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
Jersey City, NJ hit-and-run councilwoman also fled a vet bill
A judge ordered the wages of Councilwoman Amy DeGise be garnished to cover a nearly $3,000 unpaid bill from a Paramus veterinarian.
Once a penny apart, gas in NJ now much more than U.S. average
The trend has been shared across Northeast states due to recent unusually high prices for reformulated gasoline, which must be sold through Sept. 15.
Push for NJ car theft crackdown on ring organizers, teen thieves
The spike in car thefts in New Jersey in 2021 has continued through the first half of 2022.
Welcome back to school … now here’s a test! NJ starts September with exams
The state is again requiring schools to administer a test called Start Strong in September as a benchmark of what students retained from last year.
Murphy lets NJ keep the one ‘really cool’ thing to come out of the pandemic
Outdoor dining was initially expanded in 2020 to help the hospitality industry survive when indoor dining rooms were ordered closed.
How would you spend $1.4B in recovery funds? NJ taking ideas
The Murphy administration is soliciting ideas for how to deploy the remaining federal COVID recovery funds in virtual hearings and by email.
Population boom: The fastest growing cities and towns in NJ
Census Bureau estimates for mid-2021 show the towns with the biggest growth were mostly in South Jersey, and particularly in Ocean County.
New law in NJ aims to stop troubled students from resorting to violence
Threat assessment teams will have to be developed by each school district in the state, starting with the 2022-23 school year.
Fact check: Did Trump bury his ex-wife at NJ golf course to reap tax break?
The burial of Ivana Trump at the former president's Trump National Golf Club stirs the question: Could the cemetery yield tax benefits for the property?
Good news, NJ rail commuters: Portal North construction underway
The replacement of the 111-year-old swing bridge is the first part of the larger Gateway Program to begin construction. First track should open by 2026.