Genesis Obando

3 weeks ago | njspotlightnews.org | Genesis Obando |Benjamin Hulac

Eyes in the U.S. Senate chamber and beyond were fixed on Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) as he set the record for the longest speech in the body’s history this week, standing and holding the Senate floor for more than a day. Booker’s display drew tens of millions of clicks and views online and, according to his office, an outpouring of public support.

Jan 3, 2025 | njspotlightnews.org | Genesis Obando

The new year is bringing with it new costs to get in and around New Jersey. From the bridges and tunnels to toll roads and public transit, you’ll have to reach a little deeper in your pocket to pay for transportation costs in 2025. New Jersey’s per-gallon gas tax increased by 2.6 cents on Jan. 1 — putting more money in the coffers to pay for planned road, bridge and mass transit projects. That will result in motorists paying 44.9 cents per gallon for gasoline and 51.9 cents for diesel.

Jan 3, 2025 | njspotlightnews.org | Genesis Obando

A judge has denied a request by more than two dozen suburban towns to delay enforcement of New Jersey’s new affordable housing law while their broader challenge to the law proceeds in the courts. The 26 towns, led by Montvale in Bergen County, have argued that the law’s requirement that each municipality build a certain number of affordable housing units over the next decade puts too great a burden on their communities. Under the law, towns face a Jan.

Jan 2, 2025 | njspotlightnews.org | Genesis Obando

Rutgers University reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday, resolving civil rights complaints that accused the university of fostering a “hostile environment” for Jewish, Palestinian and other groups based on national origin or shared ancestry. The state’s flagship university had received numerous reports from students, including Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, South Asian, Arab and Muslim individuals across its four campuses.

Dec 27, 2024 | njspotlightnews.org | Genesis Obando

Saturday marks the end of an era for harness racing in New Jersey. Freehold Raceway will hold its final races this weekend, closing for good and ending its run as the oldest harness racing track in the nation, first opening in 1853. The closure of Freehold Raceway leaves the Meadowlands Racetrack as the only harness racing track in New Jersey, the latest chapter in the industry’s steep decline in recent decades as gamblers turned to other options.