The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Trenton NJ, Assemblyman Christopher P. DePhillips (40-R) is close to successfully increasing the angel investor tax credit once again after doubling it in 2019. His bill incentivizing financial support for technology startups passed both the full Assembly and Senate on Monday, sending it to the governor’s desk for a signature.
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Seaside Heights NJ, Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn says Democrats put politics over public safety after her attempt to override Gov. Phil Murphy’s veto of a bill set to protect towns from brawls was rejected along party lines last Thursday.
Continue reading Governor Murphy Takes Heat Over Seaside Memorial Day Brawl
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Trenton NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced today that 10 people – including a temporary Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) employee – were indicted in March 2025 for allegedly illegally collecting unemployment benefits and other crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. These crimes are unrelated to one another but highlight the ongoing investigative and enforcement efforts related to pandemic era frauds.
Continue reading Ex-NJ Department of Labor Employee Among 10 Accused Of COVID Relief Fraud
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Trenton NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability (OPIA) today announced the filing of criminal charges against a suspended information technology employee with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), who allegedly accepted unlawful payments to provide case assistance and confidential information to two individuals who had separate matters being handled by DCF.
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Trenton NJ, NJBIA is strongly opposing a bill scheduled for a vote today that will force fossil fuel companies to retroactively pay billions for their undefined role in “climate change”, which will exacerbate New Jersey’s affordability crisis by adding costs for residents to fill their tanks and heat their homes.
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), and the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) announced today the terms of an agreement in principle to resolve ongoing class action litigation regarding the timely processing of judicial orders expunging records associated with arrests and convictions for certain low-level offenses. The agreement sets out a path forward to ensure that New Jerseyans who have been granted a second chance through an expungement order have timely access to the benefits of expungement, which include better access to employment opportunities and suitable housing and reduced barriers to reintegration into society.
Continue reading Agreement Reached to Speed Up Expungement Processing for Low-level Offenses
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Trenton NJ, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk, has sent shockwaves through Washington, exposing wasteful government spending and igniting a public outcry for greater transparency. As the federal government’s savings from DOGE efforts cross into the billions, the movement is gaining traction at the state level—including a push for a New Jersey version of DOGE.
Continue reading Elon Musk’s DOGE and the Push for Government Accountability in New Jersey
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Trenton NJ, the New Jersey Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter to NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) President Christine Guhl-Sadovy, demanding the BPU to prioritize reliability and affordability amid the recent electric rate hike on New Jersey residents.
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Trenton NJ, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is under fire for recent comments suggesting that he would house a non-citizen in his home, defying federal immigration enforcement.
The remarks, made during an interview with Blue Wave New Jersey and posted on his office’s YouTube channel on Feb. 1, have drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and immigration policy advocates.
Continue reading Gov. Phil Murphy Faces Backlash Over Comments on Housing Non-Citizen
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Mercer County NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced today that a husband and wife – both law enforcement officers working in different departments within Mercer County – have been charged in connection with their respective roles in creating, producing, and distributing images of child sexual abuse.
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Trenton NJ, Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, the first lawmaker to introduce a resolution requesting a drone investigation, is now calling on officials from the Federal Aviation Administration to testify before lawmakers on the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee. The push for a hearing comes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from President Donald Trump on Tuesday that said the mysterious drones were approved by the FAA for research.
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Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 19 in anticipation of significant winter weather, causing hazardous weather conditions including heavy snow and dangerously low temperatures. Snow accumulations are expected to be as high as 8 to 12 inches in parts of the state, followed by extreme cold, with high temperatures in the teens and single digits and wind chills below zero. Executive Order No. 378 declares a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey.
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Trenton NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) today announced charges against 25 people and four companies for their alleged roles in a multimillion-dollar scheme that used stolen credit card information to fraudulently purchase tens of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel and then resell it to trucking companies and other fuel providers.
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Continue reading NJ State Police : Two Receive Super Trooper of the Year Awards
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Trenton NJ, navigating government paperwork can feel like an overwhelming challenge, especially when the forms are filled with unfamiliar terms—or written in a language that isn’t your own. Recognizing this hurdle, the state of New Jersey has embraced generative AI to make the unemployment insurance application process more accessible for both English and Spanish speakers.
Continue reading New Jersey Leverages Generative AI to Simplify Unemployment Applications