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Treasury Crackdown: Secretary Scott Bessent Launches Massive Fraud Probe in Minnesota

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announces a massive crackdown on Minnesota benefits fraud

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, the U.S. Treasury Department is taking the gloves off in Minnesota. In a sweeping set of initiatives announced in January 2026, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent unveiled an aggressive federal strategy to dismantle rampant government benefits fraud that has siphoned billions of taxpayer dollars away from the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

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Equity vs. Union Mandates: New Jersey’s New PLA Law Sparks Outcry from Minority Contractors

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Critics warn this will hurt the 98% of minority-owned firms that are non-union

the staff of thew Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, In one of his final acts as Governor, Phil Murphy signed A-5967 / S-4864 into law on January 20, 2026. While the administration frames the expansion of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) as a victory for labor, a growing coalition of minority business leaders and independent contractors warns that the law effectively slams the door on small, diverse firms.

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NJ Braces for “Snow-mageddon”: Ridgewood and Bergen County Move to Emergency Status

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Ridgewood and Bergen County are preparing for up to 18 inches of snow and find out when to move your car off the street

photos courtest of the Village Manager Keith Kazmark

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey is officially on high alert. As of 5:00 p.m. today, Saturday, January 24, 2026, Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a State of Emergency for all 21 counties. With a “decade-level” winter storm barreling toward the Garden State, local officials are mobilizing an “all hands on deck” response to keep residents safe.

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NJ Snow Emergency: Governor Sherrill Declares State of Emergency as “Decade-Level” Storm Targets Garden State

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Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a State of Emergency for NJ starting 5 PM Saturday

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, New Jersey is bracing for a historic winter wallop. In one of her first major tests since taking office, Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a State of Emergency for all 21 counties, effective at 5:00 p.m. today, Saturday, January 24, 2026.

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“You Are a Guest”: Pro-Hamas Columbia Student Activist Mahmoud Khalil Faces Deportation to Algeria

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Khalil was the first of several high-profile immigrant students targeted for deportation following the 2024-2025 Pro-Hamas campus protests

the staff of the Ridgewpood blog

New York NY, The legal battle over one of the most polarizing figures in the 2024 Pro-Hamas campus protest movement has reached a dramatic tipping point. Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent organizer of the Pro-Hamas, Columbia University Gaza Solidarity Encampment, is set to be re-arrested and deported to Algeria, according to a high-ranking official in the Trump administration.

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The Future of Downtown Ridgewood: Your Voice Needed at the Parking Community Forum

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Join the Village of Ridgewood on Feb 3 for a community forum on downtown parking

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, here we go again, is finding a spot in the Central Business District (CBD) the toughest part of your day? Whether you’re a local business owner, a daily commuter, or a weekend shopper, the Village of Ridgewood wants to hear from you.

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Farewell to a Jersey Legend: ‘Uncle Floyd’ Vivino Dies at 74

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From his iconic local TV show to his friendship with David Bowie, we look back at the life of a Paterson original

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paterson NJ, New Jersey has lost its favorite uncle. Floyd Vivino, the iconic comedian, musician, and creator of the cult-classic The Uncle Floyd Show, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026. He was 74 years old.

The news was confirmed by his brother, Jerry Vivino, who shared that the “curtain peacefully closed” for the legendary entertainer following a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with multiple health issues.

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The Sky’s the Limit: Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia Shatter All-Time Holiday Travel Records

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Port Authority reports record-breaking 5.8 million passengers at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia for the 2025-2026 holiday season

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, if you felt like the airports were a little more crowded this winter, you weren’t imagining it. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has officially confirmed that the 2025-2026 year-end holiday season was the busiest in history for the region’s three major hubs.

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Close Call in Fair Lawn: Fire Chief’s SUV Collides with Lexus During Emergency Response

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 Miraculously, no injuries were reported by either party involved

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Fair Lawn NJ, Emergency response is a high-stakes race against time, but Thursday afternoon in Fair Lawn served as a stark reminder that even the rescuers aren’t immune to the dangers of the road.

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Palisades Park Political Showdown: Councilman Min Challenges Mayor Kim in High-Stakes Primary

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Palisades Park is one of the most densely populated Korean American enclaves in the U.S

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Palisades Park NJ, The political landscape in Palisades Park, New Jersey, is heating up as former allies prepare for a head-to-head battle. Councilman Suk “John” Min has officially announced he will challenge incumbent Mayor Chong “Paul” Kim in the upcoming June Democratic primary.

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Paws in the Pews: Why New Jersey Churches are Going to the Dogs

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A “Bark Mitzvah” for her 13-year-old Chihuahua, Matilda

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, From singing cockatoos to “Bark Mitzvahs,” houses of worship across the Garden State are trading traditional silence for a bit of howling and a lot of heart. As national church attendance faces a decline, New Jersey congregations are finding that the secret to a full house might just have four legs and a wagging tail.

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The “Pre-Civil War” Survivor: 170-Year-Old White Oak Saved from the Ax in Hillsdale

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School Gets Educated : Hillsdale’s 170-year-old White Oak tree was supposed to be cut down for a school expansion

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hillsdale NJ, in an era where new construction often means “out with the old,” a piece of living history in Bergen County has just won a major victory. A venerable White Oak tree, which has stood guard in Hillsdale since nearly a decade before the Civil War, has officially been spared from the buzzsaws.

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The $371 Million Man: Ridgewood Alum David Duffield Makes History with Record-Breaking Cornell Gift

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Cornell University renames its engineering college after a record-breaking gift from Ridgewood alum

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in a move that will reshape the future of American engineering, Cornell University has officially renamed its engineering school. Now known as the David A. Duffield College of Engineering, the institution is celebrating a $371.5 million pledge—the largest single donation in the university’s 161-year history.

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The “Sunshine Vitamin” Secret: Is Vitamin D Your Best Defense This Flu Season?

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Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because our skin produces it when exposed to UV rays

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridghewood NJ, a groundbreaking study released just this week has revealed that your risk of ending up in the hospital with the flu or pneumonia may depend heavily on one single nutrient: Vitamin D.

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Massive Winter Storm Fern Targets Tri-State: 6–12+ Inches of Snow Expected

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Winter Storm Fern, is expected to bring heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions to the entire region

file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Prepare for a significant weather event this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for all of southeast New York, northeast New Jersey, and southern Connecticut, effective from late Saturday night through Monday afternoon.

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