nj • March 24, 2023

Pre-K school aid to increase $89M. See if your N.J. school is on the list.

Funding for pre-kindergarten programs in New Jersey could increase by $89 million for the next school year as part of a $1 billion increase to education spending under Gov. Phil Murphy’s 2024 state budget proposal. A total of 241 districts are set to receive state funding for their pre-K programs next year, up from 230 during the current school year. An additional round of $26 million in pre-K funding in October brought total pre-K funding for the 2023-23 school year to $976 million. Overall,

nj • March 21, 2023

N.J. fast-tracking plan to reduce school aid cuts. See how much districts would get.

State lawmakers have begun fast-tracking a plan to lessen state aid cuts for more than 160 New Jersey school districts facing reduced funding under Gov. Phil Murphy’s new state budget proposal — though there are discrepancies in the bill for how much money would be restored district by district. The state Senate on Monday voted 36-0 to approve the measure, which would give those districts relief by allocating $102.7 million in supplemental state aid to make up for some of the money they’re set

nj • March 17, 2023

N.J. schools to be spared some funding cuts under new deal between Murphy, Dems. See who it affects.

New Jersey school districts set to have their state aid reduced in Gov. Phil Murphy’s new state budget proposal could take less of a hit than expected next school year under a deal the Democratic governor just reached with Democratic lawmakers. The new bill would shrink the cuts by allocating $102.7 million in one-time supplemental aid to effectively restore two-thirds of the money slated to be slashed in those districts according to the state’s school funding formula. This would apply to more

nj • March 6, 2023

The 10 biggest winners and losers in N.J.’s school aid funding this year

School formula aid for New Jersey’s K-12 districts would increase by $834 million next year under a new state budget proposed proposed by Gov. Phil Murphy that would increase New Jersey’s total education spending to $10.75 billion in the fiscal year that begins in July. Statewide, 157 districts would see funding decrease as New Jersey works to bring school funding aid in line with a 2008 formula for calculating direct aid education spending, while 407 will see their funding increase. Thirteen d

nj • March 5, 2023

N.J. had 1.12M apply for student loan forgiveness. See how many filed in your town.

At least 1.12 million New Jersey residents have applied for student loan forgiveness, but application rates were not even across towns, an NJ Advance Media analysis of data obtained and published by Politico found. Data released by the U.S. Department of Education in response to a Freedom of Information Act Request filed by Politico shows where in America the more than 25 million student loan forgiveness applications were filed. In the Garden State, ZIP codes with higher median incomes tended

nj • March 2, 2023

N.J. school aid to increase $834M in budget plan. See district-by-district numbers.

Gov. Phil Murphy introduced a new state budget proposal this week that includes a $834 million increase in formula aid for New Jersey’s K-12 schools for a total of $10.75 billion. Statewide, 157 districts will see decreases in state aid funding, led by a $51 million drop in Jersey City, while 407 will see funding go up, led by a $114 million increase in Newark. Thirteen will not have any funding change, according to district-by-district breakdowns released by the state Department of Education o

nj • February 19, 2023

At least 1.12M N.J. residents applied for student loan forgiveness

At least 1.12 million New Jersey residents have applied for federal student loan forgiveness, according to data obtained and published by Politico. The federal Department of Education provided the data by ZIP code to Politico in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. It included 23.6 million of the estimated 25 million requests, Politico reported. ZIP codes with fewer than 100 applicants were excluded along with requests that did not have a ZIP code for the borrower. Of New Jersey’s

nj • February 18, 2023

1 killed in Cumberland County shooting

A Cumberland County man was killed in a Friday night shooting, officials said. Lamont Jones Jr., 33, was shot Friday night around 10:30 p.m. in Millville near 4th and E Streets, the prosecutor’s office said. Jones, a Bridgeton resident, was airlifted to Cooper Hospital where he was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made, and no information about a possible subject was made available Saturday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call Cumberland County Detective Paul Panchesine at

nj • February 14, 2023

Speed dating — yes, speed dating — feels new again. N.J. singles are in love with a dating relic.

Perched on a barstool after 10:30 p.m., Jess B. leans forward, smiles disarmingly and confesses she’s never done this before. She admits this to the 12th man she’s introduced herself to in 30 minutes.

nj • February 11, 2023

3 injured during turbulence on United flight from Newark to Tampa

Three passengers were injured on Thursday night after a United Airlines flight out of Newark hit turbulence in the air enroute to Tampa, United Airlines said. Two customers and one flight attendant were injured when the aircraft “encountered unexpected turbulence,” United said in a statement. The three were taken to a hospital for evaluation upon landing in Tampa. Additional information on their injuries was not available. United Flight 600 left Newark Airport at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, accordi

nj • February 11, 2023

Investigation ongoing into ‘inappropriate photos’ shown at N.J. high school

An investigation into what were called “inappropriate images” displayed on a projector screen during a class at Paramus High School on Thursday is underway, Paramus school officials said. In a letter sent home to parents, Paramus superintendent Sean Adams said that the images were projected from an employee’s laptop onto a screen at the front of the room during an instructional period on Thursday. An investigation is being conducted, Adams said. It’s unclear if any action has been taken agains

nj • February 8, 2023

Rent prices skyrocketed 20-40% in 14 N.J. counties since start of pandemic

Rents increased between 20% and 40% in 14 New Jersey’s counties since the start of the pandemic, new data published by Zillow shows. The typical rent paid by a New Jersey tenant increased by at least 30% in Atlantic, Ocean, Camden, Hunterdon and Gloucester counties between February 2020 and December 2022, an analysis of the data shows. (See how your county fared in the chart below.) Atlantic County topped the list at a 40% rent spike from $1,264 to $1,766, though it remains one of the few coun

nj • February 7, 2023

N.J. bear hunt could be allowed for 4 more years despite outcry from animal rights groups

An annual bear hunt in New Jersey for the next four years could be on the horizon depending on how a vote this year goes. The New Jersey Fish and Game Council and other state officials approved a bear hunting in the fall across designated state land on an emergency basis, citing an uptick in the black bear population and an increase in bear-to-human interactions.

nj • February 5, 2023

N.J. ranks in top 10 in U.S. for at-home internet access, data shows

New Jersey ranks ninth in the country for percentage of residents with some type of internet access, according to federal data. As of 2021, 92% of New Jersey residents have paid, at-home access to the internet, according to U.S. Census data shows. But the gap between ninth place New Jersey and Washington and Utah, who are tied for first place, is narrow, with 93.6% of residents in those states reporting internet access. Part of New Jersey’s high percentage of connectivity comes down to populat

nj • February 2, 2023

How have N.J. zoo’s Groundhog Day predictions fared over last decade?

Lady Edwina of Essex, resident groundhog at Turtle Back Zoo predicted an early spring during ceremonies at the zoo, in West Orange, N.J. February, 2, 2022 Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Not to be overshadowed by the famed four-legged prognosticator Punxatawney Phil, New Jersey’s own Lady Edwina of Essex will make a grand prediction about the fate of winter this morning from the Turtle Back Zoo. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site,

nj • February 2, 2023

Eunice Dwumfour, Sayreville councilwoman killed outside her home, had just won 1st elected office

The Sayreville councilwoman found shot and killed in her SUV outside her home on Wednesday night grew up in North Jersey and was new to politics, winning her first election a little more than a year ago. Eunice Dwumfour started her three-year term in 2022 after she and fellow Republican Christian Onuoha won seats on the council by beating incumbent Democrats. “Like you, Sayreville is my home, I love and cherish this town and it is my desire to help improve the lives of its residents,” Dwumfour

nj • January 17, 2023

In a world with ‘a lot going on,’ to many in N.J., honoring MLK means actions as well as words

Nearly 55 years after his death, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains an inspiring force in the Garden State, as residents participated in community, cultural, and volunteer events to honor the civil rights pioneer’s legacy on MLK Day. “It’s a day to celebrate a very revolutionary man, a real hero,” said Ajani Bostic from South Orange, who attended the “Acts of Kindness” community event with his mother at the Newark Museum of Art on Monday. “MLK Community Day is a day of giving back to the commu

nj • January 16, 2023

Vigil planned for heroic mother, daughter killed in N.J. house fire

A community is grieving after a heroic mother and her young daughter were killed during a fast-moving fire in their Monmouth County home Friday night. A vigil to honor the lives of Jacqueline Montanaro, 39, and Madelyn Montanaro, 6, of Hazlet Township will be held at a nearby park Tuesday night, township officials said. The fire broke out on the first floor of the Montanaro family’s home Friday around midnight. Authorities said William Montanaro, Jacqueline and their 8-year-old daughter were a

nj • January 8, 2023

‘#TeamSnow, be patient,’ NWS says as Sunday snowstorm looks to be a dud

New Jersey will have to wait a little longer for the first big snow storm of the season, as the forecast for tonight’s storm falls far short of any significant snowfall. The top half off of the state is expected to see light rain and snow Sunday night, with accumulations of less than an inch in most areas, the National Weather Service said early Sunday morning. Any snow accumulation will mostly be seen on grassy or other cold surfaces, the NWS said, meaning there will be little to no impact to

nj • January 8, 2023

Newark cop stabbed by domestic violence suspect released from hospital

A Newark police officer injured while responded to a domestic violence incident earlier this week was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon. Officer Ramon Aguirre suffered stab wounds during the Thursday incident on the 600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. He was treated at University Hospital for stab wounds so his back arm area and his hand, a department spokeswoman said. A second officer and a resident were also stabbed during