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
New Concealed-carry Gun Limits for NJ Advance, Despite Concerns
Legislation setting up new rules for carrying guns in New Jersey appears to be on the fast track in the state Assembly.
What Recession? A Look at How Much NJ Has Collected From its Major Taxes
September state tax collections were 12% higher than one year earlier and 14% higher for the first quarter of the budget year.
NJ Voter Registration Deadline Nearly Here – How to Sign Up Online
Tuesday, Oct. 18 is the deadline to register to vote in the 2022 general election, in which control of Congress will be determined along with the holders of many county and local offices.
Saudi-funded LIV Golf Could Get Banned from NJ, Trump’s Course
State lawmakers have taken a first step toward blocking the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league from ever holding another event in New Jersey, as it did this July at former President Donald Trump’s club in Bedminster.
By the Numbers: Work-from-home Surge Transforms NJ Economy
Close to 1 million New Jerseyans a day worked from home in 2021, according to Census Bureau estimates from its American Community Survey that underscore the massive changes brought on by the pandemic.
NJ Lawmakers Aim For Nation’s Toughest Concealed-carry Law
Bill unveiled Thursday is on a fast track for Assembly approval within two weeks. Among its provision: People would need to carry insurance to carry a gun.
Investigative Agency Finds Big Problems at NJ Drug Rehab Centers
The State Commission of Investigation has its sights set on problems in the addiction rehabilitation industry – from self-dealing to double billing to rigging drug tests to keep people from leaving treatment.
NJ Gambling Addicts Charged With Crimes Could Get Help, Not Jail
Gambling can have the same effects on the brain as drugs, said Lisa Nower, a Rutgers University professor and director of its Center for Gambling Studies.
Former NJ Women’s Prison Officer Indicted on Inmate Rape Charge
A grand jury has indicted a former senior corrections officer at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women on the charge of raping an inmate just over a year ago.
Estell Manor, 4 Other NJ Towns Accused of Violating Law Regarding Same-sex Marriage
Notices of violation from the state Division on Civil Rights say some municipal websites said only opposite-sex couples could obtain marriage licenses.