Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed a bill allowing striking workers to collect unemployment benefits in New Jersey. Lawmakers first proposed the legislation two years ago as Verizon workers waged a six-week strike against the telecommunications giant's contract demands. About 4,600 of the 40,000 East Coast employees on strike worked in New Jersey. Months later, 1,000 Taj Mahal casino and hotel employees launched a strike in a dispute over benefits, and the push for unemployment benefits intensified. At a 2016 news conference, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said the bill would "allow workers to express their rights without being starved back to work." Then-Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill that November. But it was given a second chance under Murphy, a governor who has said he wants to defend collective bargaining rights and already taken steps to reverse Christie's labor policies. Christie says no to giving striking workers … [Read more...] about Striking workers can now get unemployment benefits in New Jersey
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Avoid beach traffic, go to one of these New Jersey lakes
Melanie Anzidei North Jersey Record Published 2:33 p.m. UTC Aug 10, 2018 While wading through the waters at Lake Hopatcong, one can observe many people enjoying the sunshine and cold water. There are people in boats jetting past while friends trail behind in tubes, folks kayaking as they search for bald eagles nesting on residential islands, others ripping waves on jet-skis, and children navigating small sailboats. There might even be a tour on hydro-bikes and pedal-boards cycling past. “You never thought you’d be cycling on a lake, did you?” Patty Cinelli, manager at Lake Hopatcong Adventure Club, joked while venturing on a recent afternoon. Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest freshwater lake that laps shores in Morris and Sussex counties, is one of hundreds throughout the Garden State. There are more than 400 lakes, ponds and reservoirs accessible to the public in New Jersey, according to the state’s Division of … [Read more...] about Avoid beach traffic, go to one of these New Jersey lakes
New Jersey’s Chandler Lutz replaces Meisha Johnson at CBS3
Chandler Lutz, Jersey girl and St. Joes alum, will be replacing Meisha Johnson as the new traffic anchor on CBS3 eyewitness news. Lutz’s position was announced in today’s CBS3 morning broadcast, during which Johnson handed off her infamous clicker to Lutz, telling her replacement, “Chandler, I am officially handing this off to you, my love,” and resting her head on Lutz’s shoulder in a welcoming gesture. Lutz is scheduled to start Monday morning and will be participating in a Facebook live after the show so viewers can get to know her better. She expressed excitement to be joining the team at CBS3. Having grown up in South Jersey and graduated from St. Joe’s with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration in 2016, “this is home,” Lutz said of Philadelphia. “I look forward to waking up with each and every one of you, being part of your morning, and starting it off — hopefully — on the right note, while … [Read more...] about New Jersey’s Chandler Lutz replaces Meisha Johnson at CBS3
NASA package that fell from sky with note mentioning Trump sparks alarm in New Jersey
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- A suspicious package that fell from the sky over New Jersey caused some alarm because it contained a note that mentioned President Donald Trump. South Brunswick police say the package, attached to a parachute, was making a hissing sound and included a note that said: "NASA Atmospheric Research Instrument NOT A BOMB!" If this lands near the President, we at NASA wish him a great round of golf." Mr. Trump has been staying at his golf club in Bedminster, which is 29 miles away. "The weather researchers were apologetic for any concerns they had raised by the hand written note on the device," police said in a statement. NASA told WNBC-TV the package, which fell on Tuesday, is part of six balloons that were launched to measure ozone. It says a summer student employee wrote the note in a "misguided attempt to be lighthearted," and that the student has been removed from the project. … [Read more...] about NASA package that fell from sky with note mentioning Trump sparks alarm in New Jersey
Here are five ways experts want to cut New Jersey taxes
Nicholas Pugliese and James Nash Trenton Bureau Published 10:52 p.m. UTC Aug 10, 2018 Advertised as an honest reckoning with New Jersey’s gravest fiscal woes, a report on state and local government arrived Thursday with its fair share of thought-provoking proposals. Some ideas are new, some are recycled from debates gone by, and many will take a heavy lift to garner enough popular and political support to get through the Legislature and be signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. "Any change that’s worth anything comes with a fight," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, who earlier this year assembled a bipartisan panel of economists, academics and lawmakers to study some of the state’s most pressing issues. “The easy stuff is done. It’s gone." Here are some of the panel's recommendations: 1. Consolidate school districts The headline proposal here is merging all elementary and middle school districts, such as K-6 and K-8 … [Read more...] about Here are five ways experts want to cut New Jersey taxes