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
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.
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.
This is how NJ intends to fight home contractor fraud
Experience, continuing education, insurance and bonding are contemplated under a bill creating a licensing board for home improvement and elevation contractors.
‘Disturbing’ that NJ lacks plan for pop-up parties, senator says
The unsanctioned pop-up car rally in Wildwood over the weekend in which two people died was the latest in a series of events fanned by social-media promotion.
Gov. Murphy warns that NJ Transit fare hikes possible
In asking for an environmental impact study, the state says NJ Transit fare hikes would be considered due to the proposed tolls' impact on New Jersey traffic.
Need to call the NJ MVC? Help may be on the way
With the Motor Vehicle Commission emphasizing online visits over in-person ones, legislators say there needs to be better support for those who need it.
People in NJ are suing Walmart over drug testing
A Gloucester County man is suing after a job offer at a Sam's Club fulfillment center was revoked after a pre-employment drug test detected marijuana.