colonel.

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Ridgewood NJ, Grandparents often talk about an era in which homes would be left unlocked at night, unconcerned about any threats to their security. Times have certainly changed, and for millions across America, it would be unthinkable in this day and age to leave their home unlocked at night. Yet, there are pockets of America where this trust in community safety still endures. AutomateLife.net commissioned a comprehensive study to find out where in America people are still comfortable enough to embrace the old-world charm of an unlocked front door as night falls. They surveyed 3,000 respondents and the places that made up the top 5 were as follows:
Continue reading Yes there Still Are 4 NJ Towns Where Residents Leave Doors Unlocked at Night

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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy has conditionally vetoed S-3038/A-4630, attaching language to the bill impacting the state’s estimated 1,400 “pocket” liquor licenses, and creating a shopping mall “special alcohol permit” to allow restaurants and food courts in these facilities the ability to sell alcohol for consumption on-premise. The conditional veto would also allow annual license fees to be increased on all craft alcoholic beverage manufacturers in the state by the NJ Division of Alcohol Beverage Control (NJABC). While the Governor has called for the end of brewery restrictions, he, himself calls unfair and burdensome, he has elected to not sign a bill unanimously passed by the Legislature with broad industry and public support which aims to remove the very barriers he asked the Legislature to fix earlier this year. While disappointed in the Governor’s action, the Guild is not deterred and intends to continue to advocate for brewery law changes until they are accomplished.

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Trenton NJ, with the arrival of the holiday season, Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy invite New Jersey residents to attend The Holidays at Drumthwacket, a longstanding tradition of open houses at the Governor’s official residence in Princeton. The Drumthwacket Foundation, in partnership with seven garden clubs from across New Jersey, has decorated each room using fresh arrangements and greenery to complement the architecture and decor of the historic property.