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
New Jersey’s latest plans to help students afford college
NJ adds two new consumer-protection laws to help college students – one making it easier to understand the costs, another helping those with loans.
New Jersey businesses left waiting for tax credits
Another front in the battle over New Jersey’s business tax breaks: The main portion of the tax credits for 2018 still haven’t yet been paid out by the state.
‘Aid in Dying’ law for NJ’s terminally ill takes effect this week
Access to willing doctors and the cost for prescriptions are among the uncertainties as New Jersey's physician-assisted suicide law begins Aug. 1.
Salary history questions banned in NJ in interest of equal pay
Starting early next year, employers in New Jersey can no longer ask prospective workers about their salary history.
Know where to vote? NJ law starts hotline and website to help
Lawmakers hope a phone number and website are better than a list of mostly irrelevant addresses in notifying the public where to vote in an election.
Murphy administration fires 30 at patronage pit schools agency
Nearly all the 41 people hired under CEO Lizette Delgado-Polanco had family or political connections, and some weren't qualified. The payroll swelled by $2M.
Help button added to property tax bills, promoting relief programs
A new add will require a web address to be added to yearly property tax bills, encouraging homeowners to see if they're eligible for direct relief programs.
NJ spending $9 million to get people to answer Census 2020
Knowing seats in Congress and billions in federal spending are on the line if people don’t answer the census, New Jersey is developing an outreach plan.
American Dream = traffic nightmare for surrounding towns?
Secaucus mayor says "traffic will be a nightmare for us" when the Meadowlands mall and entertainment complex opens. Gov. Phil Murphy agrees it's a concern.
Business groups push plan to keep NJ from ‘going over the cliff’
The agenda is a mix of business ideas, a modified version of Gov. Phil Murphy’s economic plan and the 'Path to Progress' of Senate President Steve Sweeney.