New Jersey
A snow goose in a marsh in North Arlington, New Jersey A snow goose in a marsh in North Arlington, New Jersey

To Soften a Hurricane's Blow, Don't Drain the Swamp

Wetlands directly prevented half a billion dollars in damages during Hurricane Sandy, a new study has found.

  • By Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic

To Soften a Hurricane's Blow, Don't Drain the Swamp

Wetlands directly prevented half a billion dollars in damages during Hurricane Sandy, a new study has found.

  • By Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic
A snow goose in a marsh in North Arlington, New Jersey
Gov. Jerry Brown, center, flanked by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, speaks of the passage of a pair of climate change measures on Monday in Sacramento, Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown, center, flanked by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, speaks of the passage of a pair of climate change measures on Monday in Sacramento, Calif.

How an ‘Old Retread’ Like Jerry Brown Has Triumphed Over Chris Christie

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP: New York prepares to sue feds over possible health care action; Iowa speed-camera lawsuits; and a Florida community is recovering from sinkhole that swallowed two homes.

  • By Route Fifty Staff
Wildstein leaves a federal court on July 12 with his attorney, Alan Zegas. Wildstein leaves a federal court on July 12 with his attorney, Alan Zegas.

‘Bridgegate’ Mastermind Avoids Prison Sentence

Former Chris Christie ally David Wildstein received three years of probation for his involvement in the scandal.

  • By Aria Bendix, The Atlantic
Gov. Chris Christie. Gov. Chris Christie.

Chris Christie's Day at the Beach

The New Jersey governor was photographed at a beach he’d ordered closed because of a budget impasse.

  • By Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic
The U.S. Supreme Court Building The U.S. Supreme Court Building

Will the Supreme Court Deliver a Windfall of Tax Revenue for State Governments?

Justices on the high court plan to examine the federal ban on sports betting outside of Nevada.

  • By John Tomasic, Special to Route Fifty
The New Jersey State House in Trenton The New Jersey State House in Trenton

Debt-Laden New Jersey Struggles to Make Ends Meet

The Garden State faces a tight squeeze on public programs and experts see big trouble in the not-so-distant future after years of pension underfunding.

  • By Timothy B. Clark
Muslim worshippers pray during a service at the Bernards Township Community Center in Basking Ridge, N.J. Muslim worshippers pray during a service at the Bernards Township Community Center in Basking Ridge, N.J.

This New Jersey Township Tried to Block a Mosque, And Lost

Zoning ordinances are one of the most common tools of bias against faith groups. On Tuesday, a New Jersey township settled two cases brought against it.

  • By Emma Green, The Atlantic
Democratic lawmakers in Texas threaten legal action after Republicans forced through a law that would see sheriffs jailed for failure to comply with federal immigration enforcement. Democratic lawmakers in Texas threaten legal action after Republicans forced through a law that would see sheriffs jailed for failure to comply with federal immigration enforcement.

Departing From ‘Sanctuary Cities,’ Some Sheriffs Embrace Immigration Enforcement Role

A variety of local officials, from conservative sheriffs in Texas to a liberal county executive in New Jersey, are embracing a vigorous form of local immigration enforcement.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

N.J. Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Is ‘Beyond Stupidity,’ Gov. Says

Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: NYC maps rampant sidewalk sheds; Conn. city settles police discrimination suit; Sacramento strengthens ‘sanctuary city’ status.

  • By Route Fifty Staff
A major Nor'easter is set to dump a lot of snow on New York City and other places along the I-95 corridor. A major Nor'easter is set to dump a lot of snow on New York City and other places along the I-95 corridor.

State and Local Agencies in Northeast Prep for Big Late-Season Coastal Storm

Blizzard conditions and 18 inches of snow in some places between Washington, D.C., and Boston are primed to disrupt the heavily populated region starting Monday night.

  • By Michael Grass
Montauk, New York Montauk, New York

Regional Plan Association Prepares for N.Y.C.-Area Resilience Overhaul

Four corridors in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will be redesigned for the first time in decades, with architects and planners addressing ecology and infrastructure challenges.

  • By Dave Nyczepir
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his State of the State Address at the State Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Trenton. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his State of the State Address at the State Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Trenton.

Chris Christie: ‘Arresting, Jailing, Stigmatizing the Victims Will Not Make It Better’

In his State of the State Address, the New Jersey governor laid out plans to address drug abuse and the ongoing opioid epidemic.

  • By Bill Lucia
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, and local officials took a flight over New York City, Nassau and Westchester counties to get an assessment of damages from Superstorm Sandy. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, and local officials took a flight over New York City, Nassau and Westchester counties to get an assessment of damages from Superstorm Sandy.

Learning From Resilient Design Projects in the Wake of Superstorm Sandy

A new report spearheaded by the Georgetown Climate Center explores the funding, legal and land-use barriers to local resilience efforts and why they're to be expected at such an experimental stage.

  • By Dave Nyczepir
Penn Station is North America's busiest rail passenger hub. Penn Station is North America's busiest rail passenger hub.

Trans-Hudson Tunnel Project Sheds Light on Permitting Advances

Federal and state authorities are making progress in cutting through the regulatory thicket.

  • By Timothy B. Clark
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Bridgegate Verdict's Preview of the Trump Adminstration

Four aides to Gov. Chris Christie, who is in charge of staffing a prospective Republican White House, are guilty of federal crimes.

  • By David A. Graham, The Atlantic
Cars and buses wait to enter the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken, New Jersey Cars and buses wait to enter the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken, New Jersey

Days of Low-Cost Gas Are Over in N.J.; Flint’s ‘Chilling Effect’ on Mich. State Workers

Also in our State and Local Weekend news digest: McCrory to call special legislative session in North Carolina; Des Moines school bus seatbelt pilot project; and Connecticut’s drought warning.

  • By Route Fifty Staff

How New Jersey Courts Created an Automated Risk Assessment System for Judges

Criminal justice reform is in full swing in the Garden State.

  • By Dave Nyczepir
Damage done to the Hoboken Terminal after a commuter train crash. Damage done to the Hoboken Terminal after a commuter train crash.

N.J. Transit Faces More Scrutiny; Landmark Designation Sought for Boston Icon

Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Possible state worker strike looms in California; feds charge county executive in New York with corruption; and an ethical quandary for Chicago officials involving the Cubs.

  • By Route Fifty Staff

Navigator Award Finalist: Deborah Collins, Deputy County Administrator, Essex County, N.J.

Making strides to make government contracting more inclusive.

  • By Quinn Libson
A New Jersey Transit commuter train crashed into the Hoboken Terminal on Thursday. A New Jersey Transit commuter train crashed into the Hoboken Terminal on Thursday.

Train in Hoboken Crash Had Malfunctioning Data Recorder; Ransomware Hits Honolulu Fire Dept.

Also in our State and Local Weekend News Digest: Louisiana’s “Deepwater Horizon” tax breaks; Illinois state government pays its electric bill; and sentence handed down in Kentucky bribery case.

  • By Route Fifty Staff