TOP NEWS
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill will be sworn into office on Jan. 20 at NJPAC in Newark. Sherrill’s inaugural ball will follow at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. Sherrill previously represented the state’s 11th congressional district, which includes parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties. Governors in N.J. serve four-year terms.
CBS News
New Jersey residents can enroll in the state’s health insurance marketplace, Get Covered NJ, through Jan. 31. Get Covered NJ provides health insurance to people who are not insured through an employer or through Medicaid and Medicare. Federal tax credits that lower the cost of health insurance payments expired at the end of 2025 and are not be available in 2026. According to a state press release, N.J. will provide $215 million in state subsidies, called New Jersey Health Plan Savings, for eligible enrollees. Healthcare plans under Get Covered NJ cover preventive services, emergency services, prescription drugs, prenatal and pediatric care, and more. Enrollment is available online.
State of New Jersey
New Jersey Historical Commission is accepting marker nominations to be featured in the state’s Black Heritage Trail, with pre-application worksheets due Jan. 16. Applications and guidelines available online. Regular applications are due May 15.Add to 📅.
New Jersey Historical Commission
New Jersey partnered with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to purchase $86 million in medical debt held by more than 53,000 residents, bringing the total number of forgiven debt to $1.4 billion for 828,000 residents since August 2024. For this round of purchasing, N.J. used $600,000 in American Rescue Plan funds. To qualify, individuals must have medical debt equal to 5% of their annual income, or earn four times the federal poverty level or less, which is $62,600 for a single adult and $128,600 for a family of four in 2025, the most recently available figures. There is no application or request process for medical debt relief because it is purchased directly from creditors.
Governor Phil Murphy
People can learn about the U.S. labor movement with North NJ Democratic Socialists of America on Jan. 18 in Jersey City and online. It begins at 1 p.m. at 257 Central Ave. It will discuss unions and ways the working class can organize for labor rights. Registration is required.Add to 📅.
North NJ Democratic Socialists of America
Parents can attend Mental Health Association’s webinar on Jan. 21 discussing digital risk factors. It will discuss health risks associated with social media, AI, and online spaces. It is from 6:30-8 p.m. Free enrollment. Registration is required.Add to 📅.
Mental Health Association
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is hiring for seasonal positions at state parks, forests, and historic sites. Jobs include lifeguards, general maintenance personnel, visitor service assistants, office assistants, and history educators. Applications available online.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey public schools must implement cellphone bans beginning in the 2026-27 school year under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. The bill is meant to improve student mental health and academic success, according to the state Department of Education. The law orders the state’s education commission to develop guidelines restricting phone use and other smart devices during regular school hours, on a bus, and during school events. School boards will be required to adopt policies that are consistent with the state’s guidelines. Students will be permitted to use phones in emergencies, translation services, and when a healthcare professional provides documentation indicating phone access is necessary. Principals and administrators can make accommodations for students to use their phones for educational purposes. Guidelines must be written by Apr. 8, or 90 days after the law was signed.
New Jersey Monitor
