After plowing the driveway. For reference, I’m 5’1”

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...

So much snow! So little dog!

First pass. He’ll be back. It’s still snowing hard. No sleet in Sussex County.

Shoveled a path from the front door and cleared a few feet more so there’ll be less to wrangle later. It’s fluffy stuff. Maybe a foot, so far. Cleared a potty spot in the yard for Shih Tzu Ming, too. Snowing hard in northern Sussex County.

Ming the Merciless reports the snow’s a full Shih Tzu high and still falling hard up by Wawayanda Mtn.

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Final action by @govmurphy.bsky.social: he signed one of the 3 so-called immigrant protection bills—the “Safe Communities Act” to safeguard public spaces like schools, churches, hospitals and courthouses. He cited concerns over bill language as reasons to pocket veto the others.

Heavy snow … and a surprise visitor who stays for just a moment. (My guess…his name starts with a Jerz “J”) I often wonder how they make it through storms...

@govmurphy.bsky.social: deciding whether to sign these bills pits "standing up for our values, our communities under attack, our individuals under attack" versus "you're trying like heck not to start WW3 with these guys in Washington. And getting that right is really hard." youtu.be/IqxWTICthcA?...

The venue needs a makeover, the organization says and urged the Legislature to help it score $300 million in tax breaks, in a lame duck legislative power play. www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-l...

All three immigrants rights bills now sit on the gov's desk.

The Senate adopts the gov’s recommendations to amend the Privacy Protection Act, as lame duck session of 221st NJ Legislature gavels to a close amidst a flurry of amendments spurred by last-minute CVs.

.@GovMurphy issues conditional veto of Privacy Protection Act (A6309/S5037)—one of three immigrant protection bills just passed by NJ Legislature in lame duck session—requesting amendments to impose liabilities on govt & healthcare agencies that violate the Act, among other changes.

Cheers erupt from the gallery as Senate passes bill to codify the Immigrant Trust Act, one of three designed to strengthen privacy & policies in the face of federal ICE actions. Bills already passed the Assembly-the pkg now heads to @govmurphy.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org

Lawmakers approved a $300M tax break pkg for a NJ sports arena makeover... youtu.be/NHxJVbs-L7w?...

RIP, Gov. Codey: www.nj.com/politics/202...

"We're not at the peak yet. I don't think we'll be at the peak for another few weeks. And I think that we're seeing both the number of cases as well as hospitalizations increase." youtu.be/1oYndzkWJpU?...

This year’s nasty version of the flu virus is hitting New Jersey especially hard, public health experts say, and the already high numbers are likely to keep rising: youtu.be/FOW6Fu5qep0?...

Response from NJ DOH to CDC’s childhood vaccine protocol revisions: “…minimum requirements for school and child care attendance…remain unchanged by federal actions to date.”

Statement coming from NJ Dept. of Health More at @njspotlightnews.org

Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children--recommending routine shots against 11 diseases, not 17, citing standards in other wealthy nations. Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...

Good morning, Jerz. Whole new day.

US has taken Maduro to US for trial on drug charges, acc to Trump Adm: www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...

To those who are still awake—Happy New Year!

And away we go……

Merry Christmas, Jerz!

Hours before 60 Minutes was set to air a story on deportees who were sent by the Trump administration to prison in El Salvador, describing “brutal and torturous conditions,” 60 Minutes announced that it has pulled the segment and will air it in the future.

When the Shih Tzu Plow runs out of gas

Jerz —what’s your snow score? We’ve got 8” at Wawayanda Mt and it’s still snowing. Forecast called for 1-3”

Promises kept? Phil Murphy talks COVID-19, affordability, NJ Transit as he readies to leave office. www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/phil...

Could layoffs in NJ preview a recession for 2026? www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/coul...

UPDATE: Sen. Pres. Scutari today announced he's pulling the controversial bill from consideration during this month’s lame-duck legislative session. “I’ve heard the concerns, and I’m going to listen to them,” he said, adding that he would revisit the proposal next year. More at @njspotlightnews.org

More tonight, on @njspotlightnews.org

The end of the Habba Saga...? x.com/AlinaHabba/s...

We do not have nearly enough government watchdogs in New Jersey.

Does NJ have too many government watchdogs fighting corruption? Critics say proposed legislation would upend NJ’s entire watchdog structure: www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/does...

For more on this issue, including a recap of the raucous first committee hearing for the bill seeking to slash comptroller oversight powers, check out this comprehensive coverage by @bflanagannj.bsky.social

Tempers flare as senators vote to limit NJ watchdog powers www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/temp...

Hey, folks. It's Giving Tuesday. Today's Number is 2 -- as in double (x2) your gift! We value you! If you value @njspotlightnews.org this is truly the best moment to please donate-- because your gift will be matched! $5 x 2= $10, $50 x 2=$100 etc njspotlight.fundjournalism.org/donate/?camp...

Snow on the mountain. Feeling like winter.

US Commission of Fine Arts blurb claims the figure on this dime is Roman god of commerce, Mercury. Except that’s a popular misconception. She’s actually Liberty, and the wings on her cap symbolize freedom of thought. POTUS fired all commission members last month, before demolishing the East Wing.

Happy Thanksgiving, Jerz. Wishing everyone safe travels and joyful gatherings.

Ming the Merciless getting spiffed up for the holidays!

It’s official: the special election for former Cong. @mikiesherrill.bsky.social ’s CD11 seat declared by @govmurphy.bsky.social

Gov-Elect @mikiesherrill.bsky.social tells @brivannozzinj.bsky.social about dealing w/ POTUS: "There’s this false assumption...if you just go along, that you can kind of get through this. And that’s not the case. The hits are going to be coming." Their convo: www.njspotlightnews.org/video/nj-spo...

Gov-Elect Mikie Sherrill today submitted her resignation letter to Congress/ @govmurphy.bsky.social, effective Thurs 11:59pm. On Friday, Murphy's expected to order a special election to fill her unexpired term in NJ's CD11. It's already a crowded contest. x.com/RepSherrill/...

The state’s funding cuts were the elephant in the room during Monday’s hearing, with most speakers tap-dancing to avoid casting too much blame at state legislators for NJ PBS’ plight. From Dana DiFilippo newjerseymonitor.com/2025/11/17/n...