New Jersey Weekly: Jul. 3, 2026

TOP NEWS

NJ Transit fares increased by 3% on Jul. 1. In 2024, NJ Transit approved a fare policy to balance the agency’s budget. It raised prices by 15% that year, put a 30-day expiration on tickets, and implemented an annual 3% fare increase every Jul. 1 with no end date. A list of all adjusted fares is available online.
NJ Transit

New Jersey homeowners who have been financially affected by the COVID pandemic can apply to the state’s Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program. It provides financial assistance for mortgage payments, HOA fees, taxes, and other housing-related expenses. The program ends Sep. 30. Application and eligibility requirements are available online.
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

Cooling stations available statewide as National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for N.J. from Jul. 1-4. The state’s heat index, or real feel of temperatures, is expected to exceed 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. All of N.J. is under extreme heat watch. Residents should stay hydrated, remain indoors where air conditioning is available, and avoid direct sunlight when possible. A complete list of statewide cooling centers available online. Read The Jersey Bee’s article about heat waves and heat safety here.
NJ 211

All e-bikes must be registered with the N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission before Jul. 19, according to state law. People riding an e-bike or e-scooter must carry valid insurance and a driver’s license or permit. Riders younger than age 15 cannot ride e-bikes or e-scooters.
Matawan-Aberdeen Patch

New Jersey’s public worker pension fund sold Geo Group Inc. corporate bonds earlier this year. The bonds are valued at more than $800,000. Geo Group is the private prison company that owns Delaney Hall, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement concentration camp in Newark. The state pension fund is still invested in Palantir Technologies, a data-mining company that provides information to ICE agents.
Patch-Newark