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
Plan advances for $500 fines for not wearing masks in NJ stores
Assembly committee endorses bill allowing fines of $50 to $500 if a person in a New Jersey retail store doesn't wear a mask over their nose and mouth.
Pandemic clears way for return of millionaires tax in NJ
It took a worldwide pandemic – plus $500 checks to middle-class families in an election year – to get a millionaires tax back on the books in New Jersey.
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.
NJ lawmakers try to end mandatory prison time for corrupt officials
Gov. Phil Murphy says he doesn't support including the change in a broader bill aimed at reducing racial disparities in prisons by easing minimum sentences.
Computers alone won’t fix unemployment system, says labor chief
Senators question state labor commissioner on the pandemic response by the unemployment system but are sympathetic to the surge swamping an old system.
NJ’s lofty COVID-19 goal: Vaccinate 70% of the population
Health officials have been working for a few months on a distribution plan for an eventual vaccine to protect against COVID-19.
Some toll hike revenues to be escrowed for future NJ Transit help
At Assembly budget committee hearing, the state transportation commissioner warns the budget adopted next summer will be quite challenging for NJ Transit.
As inmate population drops, NJ plans $59M in prison budget cuts
The Department of Corrections intends to reduce spending on halfway houses by 40% and close its Central Reception Assignment Facility in Trenton.
Kids falling behind in pandemic? NJ preps ‘learning loss’ tests
To gauge how much ground students lost when the pandemic moved education online, the state will release short English, math and science exams this month.
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.