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 school buildings to reopen in September, with major changes
It seems unrealistic for most schools to have all students in attendance and meet social distancing rules. Hybrid approach with some virtual learning likely.
Room and board refunds: NJ colleges start announcing plans
Schools are at different points in the process of compensating displaced students for the room and board they couldn’t use when coronavirus closed campuses.
NJ’s high property taxes keep rising — average is now $8,953
New Jersey’s average residential property tax bill grew at the fastest rate in three years in 2019, 2.1%, reaching $8,953.
Should New Jersey Add Lots More Places to Buy Alcohol?
An Assembly panel begins a series of hearings into whether to expand alcohol sales in New Jersey – at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and more.
Ban on Sales of Baby Walkers in New Jersey Takes First Steps
Pediatricians back a sales ban, despite a big drop in accidents requiring emergency rooms visits. New Jersey would be the first to do it, if the bill passes.
NJ May Let Terminally Ill Patients to End Their Lives
Lawmakers again consider allowing terminally ill patients to obtain a lethal prescription from their doctors that they could use to end their life.
First Impact of NJ Minimum Wage Hike Is Local Government Workers
If the hike in the minimum wage is going to affect property taxes, one of the first places it could show up is in the school budgets approved this spring.
School Textbooks Might Need NJ’s Diversity Stamp of Approval
The Legislature might require New Jersey school districts to buy textbooks from state-approved vendors whose books accurately reflect the diversity of society.
Budget Impasse Leads to NJ Government Shutdown – Here’s What’s Open & Closed
Gov. Chris Christie has directed nonessential state services to be shut down because New Jersey’s new fiscal year began Saturday without an approved budget.
New Jersey Bakers Rally for Right to Sell Homemade Pastries
Cake and cookie bakers hoping to start selling pastries from their home kitchens say a state law prohibiting them from doing that is unfair.
Trip to Colorado convinces NJ senator he’s right on legalizing marijuana
Sen. Nicholas Scutari, who wants New Jersey to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for recreational use, says Colorado's experience bodes well for a similar effort here.