I'm the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5, covering the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. I'm a lifelong New Jerseyan -- raised in Bergen, living in Hunterdon, Rutgers graduate. I'm co-author of the 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.' I am not the Iron Chef with a similar name though sometimes get tweets meant for him, especially around Thanksgiving. Believe me, you don't want my cooking tips.
Michael Symons
NJ ban on plastic and paper bags approved — now it’s up to Murphy
Single-use bags and polystyrene food packaging will be phased out in the spring of 2022, and plastic straws will be only on-demand in a year, if it's signed.
NJ to extend earned income tax credit to more young adults
Bipartisan support for legislation to lower the age at which working adults without children become eligible for the state EITC from 25 to 21 in New Jersey.
MVC separation of licensing, vehicle centers may be permanent
Motor Vehicle Commission chief says the change, made to allow for easier social distancing, has made things more efficient. But it won't stick statewide.
COVID cases, test positivity rates up among younger NJ residents
With COVID-19 cases increasing among younger New Jerseyans, the state is urging caution and plans to roll out a new contact tracing app on college campuses.
No respite for drivers: Tolls rise Sunday, gas tax in three weeks
Transportation advocates worry a hike in NJ Transit fares could be next and say the state should divert toll-hike revenue rather than widen roads.
Gas-tax math: NJ presumes traffic down over 12% through mid-2021
The gas tax formula depends in part on projected consumption. Murphy administration says traffic volume won't improve much through next June.
N.J. gas tax to increase more than 9 cents a gallon in October
State gas taxes in New Jersey will rise to 50.7 cents per gallon. Gas consumption is down in the COVID-19 recession, triggering a hike under a state formula.
Vote-by-mail changes to expand in 2021 with more drop boxes
Democratic lawmakers vote to codify in law Gov. Phil Murphy's 2020 election rules, which are being challenged in court by President Donald Trump's campaign.
State may study: Why do high school grads leave NJ for college?
Lawmakers want to give a new look to an old problem – the extent and cause of the outmigration of New Jersey high school graduates to out-of-state colleges.
New bill: No license needed after passing road test during COVID
New drivers who face a backlog in getting their license would be allowed to drive once they pass the road test until two months after the MVC surge subsides.
Upgrade (and audit) of NJ’s unemployment system may be coming
Senate panel votes to audit the unemployment division and spend $50M in federal aid for tech upgrades. It also wants to delay a hike in unemployment taxes.
NJ lawmakers push against calls for all-virtual schools in fall
NJEA says COVID-19 will inevitably spread in reopened schools and that decision-makers who ignore that research will be culpable if deaths result.