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.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
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.
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.
Continue reading The Great NJ Bag Glut: Is the Plastic Bag Ban Actually Hurting the Environment?
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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.
Continue reading Is New Jersey’s “Climate Superfund” a $9,000 Tax Trap for Families?
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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.
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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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.
Continue reading Truth in Accounting Report : New Jersey in the Worst Fiscal Shape in the Nation
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.
Continue reading “Don’t Be a Grinch!”: NJ’s Viral Holiday Highway Signs Return for 2025
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.
Continue reading What New Jersey’s Latest Economic Data Really Tells Us
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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.
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.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
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.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
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.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey is poised to ignite a national debate over immigrant healthcare access with the introduction of landmark legislation. In a crushing toalready over burdened New Jersey taxpayers , Assemblywoman Garnet R. Hall (D–Essex, Union) has sponsored Assembly Bill 1701 (A1701), a measure that would authorize the state to offer full, state-funded healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants residing and working in New Jersey.
Continue reading NJ Essex County Democrat Proposes Free State Healthcare for Illegal Aliens
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey Declares War on PFAS: Protecting Daily Life from “Forever Chemicals”. New Jersey, a state often described by environmental advocates as “ground zero” for environmental issues, is moving decisively to protect its residents from the harmful health impacts of PFAS—or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. These chemicals, dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down and accumulate in the human body and environment, are commonly found in thousands of consumer goods.
