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 Plans $10 Million in Grants to Small Businesses Damaged by Ida
Small businesses in New Jersey damaged by the storm that was once Hurricane Ida will be able to apply for grants of up to $5,000 from the state to help start paying for their recovery, starting next week.
Eviction Moratorium Ends for Moderate-income Renters in NJ
The moratorium ended Tuesday for tenants with incomes in a range of 20% above or 20% below the median income for their county.
NJ Set to Move – On Paper Only – 38,000 Inmates for Redistricting
A new state law that reallocates inmates in NJ back to their hometowns for redistricting purposes could remove more than 38,000 people from the population counts of 94 municipalities.
Menendez, Booker Push for Tests to Prevent Flying Beach Umbrellas
The United States senators from New Jersey and Virginia are pushing product safety regulators to include beach umbrellas in their standards testing.
Abortion to 5G: Lobbyists in NJ are Pushing for These 10 Laws the Most
A list compiled by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission of the most-lobbied bills in the current legislative session includes a familiar topic atop the charts.
Van Drew: Censure Biden for ‘Terrible Disgrace’ in Afghanistan
Rep. Jeff Van Drew is introducing a concurrent resolution with a dozen colleagues that condemns President Joe Biden for the handling of the end of the war.
Prefer Early Voting in Person? Deadline Near for NJ Mail Voters
About 690,000 people in New Jersey signed up for permanent vote-by-mail. If they don't opt out by Tuesday, they can't vote early on machines, new this year.
PHOTOS: These 55 Men from NJ Were Killed in Afghanistan’s 20-year War
At least 55 military service members who were from New Jersey or had past ties to the state died in operations related to the war in Afghanistan.
Katie Brennan Rips Ciattarelli for Campaign Ad Featuring Her
“Survivors are not your props. We are not your political pawns,” Brennan wrote on Twitter. “To use me as such, without my consent, is disrespecting survivors. It is disrespecting women.”
NJ Environmental Groups Detail 2021 Agenda, Including All-electric Homes
“New Jerseyans overwhelmingly support action to address these challenges,” said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.