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
Union Representing 6,000 NJ State Employees Take Gov. Murphy to Court
AFSCME says raises given to correctional police officers, in accordance with a January law, will widen racial and gender pay gaps unless also given to others.
Another NJ Toll Hike in January on the Turnpike and Parkway
To avoid big toll hikes like one approved in 2020, New Jersey's toll roads are instead indexing tolls to inflation, with hikes capped at 3%.
NJ Post-COVID Test Scores are Out and the Results are Alarming
The "Nation’s Report Card" came out Monday – and it shows the depth of the damage inflicted by the pandemic on learning, in New Jersey, and across the country.
NJ May Let Police Back at Polling Places – But Only Some of Them
Nine months after enacting a law barring police from voting locations except for emergencies, the Legislature may backtrack for schools and senior centers.
Download Porn in NJ? You Could Get Hit With Embarrassing Lawsuit
An adult-film company has filed around 800 federal lawsuits in New Jersey against people it says are pirating porn. Critics say the suits are a shakedown.
A Tax Cut in NJ?! Payroll Taxes Going Down by Nearly $450 Million
A bit of good news for New Jerseyans: taxes withheld from paychecks for temporary disability and family-leave insurance are going down starting in January.
Is Rutgers Football a Waste of Money? A Call to Investigate Spending by NJ Colleges
After a report about huge bills for DoorDash deliveries for the Rutgers football team, a bill seeks an office that would focus on higher education spending.
Election 2022: At Least 5 NJ Counties Looking For Poll Workers
Election 2022: At least five NJ counties looking for poll workers
NJ Senator Demands Passaic County Prosecutor Resign
A state senator is calling for the Passaic County prosecutor to resign, after her failure to investigate corrupt Paterson police officers who were later convicted of federal crimes.
As EV Batteries Catch Fire in FL, a Call for Training in NJ
Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick, R-Salem, a life member of Pennsville Fire and Rescue, said the usual methods for putting out a fire don’t work on electric vehicles and could cause an explosion.