By Dana DiFilippo | Senior reporter
Happy Saturday!
Here's what we learned this week:
The summer’s extreme heat has claimed so many lives in New Jersey that one advocate called it a ‘mass casualty event.’
Public workers face more double-digit healthcare premium hikes.
Gun rights advocates say two recent SCOTUS rulings prove New Jersey’s ban on guns in sensitive places cannot stand.
NJ’s Supreme Court upheld a $25 surcharge levied on drunk drivers to fund police dash cams.
It also allowed a judge to inspect the mental health records of a woman who accused her uncle of sexual assault.
An appellate panel forbade a man from being retried for an Atlantic County sexual assault because of double jeopardy.
A controversial NJ judge now is overseeing immigration cases in Elizabeth.
The state deployed a rideshare program to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities — and they say it’s working.
The governor signed three bills to lower electricity costs and blunt the impact of power-hungry data centers.
Lawmakers revived a plan to keep people out of prison for non-criminal parole violations.
The state provided funding to help three colleges build a bigger pipeline to aviation careers amid a national shortage of air traffic controllers.
A state environmental school will remain open, thanks to a last-minute budget boost.
A proposal to tax prediction markets will be a legislative priority in the fall, NJ Assembly speaker said.
And from D.C. and elsewhere:
Trump guts election commission in move seen as increasing his sway over midterms, via David Lightman
Republicans in Congress struggle with internal squabbles as time runs out on 2026, via Jennifer Shutt.
States try new measures to get chronically absent students back to class, via Robbie Sequeira.
Obamacare premiums likely to surge again next year, via Nada Hassanein.
To promote more housing, cities and states target parking minimums, via Robbie Sequeira.
As Trump buyouts shake offshore wind, states hope developers stay in the game, via Tim Henderson.
Food stamp changes will cost states billions, raising fears about SNAP’s future, via Kevin Hardy
Have a great weekend!
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