Kevin McArdle has been the State House Correspondent since 2002. He's covered the resignation of former Governor Jim McGreevey, the Governor Dick Codey Administration, the Jon Corzine/Doug Forrester 2005 gubernatorial campaign, the State government shutdown of 2006, the near fatal car crash of former Governor Jon Corzine, the 2009 Jon Corzine/Chris Christie gubernatorial campaign and the Christie Administration to date including acting as pool reporter for Governor Christie has he toured the state (via helicopter and motorcade) in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. McArdle has won multiple Associated Press awards for spot reporting and received the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008 for coverage of then-Governor Jon Corzine's 800% toll increase proposal.
Kevin McArdle
Political experts: Christie will continue to focus on New Hampshire
It is now officially the year America will elect a new president. With the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary just weeks away, political experts weighed in on Gov. Chris Christie’s strategy in the lead-up. They said Christie's focus will be on the Granite State, which could be make or break for his presidential campaign.
NJ’s minimum wage will stay at $8.38 an hour in 2016
In 2013, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 and tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index.
A move to outlaw ‘puppy mills’ in NJ
An influential lawmaker who has said he plans to run for governor in 2017 wants to outlaw so-called “puppy mills” in New Jersey.
Does a solution to NJ’s property tax dilemma exist?
Property taxes are consistently at or near the top of the list of concerns for residents, but there was not much discussion by state lawmakers about tackling the issue in 2015.
Is finishing second in New Hampshire good enough for Christie?
Gov. Chris Christie trails GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump by 15 percentage points in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, but that’s good enough for second place according to the latest WBUR/MassINC poll.
NJ lawmaker wants health insurers to cover abuse-deterrent opioids
New Jersey is in the throes of an opioid abuse epidemic said state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge). There are abuse-deterrent opioids on the market, but health insurers in the Garden State are not required to cover them. Legislation (S-3036) sponsored by Vitale would change that.
Bill aims to protect students’ private info online
Technology is a tool being used more and more often in New Jersey’s schools including online Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers testing. One State lawmaker said everything possible has to be done to make sure students’ personal and private online information is protected.
Small biz optimism declines for third straight quarter
After reaching a seven-year high in January, small business owners are feeling less optimistic today than they were a year ago.
NJ pundits criticize possible ballot question overload
Garden State voters could face four possible ballot questions in next year's November elections, and that might not be a good thing.
Should NJ supermarkets be allowed to sell beer and liquor?
The battle to allow supermarkets in the Garden State to sell liquor and beer has been a long one and it is continues as 2015 comes to a close. Supporters said it would give consumer greater convenience and more options. Opponents said it would drive mom and pop liquor shops out of business.