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
NJ close to ending ‘religious’ exemptions for vaccines
NJ's second measles outbreak in seven months may prompt the Legislature to tighten up New Jersey’s vaccination rules by eliminating religious exemptions.
Pediatric cancer patients join push for new NJ research fund
With the help of kids who’ve been fighting cancer, a lawmaker renews a bid to allow contributions to a pediatric cancer research fund on income tax returns.
NJ seeking volunteer mentors for veterans court program
A program created in late 2017 to divert some veterans out of the criminal-justice system and into mental health services has slowly gotten off the ground.
NJ’s economic competitiveness still ranks ‘pretty darn low’
New Jersey ranks 46th among the states for economic competitiveness in annual ALEC study. Take it with a pro-corporate grain of salt, say progressive critics.
‘Don’t Drive Intexticated’ — AAA likens phones in cars to DWI
AAA Mid-Atlantic on Monday kicked off a multi-year campaign designed to make cell phone use by drivers as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving.
NJ strict with emergency funds to schools losing state aid
Around three-fourths of school districts that applied for extra state aid this year were turned down. Spending on emergency aid dropped by two-thirds.
Marijuana legalization could require 100 new growing sites in NJ
The state Health Department projects 2 million square feet of cultivation space would be needed to get adult-use recreational marijuana started.
NJ State Police not ready for possible 183K weed expungements
If deleting marijuana convictions is made easier along with legalization, the courts estimate that more than 180,000 people could be newly eligible to apply.
For Sandy families still rebuilding, new funds coming this summer
The state has shifted $50M in federal Sandy recovery funds, to help nearly 1,000 families still not back in damaged homes and unable to pay for needed work.
NJ’s lead water pipes a billion-dollar concern without a solution
A lot of concern though no ambitious solutions about how to deal with lead leaching into drinking water through old service lines, at a Thursday budget hearing.