Joanna Gagis

United States

Senior Correspondent at NJ PBS

Senior Correspondent/ NJ Spotlight News / NJ PBS

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Articles

Latino Action Network programs face massive cut in state aid

2 weeks ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

Bertha Yungure says that the services provided by the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization in Paterson — from business courses to citizenship classes — have changed her life and the lives of her husband and three children since coming to the U.S.The organization, which has served the Latino community in Paterson for several decades, has seen a growing need for social supports.
NJ school districts scramble to close funding gaps

2 weeks ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

For school superintendents in New Jersey, this is the time of year when they’re working the numbers from every angle, trying to come up with a balanced budget. But for many districts around the state, the numbers simply don’t add up. “After using our 2% cap increase that we’re mandated to by the [state] Department of Education, we’re going to be $22.3 million short,” said Michael Citta, superintendent of the Toms River Regional School District.
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' policy

4 weeks ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

In a case with implications for New Jersey, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday to uphold regulations on “ghost guns” put in place during the Biden administration. In a 7-2 decision, the justices agreed that the guns — which can be assembled relatively easily from kits — should be subject to requirements for serial numbers, sales receipts and background checks, as are other commercially bought firearms.
GOP Leadership Summit energizes candidates

4 weeks ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

Four Republican candidates for governor attended the annual GOP Leadership Summit in Atlantic City over the weekend to talk about what is driving their candidacies. Former Assemblyman and three-peat candidate Jack Ciattarelli was nothing short of confident in listing his issues. “I’m here to tell you all right now, we’re winning this year,” he said.
WATCH: Judge Orders Seton Hall to Hand Over Sexual Abuse Report, by Joanna Gagis

1 month ago | brownpelicanla.com | Joanna Gagis

To Stop the Rapid Decline of Christianity, We Need to Return to Fundamentals, by Auguste MeyratMarch 22, 2025The Hidden Saints of Seventh-Century England, by Joseph PearceMarch 22, 2025 By Joanna Gagis, New Jersey Spotlight, (Complicit Clergy), March 21, 2025 VIDEOAfter a lengthy hearing on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Avion M. Benjamin ordered Seton Hall University to provide her with an internal report on sexual abuse claims involving clergy at the school.
Seton Hall ordered to hand over report on sexual abuse allegations

1 month ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

After a lengthy hearing on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Avion M. Benjamin ordered Seton Hall University to provide her with an internal report on sexual abuse claims involving clergy at the school. “Seton Hall, in her view, violated a previous court order from a couple of years ago, where she says that they should have coughed up certain documents related to this 2019 report that’s related to former Cardinal McCarrick, into clergy abuse at Seton Hall.
Muslim advocates urge action against rising Islamophobia in N.J.

1 month ago | nj.com | Joanna Gagis

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by NJ Spotlight News and shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and NJ Spotlight News. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X). At a time when bias incidents are on the rise, advocates gathered outside the Statehouse on Monday to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. “Islamophobia kills,” said Imam Saffet Catovic, operations director for Justice for All.
Elimination of two food programs will hit NJ residents and farmers

1 month ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the elimination of two food purchasing programs, both of which help New Jersey farmers provide fresh food to schools and food pantries. Elimination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance, or LFPA, and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement is “not just a cut in funding, it’s a loss of value,” said Sal Valenza, a food service director in schools across Hudson County and policy director for the School Nutrition Association of New Jersey.
Residents, lawmakers protest planned new power plant in Newark

1 month ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission was urged to halt plans for a backup power plant for its wastewater treatment facility in Newark. Saying Newark is already overburdened with pollution, a coalition of community advocates, state and local legislators held a rally outside the commission’s headquarters Thursday. “We want environmental justice. We want our community to be a space that our children can thrive in,” said Hazel White, CEO of the Ironbound Community Corporation.
Newark protest: Federal cuts to education and health care would be devastating to kids

1 month ago | njspotlightnews.org | Joanna Gagis

Union and other leaders in education and health care gathered on Tuesday in front of a public school in Newark and called on Congress to reject proposed federal cuts to Medicaid for low-income students in New Jersey schools. “The Trump administration calls this funding wasted taxpayer dollars — we call it life, we call it life-sustaining,” said Debbie White, president of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees. “Our children, they need us to speak out on their behalf.