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 offering ‘COVID credits’ to free thousands of inmates
To further reduce crowding in prisons to make social distancing possible, the Legislature may vote to release thousands of inmates eight months early.
NJ’s lofty COVID-19 goal: Vaccinate 70% of the population
Health officials have been working for a few months on a distribution plan for an eventual vaccine to protect against COVID-19.
No respite for drivers: Tolls rise Sunday, gas tax in three weeks
Transportation advocates worry a hike in NJ Transit fares could be next and say the state should divert toll-hike revenue rather than widen roads.
N.J. gas tax to increase more than 9 cents a gallon in October
State gas taxes in New Jersey will rise to 50.7 cents per gallon. Gas consumption is down in the COVID-19 recession, triggering a hike under a state formula.
Vote-by-mail changes to expand in 2021 with more drop boxes
Democratic lawmakers vote to codify in law Gov. Phil Murphy's 2020 election rules, which are being challenged in court by President Donald Trump's campaign.
NJ lawmakers push against calls for all-virtual schools in fall
NJEA says COVID-19 will inevitably spread in reopened schools and that decision-makers who ignore that research will be culpable if deaths result.
Cancel bear hunt due to COVID, opponents urge Murphy
Bear hunt proponents and opponents are both seeking legal remedies to expand or end this year's hunt. Foes have a new wrinkle: Shut it down due to COVID.
Plan would roll back legalizing some fireworks in NJ
Bill sponsor says some shops have taken advantage of the 2017 law to illegally sell larger fireworks still not allowed in New Jersey.
One plan: Delete contact tracing info after a month
More than a dozen bills related to COVID-19, from workers' compensation to help with past-due rent, are listed for votes at Thursday's Assembly session.
Sentencing reforms advance, but NJ judiciary can’t pay for them
The Legislature may vote to expand municipal court conditional dismissal program to include drug crimes. It's unclear how to afford new probation officers.