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
Some schools lock up students in ‘quiet rooms’ — NJ may start tracking that
Critics say data collection and parent notification are only a first step and that to protect students with disabilities, a ban would be better.
Group created to study how to shift to ‘clean buildings’ in NJ
Gov. Phil Murphy announced the creation of a new working group that will study ways to reduce carbon emissions from buildings in New Jersey.
Spotted lanternfly quarantine zone expanding to all of NJ
People traveling through quarantine counties are urged to inspect for insects and egg masses. Businesses need permits to conduct certain activities.
A defense for why sick leave payouts continue in NJ towns
As lawmakers consider beefing up limits on sick leave payouts at the urging of the state comptroller, a union official explains why the practice persists.
New Jersey moves to fix its error on new child tax credit
The state created a new tax credit for children under age 6 as part of its new budget but accidentally delayed the first payments until 2024.
A plan to force Costco to sell gas to anyone in New Jersey
Costco began limiting gas sales to members of the warehouse club in July in New Jersey, like it does elsewhere. Proposed legislation would bar that.
Advocates eye NJ-wide program to flag students needing mental health help
Advocates for the SBIRT program say it can help identify students needing services for mental health or substance abuse services and isn't hard to implement.
NJ lawmakers ready to vote on some changes to grocery bag ban
People who order groceries for delivery or pickup have reusable bags piling up. A bill would let future orders to come in paper bags or cardboard boxes.
NY threatens to punish New Jersey drivers with big fee for entering city
If New Jersey enacts a law that blocks sharing driver information for red-light or speed camera tickets, a New York bill seeks a $50 fee for driving into NYC.
If tap water needs testing, who should pay – customer or utility?
Residents who need to get their water tested because contamination standards are exceeded would have to be reimbursed by their utility, under a proposed bill.
14 officers indicted after inmates beaten at NJ women’s prison
The violent forced extraction at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women was one in a series of issues at the prison, now on track to be closed.
NJ deli worth $100 million ends in criminal, civil fraud charges
A small deli in Paulsboro wound up with a stock market valuation exceeding $100 million. The feds say that because of manipulative trading and charged three.