3+ week, 4+ day ago (347+ words) TRENTON " New Jersey voters are casting ballots today in one of the nation's only two gubernatorial races this year. The expected-to-close contest between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli that could signal whether the Garden State is shifting politically after nearly a decade of Democratic control. Polls remain open until 8 p.m., after which results will begin to roll in. This story will be updated throughout the night as returns come in from across the state. We already have a preview of early-voting results below. Voting got off to a tense start after bomb threats forced relocations at polling sites in seven counties " including Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic. Authorities say all threats were determined to be hoaxes, but the incidents caused confusion and brief delays in some districts. "We will not tolerate any attempts to interfere with…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (698+ words) Here's the stories you'll be talking about on the New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show on Monday: Election Day is tomorrow. Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are making thier final arguments to be the next governor of New Jersey. Various polls have shown the race tightening in recent weeks, with Sherrill holding a slight advantage. The Democrat will go into Tuesday with a sizeable advantage. A million New Jersey residents took advantage of early voting, either by mail or in-person. While we don't know who they voted for, we can see party affiliation. More than 235,000 registered Democrats than Republicans have already cast a ballot. There are also nearly 200,000 unaffiliated voters that cast a ballot before Election Day. When final early voting figures are in on Monday, Ciattarelli may know how much ground he has to make up if he wants…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (409+ words) Waking up on this cold mid-November morning, I see frost and freeze warnings " and it's 30" out! And guess what? I haven't done one single thing yet to winterize our home. Have you? The Jersey Chill has officially arrived. Sure, it'll warm up a bit again, but those regular below-freezing nights aren't far behind. (Meteorological winter starts December 1st " thanks for the reminder, Chief Dan Zarrow!) So it's worth spending this weekend getting your home (and your car) ready for whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us this year. 1. Seal Up and Stay WarmOne year we had a cold draft sneaking in from an old basement window " and sure enough, the nearby water pipes froze. Lesson learned! Make sure all your drafty windows are sealed, and wrap any exposed pipes with foam insulation, especially in basements, garages, and crawl spaces. A…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (406+ words) What Makes a Craft Brewery Beloved? Is it the beer itself, the vibe, or the people behind the taps? That's one of my favorite topics " and one we dove into this week on The Judi & EJ Show. I told Judi and Kyle that one of my wife's and my favorite hobbies is visiting different craft breweries around New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware" and grabbing a flight (or two). This past weekend, we stopped by Oyster Creek Brewing Company on Route 9 in Waretown. It was our first visit " and the beer did not disappoint. Being an IPA guy, let me recommend the CRITICALMass New England IPA and the May the 4th IPA. They also had a smooth vanilla porter and a bold 13% ABV Apple Brandy Belgian Tripel that packed a punch in the best way. The vibe was awesome too " we met…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (889+ words) Here's the stories you'll be talking about on the New Jersey 101.5 Morning Show on Friday: While the longest government shutdown in our nation's history was ended with a stroke of President Donald Trump's pen on Wednesday night, actually restarting government operations is going to take some time. The impacts on air travel, food assistance programs, the education department, civilian military employees and even parks and museums will linger. About 1.25 million federal workers, including tens of thousands in New Jersey, have not been paid since Oct.1. In total, that is about $16 billion in lost wages. How and when that back-pay will be handled is still unknown. The Smithsonian Museum and National Zoo are making plans to reopen by the weekend. Keep scrolling for more on the process of reopening the federal government and why airlines are optimistic they can resume normal…...

2+ day, 10+ hour ago (227+ words) As the holiday season returns, we're once again inviting you to help Light Up New Jersey with the biggest and brightest display of outdoor holiday lights the Garden State has ever seen. Whether you're decorating a home or a business, this is your moment to share joy, hope, and cheer with your entire community. The tradition continues: one lucky participant will take home a $500 cash prize! Thanks to our sponsor, Danley 911Electrical " Top-rated, fully licensed and insured electricians inCentral Jersey since 1921, with expert solutions servicing all brands. As entries roll in, our contest page will showcase the season's most dazzling displays in a live gallery for everyone to enjoy. All eligible submissions will be entered into a random drawing, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 23, 2025 " just in time to make someone's holiday a little brighter. This is your year…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (640+ words) With all three film studio partners in place " Lionsgate, Netflix and Paramount " and three separate production facilities being built, New Jersey has cemented its return to film-making roots. For West Coast-based actors or celebrities weary of commuting from New York, there are a number of New Jersey towns that make for ideal digs, depending on which location they want to be near. As for the Paramount anchored 1888 Studios in Bayonne - Jersey City has become quite the hotspot for those able to afford new luxury housing. Billions of dollars have been pumped into luxury waterfront housing in sections of Jersey City, where median incomes now range above $200,000, according to CREA United." The same analysis showed that in the past decade the number of Jersey City renter-occupied units grew from 64,905 to 94,113, while owner-occupied units rose from 28,744 to 35,907. Jersey City is a crucial…...

5+ day, 21+ hour ago (316+ words) The governor-elect of one of the highest-taxed states in the country wants New Jersey to stop paying federal taxes as long as Donald Trump is the president. Mikie Sherrill kicked around the idea during her recent appearance on'The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. The comedian says he wants to see a federal tax strike to resist the Trump administration. It's a "great idea" to claw back federal dollars, according to the governor-elect. "I think people here in New Jersey agree, if they're not going to run the programs, then what are we paying them for? You're paying us for service, and they're not delivering. So, let's stop paying for it," Sherrill said. In fiscal year 2019, New Jersey'residents and businesses paid $140 billion in taxes to the IRS. They only got back $105 billion in federal spending " a loss of $35 billion, according to…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (350+ words) BAYONNE " NJ Transit will take over a key bus route for the seventh time since 2023 as a 100-year-old bus company goes out of business. Emil Massa, the third-generation owner of Broadway Bus'Co., which'once ran 41 buses on four routes,'told NorthJersey.com he was ending operations at the end of November. Like many of the other companies that NJ Transit took over routes from, Massa said reduced ridership and little financial help from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the decision. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said the one remaining route will be renamed the No. 12 Broadway Route and operate every half hour. The route will not continue with the same stops and will be "structured to provide more efficient coverage with better connections." The updated schedule has not yet been made public. "I am extremely…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (462+ words) The largest utility company in New Jersey is warning its customers about common holiday scams and offering tips on how to protect themselves. During the busy holiday season, scammers often impersonate trusted companies, including utilities, using high-pressure tactics to trick customers into making immediate payments or sharing personal information, PSE&G said in a released statement. "Safety is our top priority, and that includes protecting our customers from fraud. Scammers use convincing tactics, fake caller IDs, urgent threats, and emotional pressure to push people into paying quickly," said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for PSE&G, Dave Johnson. There are four tactics scammers frequently use, PSE&G said in the statement. Impersonate Utility Representatives " They will threaten to disconnect services within an hour if immediate payment is not made. Demand Payment " They will tell customers to use prepaid…...