Category: Trenton

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Murphy Administration Pushes “Sanctuary State ” Package

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NJ’s New “Sanctuary” Package: Why Critics Call Bills A6308, A6309, and A6310 a “Disaster on Deck”

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Trenton NJ, The New Jersey State House is moving fast on a controversial trio of bills that could fundamentally change how the Garden State interacts with federal immigration authorities. While supporters call it the “Safe Communities Act,” opponents are sounding the alarm, claiming these policies will create a “blindfold” for law enforcement and turn essential public spaces into “hiding places” for criminal offenders.

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Get Kids Hooked on Nature: How to Host a 2026 NJ Youth Fishing Event

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Calling All NJ Organizations: Host a Site for the 11th Annual Youth Fishing Challenge!

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TRENTON, NJ — Get ready to cast a line for the next generation of anglers! NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s “Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs” (HOFNOD) program has officially opened host site registration for the 11th Annual Youth Fishing Challenge.

This statewide event is a premier opportunity for schools, municipal alliances, rod and gun clubs, and community organizations to engage local youth in a healthy, lifelong outdoor hobby. By hosting a site, you help provide a safe, fun environment where children and their families can discover the thrill of the catch.

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NJ Constitutional Clash: Assemblyman Bob Auth Slams Bill Package to Protect Illegal Immigrants

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The Bills: A “Sanctuary State” Expansion?

photo courtesy of Assemblyman Bob Auth

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, A heated legal and political battle has erupted in Trenton as the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee advanced a trio of controversial bills designed to block federal immigration enforcement within the Garden State.

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Priced Out of the Garden State? New Data Shows NJ Among Top States People Are Fleeing

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The Great New Jersey Exodus: Why Residents Are Leaving the Garden State Every 14 Minutes

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Ridgewood NJ, Is the “Garden State” becoming the “Goodbye State”? New data reveals a startling trend: New Jersey has secured a spot in the top five states people are fleeing most frequently. As the cost of living reaches new heights, many residents are asking themselves if they can afford to stay.

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The Great NJ Bag Glut: Is the Plastic Bag Ban Actually Hurting the Environment?

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Open your pantry, and you’ll likely find it: a teetering mountain of “reusable” heavy-duty blue and green shopping bags. Most of them arrived with curbside grocery orders you never asked for, and you’ll likely never use them all

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Nearly three years after New Jersey implemented one of the nation’s strictest plastic bag bans, reports suggest the policy has had significant “backfire” effects. While the law successfully removed billions of thin, single-use bags, it has led to a dramatic increase in total plastic consumption and greenhouse gas emissions due to a reliance on heavier, “reusable” bags.   

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Is New Jersey’s “Climate Superfund” a $9,000 Tax Trap for Families?

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While most of the country is focusing on holiday recovery, Trenton is moving at breakneck speed to pass one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in New Jersey’s history.

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Trenton NJ, the Climate Superfund Act (S-3545/A-4696) is currently slated for a critical vote in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on January 8, 2026. While sponsors frame it as a “polluter pays” model, the business community and legal experts are sounding the alarm on what they call “Climate Fraud” that will ultimately be paid for by New Jersey households.

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Is New Jersey Ditching Hand-Counts? New Election Audit Bill Sparks Transparency Debate

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What Could Possibly Go Wrong With This ?

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Trenton  NJ, in a move that could redefine how New Jersey verifies its votes, the State Senate has passed a major legislative update to the post-election auditing process. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex/Mercer/Somerset/Hunterdon), Bill S-3853 was approved with a unanimous 37-0 vote on December 22, 2025.

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“Bell-to-Bell” Ban: NJ Legislature Passes Historic Bill to Strip Cell Phones from Schools

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Cell Phone Ban

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON, NJ — The era of scrolling during study hall may be coming to a permanent end in New Jersey. In a decisive move that has swept through the State House, New Jersey lawmakers have officially sent a bill to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk that would ban student cell phone use throughout the entire school day.

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Truth in Accounting Report : New Jersey in the Worst Fiscal Shape in the Nation

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Is Your State a Financial Sinkhole? New Jersey and California Top 2025 “Debt” List

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Trenton NJ, A sobering new report from Truth in Accounting (TIA) reveals a deepening divide in the fiscal health of America. While some states are basking in “sunshine” surpluses, 25 U.S. states are currently “sinkholes,” lacking the necessary funds to pay their bills.

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“Don’t Be a Grinch!”: NJ’s Viral Holiday Highway Signs Return for 2025

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If you’re driving through the Garden State this December, the highway signs might make you chuckle—and then check your speedometer

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has officially brought back its famous holiday-themed safety messages. From the NJ Turnpike to I-295, overhead digital boards are lighting up with puns, rhymes, and pop-culture references designed to keep drivers focused during the busiest travel season of the year.

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What New Jersey’s Latest Economic Data Really Tells Us

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New Jersey is entering the final stretch of summer with mixed but cautiously optimistic economic signals, as recent gains in employment and tax collections provide momentum while federal policy shifts continue to raise concerns about long-term stability. The latest state and federal data point to short-term resilience in the labor market and government revenues, even as economists warn that national trade and immigration policies could create headwinds for growth in the months ahead.

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Major Federal Crackdown: HSI and FBI Launch New Task Force in New Jersey ‘Sanctuary State’

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HSTF Targets Transnational Criminals, Netting Over 3,200 Arrests Nationwide

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton, NJ – Federal law enforcement is significantly escalating its presence in New Jersey, a state self-declared as a “sanctuary.” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark and the FBI’s Newark Field Office have officially launched a new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), dramatically increasing coordination between federal, state, and local agencies to combat transnational crime, gang violence, and narcotics trafficking.

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Million-Dollar Transition? Mikie Sherrill Faces Fire Over Budget Boost That Doubles Previous Governors

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Governor-Elect Under Scrutiny as $1 Million Transition Spending Proposal Is Abruptly Pulled Amid GOP Backlash

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON, NJ – Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill is facing the first major fiscal challenge of her incoming administration. Her transition team was forced to abruptly pull a controversial spending proposal that would have inflated the transition committee’s budget to an unprecedented $1 million—a roughly 62 percent increase over prior gubernatorial transitions.

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NJ is About to get Forked: Bill to Ban Automatic Utensils and Condiments Advances in Trenton

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Say Goodbye to Surprise Forks! NJ Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Automatic Utensils, But Small Business Owners Fear $1,000 Fines

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New Jersey’s Plastic Battle Targets Forks and Condiments

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey, a state that famously led the way with a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, is once again setting its legislative sights on reducing plastic waste. A new bill, sponsored by State Senators Bob Smith and Raj Mukherji, aims to drastically reduce the number of single-use utensils and condiments automatically provided with takeout and delivery orders.

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Business SOS: NJBIA Survey Reveals Soaring Energy Costs and Tariffs are Crushing New Jersey Business Affordability

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NJ’s Affordability Crisis Deepens: 81% of Businesses Say Lawmakers Failed to Act as Energy Costs Skyrocket 78% Worse Than Other States!

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The Cost Crisis: Energy and Taxes Sink NJ Business Confidence

Trenton NJ, the results of the NJBIA’s 67th Annual Business Outlook Survey for 2025 paint a stark picture: New Jersey businesses are grappling with severe profitability challenges driven by high state costs and unexpected national hurdles.

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