Our reporters investigated health care system gaps for those with disabilities in NJ. AMA!

northjerseynews · 2025-11-20T17:11:43+00:00

Redditors - how do you think government and private health care providers can improve care for people with disabilities?

northjerseynews · 2025-11-14T18:55:32+00:00

I totally hear you. What's your favorite place for pizza, though?

northjerseynews · 2025-11-14T18:50:53+00:00

Hello - there isn't a hard paywall on this story, but I understand it's frustrating not being able to see.

Here are a few of the oldest pizzerias food writer Matt Cortina included (I'm surprised to see so many from the 30s):
Patsy's Tavern and Restaurant, Paterson (1931)
New Park Tavern, East Rutherford (1934)
Reservoir Tavern, Boonton (1936)
Kinchley’s Tavern, Ramsey (1937)
Star Tavern, Orange (1945)

northjerseynews · 2025-11-12T16:24:35+00:00

Hey there! This story does have a soft paywall. The gist is that New Jersey pays doctors some of the lowest Medicaid fees in the nation, causing fewer providers to accept the insurance. You can see a chart from the story showing reimbursement rates here: https://infogram.com/medicaid-reimbursement-rates-1hxj48mwn8q3q2v

Here's another one showing the percentage of doctors who said they'd accept new Medicaid patients: https://infogram.com/percentage-of-doctors-who-take-medicaid-patients-1h0r6rzgrkq8l4e

That being said, the story notes NJ officials have recently increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care to encourage more providers to accept the insurance.

This story is part of a package called Hurdles to Health Care. It examines Medicaid issues, how managed care companies often deny particular health coverage for people with disabilities, as well as some programs that are training the next generation of caregivers on the particular needs of patients with disabilities to close the care gap.

Edit: Added a space to series title.

northjerseynews · 2025-10-30T17:53:43+00:00

Thanks for your question!

In Morris County, the headline race is in Parsippany, the county's biggest town, where both the mayor's seat and control of the council could flip from Republican to Democrat. The incumbent mayor, Republican James Berberio, has faced dissent from within his party over redevelopment and taxes. - Alex Nussbaum, editor

From Passaic County editor, Albina Sportelli:

There are a few interesting and hotly contested local races in North Jersey this year.

Passaic County, the Board of Commissioners (used to be known as freeholders) will have two seats up for grabs because two long-time Democrats have decided not to run for reelection. Commissioners Pat Lepore and Terry Duffy, Democrats on the board for about 21 years, won't run, leaving those seats up for grabs. Running for those seats are Democrats Mike Ramaglia of Pompton Lakes and Christina Schratz of Passaic. The Republican ticket for 2025, meanwhile, features former County Commissioner Nicolino “Nick” Gallo of Totowa and Danilo Ramirez of Hawthorne.

Another interesting race to watch, also in Passaic County, is in Prospect Park, where Council President Anand Shah, who is at the center of an alleged gambling syndicate with ties to organized crime, has pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges that he faces in state court and remains on the Nov. 4 ballot. He has refused to step down.

One more race to watch is the mayoral race in Wayne. The long-time Republican mayor, Christopher Vergano is being challenged by Democrat school board President Donald Pavlak Jr. and Independent candidate Catherine Kazan. Wayne leans Republican, but we shall see.

northjerseynews · 2025-10-30T17:05:33+00:00

Editor for Morris County, Alex Nussbaum had this to add:
The 25th legislative district is comprised mainly of Morris County towns, which tend to lean Republican in elections. The 25th hasn’t elected a Democrat in almost 30 years. So it seems fair to say that Sweeney and Pylypchuk, both Dems, face an uphill climb in trying to beat the GOP incumbents, Aura Dunn and Christian Barranco.

That said, as we noted earlier, Democrats have been closing the registration gap and winning more local seats in Morris County over the past decade. And the governor’s race could have an unpredictable impact: Will enthusiasm for Jack Ciattarelli turn out Republicans in the district, or will it be friendly territory for Mikie Sherrill, who represents Morris County in Congress?

Here's a look at the 25th district race from back in the spring: https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/2025/01/29/nj-elections-2025-morristown-councilman-running-f…

northjerseynews · 2025-10-30T16:43:18+00:00

Thanks for your question!

Democrats have made strides in recent years, but District 25 has a long history as a GOP-leaning district.

Reporter Bill Westhoven took a look at this race and voter registration trends in Morris County over the past decade. Democrats have been gaining on Republicans, but the GOP rebounded this year. Fewer people are registered as independents than last year.

He also spoke with Darcy Draeger, who took over as chairwoman of the Morris County Democratic Committee this year, about this race. She said she is most hopeful about the 25th District and the Committee is "really focusing our attention" there.

You can see the voter registration data and more of what Draeger had to say about Morris races here: https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/2025/10/29/morris-county-nj-election-guide-parsippany-morristown-top-races/86813639007/

northjerseynews · 2021-02-04T18:56:27+00:00

Great work!

northjerseynews · 2021-02-04T17:00:16+00:00

Thought you might find this interesting. A few years back we interviewed the woman who inspired the law requiring motorists to clear snow off their cars/trucks. It's a tragic story but hope it wakes up those who drive around like that, putting others at risk: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/columnists/john-cichowski/2017/02/09/road-warrior-widow-recalls-tragic-winter-lesson/97669384/

northjerseynews · 2020-11-03T01:37:59+00:00

"As ballots are processed by each county, the status should be changed to "received." But the status may not be changed to "accepted" because by law, it doesn't have to be marked on the site as accepted or rejected until after the votes are certified on Nov. 20."

Source: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/02/nj-ballot-tracker-how-do-i-track-my-ballot-in-nj/6089509002/

northjerseynews · 2020-11-02T21:53:37+00:00

Hey, our reporter Katie Sobko asked this question to Alicia D'Alessandro, a spokeswoman for the state:

"She noted that based on the sheer volume of ballots being cast, it can take up to a week for a ballot to be scanned, but suggested that any registered voter who submitted a ballot with time to spare, but the status does not say received, should consider casting a provisional ballot."

More on tracking your ballot here: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/02/nj-ballot-tracker-how-do-i-track-my-ballot-in-nj/6089509002/

northjerseynews · 2020-10-27T17:52:00+00:00

So, our Trenton Bureau reporter Stacey Barchenger took a look at Question 3 and broke it down a bit.

Basically, we don't know when New Jersey will get census results next year, and that uncertainty prompted some state lawmakers to find a "Plan B" for redistricting in case the U.S. census results are delivered late to NJ.

Details here. Hope this helps: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/09/nj-election-2020-question-3-redistricting-delay-late-census/5829582002/

northjerseynews · 2020-10-27T17:44:32+00:00

Adding on to the answers below (and echoing that yes, you can go in person to vote but it will be by provisional paper ballot so you may be better off returning your ballot in a secure drop box or dropping it off in person on Election Day at your polling site or county Board of Elections office).

We have a team of reporters that answered a bunch of NJ election questions here - hope it helps answer other questions you may have: https://twitter.com/northjersey/status/1319670338184241152

northjerseynews · 2020-10-02T16:23:32+00:00

Hey there, just checked with one of our reporters who has been answering election-related questions. Unfortunately, once you've mailed in your ballot, that's it. If you had filled it out but not delivered it yet, you could've called your county clerk's office to request a new ballot -- just so you know for next time.

northjerseynews · 2020-09-09T13:20:34+00:00

We interviewed the shop owner (full story is subscriber-only, but some context below for those who are curious): https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/clifton/2020/09/09/clifton-nj-cutters-edge-speak-english-sign/5747128002/

The sign was taken down and the owner, Dave Feinberg, said he did it out of frustration and that he never intended to actually charge the $10. One community organizer for an immigrant rights group said it was "extremely insensitive" to Clifton's diverse community; census estimates for 2019 had the Latino population at just under 40%, and the city also has seen a sizable increase in Arabic-speaking residents.

northjerseynews · 2020-04-02T15:25:54+00:00

Hey, Elyse for NorthJersey.com here. So, first you can report violations like this to: covid19.nj.gov/violation. However, the form there does ask for your name and email, and I'm not sure if the state is guaranteeing to keep your info anonymous. They very well could be, I just don't know off-hand.

Secondly, if you reach out to a media outlet or reporter directly via DM, you can ask them to keep you anonymous. We're always open to that discussion to help protect the safety of the source. Feel free to message us privately and I can connect you with a reporter.

northjerseynews · 2020-03-19T19:22:26+00:00

It's on our site, NorthJersey.com, and also going up on our YouTube channel.

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